The capital is going green: eating organic, staying at a hotel which integrates environmentally-friendly principles into its design and management, and buying sustainable goods is possible in Paris, even in the most swish places. Some top restaurants have joined the trend offering upscale meals or simply a Sunday morning brunch. Not to be missed.
Good and organic restaurants
You don’t have to travel to the other side of Paris to find a good organic restaurant. Today, the Left and Right Bank of the French capital have a varied choice of friendly places that will satisfy all gourmet tastes. In its 16 Parisian restaurants, the popular Cojean offers fresh and well-balanced menus that put the emphasis on organic fruit and vegetables. In an up-and-coming district, Le Kloog Café, a delightful cafe-restaurant decorated in acid colours, has opened. A Norwegian cook prepares light and creative dishes. Sésame on the canal Saint-Martin is a perfect culinary stopping off point for walkers with its flavoursome New York style bagels and brownies.
Nearby, the wonderful Zuzu’s petals, an ‘eco-responsible organic restaurant-caterer’, makes soup, eggs baked with cream, burgers and other simple and delicious dishes. More central, near to the Grands Boulevards, Bioboa, a restaurant cum delicatessen, serves inventive cooking in a trendy atmosphere. At Vert Midi, the ecological concept of the restaurant rests on recycled wood. Customers are invited to make up their own salads and desserts with seasonal and local produce.
After a cultural visit to the Centre Pompidou, Le Potager du Marais with its friendly atmosphere and onion soup will satisfy hungry appetites in the Marais district. Here in the heart of one of the busiest shopping streets in the district, the ample menu of the Passage obligé will appeal to meat eaters and vegetarians. Fans of modern and organic gastronomic cuisine, head to the 1st arrondissement. On the outskirts of the Palais-Royal, chef Caroll Sinclair cooks up refined dishes at La Table d’hôte du Palais-Royal, and near to Place Vendôme, the luxurious Hôtel Lotti**** serves a succulent 100% organic menu in the hushed atmosphere of its restaurant and its patio.
There’s more gastronomical fare, on the Left Bank at the typically Parisian brasserie of the legendary Lutetia****. Fish and seafood delight the most demanding connoisseurs in an art deco setting designed by Slavik and Sonia Rykiel. Still on the Left Bank, in the relaxed atmosphere of Place de la Contrescarpe, Les 5 saveurs d’Anada is organic, vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic. Seitan, tofu, tempeh … are key ingredients here in cooking that is original and generous. Finally, to relax after a busy day, back to the Right Bank, to Villa Spicy in the 8th arrondissement. This quiet and cosy place has a ‘detox organic’ menu based on organic ingredients and antioxidants, which can be followed by a massage with essential oils.
