One of many Finest Traditional French Eating places Left in Paris

It’s really fairly laborious to search out good conventional French meals in Paris now. Josephine Chez Dumonet is on it. That is an outdated world bistro from the Belle Epoque period.

Right here’s the factor. Earlier than we dive in, I need to maintain it actual. I’ve been to Josephine Chez Dumonet many instances through the years. However you recognize what? I at all times go at night time. And you recognize what’s not good at night time? Lighting. In an outdated restaurant. So the pictures I’ve are trash, and I admit it, with my complete coronary heart.

Since my pictures are too darkish and ugly to see the sunshine of day, I’m going to insert some Instagram pictures from whole strangers who went in the course of the day and bought higher pictures. I’m only a woman dwelling my life and consuming meals on the time I need to eat meals. I’ll inform you about it, however on this case, others will present you.

There. It’s on the market. I feel all of us really feel higher now.

On to what makes Josephine Chez Dumonet the traditional French restaurant of your desires.

Suppose white tablecloths and waiters with black ties. It could actually really feel a bit on the upscale facet of issues, however typically that’s what you need. This place most likely hasn’t modified in 100 years should you’re on the seek for a bit outdated world Paris. You will get that from different establishments like Chez Georges, too, however I feel the meals wins at Josephine Chez Dumonet.

Josephine Chez Dumonet could be very well-known amongst vacationers. World has gotten out. So there will probably be numerous anglophones in there, which I do know can throw off the enjoyable of being in a French restaurant. I might even dare go as far to arrange you for the truth that they may probably put English audio system all collectively. Let’s face it, sure English audio system (cough People) are loud talkers. All of us virtually scream at one another over dinner. Laughing on the high of our lungs and yelling about our story we need to inform from earlier.

In American eating places, that flies, as a result of everyone seems to be yelling, and the music is blasting, and we’re all having dinner at rock live performance quantity ranges. In the meantime, the French are hovered over their little desk having dialog that solely folks at their desk can hear, and that’s how they prefer it.

In sum, you would possibly get thrown into the English-speaking bull pen. That’s okay. Be ready for it. That is how they will nonetheless serve their common French prospects who need to come for a pleasant quiet dinner and never have guests shouting about their tales at one another. Can’t discover fault in that, can we? And anyway, the meals is scrumptious irrespective of the place you sit.

That being mentioned, as a result of the restaurant is common amongst the worldwide food-loving crowd, the waiters will for certain converse English, they usually received’t disgrace you in your lack of French abilities. I’ve at all times discovered the servers to be pleasant and charming, which is usually a rarity.

The Beef Bourgignon is out of this world. I’ve had many a Beef Bourg within the hallowed locations of Paris, and numerous instances, I feel, “yah that’s good”. I’ve made beef Bourguignon many a time at dwelling, and I feel, “yah that’s good”. Right here at Jo Chez Du (such a protracted title, this needed to be finished), it’s simply “Oh. Oh, this. That is Beef Bourguignon.” Second of silence. Right here, you’ll discover wealthy, meaty and bacon-y wine sauce with tender chunks of melting braised beef.

Buttery noodles come served on the facet, comme il faut. So then you possibly can pile your fall-apart tender beef and wealthy sauce everywhere in the noodles in an excellent pile of never-want-to-leave-Paris.

In the case of the facet, I’ve by no means been one to eat BB with rice. That’s for the paupers. (Though there’s a spot within the fifteenth I like which serves THREE facet dishes with its beef Bourguignon: mashed potatoes, rice, and polenta. And it’s fairly enjoyable to combine and match.) However noodles are the best way to go.

The half portion is lots, by the best way.

Actually, when confronted with the choice between ordering Beef Bourguignon and the duck leg confit, you must really feel what’s in your coronary heart.

The duck confit is completed completely – crisp on the surface and falling aside on the inside. It’s all the things a duck confit ought to be, and most eating places simply butcher it. Dry meat, flabby pores and skin. Woof. However right here, it’s textual content e-book. Even the mighty David Lebovitz agrees, there isn’t any duck confit extra excellent than Josephine Chez Dumonet. Annnnd there’s a facet of potatoes fried in duck fats, don’tmindifido.

For dessert? They’ve bought the classics, they usually do them properly. They’re recognized for his or her Grand Marnier soufflé, however the trick is that you must order it on the starting of the meal. It is going to then saunter over to you on the finish of the meal, simply so, a pillow of soufflé perfection. 

You’ll obtain a small glass of Grand Marnier on the facet so as to add in a bit additional oomph, or to sip alongside, as you want.

They produce other implausible traditional desserts, too, and one other best choice is the millefeuille (a pastry that actually translated means “a thousand sheets” – sheets of pastry, that’s). Paradoxically, their explicit millefeuille doesn’t have as many layers as you usually see at a pastry store or restaurant, however they nonetheless have probably the greatest on the town.

All in all, I consider Josephine Chez Dumonet is the right alternative for traditional French in Paris. Go in hungry, and revel in rolling out, stuffed to the brim, full of a chunk of Paris historical past.

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