No quest needed and the burning bush

[geordy]

Well you don't go to Paris in Feb. for the weather....

So after the plane delay (but we are all getting a $100.00 voucher! I arrive at RER to paris to find ...delays due to ..."mechanics!" All Trains stopping at all stations and moving slower..pretty crowded.

Arrive at St Michel to a cold, cloudy, dank day...but its Paris!

Head to hotel, meet up with S/O who used his waiting time to do the housekeeping/shopping so we are free to unpack and settle in.

Then it is time to hit the streets and forage for first meal...not looking for much as we have a dinner res at Buisson Ardent.. Fri lunch time so cafes are jumping...walk by a few heading into 6th..then on Rue de Buci I spot it ..there a blackboard lists Brandade as a plat de jour!!! Some of you may recall my Quest for brandade of a previous trip(it is memorialized in a thread by that name if I recall correctly! ) Well ...here it is..first meal at the Cafe de Paris! Okay my experience has shown two types of brandade presentation..some just have it nice and fluffy in a bowl or plate, others brown the top in a shallow casserole...this was the latter.
Actually I prefer the former but it was good, and a good lunch with green salad, bread, and some muscadet on a wintry day!

Just cafe with accompanying biscuit afterwards.

It has gotten sunny and turned into a cold but belle jour! Slow walk back...okay too many folks on St Michel carrying either Starbucks or Paul cardboard coffee cups....feel like I'm still in NYC

Back at hotel...double bubbles! Bath with champagne! Divine after night on plane !

"The Burning Bush" had been on the list for awhile...tried once last Feb but could not get in so made res this time. Perfect experience!
Sleeting when we left hotel but only a few blocks walk. Warmly greeted and shown to a comfy window table. Got the menu with vin which started with coupes de champagne served with a delicious tapenade and mini breadsticks. My starter was an artichoke soup with duck breast, and wild mushrooms...absolutely scrumptious! Then a rich beef stew with root veggies served in cocotte. Dessert...a poached pear filled with gingerbread glace in a caramel sauce....ahhh... just right first night...warm and cozy with delicious food and the company you want.. watching the rain and Paris walking outside the window!

[Shoesy]

Whenever I hear or see the word "brandade", I think of you 'cause I had never heard of it before you wrote about it in that former TR. Still haven't had the opportunity to taste it.

Glad you had a good first dinner. Sounds good.

[PariS]

It's nice to read about the start of your trip, Geordy. Gee, I wonder what you'll spend that voucher on? I too think of you whenever I hear "brandade"--glad you found some right off and didn't have to hunt again.

[Jody]

Sounds good so far, you hit 2 of our favorites on your first day. Cafe De Paris and Buisson ardent. Did you get the waiter at C deP who is a
Frenchman but raised in the US and wnt to U of Tev
xas his English certainly shows Texas !!

Can't wait for more Where did you stay this time?

[mez]

Champagne and a bath - very decadent of you. I had to look up what brandade was but it sounds delicious.

[geordy]

We stayed where we stayed last Feb Hotel Modern St Germain. Convenient, friendly, big bed, safe, mini bar, tub..all we need!

Don't know about the waiter. at Cafe de Paris Jody..think we stuck to French as I didn't even need a menu!

Salted cod and garlic reminds people of me...there are worse things... First time I had it was years ago at a beloved restaurant here, Cafe des Artistes , unfortunately no longer with us. well the space is..it is now an Italian place called The Leopard .. It was a starter and I obviously loved it!

[Steve Alten]

When entering a new field it all begins with the burning desire you have in ... and still put yourself in a stressful position if you need to. ... bush), or perhaps serious health issues which leaves you no choice and insists you make a change.