If You Are Hungry for Paris

The adage that you can’t get a bad meal is Paris is ever so wrong. And during this time when the dollar buys relatively nothing compared to the euro, Alexander Lobrano’s book is especially welcome. It’s also a breath of fresh air for passionate eaters, whether they are gourmets, gourmands or people who simply care about what they put in their stomachs. You can’t help but sense his passion about every morsel of food he’s eaten, as well as his distain when he’s been disappointed.  Lobrano is one of the lucky ones who have been able to convert a passion into a profession. Lobrano is Gourmet’s Magazine’s European correspondent and has written for nearly every major food and travel magazine since 1986 when he moved to Paris. But his love of good food started long before he became a Parisian. Lobrano was a gourmet by nature and critiqued food when he was a child living in Connecticut. His book’s introduction recounts his first French meal in Manhattan when Alec before he was shaved. When his parents took him to France when he was in his teens, he returned to the US never imagining that he’d end up in Paris assigned to live, eat and write for a living. His book, “Hungry For Paris  – The Ultimate Guide to the City’s 102 Best Restaurants” guides readers as if they are his close and dear friends. If you intend to eat in Paris, he is the masterful mentor, an insider who will show you not only where to eat but how to approach the meal. He also shares his tips about ordering wine and says there’s no sin to ordering the restaurant’s house wine. But skip the pre-dinner whiskey. It will only deaden your palate and add euros to your bill. Alec shares his first-hand expertise about what diners should and shouldn’t be looking for when going out. He takes readers by the hand and gives them a fast track course in restaurant mores much in the same way Emily Post might have done. You can hear her admonitions that you shouldn’t raise your voice or wave your hands to attract a waiter’s attention. Many tourists are uncomfortable complaining in French restaurants as if they’re temples of the gods. Parisians don’t suffer from the same inhibition; if their meat is over- or undercooked, they send it back to the kitchen and so should you.  If you want salt and there’s none on the table, ask for it and don’t suffer. While Lobrano respects chefs, he doesn’t feel they can do no wrong. When it comes to the “front of the house’s” wait staff, Lobrano voices the utmost respect. In France, it’s a profession and not something people do (except in some lowly restaurants) while working their ways through school. Better restaurants don’t expect to “turn tables” and if you’re going to be a no-show, Lobrano emphasizes it’s essential to cancel reservations. An empty table or two can make or break that evening’s bottom line. He’s a raconteur par excellence.  Lobrano writes about every restaurant, even if he’s been there 20 times, with inordinate enthusiasm and sometimes, disappointment. He tells readers precisely what they should expect in terms of ambiance, service plus the restaurant’s signature dishes. Lobrano steers seasoned Paris hands and natives to restaurants they know, ones they’ve never heard of and ones they’ve walked past and never even seen.  To keep people from going into cardiac arrest when the bill is placed on the table, he’ll warn you first. “Your wallet will take a beating here,” he says referring to a pricey establishment, “but it’s worth every euro.” That’s the kind of intelligence needed by a hungry gourmets with a fist-full of weak dollars. Lobrano also has his hand on the pulse on the Paris restaurant scene and talks about the hottest new chefs, where they’ve worked and where to find the best meals for the money. The 102 restaurants he’s profiled, (located throughout the city) are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to numbers. But this book is not meant to be a Michelin Guide. Lobrano enhances his luscious prose with tempting photos. “Hungry for Paris” is like a cozy bistro on a chilly day: It makes you feel welcome. Even if Paris isn’t on this year’s travel itinerary, Lobrano writes with such amusing aplomb that you can stay home and live vicariously through him and his restaurant adventures.  However, my dream would be to share a meal with him. If he’s anything like his writing, you know you’d be in for a great culinary adventure combined with a lot of laughter. Want to discuss your favorite French restaurant?  Look no further than here! © Paris New Media, LLC [email protected]