For some reason I seemed to have difficulty finding a good online leader for dinner. Other than Le Chateaubriand which still remains on my list, the Paris places I had were (breakfast) Holybelly, Frenchie To Gogo, (lunch) Chez Alain Miam Miam, Breizh Cafe and (drinks) Chez Jeanette, Lockwood, Candelaria. Maybe it was too much choice and not enough decision-making experience with French cuisine but in the end with no real direction I was wandering the streets.
Eventually I came across Chez Papa (153 Rue Montmartre). It ticked some good boxes - looked homely, French diners, the food looked and smelled good, and everyone seemed to be having similar dishes in large pots or a display on a plate. It seems to specialise in cuisine of South-West France.
After perusing the menu, the English-speaking French family next to me asked if I needed advice. Stick to the specials on the first page - you won't go wrong. I'm glad I did and in doing so managed to try two dishes:
- Special Papa Cassoulet gratinated with breadcrumbs - a superstar dish of deep heavy duck-flavoured stew, with a thick rich sauce that could be swept up with bread;
- Garbure Papa hotpot - a speciality of cabbage with carrots, large French beans and duck meat in the form of neck and wings. The soup is quite thin and mild but distinctly duck flavour. However as simple as this was, the flavour paled compared to the cassoulet.
I want to eat that cassoulet again. I will go next time in Paris. There seem to be a few branches around so it won't be too hard to find.