Le Bambou

If you know us, you know that we love pho. And though we can find great pho at home, we also had to explore the other side of the pho equation -- its French origins.

Our first stop was to Le Bambou in Paris' Chinatown. It was very strange how this restaurant felt both familiar and foreign at the same time...like Vietnamese spoken with a French accent. 

Familiar -- the veggie plate / Foreign -- mint instead of basil, lemon instead of lime

Familiar -- hot pot of jasmine tea / Foreign -- champagne-lychee aperitif 

Familiar -- noodles and beef / Foreign -- a murky, sweet broth and shaggy tangle of scallions 

We're not sure if Le Bambou's pho was some variation that we're not aware of, but it didn't quite hit the spot. However, it was solid and warmed us up on a chilly night. If this was the worst we could do in Paris, it wasn't too shabby at all. 

Creme Caramel in a Jar | Gu Banoffee | Bonne Maman Yaourt

The grocery stores in Paris were insane. Every single aisle was packed with the most delicious-looking food...it was very difficult to resist buying one of everything. 


Our favorite items to ogle were the refrigerated desserts usually be found near the yogurt/dairy products. Where you would normally find a meager selection of Jell-o and pudding cups in the U.S., we found an extensive selection of mousses, pot de creme, creme caramel, flan, creme brulee, etc. We couldn't resist trying:


Creme Caramel
We don't remember the brand, but this adorable glass jar held a much better pre-made grocery store creme caramel than many of the pricey restaurant versions we'd tried at home.

Gu Banoffee
We couldn't quite tell what this was just by looking at the package, but we could tell it would be delish. Inside were layers of buttery crust, chocolate ganache, creamy filling, banana and caramel. It was over-the-top rich and sweet. 

Bonne Maman Yaourt
Amid all the indulgences, we made an attempt at being healthy. Little did we know, this yogurt is also delicious. It was smooth and silky with a chunky, not-too-sweet berry layer on the bottom...and only 2% milkfat!

Sometimes we wish we could find these delicious desserts more easily at home. But, actually, it's a good thing we can't...because it would be devastating for our waistlines. 

Kinder Chocofresh

We became huge fans of Kinder Bueno White during our trip to Italy, so when we came across its cousin in Paris, we couldn't resist trying it. 

A thin chocolate shell filled with a very milky hazelnut cream

This was delicious, but we missed the crumbly wafer shell. And, Chocofresh has to be kept refrigerated...making it harder to sneak back home in one's suitcase. 

La Galette des Moulins

Picnicking at Sacre-Coeur is one of those quintessential Paris experiences, so we relished every moment of touristy goodness. 

It was a pleasant uphill walk from the subway to Sacre-Coeur, though we got a little sidetracked.

After refocusing, we stopped by La Galette des Moulins, which seems like a clever play on the nearby windmill. It was quite crowded with tourists, but had all the fixins for a picnic lunch. 

This girl was complaining about the prices

After finding an open spot on the steps of Sacre-Coeur, we settled down with our loot. 

There was nothing extraordinary about our picnic -- just simple sandwiches, cheap wine, droves of tourists and a hazy view of the city -- and yet it was still magical. A quintessential Paris experience indeed!

Laduree

We really didn't get what all the fuss over macarons is all about. Sure, they're cute and come in fun colors, but they also tend to be overly sweet and a bit dusty.


Thank goodness Laduree gave us a little context.

The patisserie is like a jewelry store -- elegant, with beautiful displays. Choosing macarons is like picking out little gems...and these babies practically cost as much, too!

But once you take a bite, you understand what the macaron is all about -- light yet chewy, and bursting with flavor.

Our faves were the cassis and salted caramel. The tartness and saltiness, respectively, tempered the sweetness of the macaron so well.


Tip: Even though it may be difficult to refrain from inhaling every single macaron as soon as the box lands in your hands, they only keep for a few days. So, if you want to bring some home, buy them on your last day (or at the airport - CDG will have them).

Le Relais L'Entrecote

We arrived in Paris a hungry and a little groggy. After getting our bearings, we set out to do a little exploring and find some dinner.


We wanted to kick off our trip with some traditional steak frites, and the institution that is Le Relais L'Entrecote didn't disappoint. Not only did we love the food, but the charming way in which it's served.


They don't take reservations, so don't be surprised if there's a long line outside.

The waitresses look adorable in their black-and-white uniforms. Once you're seated, they'll simply ask you, "Rare, medium, or well?" and then jot it down on your tablecloth.  

A few moments later, bread and a lightly dressed salad appears...a meal in and of itself.

Then comes the piece de resistance...a heaping platter of steak covered in a buttery mustard sauce, accompanied by a mountain of the best fries ever.

Once you've finished your plate, you'll be stuffed...but it's not over yet. Because the other half of your steak, swimming in that savory sauce, has been keeping warm over some tealights at a nearby station.

Your waitress will promptly return with hot seconds of meat and another batch of fries fresh from the kitchen. You'll wonder how you could possibly finish it all...and yet it somehow disappears.

Tuesday Enchilada Night

It was really easy to throw together this hot, fresh and healthy dinner in just an hour. There are plenty of great enchilada recipes out there, so, rather than reinvent the wheel, we'll just share our shortcuts:

- Make the salad first — It was simply canned black beans, tomatoes, celery, white onion and lime juice. Since those ingredients don't wilt, we made the salad first then stick it in the fridge so the flavors could mingle.

- Use healthy leftovers for the filling — We shredded white meat chicken and frozen spinach.

- Layer, don't roll — Rolling the filling with the tortillas takes more time than layering lasagna-style.

- Healthy substitutions are easy — Use low-sodium canned beans for the salad. Keep the filling light by using lean meat and/or lots of veggies — like spinach, corn, mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, etc. Use less cheese and get your flavor from a really good sauce. Garnish with a dollop of lowfat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for probiotic, protein-packed creaminess.