Hôtel du Nord

Have you been to the Hotel du Nord?

It really has nothing to do with hotels, but is a fantastic restaurant in the 10th arrondissement, just around the corner. Xavier and I ate there tonight and left feeling splendid. There are quite a few bobos floating around the block, (Xavier and our server had an extended conversation about how they had both fashioned belts out of Air France seatbelts), but, all in all, the atmosphere, the lighting, the service, the space and, above all, the food are sublime. GO:

Hôtel du Nord | 102 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris | Canal St-Martin



I even ate their Carambar cheesecake. Carambars are my favorite French candy. They are caramel, but hard - break your teeth hard, but then at some point, they get chewy. And on the inside of their wrappers are jokes in French. Just now I am starting to think they are really funny (or really dumb).



When we left the restaurant, we crossed the bridge over the canal and walked along it for a bit to get home. It was 11pm and people were crowding the banks. Mostly young, drunk people, but charming nonetheless. You see, French drunkness can include interesting particulars, such as accordions. Imagine how that sounds...







A 1938 film used the bar/restaurant and in so doing sort of secured its position as forever hot, cool, trendy. The film, Hôtel du Nord, illustrates the spirit of the place even today.