On our first night in Paris, we stumbled into this quiet little bistro with few expectations. Most restaurants were closed on Mondays so it was hard enough to find one that was open at 9 pm for dinner.
The only other patron in the restaurant was an elderly woman. She was slowly eating her dinner, taking small sips of her wine, and enjoying a good book. Upon closer inspection, her dinner was a huge bowl of salad with grated carrots, cucumbers, and ham topped off with two big pieces of toast covered with goat cheese. It looked good enough for my girlfriend to order the same salad.
I'm a carnivore and have laughed at the prospect of ever ordering a salad at a restaurant. What a waste of money I always thought. I became a salad convert at Le Gay Lussac. I ended up ordering the Gourmande, which had tomatoes, curried potatoes, duck gizzards, smoked duck breast, topped with duck foie gras. My duck inspired salad was dressed well and was so much more than what I expected a salad could be. The portions of duck were generous and each bite was filled with flavors that complemented one another. I didn't think I would have a liking for duck gizzard, but it was similar to the familiar taste and texture of beef tongue. The frog legs we had as an appetizer was also good. They were lightly fried and full of garlic flavor. The meal was complete with a nice white wine pairing recommended by our server.
The prices were also reasonable, with our total being less than €20 per person. The big salads ranged from €9-12 each, but the portions were as large as any typical entree. The dinner made a lasting impression on me as my first real meal in Paris and changed my perception of salads. read more