In Philly, we say "bougie" not "bobo".


Thin

Bourguignon is real peasant food because you are supposed to use the very cheapest and toughest pieces of beef and simmer them until they surrender.

Yes, it's always the toughest cows in the pasture - you get to know them when they're in the fields in the summer because they have an insouciant air and all the other cows leave them alone - and when you cook them it takes them hours, sometimes days, to get chewable.

I am going to make Ina Garten's recipe for it out of Barefoot in Paris. Julia's recipe is so complicated. I also had the Flemish stew in Lille. That was excellent.

Winter comfort food.

Actually, another mistake that a lot of people make with boeuf bourguignon, is to use "good" red wine. There is no such thing as good red wine when you are simmering something for 3 or 4 hours. Cheap chunks of beef, cheap wine. That's the whole point of the dish. And you don't have to use burgundy -- Spanish merlot or even Algerian Sidi Brahim will elicit spectacular results.

The whole base for boeuf bourgignon is a tough old piece of beef and some bad wine. It's been glorified into something ridiculously Frenchified. It's peasant food. Tastes great,, though.

Loving this TPAYT - please keep going! I will probably not be back in Paris until April, so living vicariously here!

Love cooking peasant food, and boeuf bourgignon is one of my strengths.

In Madrid last month, I discovered 'Asturian bean and pork stew' and cooked it when I came home. Delicious!

Regards … Ger

Sigh.... looks beautiful! What a wonderful way to spend a week in winter!

Please keep going! One question, did you have reservations for your lunches? I'm learning for paris on Saturday the 29th, and so far my sister and I only have reservations for new year's eve.

Sunday.....a day to wander & shop. First we were off to a shop I had seen on Rue Buci, Nina Kendosa. They had some soft sweaters at reasonable prices. 3 scarves, a sweater, a shirt all very nice.
Next was the flower & bird market on Ile de Cite. So pretty, flocked Xmas trees next to fresh tulips and other colorful flowers, birds chirping in their cages. A few photos and small Xmas items didn’t
dent the budget at all.

A walk down Ile St. Louis and a stop at Diwaki scarf shop. In the past we bought many scarves here. This time they were all too sparkled or shiny, or thin. On to 78ISL. 4 scarves....yea! We always bring home scarves for gifts. They are easy to pack and always appreciated. This shop had some beauties, also sweaters, handbags, etc. Having rented apts. many times on the isle we knew it would be worth a stop at some of our favorite shops.

Across the river to the right bank, down Rue de Rivoli for a few more stops. Time for a bite to eat, something easy, not fancy. You can’t get “less fancy” than a burger & fries at The Meating Corner at 12 Rue des Lombards. Yes, I know it’s Paris with so many wonderful food choices BUT these burgers & fries are sooooo good and we had more shopping to do so wanted something quick. The pedestrian streets around this area are full of restaurants to try.

Les Halles was our next stop. We hadn’t been here in a few years. It was a mess when they were redoing it. Now it’s beautiful and has stores galore. I won’t go into detail but fun place to shop.
Time for a rest before dinner.

If it’s Sunday, it must be Marco Polo at 8 Rue de Cond� in the 6th.
So many Paris visits, so many dinners at Marco Polo. In recent years it’s always on a Sunday night because that’s the night Mr. Albano is there to greet you. He always welcomes “Mr. Payton from Chicago” with open arms. Now I’m sure he really doesn’t remember us as we are only there once or twice a year, but it’s fun to pretend we are regular customers.
The decor of Marco Polo is quite charming and the food delicious. Tomato mozzarella salad, meat pasta and truffle pasta, wine, cappuccino, and dessert 97 Euros.

After dinner we walked past Notre Dame for some photos of the lit up Xmas tree and boats on the river.

Flwrhead.....we did have reservations for a few dinners and only the lunch at Le Grand Colbert.
i don’t think they were needed for most places. I don’t know if it was the protests going on or just less tourists in winter. I guess it depends where you want to dine. If a particular place is in mind I think I would reserve. La Jacobine is always busy, lunch & dinner. We just lucked out getting in there. In years past we tried without a reservation but couldn’ t get in but that was in either June or Sept.

One more day.....

Les Halles

Flower Market

Marco Polo

Notre Dame

Love your photos! Thank you.

The decorations at the Forum des Halles were much better this year than in the previous two years.

Ooops! Typo....of course it’s Dawali with an L not a K

Are you sure it's not Diwali?

Our last day, blue skies, moderate temperatures, more shopping. We took the Metro to Galeries Lafayette. When getting on the Metro we are always a bit surprised by the politeness of teens who will get up and offer us their seat. Sadly, this is not the usual actions of teens in the US.

Galeries was at its Christmas best.