The Great Parisian Plate Debate

12 rue Anatole de la Forge
75017 Paris
tel. 01.43.80.09.18

If the great metropolis of Paris had resisted the urge to institute a smoking ban in January 2008, then Le Bidou is an establishment where I would have been overjoyed at the prospect of lighting up a decadent three euro cigar. I simply cannot help it – the dark wood paneling and open street side window provided an atmosphere which required the smug self-indulgence that only a slightly below average cigar can provide.

We had arrived at Le Bidou shortly after the end of the work day, which unfortunately seems to be about 7 PM, or 19:00 for you European types. The place was empty save for several gentlemen posted up at the bar and the large cook – who, apparently bored by the prospect of doing nothing in the kitchen, had joined the quiet party. The sparsely populated bar led me to the belief that Le Bidou did not offer a happy hour. Or, if there was a happy hour, it had to be very terrible. Perhaps something along the lines of “Buy one Sambuca shot, get two free.” I was happy to accept either conclusion, as they both left us with the table nearest to the large (and conveniently opened) window. As an additional bonus, the relaxed atmosphere produced by a lack of patrons allowed the bartender to wander out to our table and recommend a bottle of wine. He spent several minutes describing the available bottles, although this is more guess than fact due to my ongoing and crippling French language deficiency. The initial bottle that we were promised was actually out of stock – not a big deal for someone like me, as I would have been fine with a cool magnum of Boone’s Farm – and a suitable replacement was soon identified and uncorked.

As we sat there sipping our wine in this small bar in the 17^th arrondissement I was struck by the oddity of the Euro MTV playing on the flatscreen television hanging on the wall. It seemed massively out of place - I would have preferred the bar to resist the encroachment of a television. Or at least tune it to something besides garbage pop rock, although admittedly such music does dwell among my sweet MP3 files. The bar seemed an ideal casual conversation venue – a place with no need for distraction, except perhaps a radio softly distributing jazz or a blues tune.

Despite my reservations concerning Le Bidou’s flatscreen technology I have resolved to return for another drink. Maybe even two. I am curious to see the type of crowd it attracts later in the evening, and if nothing else…perhaps I will be able to score the same nice table.

Dan: Everything about Le Bidou begged for a slightly over the hill lounge singer with a voice matching Christian’s cigars. Had there been one, I may have never left. Maybe on the weekends.

As I waded through the wine list that was at first glance equally impressive (read: intimidating) and expensive, I managed to select not one, but two different bottles they “were out of”. I definitely got the feeling that their cellar didn’t really reflect all those hundreds of advertised bottles. Happily, sensing my rising frustration, the owner knocked a solid 10€ off the bottle of 2000 Margaux he was touting. It was still pricey, but damn I love a good Bordeaux.

Christian wasn’t as impressed and were we not late for dinner, I probably would have attempted to distract him, refilled his glass with something cheap, then polished off the bottle myself.

I’ll be back with a fat Cuban when France lifts the ban.