I Just Miss Travel...A Quarantine Series.

I've always been one to go places in my mind, so it looks as though I will not be present for the next 40 days...

We're well into Coronavirus Quarantine and shit is looking bleek until May 30 at the very earliest. For some of you, you may be on week five or six. For others, you might be clocking in at your first full month of sheltering in place. I honestly lost count sometime between when I got laid off of my hotel job on March 20 to the start of Ramadan last Friday. So maybe I'm on day 41? Does it really even matter anymore? What even is the purpose of time at this point? 

Quarantine kind of reminds me of that scene in 21 Jump Street where they show you the different stages of the HFS (short for holy fucking shit, duh) drug. First you giggle at the absurdity that a virus can be so contagious and you can't help but to laugh out of how big of a deal people are making out of the whole thing. Then, the second phase, you realize shit just got REAL and your mind starts wandering in really weird (sometimes trippy, I guess?) dark places when you begin contemplating how messed up the world is right now, and how much worse it could, and probably will, get. Onto the third phase of over-falsifying confidence, when you think you know everything about the virus and are confident it will subside soon. But then, the legendary Dr. Anthony Fauci reveals new findings of the disease, testing increases, therefore generating higher case rates across the country. And so on and so forth. Also, just for the record, 21 Jump Street with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum is a very underrated movie and I highly recommend you watch it if you haven't. 

Completely separate from that tangent I just went on comparing Coronavirus Quarantine to the various stages of a fictional drug in a fictional movie, there are so many things I miss about everyday life, but above all is travel. Okay, and dining at restaurants. So I thought to myself, what place should I feature on my blog to give ya'll a 'lil escape from your WFH-ing? But then I thought, why not just feature some of my favorite photos I've taken from the last year, unspecific to destination or itinerary? So that's what I'm going to do. 

So since I admitted the two things I miss most are travel and restaurants, the first installment of, "I Just Miss Travel, A Quarantine Series," will feature some of my favorite eats on my most recent adventures. Grab your passport and your elastic waistband pants, we're about to get our global grub on. 

PARIS, FRANCE

LA BUVETTE | 28 Rue Henry Monnier, 75009 Paris, France
Walk, don't run, to La Buvette. If Parisians ran to restaurants we'd tell you to sprint there, but they don't. They casually stroll through as if they just stumble upon places, baguette in tow. Its scrambled eggs will change your life and the Croque Madame served with an aggressive side of cornichons is very much appreciated. A perfect lil spot to pop into for some small bites before you get your adventures underway.

HOTEL COSTES | 239-241 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France
You'll need a well-deserved respite from shopping on the famed Rue Saint-Honore, and the only place to go is Hotel Costes. Bursting with France's most fashionable, you'll also probably spot a celeb or two. The open air dining room is prime seating. Must haves from here are without a doubt the French Fries (some of the best I had in France!), Escargot, and King Crab Avocado Salad. Also, the thick disc of butter they serve you with the bread is not to be missed. Don't worry, you'll walk off all the carbs galavanting around the city.

L'toile Manquante | 34 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75004 Paris, France
In the heart of the Marais lies L'toile Manquante, a most ideal petite Parisian cafe that allows for prime people watching. So prime, I saw Kevin Spacey walk by me 3 times. The menu is small, and order whatever the daily special is as it will not disappoint. In my case it was a roasted chicken with whipped sweet potatoes and mushrooms and I still dream about it to this day. Also highly recommend the fruit and raw vegetable salad, that is basically served with a cheese plate on top. Ain't mad about it.

GLOU | 101 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003 Paris, France

An outstanding and humble local restaurant just steps away from the Picasso Museum. If I was a local, this would be my weekly spot. The menu is petite while still rich in an array of offerings, broken up into different sections all which are sure to please anyone's palate. The seared sardines with romesco and green beans were by far my favorite, and the crispy chickpea fritters came in a cool second. The smoked fish plate was fun to continue to nosh on while dining on the sidewalk cafe watching Parisian passerby's. Everything about this place is quaint, absolutely delicious, and it's just one of those spots you sit down at, eat and drink while watching the world go by, and think to yourself...I'm in f&@king PARIS. 

La Chateaubriand | 129 Avenue Parmentier, 75011 Paris, France

A must in Paris for all food aficionados. They only offer their daily prix-fixe menu with the option of adding wine pairings or ordering by the bottle. The staff is young, cool, and super easy to talk to. Each course progressively gets better, and I highly recommend opting for the cheese plate for dessert. 

L'atelier Joël Robuchon | Hôtel du Pont Royal, 5 Rue de Montalembert, 75007 Paris, France

For some upscale lavished eats, head to L'atelier Joël Robuchon over near St. Germain. The ambiance is a little lacking (think semi-snobby American tourists, couples looking for a Michelin meal so they can tell their friends they ate a Michelin meal. Okay I'll stop but you get it) but what it lacks in vibe it makes up for in food. The dishes are small but very intricate and obscure with a heightened sense of innovation and intellect. The ceviche (pic above!) was served with liquid nitrogen and a caviar crisp on top. I could probably eat it all day, every day. 

L'Avant Comptoir de la Terre | 3 Carrefour de l'Odéon, 75006 Paris, France

Okay, you know when you travel to a new city and you're dead set on finding the pub, restaurant, or cafe that ALL the locals go to kick off their weekend? And you're there just living your best life, thinking to yourself, "I am such a laidback local right now. Look at me, just brushing shoulders and speaking broken French to these other locals. They definitely think I live here, and for tonight, I do." Well, this is that place. It's a completely no-frills standing room only boisterous wine bar, there are no menus, you order off the cards dangling from the ceiling, and you shout as loud as you can to the bartender to place your order to ensure they hear you over all the revelry. The a la carte menu items range from things like a pig's blood macaroon to a duck sausage dog. The vibes are high, and the prices are low (well, affordable). This is such a great spot for those night's when you're looking to have 5, or 7, dinners at different places. 

PAIN PAIN | 88 rue des Martyrs, 75018 Paris France

Because no Parisian restaurant recommendations would be complete without a spot or two to scoop up an eclair, opera cake, or mille-feuille. Picture PAIN PAIN, a jam-packed bakery in the heart of one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris, Pigalle. The grit and grime of Pigalle adds to its character and history, you can still feel the seediness of certain areas within it. PAIN PAIN has everything from baguette sandwiches, to croissants and eclairs. It's a great pit-stop to refuel with some coffee and patisserie.