Affortable Eating

Last weekend was spent in Berlin: exploring, eating, drinking, discussing, and generally having a good time. However, the student feel of Berlin made me realize just how expensive Paris really is. This lead me to attempt to try to live cheaper without compromising too many of my tasty habits (such as my try a new desert a week rule). So, my problematic: is it possible to enjoy Paris food on budget?
Discoveries:

1. Markets. I have recently moved to the 11th, which means I am now walking distance from at least a one market a day. This means there is always affordable produce 10 minutes away if I manage to get out of bed early enough and head over with my reusable bag. However, what me and my roommate discovered the real trick to mastering the market is show up as it is closing (between 12:30 and 1 is optimal – too early and you don’t get deals, to late your left empty handed). Showing up at closing time is not for those who are picky and have a dinner in mind – bargain produce hunters are stuck with what is trying to be unloaded at the end. With that said, last Sunday I managed to get a kilo each of potatoes, onions, carrots, green beans and broccoli for under 4 euro. For the past week dinner has consisted of veggie soups and stir fries, but nothing really beats fresh veggies.

Bastille market on Sunday has absolutely everything, from produce to poultry to amazing cheeses. I usually go to Place Allègre, which is on metro stop ledru-rollin and where my good friend Nicole used to live. There is a morning produce market and an inclosed area with fish, meat, cheese, and any kind of turquish dip you could ever want.


2. Getting dinner for free. I know, I know, “there is no such this as a free lunch”. However – free dinner does exist! There are a series of student bars in paris that include dinner if you get two drinks. The place I went gave out a huge portion of one of my favorite meals, moules frites (mussles and fries) if you purchased 2 beers for 2.50 each. It was a good deal and a better meal.

Metro Parmentier for this bar, Tuesday and Wednesday are mussle nights and they serve couscous on Fridays and Saturdays. A good way to start (or end) a solid night on the town, as Parmentier is walking distance from the fun (and cheaper then left bank) bar strip at Oberkamph.


Other then enjoying cheap food, life here has been good. I went to a “fluo” party (which I thought would be the French version of tight and bright) but I definetly ended up being one of the only spots of color in a club filled of the usual black clad French crowd. Learning experience.