Why Not by Leah Puyat: Eat, Pray, Laugh in France: Part 1

My dear friend Millet Mananquil, Lifestyle Editor of The Philippine Star, (who followed our entire trip through Instagram) thinks there is no better way to describe my latest visit to France but to call it "Eat, Pray, Laugh". It was so amazing that we took way too many photos, and I'll be dividing my blog post into three!

The Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world!

The famous Arch de Triomphe

First stop: Paris, Eat! As Audrey Hepburn said, “Paris is always a good idea.” What could be better than seeing the renowned Eiffel Tower everywhere you go? Paris’ architecture and culture is just unbelievable. And don’t even get me started on fashion! It is not known as among the fashion capitals of the world for nothing!

But what I really want to talk about is this: the food, the endless supply of delicious food, everywhere we looked there was food – how could we resist? So for 10 days, we tried out as much as we can! It’s hard to pick the best restaurants though when there are hundreds of selections to choose from. Thanks to restaurateurs Ana de Ocampo of Wildflour and Tippi Tambunting of Masseto, as well as fashion director and foodie Ariel Lozada, we were able to gather a shortlist of the bests ones to try out. My friend and travel buddy Marissa Tambunting patiently collated the list and guided us through the streets of Paris to the best bistros and cafes in the city!

French cuisine is always a blast. There’s something about the way the French prepare their dishes that makes every food look special. Whether that’s just a piece of bread or a full course meal, everything looks like the work of a master chef. Thank God touring Paris also involve a lot of walking – we had an outlet for all the calories we ate!

I’m sure anyone who visits Paris will have this dilemma: Where to eat? So if you're in the City of Love, you might wanna check out our:

1. Les Cocottes de Christian Constant

Located at 135 rue St. Dominique, 75007. Named for the small round iron and enamel pots in which dishes are both cooked and presented, the tiny Les Cocottes specializes in seasonal fare like crab and sucrine lettuce or shoulder of lamb confit with potatoes

2. Frenchie Bar A Vins

Located at 5-6, rue du Nil 75002. The Frenchie wine bar offers interesting wines and market-fresh cooking from one of the biggest stars in Paris at small prices.

3. Le Petit Cler

Located at 29 Rue Cler, 75007. A well-priced and very casual spot on the rue Cler.

They serve famous Berthillon Luxury Ice Cream.

4. Anahi, Restaurant Argentin

Located at 49 Rue Volta, 75003. Designed by Mood, the Dutch design group on La Jeune Rue Project. The drinks list doesn’t shock with its prices, and the menu (in French and perfect English) is admirably concise, with plenty to interest.

Enchanting! It's so full of witty touches!

This room belongs in a movie. The brass "beef" is whimsical yet sculptural, as if Brancusi met Jeff Koons.

5. Café Constant

Located at 139 Rue Saint Dominique, 75007. This casual, no-reservations café serves classic bistro fare and is open all day, starting at 8am.

Famous customers: Couple David & Victoria Beckham

Highly recommended: Tartar of oysters, seabass and salmon seasoned with ginger and lemon.

6. Ibaji, Restaurant Coreen (Korean)

Located at 13 Rue du Vertbois, 75003. The first restaurant of La Juene Rue, designed by Italian designer Paola Navone, who was also a consultant for the Manila Fame show in the 90's. Perfect if you're craving for some Asian food!

Tiles in style! Worth the walk!

7. Polidor

Located at 41 Rue Monsieur le Prince, 75006. Maison fondee en 1845. It’s a small, old-fashioned, homely little place serving food that feels like it came straight out of a French mom’s kitchen.

Like stepping into the past!

Me & Marissa

Woody Allen's movie Midnight in Paris was shot here!

8. Allard

Located at 41 Rue Saint-André des Arts, 75006. Maison Fondee en 1932. With me, August, Nay, KP & Marissa

Butter-ridiculously delicious! But so dangerous for the figure!

The food is classic bistro and changes with the seasons and moods of the chef.

Roasted figs with honey and hazelnuts

Allard's famous escargot

Am loving Lola Meryl's caricature of her legendary self.

And Adrien Brody's elongated heart!

9. Nanashi, Japanese Parisian

Located at 57 Rue Charlot, 75003. Fresh, filling and healthy! You see the kitchen as you enter & go to the main dining space at the back.

Duck on noodles! Yummy!

10. Candelaria Restaurant

Located at 52 Rue de Saintonge, 75003. The front section of the restaurant is a taco stand, which leads to a sultry cocktail den that you could easily overlook if you weren’t paying attention.

Here's the not-so-secret door! Go through the taqueria, find the door at the back, et voila, there's the bar!

Best guacamole ever and amazing cocktails!

With hundreds of food choices, a number of great bistros/cafés/restaurants were not able to make it to the cut. But they’re still so good I have to give them due credit!

Marches des Enfants Rouges. Paris' oldest covered market, now housing a market & international food stalls.

So much local texture.

Love the Moroccan tea glasses!

Spicy Japanese sprouts!

Mi Va Mi L'Authentique Falafel. It is a small falafel shop in the Jewish district of Le Marais.

Sarapeachy!

Boco (with branches all over Paris). Recognized young chefs doing casual food.

Boco to go

Great Concept: great Fremch Chefs create signature Dishes, served in glass Pots.

Laduree. A French luxury bakery and sweets maker house created in 1862. It is one of the top premier sellers of the double-decker macaron, fifteen thousand of which are sold every day. They are still one of the best known makers of macarons in the world! Marissa, KP, Patti & me!

Me & Gerard

As classic as it gets!

L'Epi Malin. You can get a beautifully packaged entrée, plat, beverage and bread or plat, dessert, beverage and bread for 15 euros.

It's a takeout place but so flavorful!

L'As du Fallafel. The restaurant is acclaimed for its falafel sandwich served with eggplant and hummus.

Look at those people lining up! Blockbuster!

Sarapeachy again!

Frenchie To Go. The Anglo-inspired eatery features excellent Reubens, flavorful fish and chips, sweet treats like cheesecake and doughnuts, housemade ginger beer, pickles & maple smoked bacon.