Paris Journal 2015 – Barbara Joy Cooley Home: barbarajoycooley.com
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The more things change, the more they stay the same. That’s what I thought as I looked at the menu for the new eatery that has taken the place of Bistro 121 on the rue de la Convention. Bistro 121 was a fun, big bistrot, but we could tell at the end of last summer that it was in trouble: it no longer accepted credit cards. The resto was clearly having financial woes. That’s too bad. Earlier that summer, and during the summer before, we had some lovely dinners at good value there. The chef, Eric Corailler, is clearly experienced and talented. But good things do come to an end. This summer, we were not surprised to see that the Bistro 121 space was being completely renovated. Last night, on our way to L’Accent Corse, we saw that the renovation was done. The replacement for Bistro 121 is open. It is a brasserie now, named L’Argument. Like many brasseries, it offers continuous food service throughout the day and evening (7AM to 1AM). That’s always handy for those times when you cannot dine at a normal lunch or dinner hour. The menu is very typical and predictable for a brasserie. No surprises. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Some of the servers working at L’Argument were the same ones who’d worked at Bistro 121. That doesn’t mean there was no change of ownership; it simply means that those servers are employed – again. One of the servers saw me photographing the façade of L’Argument, and he quickly retrieved a business card so he could hand it to me before I continued on my way. Maybe he knows a blogger when he sees one . . . . Several tables were already occupied at L’Argument, but we were the first diners to enter L’Accent Corse. That quickly changed as 8PM and a rainstorm approached. L’Accent is popular with the locals. We enjoyed our dinner there, but Tom’s lamb chops were incredibly meager. Due to the Lafourchette.com 50% discount, we didn’t pay too much for the meal, and I was glad for that. The dinner was a stark contrast with our repast on Sunday evening at Le Tipaza. Tom ordered the mixed grill with fries again, but I decided to try a couscous; Couscous Tipaza, the house’s signature dish, was copious. With the addition of just a little more chicken or beef, it would have been plenty to feed a family of four. I left much of the stew and couscous untouched. Tom ordered ice cream, and I ordered the profiteroles for dessert. As always, the service was impeccable and friendly. And the restaurant is beautiful. The music on the sound system is always lively, happy, traditional Moroccan stuff. I just adore that place.
With Lafourchette.com’s 30% discount, Le Tipaza is an extraordinarily good value. When we left L’Accent Corse, the rain was falling steadily. Fortunately, we were dressed for the weather and each of us had an umbrella. Still, we were very wet by the time we reached the apartment. But the apartment was warm and dry, and soon it was filled with the smooth sounds of cool jazz. Another apres diner chez Cooley. It’s still the same. |
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
The Impasse de l’Eglise near the rue de
l’Eglise. An ebeniste (furniture maker) workshop is at the end of this
charming lane. The colors make me
think of the south of France.
L’Argument, a new brasserie at 121 rue de la Convention.
Dessert pastries at Le Tipaza.
Skylight
in the middle dining room at Le Tipaza. |
