While I was in Paris, I actually went on a date with someone. The most ridiculous meet-cute you’d ever hear (waiting in line to buy fruit on Rue Cler, someone began chatting with me and he offered to show me around the next day; it turned out he’s a former chef under one of the rare MOF… I don’t know how these things happen to me, but it was cute!), so we met up the next day after I visited Notre Dame and we started with lunch at a random cute cafe nearby. Especially when he explained that this type of food is his regional specialty…
Crepes.
Time to share a little bit more about me: I don’t like crepes. I really dislike pancakes about 90% of the time, and I always want crepes to be crispier counterparts to pancakes, and they just never are. I received a lot of recommendations to have crepes in Paris and I just smiled politely and demurred. But when someone has offered to show you around and seems excited to have you sample crepes from his region of origin… you just do it.
And I’m glad I did.
My new friend laughed at me for ordering coffee, but as I explained – I hadn’t had anything to eat that morning yet, and I wanted caffeine, PLUS I love coffee in Europe. It just feels and tastes right with no other addition. He ordered cider, saying that was traditional to have with crepes. I let him choose which crepes…
I didn’t take a picture of his crepes, but mine were actually gizzards, I believe. I didn’t expect to like them so much – it tasted very meaty, slightly fattier, but there was no funky taste of which to speak. The crepe itself was also very tasty, crisp, buckwheat, and just super tasty. I was into it, quite a bit! I would totally eat that again.
We also ordered a salad, because I like vegetables, but I was too full to eat more than just a little bit of this. Our service was awful – our server routinely ignored us, and lunch took well over 2 hours. By the end, I was antsy and trying to get up and leave, but my friend told me to relax and that this is just the pace of Paris. You linger. I’m sorry, I’m fine with lingering sometimes, but in this case it was really uncomfortable to sit for 2+ hours for some crepes… I just… it’s too long! Lunch should not take 2 hours on a regular basis!
In any case, despite the poor service, I thoroughly enjoyed our meal and sitting outside – there’s a fountain and a lot of funky artwork in the fountain – was a lovely experience.
Merci, mon nouvel ami, pour la dejeuner!
2 rue Brisemiche
Paris, FR
Creperie Beauborg
Janine says
I think I would’ve gotten the cute date thing if I knew, for the life of me, what MOF is…and why it’s rare. But I like the whole idea of the date.
You need to learn some patience girl. And remember, waiters in France suck, they aren’t our counterparts here in America. that work for tips and will suck a** to get them. [As I once did.] They don’t have to accommodate or adjust their service according to the patron, like we did. Just like people who work a 9-fiver in the states for minimum don’t give a care, waiters in France work for a set wage and could care less. They get through the day and get out.
I have heard this from everyone, almost, that visits Paris – and it saddens me that Americans expect our way of living to translate to other countries and by virtue, when it doesn’t, they feel the experience is taken down a notch.
Feisty Foodie says
Actually the cute part is just that he used to be a chef… the MOF just makes it cooler, but it’s not really relevant to the cute part!
I hear what you are saying, but as my other posts mention, I dealt just fine with the meh service at other places in Paris. There’s service that is just service for a job’s sake, and then there’s downright bad service. This place was downright bad service – or really, lack of service at all, which I didn’t experience at the other places. Several tables were seated and eventually left from not getting any service. My date also commented multiple times on the bad service, so I hardly think it’s my entitled American attitude that causes me to think that he was not a good server.
I’m sorry that I “sadden” you, but I don’t think you are reading my post accurately. This was bad service – paid living wages or not, it was simply bad and occasionally nonexistent service.
I Just Want To Eat says
Hi Yvo, glad you liked the crepe. Based on the color on the plate, it is a galette that is a bit different from a crepe, although we call it this way. A galette is made with buckwheat while a crepe is made with flour. The taste is also different, the galette being saltier. The galette is also slightly crispy. I wish I could find a place in NY that serves galette! If you know any, let me know!
JP
Feisty Foodie says
So glad I have you to add information, JP! It was definitely a buckwheat crepe, as my friend told me. I did not realize it had a different name when it is made with buckwheat, nor that I would like it so much more. That is excellent news!
Regarding NY galette/buckwheat crepe, yes, definitely: this small bar next to the St. Mark’s Theater at 80 St. Mark’s (don’t know the name) which friends tell me have the best crepes in NYC, or By Suzette which is downtown both make and serve buckwheat crepes. I cannot say if they are good as I never order crepes when I go out, but please try them out and let me know your thoughts – maybe I will go! Thanks again 🙂
I Just Want To Eat says
Hi Yvo,
I’ll check that out. I went to Bar Suzette and it was definitely crepes and not galette. Let the quest begin!
JP