Picking the Perfect Paris Café

Paris Café - Deux Magots

We love the café scene in Paris. Sitting at a sidewalk café sipping a rosé and maybe enjoying a “croque” while watching the world go by – it’s relaxing and exciting at the same time.

But, there seems to be a million cafés to choose from. How do you know you are finding a good one, and not a tourist trap? Here are 3 quick tips:

1. Get away from the busy tourist spots. Sometimes we want to sit with a front-and-center view of the Eiffel Tower. But, just know that you are over-paying for that glass of wine, and the atmosphere & service may not be top-notch.

So, when you find yourself on a busy square surrounded by tourist sights, walk around the corner, or just down the street. Or, better yet, find a quiet alley nearby. You will be sitting with the locals, rather than other tourists. The service will probably be better and prices will not be inflated.

2. Look for a busy spot. This may seem to go against tip #1, but if you can get away from the busy tourist area, and find a busy café that means that you found a good spot. If the locals are flocking there, you want to be there, too. It could be that the café has great happy hour specials, or it means the food, drinks & service are great. Either way, it’s a win for you!

Now, it can be a little uncomfortable — you will probably feel like you are sitting on the lap of a Parisian. But, it will be worth the effort.

Paris Cafe3. Sit outside, facing out. Many cafés have cute interiors, but when in Paris, sit outside.  If it’s cool, don your scarf and sit by a heater.  If it’s warm, find a table under the awning, or just bask in the French sunshine!  Outside is the place to be!

Our favorite cafés have all the chairs facing out to the street. Sometimes, you just can’t find that setup, but when you do, grab a spot! People-watching is a favorite Parisian pastime, so a table with both seats facing out means that everyone get’s to take part. Sit back and watch the action of Paris.

Please note: European (and, Parisian) restaurant etiquette and procedures are a little different than how it works in the U.S.  Keep an eye out in the next week for our post on tips to make you seem like a local.

Swiss Wine – an Unknown Treasure

Switzerland Wine Country

Have you tasted Swiss wine? If you answered “yes” then you must have visited Switzerland! Over 98% of the wine produced in Switzerland is consumed in Switzerland. The Swiss know how good it is, and they keep almost all of it to themselves.

Your tour to the Swiss City Marathon will give you an opportunity to try it! After your scenic ride through the Alps from Lucerne to Lausanne (on the shores of Lake Geneva) you’ll spend a day touring vineyards and wineries with our private guide.

Switzerland produces some varieties you are probably familiar with, like Pinot Noir, but their most plentiful white is a relatively unknown grape – Chasselas. It is a dry white wine which pairs perfectly with, you guessed it, raclette and fondue. (You will be hearing all about raclette and our private, post-race raclette dinner in another post.)

We are very excited to share this delicious little secret with you on your next running tour to Switzerland.

Crémant d’Alsace – the Other Bubbly

Crémant d'Alsace - Champagne - Sparkling Wine

We are in Alsace, France right now, and we are enjoying the Crémant d’Alsace!  What is “Crémant d’Alsace,” you ask?

We first need to start with a little wine education.  Many people often use the word “Champagne” for any sparkling wine, but that is not correct!  If you are a wine-geek, you already know this, but the word “Champagne” can only be used for sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France.  So, you can get sparkling wine from California, Italy, Spain and from a bunch of wine regions in France — almost anywhere in the world where wine is produced.  But, it’s only called “Champagne” when it comes from a certain small area of France.

Glasses of Rose Crémant d'Alsace - Champagne - Sparkling WineSo, Crémant d’Alsace is the sparkling wine of Alsace — the wine-producing region in Eastern France right along the German border.  They make some great wines here – lots of Rieslings, Gewurztraminers and Pinot Blancs.  But, they also make great sparkling wine.  Crémant d’Alsace is generally a bit less expensive than Champagne, but the taste is outstanding. (The fancy name “Champagne” can often add a few bucks – or more – to your wine bill.)

We love to drink local and our taste buds are thanking us for Crémant d’Alsace this week.  (It’s a scorcher and it sure is refreshing!)  But, even between tours to Europe, we look for wines to remind us of our adventures – so, check your local wine shop for a Crémant d’Alsace and give it a try.