Our friends, A & R, met us just outside the small but charming market in the Marais district. They have resided in France for some 18 years now, mostly outside of Paris, though they have come into the city often enough. But like us, they had never been to this little market and we all decided it was a nice place to have lunch before walking around the 3rd and 4th arrondisements. We sat the tables “assigned” to the Italian purveyor and started off with a classic salad of tomatoes, mozzarella on a bed of greens. This was delicious. The tomatoes had been purchased from the market minutes before and the buffalo mozzarella was soft and extremely fresh as well.
We also got a small plate of olives, mushrooms and other goodies.
A couple of plates of mushroom risotto, which was a bit on the heavy side but redolent with the aroma and flavor of both fresh and dried mushrooms. When we asked the server what was on the menu, she actually had to ask the cook if there were mushrooms yet for the risotto (from the mushroom vendor I gather) and when she said yes, we put in an order for two dishes… yum.
We had a dish of raviolis made with both plain and spinach flavored pasta and stuffed with cheese and served with a tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.
And our last dish was a lasange served with a salad of greens. Overall, a very competent lunch and while we were enjoying our dishes, we watched some terrific stuff coming out next door at the Japanese stall and over at the Moroccan place the tagines looked incredibly appetizing as well. The total bill for lunch was probably Euro 50-60 for 5 people, so it wasn’t only good, it was reasonable on the wallet as well!
16 Responses
yummmy, olives and mushrooms! 2 of my favorite things! MM, what kind of mushroom goes best with black olives? :)
I am soooooo hungry!!! MM, you call that lunch? In my book, thats a Feast!!!
The salad just screams freshness. I’m salivating. MM’s blog is a virtual appetizer.
Yummmm!!! I’m craving for ravioli right now. Nice shots MM!
You had me at boconcini; but I’ll gladly take the rest as well. Consumed with wine, I hope.
I AM DROOLING… YumYummy!!!
Wonderful lunch! Were you tempted by the Moroccan place? I know I would have walked in there without a moment’s hesitation. :-)
my kind of lunch!
Lou, in a way we regretted nothaving some tagines, but there’s always a next time… :)
The risotto looks really good! *drooling*
Yummm…everything looks so good…I particularly like the olives dish….
Off topic…Bettyq,I got the pack of spices!! Thanks soooo much!! Am so grateful. Now I can make the bacon..will try the chai recipe you gave me. It’s in my ntbk already. How can I ever repay you…..maraming, maraming salamat….Godbless your generosity…
Wow, MM, Euro 50 to 60? that is sooo reasonable considering the quality? I’m interested in Moroccan cuisine as well…especially the use of tagine. Can you back there soon? hehe
My favorite salad which is already a meal in itself for me when on weekdays when I’m normally on a diet. I love the rest of the food too and what I would normally eat on a weekend.
Oops, I meant a meal in itself for me on weekdays…..sorry about that.
YUM!
okay not too good to read this while hungry and craving at witching hour. damn everything looks so good.