AND THEN MY DAD TOUCHED A MILLET
Paris is one of my most favorite cities. While abroad, I am mainly trying to go to places I have not been to before, but I knew that I would be paying Paris yet another visit. Daniel and I were planning to go (like every other person) as it was Valentine’s Day. Long story short, my dad had some days off and wanted to come visit Nima and me in London, but because I could not cancel my trip, he and Nima ended up joining us in Paris.
Between my excitement to travel back to the City of Love and finally get the see my dad (aka Baba), I think I got a little over zealous. I was messing up all over the place — putting me and Daniel at a very fraud hotel, putting my dad and brother at a completely different hotel on the other side of the city, scheduling the wrong flight home, got fined on the metro, etc. etc. etc. However, the weekend ended up being great. I think because I have been to Paris a few times and know what to do, we were really able to knock out a lot of the city.
We saw soooooooo much amazing art, walked around everywhere, attended at PSG game and got to see my friend Maya from school! Daniel and I also got to see the Yeezy Season 3 screening on the Champs-Élysées (more to come on this below). Minus all my mishaps, it was such a fun weekend, even if I was crying on my Uber back to my flat in London because my driver kept screaming at me.
FOOD
Le Relais de Venise L’entrecote was one of the happiest accidents that has ever happened to me. On the BAIT trip in high school, we thought the restaurant looked cute, as the waitresses were dressed like French maids, so we decided to stop in for lunch. Little did I know, Le Relais de Venise L’entrecote is a Paris staple and home to the most delicious steak frites you will ever have in you life.
The restaurant has a couple locations in Paris, but I have only ever been to the one in Saint-Germain Dupree. They have no menu — you get a small salad as a starter (which is iceberg lettuce with walnuts, tossed in a mustard dressing) and then you tell them whether you like you steak rare, medium or well done. They bring out (unlimited) steak and fries doused in an amazing mustard sauce (also do not eat the break until you get the steak frites because it is so delicious to dip in the mustard sauce). It sounds so basic and whatever, but anyone who has been to Le Relais de Venise L’entrecote will tell you that you have not done Paris until you have been here.
This was a little spot near our (relocated) hotel. It has a huge outdoor seating arrangement that looks out into the Louvre courtyard (like where the glass pyramids are). The concierge in our hotel recommended Café Marly for a nice, quick dinner that was close to our hotel.
The food was pretty good, but expensive considering how tiny the portions were. Nima and I both split dim sum (only five little dumplings), and each ordered scallops (five small ones, probably the diameter of a 50₵ coin) with a side of basmati rice. As someone who loves scallops, I was very disappointed with the size, but the scallops were still very delicious.
My friend from home, Kelsey, insisted that I must go to Derrière while in Paris. Since I knew that the spot would be harder to get into than say Le Relais de Venise L’entrecote, I decided to make a lunch reservation so we could go before the PSG game. (It is also a short walk from the Pompidou, so it is good to do these together — that is what we did). The restaurant is called Derrière because it is located in the back of a building through a little courtyard/atrium area. Once we entered, the whole place felt right out of the 1960s. From the music, lighting fixtures, motley seating arrangements, quirky trinkets, etc., every part of the restaurant fit this cohesion that was stunning. I was instantly in love, and so was my dad, who was trying to bargain with the staff to let him buy off this Porsche model car from a display case.
The menu set up so interesting. They list the item with a small definition underneath, like a little dictionary or glossary, and then the accompanying ingredients in the dish underneath. We split the beef carpaccio, which was so tasty. Nima got steak with mashed potatoes, Daniel and I got this delicious gnocchi in a pumpkin sauce, and Baba got this like little beef cheek pot roast which was fracking unreal. The beef was so juicy and flavorful, the sauce perfectly complimenting it. I was so impressed with everything, and I am so glad I convinced the boys to go. TYVM, Kels!!!
Also, definitely check out the upstairs and see if you can find the secret room. ;)
