Perle Tatin

Train: RER A Rueil Malmaison + 20 mn walk (bus option)
Bus: 144, 467, 565 Mairie de Rueil
         258, 259 Danielle Casanova
Address: 13, Place Jean Jaurès, 92500 Rueil Malmaison
Hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
            Closed on Monday
Price: starting 3 euros
Website: https://www.perlintatin.com/

Famous Chef Norbert Tarayre is obsessed by opening new hot spots in Hauts-de-Seine, which is bordering Paris. And I say: "YES! Thank you!". As much as I love Paris, I also think there are beautiful citieswhich are a train ride away that are worth visiting. Rueil-Malmaison is definitely one of them. In fact, I wouldn't mind living there. You'll find a gorgeous park, a castle where Napeléon resided, and a fancy village-like downtown. I was just missing a gourmet spot. Wish granted!

Pastry Chef Ludovic Chaussard is in charge on their amazing jewels. Prices are a bit high (5.80 euros for my dessert), but just the same as downtown Paris. I fell for the "Religieuse Pistache-Griotte" Pistachio cream custard with a heart of cherry. Just unbelievable. I am more an éclair kind of girl but this time, ***sigh***. I'm not sure I can describe the explosion of flavors and yet it is so delicate and divine. Size is very generous. Yumm, you guys!

I also bought some Fruit Bread. Also very generous with the toppings. It was really good and was gone before sunset.

StreetArt

Métro: Line 2 Anvers
Bus: Line 54 Anvers-Sacré Coeur
Address: Rue Briquet, 75018 Paris
Artist: Iléa

Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse

Métro: Line 10 and 12 Sèvres-Babylone

Bus: Line 86 Bac-Babylone

Address: 140, Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris

Hours: Everyday from 7:45 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:30 pm  to 7:00 pm
Website: http://www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com/

Lately I have really been feeling blind. Next to the Bon Marché, literally behind it, is the Chapelle of Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse. As a true Parisian, I guess I've never paid attention before that there was an entrance for a church there. What's wrong with me? I've got to go back into tourist mode where everything is new and interesting. Anyway, you've got to visit it! Plus there's a bathroom there. I mean, hello, just for that reason you've got to go. I'm being real there. :)

The setting is quite unusual which is one of the reason I like it so much. As you arrive, you have a long passageway leading to the church. There you will find the much needed bathroom, a store and other offices. On the wall, a beautiful sculpted time frame. One of the first things which really strucked me is the difference between let's say Notre−Dame or the Sacré-Coeur which are mostly filled with tourists and this place. Here you will find a lot of pilgrims and devotes which gives it a different ambiance to it all. Another thing that stood out to me is how much light there is. Usually I find Catholic churches very dark inside but it is not the case here.

In 1815, the Emperor offers an aristocratic mansion to the Order of the Filles de la Charité (Charity's daughters, aka nuns). The transformation into a Chapel begins. In 1830, Sister Catherine Labouré (you might recognize the name from a beautiful garden named after her which is a street away. Find my article HERE)  sees the Virgin Mary in an apparition.

"And what about the name?" you might say. The name miraculous medal originated from an event in 1832, only 2 years after the apparition of the Virgin Mary. In Paris, there was a deadly outbreak of cholera (over 20 000 dead). The Father in charge ordered the manufacturing of  2 000 medals with the Virgin Mary on it. Shortly after being distributed, it is said that miracles and healing began to happen to those whom had one in their possession. By 1839, there was over a million medals in the world and by the death of Sister Catherine Labouré in 1876, over a billion. 

Whether you believe or not, the building is still amazing. You can meet people from all over the world whom are pretty nice and once again, bathroom stop! Won't let that one go and that for sure is a true miracle in Paris.

Frenchie To Go

Métro: Line 3 Sentier

Bus: Line 20 or 39 Réaumur- Montmartre

Address: 9, Rue du Nil, 75002 Paris

Hours: Everyday from 8:30 am  to 5:00 pm 
Price: Dish starting at 8.00 euros
Website: https://www.frenchie-ftg.com/en/home/

We've been wanting to try this place for a while now. Everybody talks about it. It's THE place to be at so that's exactly what we did. FTG as people call it, short for Frenchie To Go is located in the very hip Rue du Nil in the Sentier. It's crowded no matter when you go although I never tried it at breakfast time. It's pretty small, just a few tables. We set ourselves on the Ruben with a side of pickles for Mister and a pulled pork sandwich with side of fries for me. We also got super tempted by the Bacon and Maple Syrup Biscuit.

Let's start with this baby! It was by far our favorite dish. So, so, so decadent. The burst of flavors is incredible and super addictive. We loved it. I wish they would make it bigger but then I think I would feel super guilty eating it, and my hips would hate me afterwards.

The pork was so tender and the spices a bit shy but yet present. The bun was really good as well. The only thing that left me disappointed is the pickled beets that they put on every sandwich. They called it red coleslaw but it's pretty much beets. I love beets. I eat them raw in a salad, roasted or boiled but I hated them on my sandwich so next time I'll definitely ask mine without. Fries were pretty good as well.

And Mister? Well, he hates beets to start with so you can imagine his deception. The pickles were not really pickles to us. More like a fresh cucumber salad with a strong vinegar sauce. I liked them though but it tastes like cucumber, not pickles. For us, the most memorable thing was, for sure, the bacon and maple syrup biscuit. Just for that, I'll go back but take it to go. Overall, nice place, good food, a bit overpriced but a might give another round once of these days.

Passage Geffroy - Didelot

Métro: Line 2 or 3 Villiers

Bus: Line 30 Villiers

Address: 90, Boulevard des Batignolles, 75017 Paris

               117, Rue des Dames, 75017 Paris

Next to the very busy Rue Lévis, hidden a few steps away is the Passage Geffroy-Didelot. As I walked by, I almost missed it. I was put off at first by the smell of garbage and urine as I entered from Boulevard des Batignolles but as you come nearer to the flags, the smell disappears. I was a bit sad that all the cute shops were closed and imagine it must be fun to seat on the terrace of one of the restaurants by a lovely summer night. I guess I'll have to try again.

Square d'Orléans

Métro: Line 12 Notre-Dame-de-Lorette or Saint-Georges

Bus: Line 26 or 43 Saint-Georges-Chateaudun

Address: 80, rue Taitbout, 75009 Paris

Well hidden in the 9th arrondissement is Square d'Orléans. Contrary to its name, it is not a park but three courtyards housing hip companies and rich apartments owners. No need to worry about the barrier, you are totally free to go around it and take a peak.

Calm and immaculate, it gave me the feeling of a version of Cannes but without the tumult. It has seen a LOT of famous inhabitant such as Chopin, Georges Sand, Alexandre Dumas or Etienne Arago, just to name a few.

As I was walking in the neighborhood, I really felt that Fall had set in but as I stepped inside the courtyard, I felt like it was already Spring although the fountain was turned off. I hope you get to visit this little heaven. I almost want to bring a long chair and come back in the Summer. Do you think they'll notice?

Street Art

Métro: Line 12 Abbesses
Bus: Line 40 Moulin de la Galette
Address: Rue Girardon, 75018 Paris
Artist: Ensemble Réel

Bouillon Pigalle

Métro: Line 2 or 12  Pigalle

Bus: Line 40 or 54 Pigalle

Address: 22, Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris

Hours: Everyday from noon to midnight 
Price: Dish starting at 1.90 euros
Website: https://www.bouillonpigalle.com/

When you're travelling on a budget, you're always envious of those who do not need to worry about money and their lavish restaurant experiences. Well, envy no more.

Next to the very touristy Montmartre is this rather unique place. Bouillon Pigalle is way affordable with dishes starting at 1.90 euros, yes, you read correctly. Customers are a mix between locals and tourists which makes this place way fun for ear dropping (I'm confessing).  As you can tell in the first picture, it is very popular so be there right at noon, after the rush like 3:00 pm, or for early or late dinner.

I arrived at 12:06 pm, already a crowd so I opted for the terrace. I thought it would be cold but not at all, and I truly enjoy the view. Now the real question on my mind, is the food going to be good because it's super cheap? Let's find out!

I started with the classic bistrot dish, the egg/mayo. Pretty good, but again how can you go wrong with an egg and some mayo? (1.90 euros)

Then I got tempted by the salmon pâté (3.90 euros). Portion is huge and it was actually pretty good in flavor and quality. I was already getting full though and regretted ordering a main dish. Next time, I ll do that, 2 starters and a dessert.

Tad dah! A Boeuf Bourguignon (which is a stewed beef in wine sauce) served with pasta which is the traditional French way of doing it (9.80 euros)! Although it does not look like a five star dish, it did taste good. The meat was super tender, but honestly, I only ate a third because the portions are huge and I was a small player.

You probably noticed that usually if I eat out it's for lunch time. The reason is that the prices are not the same. It is always cheaper during lunch time, but not at Bouillon Pigalle, you can enjoy the same dishes at the same amazing price all day until midnight! Cool, huh?

Cité de Londres

Métro: Gare Saint Lazare (Line 3, 12 ,13 ,14)

Bus: Line 26 or 43 St Lazare- Budapest

Address: 84, Rue Saint Lazare, 75009 Paris

                 13, Rue de Londres, 75009
Hours: Daytime

This little passageway has no historical value and is fairly recent (1840) but I just like the feel of it. So it is mainly for my own delight and because I like taking pictures that I am doing this post! :)