La Gazzetta

This afternoon, I had a fabulous and leisurely meal with a friend from San Francisco. As always, I prefer to lunch at a gastro resto on a good recommendation and perhaps pay a bit more than to pick a random cafe or brasserie and pay the same price for lunch and get a so-so meal because it never fails that regret for having not planned correctly sets in as soon as the bill arrives and I think "I just spent 30 dollars for a lunch of tartar and frites at a corner cafe". This day, I chose the resto, La Gazzetta, because I have heard great things about the food and the neighborhood + my friend is a chef there so I know the scoop--the bread is baked in house, they have an oven perfect for making pizza and the menu changes weekly (oh, and the price is right).

We had a delicious treat today of an "entrée" + a generous plat for 16 euros (mine was 19 because I chose the bavette). The entrée is served like tapas -- 3 different little plates for each person. Today it was a cup of gaspacho, a slice of pizza with courgettes and roquette, and a simply delightful piece of mackerel with a puree of sweet potato and sprig of tarragon. It was great to be able to try 3 different plates for the entree to get a feel for the style of the restaurant. For the plat, there are 4 choices, each with the same garniture. This afternoon, it was caramelized cauliflower and a few leaves of mellow onions and a bit of garlic. I chose the bavette which was nicely cooked and the garniture was a nice change from the frites I usually get with bavette from a brasserie or a cafe.

As for the portions, for 16 euros are quite generous as my friend ordered the veau for her plat and it was enough for 2 people. Of course we ordered dessert but shared it because we were both quite full from the meal. It was a biscuit noix and chocolat + a raspberry semifreddo. Very nice ending to a great lunch. I highly suggest La Gazzetta for lunch with a good friend. No resos needed for lunch. For dinner, it's best to call a few days ahead as I hear they are always complet.

Happy eating.
...
La Gazzetta
29, rue de Cotte
75012
01 43 47 47 05
lagazzetta.fr

The Unknown Diner

I've been interning for about 2 months now at my favorite restaurant in Paris. I prepare food that will be consumed by people I will never see and never know. Every day I ask how many covers we will do that day and the answer ranges from 25 to 69. I ask in order to mentally prepare myself for a service that lasts for about 1 1/2 hours for lunch and 2 1/2 or more for dinner. The kitchen is a hard life. In that short amount of time you must be focused and at the top of your game or you will be lost and once you are lost it is difficult but not impossible to recover.

Each morning my chef de partie asks me how I am and how I am feeling. This happens again a hour or so before service. This polite question is part of the mise en place of service. He needs to know if I am highly motivated and prepared to work quickly and accurately for the service that is just about to commence. The answer is always, "yes, I am motivated. I want to do service today". This is the answer I give even when I feel sick or tired because once I say I am ready, I'll be ready. I suck it up, put on my toque, get focused and think of nothing but having an amazing service.

I love working in the kitchen. I love serving beautiful food. I adore seeing a person's reaction to the food I've made. As I mentioned, this does not happen in a closed kitchen. Recently, I made dinner at a friend's house in order to cook my own food and enjoy the pleasure of seeing and hearing the results of my efforts.

A few photos of the starters, below.

Citrus salmon, chevre and chives, on toasted baguette


Plump grape tomatoes and jambon


Fingerling potatoes and salmon, salad of chervil