Underground Gem: A Parisian Cocktail Lounge

A speakeasy of sorts in the trendy St. Germain area has the perfect prescription for you. Don't ask me how we stumbled upon Prescription Cocktail Club, considering this underground lounge had dark windows with closed curtains, a big black door that was closed, and it was off the beaten track -- but thankfully before we left Paris for Provence we got a taste of the cool side of the Left Bank of Paris.


As you enter this cozy, expat lounge you wonder if you will bump into Hemingway or Picasso's ghost, except it almost feels even too hush hush for the types of them considering they loved the limelight. First off, the bartenders are mixologists. I don't throw around that word often, nor do I tend to blog about bars or lounges or else one would assume I know too much about them, but I had to make an exception for Prescription Cocktail Club, and more specific for Axel the mixologist who was so unpretentious and welcoming... even for the French! (P.S. The food may be superb in Paris but so far the service has been horrible and has completely earned its reputation -- other than Axel that is).

Great list of cocktails with exotic liquors.

Happy to have found two seats at the small bar on the first floor, we nestled ourselves in and ordered off of the creative and impressive cocktail menu. Charles hadn't been able to find a perfect dirty martini in Paris so he went for it, while I decided to try the Very Old Cuban. I knew from the start these drinks were going to be reallllly good considering the sip straws next to the glasses were for the bartenders to try the cocktails before serving them to make sure they are up to par. Also, the method of preparation was fantastic from chilled glasses, different kinds of ice cubes for each appropriate drink, to freshly made mixers and the perfect shake. Oh, and don't bother asking for Grey Goose because even though the vodka is from France you'd never guess. Axel did show us the vodka they used for Charles' dirty martini and it was really smooth. Although I don't remember the name right now I can tell you it is made with some quinoa -- go figure!

The "Very Old Cuban," a take on the mojito using
Very Old Rum, Strained Mint but with Champagne -- Oh Yeah!

Not only were the drinks delicious, but the music was also spot on from some old school soul mixed in with some current hip hop and pop. Hence, while in Paris you MUST stop by Prescription Cocktail Club for an authentic Parisian experience.  

First Find: Le Macaron

Upon the day of arrival as we walked alleyways of antiques throughout St. Germaine, there on Rue Royal was the first patissiere that beckoned me. Laduree, "Maison fondee en 1862," was a small shop of beautiful colors, smells and tastes, and come to find out one with much history in Paris. 

Although every scrumptious sweet behind the glass case called my name, it was an easy decision to go straight for my first macaroon in Paris. They're "Macaron Collection" comprises of delicious flavors such as orange blossom, frambiose (strawberry), lemon, chocolate, and caramel with salted butter. I chose my favorites, Rose Petal and Pistachio.  As you can imagine, they were light, airy, full of flavor, and so far the best macaroon I have tasted. And as they should have been considering it was the maison of the shop, Pierre Desfonatines, in the early 20th century who invented the modern Parisian macaroon we now know of today. 

The macaroon history is interesting and I found it most easy to read from Les Petits Macarons. It all begins in the Venetian monasteries in the 8th century after almonds arrived in Italy from the Arabs. That is why the word macaron comes from the Italian verb, "maccare," to beat or pound, which is what they did to the almonds getting that creamy paste to use for baking. It was the nuns of France who were the driving force behind making macaroons popular in France. But as stated above, the Parisian creamed sandwich of today with the two shells joined together with a ganache filling, also referred to as "gerbet," is a more modern invention from Pierre Desfontaines, who was the second cousin of Louis Ernest Laduree. And so the Laduree box of macaroons connotes the same sophistication and excellence as another little green box, from Tiffany's, albeit not nearly as expensive and much more flavorful.  Stay tuned as today I shall explore open-air food markets for baguettes and cheese...