Eats: Paris – Vol. 1, Paris, France

No matter how near or far you are from home, a recommendation for a good restaurant or bar is always nice to have. EATS is a collection of places that I’ve enjoyed during my travels.

We stumbled on Le Marmiton de Lutece on an especially chilly and damp December night after arriving in Paris from London. I was coming down with a cold and we just spent the last several hours outside browsing the stalls of the city’s Christmas markets, so were in need of proper nourishment. The restaurant is located in a little pocket of the Latin Quarter between Boulevard Saint-Germain and the river from Boulevard Saint-Michel to Rue du Petit Pont. It’s a neighborhood we’re drawn to every time we visit Paris due to its proximity to our hotel and its high concentration of moderately priced restaurants and bars.

Resembling a Swiss chalet, Le Marmiton’s dim woodsy interior with mismatched lamps and décor makes it feel like you are dining in someone’s cozy home. Service was laid back and not rushed, and it seems like we were among locals enjoying a casual meal with friends after work. Even though the main draw that night was a steamy pot of fondue, my desire for warm, gooey soupe à l’oignons gratinée (French onion soup – check out my recipe here) outweighed the restaurant’s tempting marketing. Equally as satisfying was the chèvre chaud sur toast et salade (salad with goat cheese on toast) and the tartiflette (casserole with potatoes, bacon, onion and cheese), all paired with house red wine and mousse au chocolat for dessert. Our meal of rich yet simple ingredients was nothing short of amazing, making Le Marmiton worthy of a repeat visit. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).