The Official Drink in the South of France

There's nothing like having a Pastis at "apero" time on the terrace each evening before dinner. Although the one below is actually a Moresque, which is a Pastis with orange syrup. We drank this one at noon in the old village of Mougins. We started early that day! It's a clear liquor that has a licorice taste (my favourite!) and when you mix it and add water it goes milky. I've had quite a few now and they are amazing and so refreshing!

Santoche à La Cantoche!

The newest little resto to hit the 18th arrondissment is La Cantoche du 18, which opened its door a few months ago. It is adorable, run by a local Parisian foodie who just wanted to create an expensive restaurant with good food for friends to hang out. It is conveniently located only a few minutes from Lamark station in Monmartre. We enjoyed the special friend treatment and were showered with various goodies, from tuna, to entrecote, to ratatouille! All the condiments are tucked up on a shelf that you go and get yourself, just like at home... my favourite was this "moutarde de Meaux"! There's a chalkboard in the washroom and the interior overall feels cozy and familiar. Food and wine was good and I loved the overall neighbourhood vibe.
Santoche! I miss Paris already....

* fyi, please pardon the low quality images, I am traveling and don't have my computer, no photoshop so am hacking this together big time.

La Cantoche du 18
184 Rue Marcadet
Paris, France
01 42 64 08 33

The Parisian Salad

Just a simple salad in Paris...right! We had what I thought might be a light dinner in Abbesses, a short walk from Monmartre where I am staying. This salad was huge and very tasty, full of chèvre (goat cheese) and lardons (pork bits) and topped with way too many fried potatoes, slightly crispy and slightly soft!

Le Relais Gascon
6, Rue des Abbesses, Paris
01 42 58 58 22
lerelaisgascon.fr

Jewish Jem of Paris!

New York slop is now in Paris. Follow along as I try to eat my way through the city!

I had been waiting almost a year to eat this bundle of joy again! It's probably the best fallafel sandwich I've ever had... (although I'm so looking forward to trying Taim in NY to compare) At L'As it's the cabbage that I love on it, two different kinds, and sliced cucumbers, which gives it a really refreshing quality. They also load on the grilled aubergines (eggplant), the creamy sauce, and the hot sauce, which gives it an awesome texture. Everyone just spills onto the streets eating them... that is after waiting in line for the fallafel itself;)

L'As du Fallafel
39 rue des Rosiers
75004 Paris

August Ramen

New ramen of the months hits Ippudo this week. I got a sneak peak at the menu over drinks the other night! This months ramen will be shoyu-based with an unusual wasabi flavour. Can't wait to try it!

Ippudo
65 4th Avenue
New York, NY
ippudo.com