The Veggiesaurus’ biggest challenge ever: Paris. Actually, the biggest challenge ever would be Brazil – beef, beef, and fear of catching vegetarianism, does not a good combination, make. I’m not sure I have the resolve (or the money) to go hungry again, just yet.
Usually, a visit to Paris yields similar results on the hunger front but, this time was very different, due to one little gem I found…ok, so it was recommended by my fiancé’s colleague.
I was almost certain that any restaurant in Paris would score poorly in the veggie friendly section. Happily, for my belly, I was wrong.
Stepping out of the cold into Mon Vieil Ami is instantly warming. The lighting is the just the right level of dim, one of the tables is a long, high, canteen style giving it a slightly more relaxed feel while still managing to make you feel a little special, and the staff are so polite and 100% willing and able to help with all my annoying vegetarian questions asked in that embarrassing broken English (spoken with an equally embarrassing fake French accent).
The greatest thing about Mon Vieil Ami…they have a vegetarian menu: two starters, two mains, two desserts. I chose a carrot and coriander salad to start, risotto for my main (I know but, the other option contained aubergine and I wasn’t in the mood for that) and apple tart with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
The salad looked delicious and some mouthfuls of it were. The dressing was sweet and every time I successfully foraged a bit of that, it was divine. Unfortunately, without the dressing, the whole thing was a little bit too acidic for me.
The risotto was amazing (it helps if you draw out that first syllable in amazing, to fully understand just how tasty it was) and as un-risotto like as one would expect of the French – barely any rice. The vegetables were root vegetables and chunky. The sauce had a delicate hit of some blue cheese and despite the relative absence of rice, the dish was satisfying.
Dessert, oh, dessert. How do I love thee, let me count the ways. My fiancé aptly described the apple tart as ‘the best apple tart I’ve ever eaten’. Yum. If you don’t fancy apples, my fiancé ordered the chocolate tart with pear sorbet. Another delicious dessert brought to you by the French, albeit the sorbet was raspberry and not at all pear.
Vegan alert – a lot of this food was dairy free…go wild.
I enjoyed the whole experience, and it certainly is nice, to know that somewhere in Paris, I will find food. Bon Appetit.
Price: 95.00 EUR (approx £81.00) for 2 glasses of red wine, 2 starters, 2 mains, 2 desserts, taxes and service charge.
Veggie Friendly: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
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