Much as it may sound a little weird, Chubby Hubby and I had one of the most fantastic lunches at one of the Parisian Chinatowns. Yes, you heard me right, I used the plural term because Paris has not one, but two Chinatowns to browse, walk and look-see, not to mention enjoy a gastronomical feast as well. Best of all, they open until really really really late! So you can still find something to eat on a Sunday night at 11pm in Paris!
The larger Chinatown of the two in Paris is the one at Tolbiac. Hop off the Metro at the station Tolbiac which is a good gateway to start walking around Chinatown that comprises of a great many streets with namely Porte de Choisy and Porte d'Ivry being the main broad streets to walk upon. There are absolutely no road signs that will point you in the direction of Chinatown, so just follow the direction where the Asians are all headed and you will get to the main area of Chinatown in Tolbiac.
The fantastic meal I was talking about took place at a little road off Tolbiac at this restaurant called Le Mer de Chine or 北海 which serves very authentic Cantonese cuisine located at 159, rue Château des Rentiers, Paris. It's not exactly cheap since it cost Hubby and I, a good 44 euros for a meal of 3 dishes and 1 noodle or about SGD88. Read about this place off the Internet and I must say the food is really really good! I thought the best duck tongues were in Taiwan, but boy was I wrong (No offense to Nickie and all other Taiwanese friends)! I highly recommend the sauteed duck tongues which have a tiny bit of heat from Sichuan peppercorns but are definitely not so spicy as to put you off. This unassuming restaurant has won countless of awards and is a definite must try if you have free time in Paris.
The other great place we went food hunting at was at the Other Chinatown known as Belleview. The same webby where we found la Mer de Chine also recommended the tea house known as Salon de The Wenzhou or 温州茶馆. It has one of the tastiest 生煎包 that I have ever tasted, without being stuffed with lard or other disgusting materials.
If you are looking for an all out Asian experience, then you've got to come to the local Asian supermarket the Tang Ferres supermarket which sells just about anything and everything. Best of all, their fish are swimmingly fresh - fresh fish still alive and swimming are kept in the transparent glass tank that is used to support the fish counter so if you choose the fish and they kill it then and there for you! Talk about fresh!
if you are anti-cruelty to animals however, you can still walk along the aisles of the supermarket and savour the fun of looking at brands both familiar and unfamiliar. I bet you didn't know that Yeo's sells dried Bee Hoon, now did you?!
The Chinatowns in Paris are really an interesting off-tourist phenomena to see. It's just about probably the only place where the Chinese, Hongkongers, Vietnamese, Japanese and now Singaporeans can all mix together seamlessly because of one common similarity, we are all Asians in France speaking French!
Webby as follows: http://www.rendezvousfrance.com/chine.html
PS: Yes! I know! Super ugly! I am wearing (Heaven forbid!) my orh-bit specs because my contact lens solution got confiscated at the airport since it was over 100ml in size! Horrors!
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