If you insist...

I have discovered one of the benefits of jet lag.... you can fit in more meals!

Upon waking at 5am and finding myself in a ravenous state due to last night's dinner of yogurt and miso soup (people, soup is NOT a complete meal, it's a drink!), I had a peach yogurt. Still being hungry when the boy woke up at 7, I decided to break into one of my pot noodles (hey, it's a fancy Japanese one, you snob!) for a warm meal to start the day.

Then, looking online, I found that there was a market nearby:

Enfants rouges Market

39 rue de Bretagne

Tuesday to Saturday, 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. (until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday) Sunday, 8.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Metro : Filles-du-Calvaire

so I decided to wander over there at 10am. Unfortunately something must have been wrong with the above because it clearly wasn't there. I saw a few metal frames on the sidewalk but they showed no signs of opening. Could it be the weather? It is -4 Celsius today...

Ah well. All was not lost. I found the much lauded Chez Omar restaurant and, much to my delight, a large fromagerie selling all types of cheese, Poilane bread and eggs, three things on my list. I bought a Comte, a St Marcellin and a very holey (check out the huge holes!) of Emmenthal, four slices of Poilane traditional bread and a half dozen eggs.

Walking along home, quite pleased with the cheesy purchases although disappointment of the lack of market...I suddenly came upon a stand of oysters! Approximately a dozen varieties (no names unfortunately) ranging in prices from 5.40 euros to 17 euros, slightly higher if you wish the man to open them for you. Which of course I did upon ordering a mixed dozen of 2 of the smaller varieties from the sea. I paused for just one second when he asked me if it was for lunch but quickly said yes to avoid admitting that I would be inhaling the bivalves upon returning home.

The oysters, accented with a squeeze of lemon, were translucent, fresh, salty and mild. I made quick work of them before having a half slice of Poilane (I had to taste, didn't I?) with a wedge of Comte. Unfortunately, the Comte is quite addictive, especially when surfing the food sites.

And no, I didn't save any for the boy....they wouldn't keep!!

J Duannaul

Maitre Fromager - Affineur

39 rue de Bretagne

75003

Tel: 01 42 78 52 61