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Restaurants: Sample Menu from Paris

Pauline Kenny, menu provided by Bill Sutherland

Brasserie Balzar in Paris, a great bistro on left bank near the Sorbonne.
www.brasseriebalzar.com

See photos from this meal

I cut up the menu into sections, with the description below each section. Please excuse all the missing accents (I will add them later).

This menu is set up like menus we are used to in the US. Order an appetizer, a main meal with a vegetable, and a dessert. The * beside some items relates to their set menu described at the bottom. (Their is a surcharge for items marked with *.)

Prices on the menu are in euro in the format 7,50, which in the US we would write as 7.50. (Europeans use a comma between "dollars" and "cents" instead of a period. A period is used instead of a comma after the "thousands".)

The tip is included on your bill (service compris 16%). You do not need to tip. It is customary to "round up" so a small amount is left or to add 5% (10% for an elegant restaurant).

Brasserie Balzar

In business since 1886. Open every day from 8am to midnight, continuous hours (don't close in the afternoon).
Breakfast (petit dejeuner) for 6 euro, hot drink, fruit juice, croissant or tartine, butter and jam.

Hors-d'Oeuvre

Appetizers, also called "entree".
Start with an appetizer. In our sample meal, Fois gras de canard Maison and Salad de mache-betterave were selected.

Poissons (fish)

Choose a fish or meat for a main course.

Viandes (meat)

Choose a fish or meat main course. In our sample meal, Poulet fermier de Loue roti was selected.

Suggestions du jour (Daily Special)

Daily specials for each part of the menu: appetizer - smoked salmon salad; main course - lamb with potato; dessert - Creme Brulee. Also a special asparagus dish.

Legumes (vegetables)

As in Italy, the main course comes without vegetables; order them separately. In our sample meal, Gratin Dauphinois was selected.

Fromages (cheese) and Desserts (dessert)

You may want both a cheese course and a dessert to end the meal. In our sample meal, the Tarte Tatin dessert was selected.

Notre Formule Souper (supper special)

If you want a late light meal, after 10:30pm (22h, 30), they offer a special price of 22.90 euro. Choose 1 entree (appetizer) and 1 plat (fish or meat) or 1 plat and 1 dessert, but items on the menu marked with * have a surcharge. Includes wine, beer or mineral water.

See photos from this meal

What would the vegetarian do?

The vegetarian would either make do with an appetizer (eggs with mayonnaise or a salad) and vegetables as a main course, or go to one of the many excellent Vegetarian or Macrobiotic restaurants in Paris.

Bill and Patty Sutherland run a cooking school in Tuscany, www.tuscanwomencook.com

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