Step away from the fridge!
“Step away from the fridge! ” I barked at my husband. “It’s wired!” I continued.
“You’ve just picked up the bottle of water. We’ve got five seconds before we’re charged. We can still salvage the situation. Put the bottle down and slowly close the fridge.” I added.
And this begins our first day in Paris.
I admit, while we like to stay in nice places when we travel, I can never bring myself to pay for the snacks and drinks from the minibar. It is, in my opinion, legalized robbery!… so when my husband decided he needed a drink of water, I said, let’s just go have a stroll around the neighborhood and grab something to eat. I am sure, the price of water in our hotel would cost even more than a little sandwich!
Our hotel is located on the Rue de Castiglione, on the first arondissment. It’s just a few steps away from the Jardin des Tuileries so we made a beeline to the gardens.
Jardin des Tuileries
The first thing we see are a few little ponies for hire.
Ponies for hire
I ask the man in charge if I can take a ride in one. He looks at me up and down and up and down again, gives a little laugh and says that I am too big and will scare the ponies away.
I'm not allowed to ride the ponies!
So instead, I go for a ride on the carousel, at least, these horses won’t get scared!
Carousel at the Jardin Des Tuileries
Finally, we take a stroll around and find a cafe… The Bar du Marche in Saint German serves coffee that was definitely cheaper than the hotel water… but at 4 euro each, not by much!
For dinner we went to Les Cocottes, one of the four restaurants of Christian Constant located on the Rue St. Dominique. It’s my first time in this particular restaurant but have been to two other Christian Constant restaurants before and have always been impressed. This one is just as good. We are lucky as many restaurants in Paris are closed on Easter Monday and this restaurant does not take bookings but we manage to get seats by the bar. I love the concept that every dish is served in a cast iron cocotte. A few pictures of the dishes we ordered.
Les Cocottes of Christian Constant
135, rue Saint-Dominique (7th) Tél: 01 45 55 15 05
Bacon Salad with a poached egg
Veloute of chicken with foie gras
Langoustine ravioli with artichoke puree
Milk fed lamb with baby vegetables
Even the bill is served in a cocotte!
To end the meal how could we not order The Fabulous Chocolate Tart by Christian Constant. I found the tart a bit too rich for my liking but I thought it was great marketing nonetheless! For a recipe inspired by Christian Constant, click here.
The Fabulous Chocolate Tart
Trissalicious 
Oh wow, what a beautiful trip! This is my dream place to visit. Love your photos especially the first one! haha… Really interesting. And the food, I’m totally speechless. Glad that I found your site. Have a wonderful day!
Cheers, Kristy
I don’t know what makes me smile more — those cute little ponies or that decadent veloute! 😉
You do not know what I would do for that dog! He is the most adorable little thing ever!
Lovely photos… And you are right about the prices in Paris… Ridiculously high!
You look very French on that picture. 😉
That meal looks.. heavenly. I don’t want to see the bill. hehe
Aw it looks and sounds like you guys are having the loveliest time :). Sorry you had to pass on the ponies hehe.
Hi Trissa, this post is making me really hungry. Bacon with poached eggs – just perfect for any time of the day. But everything looks good. Ah Paris, I will visit you one day.
Oh, Paris, my heart. And we are so alike…………………..’the fridge is really wired’ 🙂 Funny you! Have a great holiday
I’m drooling over the food and the pony ride hehe, too bad you weren’t allowed, I want a pony ride too …Belated Happy birthday Trissa! 🙂
Sigh sigh sigh. Oh by the way, you’re missing so many exciting things back here in Sydney.. not 😛
Envious! Love Paris and would love to go back! Everything looks delish!
that tart looks so rich and decadent!
Trissa, I’m so jealous I could cry =p. Hope you’re having a fantastic trip. Ohh all the food look so delicious and hearty, just the way I like it. LOl yup, also agree with daylight robbery- when paying for food/drinks in the mini bar.
Yum Yum Yum! I looove Paris – hope you are having a fabulous time. And good on you for making sure the bottle went back in the fridge – you could probably buy a couple of yummy macarons for the same price! Have fun!
Hey Trissa! Woohoo! you are in Paris!!! I love that city! :)) .. haha.. I know it’s expensive 🙂 felt the same in Queensland.. Loved Sydney btw!!!!! :)) See you soon in NYC!
I’m so jealous hehe 😉 lovely photography!!
I’m just blown away with how beautiful your photos are! And obviously, Dan isn’t too bad a photographer either.
Can’t wait to hear all about your trip! and see the pictures!
Wonderful post. I love paris, but yes, it is terribly expensive. You just have to go knowing that you WILL be spending a lot of money. I think all the big cities are like that. If you want to have fun, prepare to get robbed. I totally agree about the goodies in the hotel fridges. My worst one was in NY where water was $8!!!!
Your post makes me want to book another trip to paris. I always have such a good time there, and it really is a romantic city.
*kisses* HH
The tart looks silkenly smooth and decadently rich! I audibly gasped when I saw your photo =)
Oh Trissa you’re living my dream! It’s my dream to travel to Paris and Rome and all around Europe!!! Hope you’re having an absolutely awesome birthday – we should catch up when you come back here!!!
Paris is wonderful at the best of times, but your photos are making me sooooo jealous! Have a couple of croissants and pastries for me, pleeeeease? 🙂
I’m sure you are having a lovely time in Paris; I miss it so much! Looking forward to the Pierre Herme and Laduree posts 🙂
How fun!
Oh you are in Paris now! Croque Monsieur, French Onion Soup, and those sweet desserts…
Have fun and enjoy, sweetie 😀
Wow, you’re in Paris and blogging! What dedication on your part but lucky for us to be able to enjoy your pics and story. Fabulous! Love it all!
What wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing with us.
you can go ahead and color me green with envy. maybe i’ll find my way to paris someday! keep on having fun, trissa, and soak some of it up for me. 🙂
I feel like I’m reliving my trip 15 months ago. Similar accommodation and location, similar restaurant choices. BUT, I wasn’t a blogger and didn’t capture a thing on camera. LOL. Lovely photographs. I so want to go again! Paris is sure one of my top 10 favourite cities in the world.
You brought back Paris to me! I have never been to this place but I will remember to try it next time! Looks like upscale bistrot food, my favorite!
I love all of these pictures!!! Springtime in Paris is the best! The dwarf ponies and small children are precious!
Wow fancy blog, with the flashing pics!!
How could you order three mains??!!
Dog at the garden ugly compared to the lil devils back home. I gave them some treats for your bday….
I love a good travel post – and I miss Paris 😦 I’m trying to keep it together after seeing that irresistible tart.
Oh noes, some of the photos are broken for me :S (chrome) but it looks and sounds like ur having an awesome time there! Mmm I want all of those dishes… bacon salad, chicken and foie gras and that luscious looking choc tart
Wow Trissa PARIS huh! I’m so jealous!
I can relate to your above story about hotel’s charging an arm and a leg for water and snacks. I was laughing when I read it since I always warn my kids that way too hahaha.
Enjoy Paris and the rest of your trip. s’amuser!
Nice Photos!
OMG, you’re in Paris..I so envy you and wish I could blink myself there right now! Great photos and looking forward to hearing more about it!
Bonjour mabiche! Oh how wonderful! I’m loving your Paris pics Trissa…and that fabulous meal is making me hungry! Can’t wait to see and hear more…
hehe i love carousels! and the chocolate tart looks to die for oh man im so very jealous!
Oh my god the ponies! I need to be in Paris right now, if only to see the kids on the ponies! I hope you are having a lovely trip and the best birthday!
Wonderful post…I am headed to Paris today. I have never been to Les Cocottes, but am mercilessly guided by chocolate. Gotta try that tart!
Maybe I’ll see you there 🙂
A votre sante…..Diane
Loved the opening of the post! Had an action/spy sort of feel to it 🙂
The chocolate tart looks ridiculously rich from the image. Looks like it would have been great, though.
Good morning~ Wow..Paris in Springtime..A few photos the links seem to have broken links but perhaps later..the ones I can see I surely enjoy..Now where are you sur le caroussel?
Les Cocottes is such a cute idea and resto..Would love to see the étagères with all the cocottes on them..:)
Have a wonderful time..
Oh my goooooood the chocolate tart. Have a great time in Paris – though judging by the pictures you already are!
That is lovely. One day I will visit Paris. 🙂
Ah, Paris – a big group of my colleagues will be there next week for some big trade show. Unfortunately, I couldn’t justify my value there… Trissa, I must say you have become a real pro-photographer! I especially admire the food shots – I am always too flustered to take pictures in restaurants and they always turn out drab… Enjoy Paris !
The food you ordered look so yummy…esp. that rocket and bacon salad and lamb-leg!
Somehow I found the chocolate tart a bit of too chocolatey and not moist enough….maybe it’s so well-sliced and so brought me such an idea that it could have tasted kind of waxy.
Woww! Have a nice time in Paris. It’s sunny today, you’re lucky…
I’ve never eated at “les cocottes”… Next time perhaps! I hope you’ll have fun in Paris…
Poor Dan he must have been so thirsty ehehh. That bulldog is very cute. Ok so you are tiny and you got laughed at. Imagine if it was me. They would have called the police if I wanted to ride that pony ehhhehe. Have a famtastic time Trissa. Happy birthday too. Your photos are so good.
my god, is that a solid block of chocolate?! *faint*
I did that once in Dubai-it was for an unusual bottle of Scotch which I picked up as I thought was so unusual looking and it ended up on the bill but they must get it all the time because when I told them that i was just looking at it, they were fine. I was all ready for a lengthy explanation about how I can’t drink scotch. Have fun in Paris!
Sounds like you’re having a great time so far! It’s great to see some greenery, as I went when it was all grey & misty! Enjoy the rest of your trip and Happy Birthday 😀 xx
Wow live blogging from abroad! You are dedicated 🙂 I agree I’m always loathe to indulge in anything from the mini-bar – besides there are surely plenty of delicious treats to be found whilst strolling the streets of Paris! Have a lovely holiday.
Blogging on vacation! Wow! The photos are FABULOUS! And I am so envious … Pareeee … wistful sigh. Trissa, your opening para was like a scene from Mission Impossible! LOL. Enjoy yourselves. 🙂
Hi Trish, the Bacon salad with a pouch egg looks really yum yum…. live life, have fun & enjoy… Happy Birthday !!! I’m sure there are good cakes there… go get something different and let me know how tsalap it is… Best regards :))