Insights from my First Visit to Paris!!!

#44 - Insights from my First Visit to Paris!!!

At the end of 2018 my wife and I sat down and said that travel was going to be a priority moving forward. We did very little of it growing up, and we wanted it to be a big part of our son's life. So we looked at the calendar, picked some dates, and booked our trip. Obviously food is a big part of my life, and so dining would be a big part of the trip. But still I was blown away by the experience. And so on this week's episode I'm sharing eight Insights from my 8-day vacation in Paris!

1. The merchants in the small specialty shops and the waiters who take care of us in restaurants were eager to engage with each and every customer.
2. Everyone in those shops were so knowledgable and passionate, eager to share that passion with us.
3. A Michelin Star carries much more weight over there than it does here in the United States.
4. Most of the high-end restaurants survive on 1 seating a night, compared to her in America where we need 2 or more.
5. Word of mouth was a key way that we chose restaurants.
6. Very few restaurants had bars.
7. All of the reservation systems were glitchy and confusing
8. The wait staff at each and every restaurant went above and beyond to make our 4-year-old comfortable.

ASSIGNMENT: 

Part 1 - Dine at a brand new restaurant sometime this week -- even just a sandwich shop -- and take stock of everything. Check the website before you go and see what you learn from it. Call them ahead of time and ask some questions. Scout out the neighborhood, the block, the front door and see if you would go in as a tourist. Grade the meal, and think about whether you would recommend it to a friend or a co-worker. What would you say about it? Then Part 2 - Do this same exercise with your own restaurant and try to be as honest as possible.

Our Paris recommendations: 

• Cafe Constant - 139 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, FR
• Les Cocottes - 135 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, FR
• Le Violon d'Ingres - 135 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, FR
• Le George - Four Seasons George V, 31 Avenue George V, 75008 Paris, FR
• Restaurant Pirouette - 5 rue Mondétour, 75001 Paris, FR
• Jacques Genin - 133 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris, FR
• Poilâne Bakery - 38 Rue Debelleyme, 75003 Paris, FR
• Cave Vino Sapiens - 145 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, FR
• Lastre Sans Apostrophe - 188 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, FR
• Les Petits Domaines - 208, rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, FR

GET IN TOUCH: 

As always, if you have questions or ideas about future episodes, please reach out... [email protected]