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In this blog, Sophia takes us on a mouth-watering journey through Paris!
Whilst we may be spoilt for choice in London, life as a Parisian is somehow even more delicious. Over the past few months I have made it my mission to discover the city by mouth, sometimes embracing solo dining, and it has been nothing short of rewarding.
In my humble opinion, the 11th arrondissement is the best neighbourhood for foodies, as it boasts the highest number of restaurants and a variety of cuisines. Some of my recommendations include:
● RORI: an effortlessly cool pizza joint serving enormous and generous slices. My favourite is the Potato slice featuring mozzarella, scamorza, potato and a dill pickle crust dip.
● Delhi Bazar: a French take on Indian classics. I admit I was skeptical at first, but soon understood the glowing reviews after sampling the Paneer Butter Masala.
● Isola La Cantine Littéraire: a hidden gem tucked away in a quiet corner. This unassuming Venetian restaurant is an absolute must for any Italian cuisine lovers. The menu changes daily, but they always offer fresh vegetarian options. I usually go with others, but it's perfectly solo friendly too. Here are some of the cicchetti I tried.
Of course there are plenty of spots beyond the 11th arrondissement - my most recent discovery is Lao Siam in Belleville, serving Thai/Laotian dishes. Though veggie options are slightly limited, it’s very welcoming to both solo diners and big groups. I combined my meal with a visit to Belleville park and the Père Lachaise cemetery, and it made for a perfect day out.
With regards to offerings around campus, I’ve only really tested the surrounding area of Sorbonne Mère in the Latin quarter. One of my favourites is Takuto, which serves hand rolled sushi and is perfect for lunch on the go and for vegans. As for spots in and around the Clignancourt and Malesherbes campuses, there are the CROUS restaurants aimed at students. While it’s not a gastronomic experience you’ll rush to rave home about, it’s decent food at a very low cost and extremely convenient.
But eating isn’t the only joy here, getting stuck into the behind-the-scenes process is equally gratifying. One of my year-abroad bucket list goals was to complete a pastry class, and I’m so thrilled to have ticked it off. It doesn’t have to break the bank either - I booked two classes taught by professional chefs with Chefsquare, who often run great deals.
The first was a 4-hour viennoiseries class in which we made croissants, pains au chocolat, pains aux raisins, a braided brioche loaf and even a tarte tropezienne. For a first attempt, I think
I did pretty well - I enjoyed it so much that I’m going to gift a class to my mum when she visits next!
My next class was a lemon-themed pâtisserie session. We made lemon meringue tartelettes, lemon and coriander macarons and lemon and ginger cakes. This was also a fantastic and delicious experience. Not only are these classes fun, they’re also a great way to practice your French. They’re hands-on, welcoming, and you get to take home plenty of your creations. I certainly heard no complaints from my friends and neighbours…
Eating my way around Paris has been one of the highlights of my time here, from local spots to pastry classes. Here’s to having un petit creux, and always knowing where to satisfy it!