Bio Buffet Brunch at Soya Cantine - This Aint No Mungbean

Soya Cantine Bio is a small and relatively unknown bio haunt in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Frequented by the local yoga crowd after a session at the Ashtanga Yoga Centre just around the corner (which for shoestring budget yogi's holds a few 5 euro community classes every week).

Unlike many bio joints where you seem to feel strangely inferior for not knowing what to do with algae, mirin, tamari, agave soy "cream", agar agar, avocado "mousse" - eat it or perform exotic body wrap? Bio Cantine is down to earth and refreshingly non patronising. In a similar vein of comfort, you can actually sit here and have 20th serves if you please without anyone batting an eyelid! - C'est Normale! I know from experience having paid this wholesome little hottie a visit on Sunday for brunch. Well, what I call a visit some others may call overstaying the welcome but not the staff here who, after us being there for 4 1/2 hrs grazing away thought we may also like to try a bit of an exclusive kitchen creation (see chocolate brownie pic).



We tried our best to refuse as we had 'undone the button' 2 hrs prior but they managed to twist our arms.

The first bit of advice is book a table for brunch (24 euro for full buffet, fresh juice and tea) on the weekend (we did not and just so happened to be lucky enough to nab Celeste's table who was far too late - you snooze you loose Celeste!) and turn up on time so as to avoid the circling non-bookers lurking in the dark corners. The place really packs out around 1pm and there is a great vibe as people hustle in a clockwise direction around the buffet sampling the unlimited supply of hummus, and many other vegetarian (some vegan) goodies.

Really close to the bustling Rue Oberkampff, where you will find an array of cool bars (Aux Des Amis) and laid back restaurants (Ave Maria) - hosting a super relaxed mix of the artsiest people in Paris.

Wholesomeness - the perfect word to describe this little gem, even if you do eat your way through a trough worth of (bio) chocolate cake, after your not so wholesome (bio?) Saturday night.

Soya Cantine Bio

20 Rue de la Pierre Levee
75011 Paris
Metro: Goncourt or Oberkampff

Le Bal - Le Cafe I Heart

Le Bal Cafe - noted recently by an article in the New York Times as having "the best coffee in Paris"...

Big call I thought as I consulted the metro map and began planning a girls day out with my equally coffee crazed amis - and so it was that our rendezvous for a ladies lunch at Le Bal was born.

Ladies lunch followed by an afternoon trawl of Paris' answer to a girls fashion fix on a shoe string budget. I am talking fripps (Op Shops) and it just so happens that there is an amazing PROPER fripp (any "fripp" sporting prices in the double digits for what could well be my Nan's nighty - albeit a very cool nighty, is not a proper fripp) 2 mins from Le Bal (directly opposite the start of Le Passage de la Defense) called Guerrisol. 5 euro leather skirt - tick!

At Place de Clichy metro we were surprised that there was a sign pointing us in the direction of Le Bal as we came up the metro exit stairs. A short stroll up Avenue de Clichy and a right turn onto the cobbled laneway Passage de la Defense had us standing out the front of the acclaimed Le Bal. Quite a stark, minimalist cafe at first glance - large, glass fronted doors, white walls, white tables. There was however a certain buzz about the place as we soon realised, Le Bal is not just a Cafe but also an exhibition space and bookstore (ah, this explains the signs at the metro - I was thinking it was strange that there were signs directing us to a Cafe).

The love heart sculpted frothy topped latte did not disappoint (I am a mega fuss pot so I would say it could have been a touch hotter however, this apparantly spoils the coffee - as I am notified so frequently upon requesting such a thing as "un cafe tres tres chaud s'il vous plait"). In fact, I would say that in my 6 months in Paris it is overall the best quality coffee I have had yet.

I had the smoked salmon which was delectable and a very generous serve. Presented with a wedge of lemon and a plate of real bread - wholegrainy, crusty, fresh - rare features of the bread in many a Parisian bread basket. Topped off with the cheesecake for desert, we were just about ready to hit the road when we were told to pay up and bail out (in the nicest possible way) as a giant squid like line had begun to weave its tentacles outside - standard feature at all good cafes on the weekend in Paris.

The coffee was definitely the stand out at Le Bal. I went back again this morning for another and the barista told me that the secret is in the milk which comes from Normandy and the beans which come from the roaster Cafe Lomi in the 17th Arrondissment.

The proximity to the fripp is another plus, and lastly (but not leastly), the waiters who are also the owners of Le Bal Cafe are a little bit saucey too (see photo which I totally got sprung taking...oops - I HEART YOU LE BAL). Certainly be back soon for a vino or 5.

Le Bal Cafe

6 Impasse de la Defense
75018 Paris
Metro - Place de Clichy

Sesame - A Rare Seed

The cute and cosy Sesame Cafe is perched on the side of the Canal in the somewhat grungy yet cool part of Paris, and my second favourite of Paris' 20 arrondissements - the 10th (cough - I live in neighbouring 11th).

The staff here have a certain casual and friendly style which is a breath of rare fresh air in Paris. Donning denim and Dr Martins they wip around on this particular packed out Saturday delivering various 'fait a la maison' (home made) baked goodies to the equally chilled patrons. The lemon infused creme fraiche that accompanies the carrot cake should have its own place on the menu - give me a bowl of that HOT DAMN deliciousness!

I have been here 3 times now and can recommend the carrot cake, the chai, the cheesecake and of course the coffee. I am yet to lunch here but the salads look great and they also offer an array of freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. I seem to always finish and then think - oops forgot to take a photo (may be the reason why I have to keep going back). So this morning I took a photo of the remnants of our delights....not much to see, sorry.

A great place also to catch up on the emails or facebook or skype - love a bit of free wifi. The cafe also offers a table of books which is always a good sign - book table in Parisian Cafe = Welcome to stay as long as you like....as long as noone is waiting - in which case, order up or ship out...but otherwise Welcome. Easy to order up here - between 3 people we had 3 coffees, 3 cakes and a bagel - all for under 30 euro.

The booth seat at the front of the cafe is the prime seat to sprawl out - its busy on the weekends but the perfect place to burn a few hours during the week when this little gem is strangely not so packed..shhhhhh we like it this way.

If you are in the mood afterwards for a little caffeinated shop shop, pop down the road to Omaya Vintage - today they had a great 25 euro boot sale (unfortuantely big sized 42 foot over here had a very limited selection to choose from)....only a 10 minute walk from Sesame - and better still its in the 11th ...just

Sesame
51 Quay De Valmy
Paris 75011

Metro: Republique