I've been told that it's hard to find good "veggie" food in paris, has anyone got any recommendations. <BR>thanks

<BR> <BR>(I'm afraid people will start to think I work for Lonely Planet but I *swear* I do not!) <BR> <BR>I find that the Lonely Planet guides devote *much* more attention to vegetarian food than any other guidebook I've used; you may want to pick one up or even just flip through it in a bookstore. <BR> <BR>I'll mention (though you've probably already thought of it, as it's a coping technique for vegetarians everywhere), that non-Western foods often have a lot more to offer in the veggie department, so check all your guidebooks for Indian food, Vietnamese, etc. I've heard/read that the Belleville-Menilmontant area has a wide selection of non-Western restaurants, but you may find it out-of-the way if you're focusing, like most people do, on the "single-digit" arrondissements during your trip. <BR> <BR>Unfortunately I can't make personal recommendations as I'm of the flesh-eating persuasion, but I have lots of vegetarian lunch-mates so I'm sympathetic to your cause. <BR> <BR>Good luck to you! <BR> <BR> - Quicksilver -

First, any restaurant will prepre a vegetarian meal for you. Just tell them. Second, if you eat fish, there are always at least a couple of fish choices offered. Third, here are a bunch of strictly vegetarian restaurants: <BR>Le Bol en Bois <BR>35, rue Pascal <BR>75013 <BR>Tel: 01-47-07-27-24 <BR> <BR>Les Quatre et Une Saveurs <BR>72, rue du Cardinal Lemoine <BR>750005 <BR>Tel: 43-26-88-80 <BR> <BR>La Fermette d'Olivier <BR>40, rue du Fauborg Monmartre <BR>75009 <BR>Tel: 01-47-70-06-88 <BR> <BR>Grain de Folie <BR>24, rue Vieuville <BR>75018 <BR>Tel: 01-42-58-15-57 <BR> <BR>Le Montalembert <BR>3, rue Montalembert <BR>75007 <BR>Tel: 45-48-68-11 <BR> <BR>Nicelio <BR>157, rue Amelot <BR>Tel: 01-43-38-26-48 <BR>75011 <BR> <BR>Piccolo Teatro <BR>6, rue des Ecouffes <BR>75004 <BR>Tel: 01-42-72-17-79 <BR> <BR>Le Grenier De Notre Dame <BR>18 rue Bucherie <BR>75005 <BR>Tel: 01-43-29-98-29 <BR> <BR>Entre Ciel et Terre <BR>5 rue Herold <BR>Tel:01-45-08-49-84 <BR> <BR>La Victoire Supreme du Coeur <BR>41 rue Bourdonnais <BR>Tel:01-40-41-93-95 <BR> <BR>Les Quatre et Une Saveurs <BR>72 Rue de Cardinal Lemoine. <BR> <BR>Entre Ciel et Terre <BR>5 Rue Hérold <BR>75001 <BR>Tel: 01-45-08-49-84 <BR> <BR>Aquarius <BR>54 Rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie <BR>75004 <BR>Tel: 48-87-48-71 <BR> <BR>Piccolo Teatro - 4e <BR>6 rue des Ecouffes <BR>75004 <BR>Tel: 01-42-72-17-79 <BR> <BR>Le Grenier de Notre Dame <BR>18 Rue de la Bucherie <BR>75005 <BR>Tel: 01-43-29-98-29 <BR> <BR>La Petite Légume <BR>36 rue des Boulangers <BR>75005 <BR>Tel: 01-40-46-06-85 <BR> <BR>Aquarius <BR>40 rue Gergovie <BR>75014 <BR>Tel: 01-45-41-36-88 <BR> <BR>The Dietetic Shop <BR>11 Rue Delambre <BR>75014 <BR>Tel: 01-43-35-39-75 <BR> <BR>Au Grain de Folie <BR>24 Rue de la Vieuville <BR>75018 <BR>Tel: 01-42-58-15-57 <BR>For more go to: www.anamericaninparis.com <BR>[email protected] <BR>

Are you familiar with the Vegetarian Pages on the web? (www.veg.org) well, it's a very thorough resource and has listings of veg. restaurants throughout the world. They are now working on it so it's down, but the old list for Paris veg. restos is still on the web at: //old.veg.org/Guide/France/Paris.html <BR>

Avec vous de plat vegetarian?

One of the advantages of a vegetarian eatery is that they often forbid smoking as well. Try Sandra Gustafson's book "Cheap Eats in Paris" for a few ideas. The Louvre Carousel had some good food choices, and if you're in a hurry or on a budget (or both), try shopping at the local indoor or outdoor markets for produce, bread, cheese, yogurt, etc... Paris has all kinds of food stands on the streets where you can purchase delicious crepes or veggie sandwiches, and again, if tobacco smoke is an issue for you, eating outside will help you avoid it. Hope this gives you a few ideas.

Derek, <BR>There is a timely and lengthy article in the first section of the New York Times of Friday, February 9. Alain Passard, chef of the Michelin three starred restaurant Arpege on Paris’ rue de Grenelle has converted his menu exclusively to vegetarian dishes. The article mentions that Mr. Passard’s “establishment is of course no conventional veggie place with heaps of rice and lentils. Lunch costs around $100 and a 10 course dinner close to $200. Invariably full, Arpege has a two-week waiting list.” <BR> <BR>Presently on his menu are “poached egg in maple syrup; celeriac with baked chestnut; whipped avocado on smoked herring eggs perfumed with pistachio oil.” <BR> <BR>Bon appetit! <BR> <BR>

lol - delicious <BR> <BR>I am panicking because I'll be in Paris for two weeks next month and I am a veg too. I picture myself eating banana chocolate crepes every meal. Thanks for the great info though. <BR> <BR>I heard that French waiters will not make any changes to a dish on a menu. When my brother was in Paris last year he ordered a Croque Monsieur without ham and the waiter ignored him for forty minutes and finally brought it (with the ham)...and then disappeared again for another 40 minutes. Nightmare. At least I'll have room for dessert if I cannot eat dinner.

Even if the Americans have a point when they contend that " the customer is king", you must remember that food might be the number one sensitive issue in the collective French psyche, and, frankly, a croque-monsieur without ham is like a burger without beef. Rightly or not, some French waiters are very reluctant to change century old dishes whose balance and taste include meat. So, a bit of flexibility on both sides is needed. Anyhow fundamentalist veggies should expect to suffer in Paris, but after all isn't it what they are looking for ?

We had the worst meal of our lives at Le Grenier de Notre Dame a few years ago. It was recommended in, I think, Frommers for an evening when you just wanted to "lighten up" from heavier French food. Scratch that one from your list.

Another place you might try for something quick is the food section of Monoprix -- they serve salads and fresh vegetable and fruit juices. Mediterranean food is also a good choice -- couscous, vegetables, etc.

Try Androuet--this is a restaurant associated with the cheese shop of the same name. You can have the cheese tasting menu as well as order a la carte. It is near the Arc de Triomphe, just off the Champs Elysee.

Just returned from Paris and found veggie food very easy to find. First, there's lots of egg and fish dishes, if you eat those. There's lot of sauted and steamed vegetable, just ask for a plate of vegetables and pasta. There's crepes. And try the ethnic cafes...Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc.

Derek: you will find in any café a dish called "OMELETTE"! Just order it plain (nature); with cheese (au fromage) or with herbs (aux herbes). Generally, it's delicious and will not ruin you. You can also go for a salad to which they might add cheese (often goat/chèvre). Very tasty. You might however find it more difficult in places called "restaurants". But anyway, cafés have hot meals and almost all Dept Stores and museums have nice places where you can help yourself. Believe me, you won't starve in Paris. Here's my top favourite patisserie(+ sandwich)place: Gérard Mulot, Rue de Seine/Rue Lobineau, 6th Arr. (closed on Wednesdays)

I would second the recommendation to look for ethnic restaurants. <BR> <BR>We enjoyed some very good cous-cous dishes when we were there, they are often many vegetarian dishes on the menus, also look for Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai. <BR> <BR>Italian restaurants often offer many veggie pasta dishes and to be honest, these days, many french brasseries offer at least a couple of veggie dishes and i dont just mean omelettes and boiled plain vegetables! <BR> <BR>As for the rude waiter who wouldnt change the croque monsieur, maybe he was just rude, or maybe the request was put rudely, I dont know, maybe he was just having a bad day, but if you show a genuine interest in food and a politeness, it usually works, I often ask for changes in dishes where it is feasible and usually get them. Of course have a thought to whether they are pre prepared. <BR> <BR>It may have been that the croques, if they were a main menu item, were pre put together ready to cook when ordered...

Deena: Just a word about "Androuet": It's not that clsoe to the Champs-Elysées, but on 41,Rue d'Amsterdam, Paris 8th (Métro: Liège). so rather out of your way. It's also quoted one of the best cheese restaurants/cheese shops and mentioned in all European guides. I suppose prices are rather high now. I've been there years ago and it was just too much cheese for me.

Androuet has moved. It is at 6, rue Arsene Houssaye in the 8th. It is the last block before the Arc de Triomphe on the right.