Paris Journal 2012 – Barbara Joy Cooley Home: barbarajoycooley.com
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Now that August is slipping away, we must start making reservations before we go to dinner. I know it is bad, but when we work all day, we don’t want to think about the commitment of a reservation, because we don’t know how we’ll feel when dinnertime comes. Maybe we will want something simple and casual, or maybe we will want fine French cuisine. So we’ve been going with the flow this month. Last month, too, it was impossible to plan ahead because we didn’t know exactly what Dan and the girls would want to do about dinner until the time came. Earlier in July, we did generally make reservations. So at about 6:30PM, we sat down in the living room together and had a brief discussion about where to go for dinner. The decision? La Gitane. Geographically, the restaurant’s location gives us just the right length of walk before and after dinner: not too far, not too close. Gastronomically, the food is always good at La Gitane. We’ve dined at La Gitane so many times, and rarely have we witnessed a mistake, when it comes to the food. Generally, the service and reception are efficient and friendly. Last night, however, when we arrived the woman who has served us often in the past greeted us and asked if we had a reservation. We apologized that we did not, and she said, “Pourquoi?” She was looking around the dining room as she said this, not looking at us, so we just smiled and said nothing in return. She does joke around with us sometimes. She gave us our choice of tables along the right side, but it was clear that she now wants us to make reservations. Okay. Got the message. A Norwegian/Italian family sat at a table near us, and the male server took their order first. We didn’t mind, because we know that children must be fed sooner rather than later. When our turn came, I ordered the day’s special, the rable de lapin (roasted rabbit and vegetables), and Tom ordered the higher quality of the two steaks offered at La Gitane: the cœur de filet. Each of us ordered the muit cuit au chocolat for dessert. Olivier Mayeras, maître restaurateur, arrived while we were near the beginning of our dinner. He immediately saw and recognized us, and gave us a big smile and warm greeting. That made up for the server razzing us about not having made a reservation. The restaurant almost completely filled up. I love the overall look of the locals who dine at La Gitane. They aren’t necessarily all that good looking or fashionable; but they are thoughtfully put together, and they look so darned intelligent. Savvy. That’s what they look like. And somehow they look like they might be more intellectual than the average Parisian. Our dinner was very good. Olivier himself cleared our dessert dishes, and asked us how everything was. “Excellente,” I replied, “comme d’habitude.” He loved that; he gave me a big smile and said “merci, c’est gentil.” As we departed, there was no one to say goodbye to; they were all so busy and occupied, and they were back at the kitchen. Oh well. We turned down the avenue de la Motte-Picquet, and walked home, with that incredible sense of well-being that we have after a fine dinner in Paris. [Note: Do not confuse the restaurant La Gitane, which is on the avenue de la Motte-Picquet, with the bar/tabac called La Gitane, which is not far away, on the boulevard de Grenelle. They are totally different places, not to be compared at all.] |
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Old
neon sign above new awning at the Auberge Bressane on the avenue de la Motte-Picquet.
Rable de lapin, the special of the day at La Gitane.
Cœur de filet steak, fries, salad, and pepper sauce.
Muit cuit au chocolat, with caramel
sauce, at La Gitane. |
