With the help of the kindness of a stranger in a metro station, two lost American girls discover the Restaurant Chartier in Paris. (And I'm happy to report it's still there!)
Loved this Wini! And love all the now-"Bouillon" franchise. Those special moments from our formative years still shaping our adult/mid-life lives. Thank you for sharing! xx
It’s been forever since I’ve been to Paris (I usually head straight south for my summer stays). Until I published this article, I had no idea there was a Bouillon franchise now. I’m so curious! Next time you go, snap a few shots. I’d love to see them.
That's great that you kept that menu--how fun to re-discover it all these years later. Thanks for the lovely trip down memory lane with you on this memorable experience! ... I don't remember my first meal but my first time was a travel writing class in southern France. You have inspired me to go look for my photos, memorabilia, and journal entries for that ... :-)
I ate at Bouillon Chartier for the first time in January this year. Somehow, over many visits to Paris spanning decades, I’d never been before! A Parisian friend brought me to the Chartier at Gare de L’Est, and I liked it so much that I went with my wife to the one at Montparnasse. The interior at the Montparnasse Chartier is beautiful!
This is all great to hear. I think the Gare de l’Est and Montparnasse locations are relatively new. I’m fascinated by the Montparnasse location!
I haven’t been to Chartier in years, because I generally fly directly to the South of France and don’t visit Paris. But this sounds like Paris needs to be back on the itinerary—just to see the new Chartiers!
Great story, Wini. Here’s mine. May, 1961. I was 14. My father was stationed at an Air Force base near Oxford, England. Our American school 9th grade French class spent the school year raising money for a weekend trip to Paris by boat/train. We arrived in Paris late Friday night. Around 10:00, our French teacher, Miss Sanders, took 3 of us (teacher’s pets) to a sidewalk cafe in the Pigalle district for an order of escargot. We were hesitant, but we all did try them. What a taste sensation with the tender snails in garlic butter. We had to use the little forks to dig them out of their shells. I now order escargot anytime I see them on a menu (Splash, but not in the shell). I don’t recall the price and have no photo of the experience.
Love this! And aren’t you forever grateful for Miss Sanders? We all needed a Miss Sanders in our lives to show us some ins and outs. I was lucky I had Monsieur Thelen!
Let’s meet up there someday! Revisit Chartier together. It hasn’t changed that much (except for the prices).
You know another thing I remember about that night? How easily you figured out the Paris Metro. I mean, we’re from IOWA! We’d never been on any kind of subway in our lives. I was completely dumbfounded by the metro map, but you quickly figured out how you had to go in the direction of the end of the line and make changes where the circles were. How on earth did you know that? You were a natural!
Loved the story but unfortunately, I studied in Paris for a few months and my first French meals were at the Sorbonne cafeteria and were just SO wierd and awful, at least for an American! I'm sure it was a small budget thing for the cafeteria, but a sample meal there was a big plate of boiled barley, no sauce, with yes, a boiled spiced apple stuck in the center of it. It took a while for us to realize the sidewalk crepe stand was where we should head! Meanwhile, the part of your story about the kindness of European strangers rang completely true, such as one night where I was separated from my friends who I was supposed to meet in the next city, but so lost that I missed my train connection. Noticing my distress at the train station, a family took me in, and woke me up the next morning with a lovely pancake breakfast, followed by driving me back to the station to catch the next first train!
That is such a great story, Robin! I think back then, strangers were kinder to lost young Americans—there simply weren’t as many of us back then. Now, we’re all over the place!
Plus, I think that the French had a soft spot in their hearts for Americans in the decades following the war. I bet someone in that family who took you was old enough to remember….
Loved this Wini! And love all the now-"Bouillon" franchise. Those special moments from our formative years still shaping our adult/mid-life lives. Thank you for sharing! xx
It’s been forever since I’ve been to Paris (I usually head straight south for my summer stays). Until I published this article, I had no idea there was a Bouillon franchise now. I’m so curious! Next time you go, snap a few shots. I’d love to see them.
Great to see the menu - made your roasted vegetable soup today and l forgot how delicious it is - hope all is well.
Glad you enjoyed it, Greg! Thanks for letting me know.
That's great that you kept that menu--how fun to re-discover it all these years later. Thanks for the lovely trip down memory lane with you on this memorable experience! ... I don't remember my first meal but my first time was a travel writing class in southern France. You have inspired me to go look for my photos, memorabilia, and journal entries for that ... :-)
Travel writing in Southern France! Could it get any better? I’d love to hear more sometime!
Yes, let's swap stories one day. :-)
I ate at Bouillon Chartier for the first time in January this year. Somehow, over many visits to Paris spanning decades, I’d never been before! A Parisian friend brought me to the Chartier at Gare de L’Est, and I liked it so much that I went with my wife to the one at Montparnasse. The interior at the Montparnasse Chartier is beautiful!
This is all great to hear. I think the Gare de l’Est and Montparnasse locations are relatively new. I’m fascinated by the Montparnasse location!
I haven’t been to Chartier in years, because I generally fly directly to the South of France and don’t visit Paris. But this sounds like Paris needs to be back on the itinerary—just to see the new Chartiers!
🥰🥰🥰
Great story, Wini. Here’s mine. May, 1961. I was 14. My father was stationed at an Air Force base near Oxford, England. Our American school 9th grade French class spent the school year raising money for a weekend trip to Paris by boat/train. We arrived in Paris late Friday night. Around 10:00, our French teacher, Miss Sanders, took 3 of us (teacher’s pets) to a sidewalk cafe in the Pigalle district for an order of escargot. We were hesitant, but we all did try them. What a taste sensation with the tender snails in garlic butter. We had to use the little forks to dig them out of their shells. I now order escargot anytime I see them on a menu (Splash, but not in the shell). I don’t recall the price and have no photo of the experience.
Love this! And aren’t you forever grateful for Miss Sanders? We all needed a Miss Sanders in our lives to show us some ins and outs. I was lucky I had Monsieur Thelen!
Love these stories, Wini! And love the recipe, too!
Thanks Connie. "On Food and France" will be all about stories I've wanted to tell for years! I'm glad you're enjoying them.
fun story. if only all my memories were this: "a 2.50-franc wedge of Camembert served with crusty baguette...."
I know! That's probably the best 50 cents I've ever spent in my life!
That’s exactly how my first time was in France! Love it friend
LOVE IT that you saw this. You were there!
I need to go back!
Let’s meet up there someday! Revisit Chartier together. It hasn’t changed that much (except for the prices).
You know another thing I remember about that night? How easily you figured out the Paris Metro. I mean, we’re from IOWA! We’d never been on any kind of subway in our lives. I was completely dumbfounded by the metro map, but you quickly figured out how you had to go in the direction of the end of the line and make changes where the circles were. How on earth did you know that? You were a natural!
Loved the story but unfortunately, I studied in Paris for a few months and my first French meals were at the Sorbonne cafeteria and were just SO wierd and awful, at least for an American! I'm sure it was a small budget thing for the cafeteria, but a sample meal there was a big plate of boiled barley, no sauce, with yes, a boiled spiced apple stuck in the center of it. It took a while for us to realize the sidewalk crepe stand was where we should head! Meanwhile, the part of your story about the kindness of European strangers rang completely true, such as one night where I was separated from my friends who I was supposed to meet in the next city, but so lost that I missed my train connection. Noticing my distress at the train station, a family took me in, and woke me up the next morning with a lovely pancake breakfast, followed by driving me back to the station to catch the next first train!
That is such a great story, Robin! I think back then, strangers were kinder to lost young Americans—there simply weren’t as many of us back then. Now, we’re all over the place!
Plus, I think that the French had a soft spot in their hearts for Americans in the decades following the war. I bet someone in that family who took you was old enough to remember….