Metrosexual! ©

Sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes downright ugly, I have been taking photos of the glorious Parisian Metro for the past two years. And here I bring you a Metrosexual montage...

 Bon voyage!

La Rotonde (Place Stalingrad) ©

I love Place Stalingrad in the north-east of Paris. Until recently a no-go area, the heavy Police presence has helped to clean up this region of the city and it is now well-worth a visit for the wonderful Parc des Buttes Chaumont, Parc de la Villette, and the Canal Saint Martin alone. Sitting on the waters of the canal, the bars and restaurants of Place Stalingrad are a great place to spend summer nights but i'd never visited the Place in winter before.

A stone's throw from Jaurès and Stalingrad Metros, Place Stalingrad is easy to spot due to the large circular building commanding attention on its periphery. And on Thursday evening, I set foot inside the Rotonde de la Villette for the first time to dine at the restaurant for my friend's birthday. During the meal I discovered that it had only been renovated in 2009 following a tumultuous history since its opening in 1788, just one year before the start of the French Revolution.

Within the walls of the Rotonde de la Villette lie both its namesake restaurant and a bar which is handy for pre-dinner drinks or a Happy Hour tipple (5-8pm). The bar, tucked away to the side resembles a typical Parisian watering hole but once you venture into the atmospheric domed restaurant for food, you really begin to get a feel for the history of the place.

Having dined out a fair amount in Paris, I have become a bit jaded of late, but I have to say that this is one of the best meals that I have enjoyed here. The menu caters to a range of tastes and it all looked so enticing that we opted for three courses each, with wine and champagne of course! You can expect to pay around 45 euros for the full shebang so it's not the cheapest dining experience in Paris but they do accept Tickets Restaurants unlike many other quality restaurants which takes the edge off.

A selection of some of the starters:

 And the mains:

As a bit of a burger aficionado, I can confirm that the juicy burger at La Rotonde was one of the best that i've sampled in Paris.

And last but certainly not least, some of the desserts!

 Overall, the service was good, the restaurant buzzing but not too busy (though booking is recommended, especially at weekends) and the interior quirky enough to set itself apart. Rolling home jokes abounding, we waddled from the restaurant, stuffed to bursting point but unanimously satisfied with the great food and ambiance inside the Rotonde de la Villette.

***

Address: 6-8 Place de la Bataille-de-Stalingrad, 75019 Paris

Phone:01 80 48 33 40 

Metro: Jaurès or Stalingrad

http://www.larotonde.com/ 

Chez Paul ©

On Friday evening I visited Chez Paul in the Bastille area with friends and was treated to one of the best meals I have had since my arrival in Paris. The restaurant is typically French from the homely decor to the meat-oriented menu, so it may not be the best choice for vegetarians, but I ordered the veggie lasagne and was as pleased with the meal as my meat-loving friends. The quality was, however, reflected in the price and you can expect to pay around 35 euros for a main, dessert and wine. But for guaranteed excellent food, it's a winner!

  Book in advance to avoid disappointment!

http://www.chezpaul.com/

Sandy's Cupcakes ©

Hold the front page! A new discovery has been made: in the unassuming backstreets of the 11^th arrondissement lies Sandy’s Cupcakes, a salon de thé decked out in pink, green and faux-crystal chandeliers serving coffees, teas, slices of cake and of course cupcakes!

 The online menu is a bit of a tease with an extensive selection so it may be best to just turn up and make your choice from what’s available, but I can guarantee you will find something to your liking if your sweet tooth is anything like mine.

  I opted for a raspberry cake with raspberry cream cheese frosting and it was indeed delicious, though it sadly fell short of the standard set by the beyond-incredible Magnolia cupcakes that formed the staple of my diet during my trip to New York last year!

 At €3.85 the large cupcakes are on the expensive side but it won’t break the bank and the décor, presentation and service are a cut above what you’d find in Starbucks. The perfect Sunday afternoon sugar hit!

http://sandys-cupcakes.com/