Paris Travel Advisory: L'Gastronomique; L'Auberge Pyrenées Cevennes

"It is very important to choose carefully the restaurant!" Madame M declared. We had met at the Place du Chatelet to enjoy together dinner and a concert; me with an appetite, she armed with a well researched list of culinary possibilities. C'est vrai, dining out in Paris is fraught with hazards; from endless plates of mediocre food at the better establishments to the inedible at the dreaded tourist traps, one can spend a small fortune fueling up during ones visit to the City of Lights. I have learned the hard way, and since good food is a high priority for me I am dedicated to bringing you the best the city has to offer! I recently had the great pleasure of meeting a lovely woman from Texas, on a world tour and in Paris in search of the ultimate cassoulet. I understood completely, having experienced this ambrosia in a small Breton village years ago. "You need to start in Lyon" I advised, "in the country is where they make really good cassoulet!" "A friend recommended a place near République" Debra said, "Would you like to join me for dinner this weekend? My treat!" Not one to turn down a legitimate dinner invitation, I accepted. We arranged a rendezvous, she made the reservations, and I arrived at L'Auberge Pyrenées Cevennes with great anticipation of the gastronomic delights to follow. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with a rustic country french ambience. The french staff are friendly, and happy to show you they speak English. Totally unpretentious, red and white checkered tablecloths invite relaxation; you are transported to Granny's house in the farmland that surrounds Lyon, the duck confit put up by Grand-mère herself from the game shot by Grand-père, homemade sausage and foie gras served simply on freshly tossed greens with crouton. There are a number of traditional Lyonnaise dishes to choose from, but we were on a mission. We started with the foie gras, moved on to the specialité de le maison; the cassoulet, and for dessert a classic profiteroles. Now I have had my share of foie gras since moving to Paris. It's as french as apple pie is American, but inconsistent in quality. I have had foie gras that tasted literally like cat food, and foie gras that was better than sex. The foie gras at L'Auberge PC is the latter - well almost! (I highly recommend it.) The cassoulet arrives in a huge cast iron skillet with as much theatre as the sizzling fajita platter does Stateside. And it's good; the beans are cooked to perfection, the duck confit added at just the right time to avoid a greasy broth. The traditional parfum of thyme, rosemary, and bay is delicate, as is the spice in the sausage. Your server will be happy to recommend the perfect wine to compliment your meal from a well stocked cellar, and the chocolate desserts are the perfect happy ending to a satisfying experience. You can expect to spend from 30-50 euro per person (depending upon your selection) which would include a starter, a plat (main course), dessert, and wine. One serving of cassoulet is big enough for two, and don't forget the secret code of the savvy parisian; order a "carafe d'eau"! (Water served tapped from artesian springs under the city, it is high quality and free. When you ask for water your server will always respond "Gaz ou still?" Unless you prefer to pay up to 7 euro for a bottle of Pellegrino or Evian, the carafe d'eau is the way to go.) Serving déjeuner from 12h-14h and dinner from 19h-22h30, reservations are recommended @ 01 43 57 33 78. Located at 106 rue de la Folie-Mericourt, metro lignes 3,5,8,9, ou 11 to République. Open Monday - Saturday. Closed August and some holidays. Visa, MC, CB, AMEX, and pets accepted. You'll love it!