Book DescriptionBistros transport us into the Paris of our collective memory, of our youthful imagination, of literary legend. Here are the haunts of Henry Miller, the hangouts for Hemingway and Fitzgerald, the watering spots for Richard Wright and James Baldwin. In Paris by Bistro, you enter the neighborhoods of the tiny narrow streets, pass the smoky clubs and steamy little restaurants. You learn the character of each district and encounter a Paris that you might think no longer existed.
Experience the real Paris as you discover:
--Charming, great value alternatives to the classic restaurants
--Imaginative cuisine and friendly welcomes from young chef-owners who care about their customers
--Quick bites next to major tourist attractions
--Movers' & shakers' bistros for lunches close to the centers of power
--Student hangouts with joyous bistro nightlife
--Chefs' favorite bistros
--Romantic hideaways
--Surprising bargains all over Paris
On the way to becoming better acquainted with the city, you'll find yourself in a cafe-chantant in Edith Piaf's neighborhood, where the often raucous entertainment is part of the modest price. You'll try a bistro where a former U.S. President is sometimes glimpsed among the diners. You'll sample the fare at an all-night restaurant that's an institution in Les Halles, and you may find yourself next to an official of the Cordon Bleu in his favorite bistro, a little-known gem in the 15th district.
''Paris by Bistro is not just a fine guide for taking along to Paris. It is a marvelous read for anyone interested in Parisian food, arts and artists...The gossipy anecdotes are particularly entertaining.'' -Avenues (St. Paul, MN)
''Your guide to the legendary cafes of gay Paree by a couple who have spent 30 years eating their way through them.'' -The Dorset Echo (UK)
''For the past 30 years Christine and Dennis Graf have spent part of each year in Paris, working their way around the cafes, picking out the best and recording their history and character, along with opening times and nearest Metro stations. The result is Paris by Bistro: A Guide to Eating Well.'' -Blackpool Gazette and Reporter (UK)
''After searching in vain for a book that told the stories of Paris bistros, Christine and Dennis Graf of St. Paul decided to write one themselves. After visiting more than 130, they wrote Paris by Bistro, a guide to the little neighborhood eateries where some of the best food in the City of Light is found.... But the book is more than a collection of reviews. The Grafs look at bistros in many other dimensions...If you're making a pilgrimage to Paris to follow in the footsteps of Hemingway and other literary lions, the Grafs' book will tell you where they ate...They indicate which have historical interest and which offer romantic ambiences...They tell the stories of bistro patrons and chefs with the warmth that they found there themselves.''-St. Paul Star Tribune
''This guide to the legendary bistros of Paris is a heartfelt and insightful tribute to their stories and legends. They are places where history and fiction have been made.... Original photography and useful listings.''- France Magazine
What Others Say
Great insights, great eats, great value
My wife and I spent 13 days in Paris in May-June 2006. I found the information still current and extremely helpful. Oh, the great meals we had!! We dined at many of the places listed and were never disappointed. The descriptions of the various places were always spot on. We enjoyed the cheaper haunts as well as some of the pricier ones. I love to plan trips but I don't like to schedule every moment, especially when and where we might need to chow down. Paris by Bistro: A Guide to Eating Well had great places all across Paris and was very accurate with info on when a place was open or not. We were able to be spontaneous without taking complete leaps of faith based on mere appearances. Paris by Bistro: A Guide to Eating Well is a find!
A Must-Buy For Anyone Who Wants To Find Where Parisians Dine
Paris by Bistro: A Guide to Eating Well reads like a novel. Each section introduces the reader to the charms and peculiarities of the neighborhoods of Paris, followed by vivid descriptions of the history and atmosphere of the most interesting bistros and the best fare offered by each. This is not your typical tourist guide. I loved the fact that it is a slim book, packed with information, which can easily fit in a purse or pocket. The authors have focusssed on the bistros where Parisians find the best food for the best value. I loved the photographs, which capture the charm of Paris and made me yearn for a return visit.
So good I can taste it
This is THE book for lovers of Paris cafe culture, the Gaîté Parisienne of Toulouse and Degas and young Picasso, the smoke-filled existentialist redoubts of postwar angst and Sartre, the whole range of places, from tucked-away local digs where shirtsleeve workers take their lunch served by big-armed mamas to the ritzy-boulevard tourist traps, all the color, sounds, palate treats and eye treats you could possibly want, the stuff that brought you to Paris in the first place, are what Christine and Dennis Graf have confected for you, and not only that but they tell you how it's done, how the cafe "works," with the local body language and recognitions and intricate gestural vocabulary and what the places mean to les parisiens indigenes as well ... Read More
Much more than a travel guide
Much more than a standard travel guide, Paris by Bistro: A Guide to Eating Well is a work of art. It's beautifully written and sprinkled with entertaining vignettes and charming photographs. The authors have departed from the beaten path and searched Paris to find a select group of Bistros, the kind the average tourist hopes to find but rarely does. They are all unique, but they all have some things in common: appealing atmosphere, creative menus and outstanding value-- and they all make me anxious to return to Paris!
