DAY 6 - Exercise, food tour and more food!

Today is all about the FOOD!  We are going on walking food tour with Wendy Lyn (The Paris Kitchen). I think I've been looking forward to this part of the trip the most!  We meet Wendy at 11AM, in the 5th Aron (Latin Quarter), and she'll take us to fromageries and patisseries/boulangeries as well as a farmer's market to discuss how to order things, what's good, where to go etc.  She also has an insider's view of the best restaurants in Paris and has been invaluable to me in planning where we are going to dine.

We end the tour at a wine bar!  Looking so forward to L’Avant Comptoir (you can see more of it on an episode of Anthony Bourdain's visit to Paris)!

Then this evening we have reservations at FRENCHIE!  It's THE hottest ticket in town to get a reservation to - supposed to be a very fun dining experience.

Bon Appetit!!!

But first, the Bogues need exercise to be happy! Heading out for early morning exercise from our flat toward Tuileries Gardens:

A post run spot:

A must needed run after all the croissants (and wines too...)!

About to cross the Pont Royal by the Louvre...

Showered up and headed out to meet Wendy Lyn:

At the Maubert-Mutualitie stop to meet Wendy

The markets: poison, bucherie, charcuterie, fromanger, vins, boulanger et patisserie.  There were also stalls selling gorgeous scarves (yes, Caroline and I bought a couple), hats, fresh fruits and vegetables and more.

Gold metal foie gras from Bourdeau: OMG! We got to sample the most amazing foie gras that was award winning.  Helene makes this foie gras and travels to Paris every Saturday.  We met her son who happily let us try samples.  You have no idea....

Next up: Fresh olives (which we took some samples with us for a picnic later)

Such a beautiful display:

Sampling and picking out olives:

Laurent Dubois - outstanding cheeses.  Actually THE best. Our cheese tour with a MOF fromager:

Outside the fromager with our adorable new friend Wendy:

Wendy took us on a tour of the cheeses, sampling along the way.  Really amazing.  Buying cheese in the US will never be the same...

 le fromage

Put the money in the tray - do not hand it directly to the shop owner!

Next stop - wine bar!

Hitting the streets to walk to L'avant Comptoir with Wendy:

We arrive at L'Avant Comptoir! It's a totally nondescript place owned by Yves Camdeborde located behind a curtain of sorts behind a crepe stand.  He owns Le Comptoir next door that is a packed restaurant.

A pic of the outside:

There's a long line of people waiting for crepes when we arrive, say, "Pardon" and go through the mystery curtain with a pig painted on it to find THE gem of Paris - L'avant Comptoir!

Perhaps the best food we had during our 9 days abroad! Anthony Bourdain went there on one of his trips to Paris (http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/the-layover/travel-guides/40-hours-in-paris-travel-guide).

The hanging signs on the ceiling of their dishes.  If there's a clip on one, then that means that dish is out of season.

So thrilled to finally meet this woman! And the bar - communal Poujaruran bread with freshly churned Bordier butter - just. shut. up.

The list of producers of their food and wines - only natural i.e. the best. The menu on a chalk board:

le jambon  - - - - hard to get a good pic here, but there is a large ham that they shave fresh for you.  On the platter is the name of the person that they got the ham from.  Again, a theme here - only the best.

Yeah - we're having fun....

Awaiting our "tastings" - do you like sweet? dry? fruit? stone?

My favorite:

Today's menu:

squid with roasted red peppers - and the best butter we've ever tasted (freshly churned, naturally) with the best bread of course.

oysters with vinegar

Le foie gras hot dog - are you kidding me???? Can't describe in words how wonderful this "hot dog" was.  Obscenely delicious, and apologies to Yves, it's a bad picture.  But trust me, it was amazement!

Gaufre, crème d'artichaut et jambon d'Ibaïona   ----- a waffle topped with artichoke spread (the artichoke was in the ground yesterday) and (fresh) prosciutto - MIGHT have been our favorite:

A view of the "curtain" from inside the wine bar.  No taking wine out of the bar.

A sample of le jambon

Really regret not buying a jar of this:

 Beef! Fresh beef that was ridiculous---Tartare de boeuf et crumble de chèvre:

Cornichons and onions in a jar for you to nibble on along the way:

Another shot of le foie gras hotdog:

Prosciutto and artichoke on a waffle:

Today was one of THE most amazing experiences ever! Wendy just spent so much time with us (after breaking her foot 2 weeks ago no less) going over how to order cheese and bread and what and which restaurants to look for if you are a "foodie" - which she says 90% of the French are NOT.

She was so much fun and we had some of the best food maybe I've ever tasted.  Now we're back to the flat to  rest up a smidge before heading out again.

What an afternoon....