Christmas in Paris: Food Diary

Paris is one of those places that makes you feel so special when visiting. From the main attractions of the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, there are so many places in Paris that you’d want to visit. But what about restaurants and places to dine? There are so many different cafes, restaurants and bars scattered around the city, it can be quite hard to find the diamonds of them all. From the classic Parisian cafés hidden behind street corners and the breathtaking restaurants and bars that have amazing scenery (and sensational food obviously), there are many places to discover and choose from when visiting Paris. Here are some of the places I was lucky to eat at.

Chez Francis

Chez Francis is a luxurious brasserie that is perfect for night-time dining or even for a first date. Situated on the Brive-la-Gaillarde overlooking a view of the Eiffel Tower, Chez Francis is the perfect place to indulge in classic French dishes. Offering both Breakfast and Dinner, Chez Francis has a super romantic setting with dimmed lighting and deluxe red interior that makes the space very relaxed and inviting and with a gorgeous view, it is somewhere you definitely have to go to when visiting the French capital.

Serving a phenomenal range of seafood, meat and vegan dishes, there is definitely something for everyone to try. From classic french dishes like huitres or escargots, Chez Francis is a perfect place to explore and try new foods. The atmosphere was definitely something to remember as well as the service received, was exceptional.

Chez Francis’ menu was quite small but nevertheless had an exceptional range of different dishes and drinks. I started off with a Christmas favourite, Bailey’s Irish cream, which was served over some ice. The presentation of the drink was definitely a conversation starter as I had never seen anywhere serve a drink like this before but soon I realised it was a great way to serve the Irish cream as it kept the drink super cool and didn’t water down the cream which was amazing.

For mains, I decided to go with the “Salade de chèvre chaud” which is toasted goats cheese with iceberg lettuce, and a side of pomme-frites (French fries). The dishes were gorgeously presented and I thoroughly enjoyed eating them. Despite the salad being a starter, it definitely left me feeling replenished and absolutely overjoyed with the overall experience. I would highly recommend Chez Francis if this is your first time visiting Paris and you want to grab some food with a gorgeous view!

Mama Africa

Located on the Avenue Corentin Cariou, Mama Africa is a great place to grab some food. If you are looking for other culture’s food in Paris, you will not have any problems as scattered throughout the capital, they have some gorgeous restaurants that specialise in just that! Mama Africa is a perfect spot to chill and grab a bite to eat, if you enjoy African food.

Mama Africa offers a range of pan-African dishes in a small but ambient setting on the border of Paris. With many dishes to pick from like the fine selection of grilled meats and fish, Mama Africa is a great place to visit. The atmosphere created is super welcoming and makes you feel comfortable as soon as you arrive at the door.

For mains, I decided to go with the “Poisson braisé” which was gorgeously presented along with a side of plantains, drenched in a rich, delicious sauce. The food was beautifully cooked and maintained all the traditional flavours of the dish. The service was sublime, the atmosphere unpretentious and the staff was very friendly.

Chéri Coco

With many restaurants and brasseries in France mainly serving up meat and fish dishes, I thought it would be worth my while to try out a vegan restaurant whilst I’m there. A close friend and I headed over to Chéri Coco, where they serve up vibrant, afro-vegan food for everyone to indulge in. With a grand selection of different plates and dishes, we were definitely spoiled for choice (The best place for foodies!)

We started off with “Reine Tasi” which is deep-fried, crunchy plantain with a gorgeous vegetable mayonnaise drizzled over. The food here was definitely one to get those much needed Instagram shots as the presentation of the dishes are breathtaking; Everything from the interior of the cafe to the staff serving us was exceptional. I also ordered the soba noodles that were topped with roasted peppers and onions and a gorgeous sauce that was also amazing and full of flavour. It was definitely a great spot to eat, especially for those who are a bit nervous to test vegan food as there is so much to try and fall in love with.

We saved the best until last… Dessert! And we were definitely spoiled with choice. First, I opted for a dome mangue which is a rich chocolate mousse with a mango middle. The presentation of the dish was gorgeous however when I had my first bite, I wasn’t too sure if it was for my taste. I believe if you like fruity desserts with a rich chocolate base, this is definitely something for you to try but not for me. I, instead went for the chocolate brownie that they kindly offered me and I was definitely blown away. With both the edible flowers on top and the gooey chocolate middle, this dessert was absolutely astonishing. The brownie was plated lovely but the taste of the brownie was even better! I highly recommend trying it if you are a chocoholic!

Villa Maasaï

Villa Maasaï is also another great spot to visit when looking for top quality African food in Paris. Around the corner from the Opera de Paris, the Villa Maasaï has an incredible atmosphere; Perfect for meeting up with friends. An extremely decadence setting, which would be perfect for a date; the lighting is low which sets the vibe. With over 300 seats in their restaurant, they are the largest African restaurant in the capital. They offer a range of different services depending on what day of the week it is; Monday to Friday they have an acoustic singer, Saturdays they hold a dinner and dance, and Sunday’s they host their rumba. A beloved spot of some well-known faces and we’ll find out why…

The Villa Maasaï offers a range of halal African inspired small plates, main dishes, desserts and beverages for you to choose from; From the Senegalese Yassa to the classic Braised sole, there are many delicious alternatives for you to pick from. The atmosphere created at Villa Maasaï was truly memorable. On top of the amazing African inspired decor, they play amazing afrobeats that sets the vibe for a relaxing, social environment.

With so many amazing dishes, It was proven very hard to pick which one to go for but eventually, I decided to opt for “Partage Maasaï” for starter which is fried fish along with fried plantains, sweet potato fries and some salad. It was definitely a great way to start my meal as all elements were full of amazing flavours that blend so well together.

After my starter, I then went for the “Mafé Végétarien” which is a gorgeous peanut butter stew that comes with vegetables and white rice. You can, of course, go for a meat option if you prefer, but I decided to go vegetarian for this dish. Despite it having no meat, it retained all the necessary flavours of the plate and tasted divine. I highly recommend the mafe dish if you are looking to visit soon.

Treize au Jardin

Treize au Jardin is a much talked about spot near the Luxembourg gardens, serving up American inspired breakfast, brunch and dinner, all day, every day. A combination of a tea house and a classic restaurant, Treize has a magical atmosphere and brings a unique offering to the streets of Paris. The cafe has an eccentric setting with very distinctive decorations, making it perfect for those Instagram shots.

Perfect for those who love bringing their four-legged friends along, as Treize au Jardin is dog friendly and the staff present are so lovely, not only to us but to our furry friends. They were so thoughtful that they even gave her a bowl of complimentary treats to snack on whilst we delve right into our brunch!

TigerMilk

TigerMilk is a Mexican restaurant chain found around various areas in France and this one, in particular, overlooks a stunning scene of canal St Martin. Another place to grab those Instagram shots as this restaurant is decorated so gorgeously with unique shelving and amazing grand chandeliers.

The menu is crowded with loads of mouthwatering Latin inspired dishes like a range of tacos, quesadillas and burrito bowls, that also have vegetarian options available if needed. This was the perfect place to dine and relax; The setting was tranquil and the staff there were very friendly, as well as super helpful.

We visited Tiger Milk on a Sunday, where they serve their Sunday brunch menu, which has a lovely selection of sweet and savoury Latino breakfast dishes. I opted for the “Big Breakfast Quesadilla” which is made up of tortilla, scrambled egg, cheese sauce, chipotle mayo, salsa and coriander. This was an amazing dish that is perfect for those who like a savoury start to the day. The way they serve up is phenomenal but the taste was even better. The big breakfast quesadilla was filled with amazing flavourings and paired well with a juice.

I then went on to order the “Huevos Rancheros” which was another tortilla dish that came with pico de gallo, guacamole, chipotle cream and salsa verde. This dish was extremely refreshing; A range of different textures from the crunchy tortilla to the sweet and soft pico de gallo. Overall, my experience at Tiger Milk was dazzling; the gorgeous scenery topped it off to make it a visit to remember.

One thing about Paris is that the food is insane! You now know what I discovered when I visited Paris over the Christmas period and boy was it amazing?! Paris is definitely a foodie’s dream. With loads of diverse restaurants, cafes and cuisines, you will have plenty of different options to choose from when you are visiting Paris and if you are not planning on visiting anytime soon, I’m sure you are rethinking that after you have read about these fabulous places that the capital has to offer.