Gabrielle

THE 9 YEAR OLD IS NOW 15 AND HAS A 7 1/2 YEAR OLD BROTHER... John, Imagine both my surprise and delight to find my original thread here along with yours added. It sounds as if you had a marvelous time with your grandkids...and I love your suggestions...especially Breizh Cafe (which I'd be interested with or without kids...) and Le Souffle. After too many years...I will be returning to Paris towards the end of March with my husband, my now 15 year old daughter and will be 7 1/2 year old son in tow. We are renting an apartment for one week through Paris for Rent in the 3rd...Metro-Arts et Metiers, a bit to the north of the Pomipidou -5 minutes or so. I am thrilled to have the kitchen...it will be great to be able to make coffee, get some bread and make tartines, etc. We'll probably eat some dinners in as well-purchasing from the markets...(which will not only be fun for me...but I think great for the kids to see...) but make lunch the main meal of the day usually. I have copies of both Edible Adventures in Paris and Hungry for Paris sitting here in front of me...and I'm going to read your 2009 reviews. My daughter will eat anything save offal and my son is really very good for a 7 1/2 year old...not only is he pleasant and somewhat mellow...he will happily eat a steak, a piece of fish, and so as long as we don't do anything terrifically exotic-although he likes couscous-I'd like to do Morrocan (he also like sushi but we can too easily do that at home)...he'll be good at most of the places I'd choose...(I'm not sure we can do Ze Kitchen Galerie-which I'd have love to have tried..we'll see-I'll have to look again...) Anyhow while I'm looking up to make a short list of places I'd like us to try...obviously no three stars...I'd love it if someone might have some good suggestions for markets and bakeries in the 3rd-or relatively near we are staying... Thanks so much, Gabrielle

John we are indeed back . We had an absolutely fabulous time! We had absolutely glorious weather-sunny and the temp reached 60F (help celcius conversion?) daily. It only drizzled lightly one afternoon. I'm going to write up more about my trip under the hostess gift question I had posed as soon as I get an opportunity. (What a fabulous Day that was!) Anyway here is a list in response to what non food things my daughter enjoyed the most, in no particular order: -The Opera Garnier (she takes ballet and has studied some of the Impressionists, Degas being one of them-so this was special to her.) -which is probaby why the Orsay was her favorite museum-she got to see Degas's The Little Dancer in person. (Good picture book-Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt-she got this several years ago and it is just a charming story) She also likes Monet and Van Gogh. Something I read, suggested when taking children to museums-allow them to go into the Museum gift shop first and select some postcards of artwork they like so they can find it in the museum. This has worked really well for us. -she also wanted to see the Mona Lisa but thought it "strange" that people were running to get to it and ignoring other beautiful paintings along the way-(from the mouths of babes.) -Here's a shock-she enjoyed the Eiffel Tower immensely, but she also enjoyed the view from the top of Notre Dame. The view is stunning, the gargoyles, "cool" and the approximately 300 stair climb, quite the adventure. (Have to admit this is also probably my favorite view-something romantic, almost intimate about it. -She loved the Jardin du Luxembourg and was dissapointed we were in and out so quickly-this being the one afternoon it drizzled. -She also enjoyed walking around the 6th, looking in windows, seeing the Place Furstemberg which she thought was "so cute". -She also really liked the Place des Vosges and thought it was really cool that she could understand the parents speaking to their little ones-she studies French once weekly at the Alliance Francaise-playing since they speak more slowly. She also liked being able to read some things on menus and order. -She liked the 3rd and 4th quartiers. We stayed in the 4th right on the Ile St. Louis and began to think of this as her "neighborhood". (The nightly Berthillion ice cream didn't hurt either.) As above enjoyed the Place des Vosges, the Musee Carnavalet (sp?), (I know we aren't talking food but), the Moroccan lunch that day, the goings on outside the Pompidou including the "awesome sculpture fountain." -The Ponts Vendettes which you take from the Pont Neuf were also a big hit-the views are fabulous and you get to see all the great bridges. -The day out in the country which I'll write about later was also a big hit-not the least of which has to do with seeing her friend. Overall, she loved Paris-though it was beautiful, full of awesome things to see and do, had great food-and get this-thinks it great to eat so slowly-why do we do this at home and school? (She's always been a slow eater-used to only get a third of her lunch finished at school until she learned the great American sport of speed eating). It was a fabulous trip and we are all still having symptoms of withdraw.

We're off tommorrow night! I wanted to thank everyone for some really great ideas. I just had a couple of last minute questions. Does anyone know the current hours for Cafe Constant-I've found conflicting info and we'd like to try it one day. My husband, daughter and I had been planning to go to Cap Vernet for lunch but found out they were closed on Sunday. Any other ideas in the 1st or 8th? Have read conflicting reports on L'Ardoise-especially about closet like basement. Suggestion? Gabrielle

I need advice about French social conventions. I just found out we will be meeting more relatives that I previously anticipated. We will be visiting several families in the country and riding out from Paris with a cousin. I am so grateful to have so many wonderful suggestions because as it turns out we will be visiting not only my friend's aunt for lunch at her home but in the afternoon, an uncle's house for tea as well. My friend has given me the itinerary, and a wonderful day is planned. Her family is being incredibly gracious. A cousin is going down for lunch from Paris also and is going to meet us at the train station in the morning. We are going to be met by my friend (direct train to Rambouillet) and her husband and children and tour the town and Saturday market before going to her aunt's house for lunch. We will then be going to a Chateau (Chateau de Breteuil) were there are waxworks inspired by the works of Charles Perrault (Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, etc. which should be fun for the children. We are then going to an Uncle's home, where we have been invited for tea. I'm not sure if I'm overly caffeinated this morning or terrified of committing some horrible faux pas but I'm oddly nervous. I speak a little French of which has come in handy if only because of the sympathy garnered by those who have had to listen to it. I feel confident that my child is well mannered, my husband unerringly polite as I hope am I. For some reason I feel I am representing not just myself and my family but the honor of my country (Hum-I wonder why I feel that way? ) So now I ask, in addition to all of the wonderful suggestions about hostess gifts, do I need to know anything about conventions or customs that I might be unaware of? SOS, S'il vous plait! Gabrielle

Thanks for so many fabulous ideas. I enjoyed many of your suggestions and will certainly be using some of them. This board is certainly visited by a delightful group of individuals. It might have simplified things if I had mentioned I am an East Coaster, living right outside of Philadelphia, the cradle of the USA if you will-sorry Boston. While we have many fine, fabulous chefs and restaurants-neither wine nor syrup are local exports-although we have certainly vacationed in Vermont, having family in New Hampshire. Somehow, I'm not sure that soft pretzels or cheese steaks would hit the right note. Happily however you have given me quite a bit to be going on. Thank you.

Thanks for all the suggestions re:dining with a child and hostess gift so far-they are greatly appreciated. I was wondering if any one could give me any comments specifically on Au Bon Accueil and L'Affriole. Both have been given thumbs up by P. Wells. Based on my reading, both seem to offer pleasant, charming dining expreriences? Comments? And, Although I am totally confident of her manners, would either be more welcoming to a 9 year old? Additionally, I have found very little in the way of anecdotal info on Guy Savoy's Cap Vernet. Has anybody been there? Is this a good choice or is one of his other BabyBs a better choice? (Been to Bookinistes back in 1998-ouch). Any and all opinions appreciated. Thank you. Gabrielle

Forgot to ask this in my previous post but what would be an appropriate gift to take to my friend's aunt as a hostess gift. She lives a half hour outside of Paris. My friend and her family will be in Francr at the same time I will be and her Aunt has graciously asked us to come for lunch. We will be taking a train from Montparnasse-about 1/2 hour trip from Paris. Are flowers, chocolate or something from home most appropriate? If flowers-any taboos? If chocolate-is there anything specific the French go mad for? Please advise

First Post here-great site! My husband, daughter and I will be going to Paris in 10 days for a week. My husband and I have been there twice without her so dining this time will be different-we'll definately be eating earlier 7:30, when possible. She is out of her mind with excitement, is actually an amazingly good eater and well mannered so I'm not hestitant to take her too many places. She has liked all the "basic" French food she's encountered including escargots, crepes, moules, steak-frites, most cheese except for blues, and the myriad of desserts she has encountered. She'd love to try a souffle. We will be meeting friends with family there who have family in the country for Saturday lunch and again in Paris for sightseeing on Tuesday. (They have 2 children.) We have lunch reservations at the incredibly touristy Altitude 95. I'm not expecting much of the food but we have a window table so the view should be good. So I'm beating around the following ideas for Friday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. We are trying to eat well reasonably. Friday- hot chocolate/tea pastry at Lauduree Dinner-Fish (6)-thought it would be good, relaxing and able to get glasses of wine first night instead of committing to whole bottles. Saturday-Day in country Sunday-Lunch at Cap Vernet (8). Guy Savoy's BB's offer something special for children's lunch on weekends. Althought she doesn't need to do "children's"-might make her feel special. (Butte Chaillot (16) does something as well.) Monday-Lunch at 404 (4) for Morrocan. Dinner-La Cigale (7) Souffle Opportunity? Tuesday-Altitude 195 for Lunch in the Eiffel Tower Wednesday-Dinner at Au Bon Accueil (7), also considering La Rotisserie D'en Face and La Bastide Odeon (6) We're staying on the Ile St. Louis. Any suggestion or input is appreciated including good places for light food like salads, sandwiches and crepes. I don't want to miss any good food opportunity in Paris no matter how small.