After I returned from Palais Garnier, I spent a few hours trying to figure out what I wanted to do next and what I wanted to do for dinner. My stomach is always a little iffy right after a long haul flight, so I didn’t want to go to a restaurant and try too many new things (or sugary things as I was also considering having pastries for dinner), so I finally thought I would go shopping at Monoprix, which is sort of like our Target. Monoprix has everything from food to wine to clothing, so it’s probably exactly like our Target.
So after mulling it over, I pulled my clothes back on (I had stripped down to pajamas when I’d come home from Palais Garnier) and walked to the local Monoprix, which turned out to be a lot closer than I thought. It’s only one block! This could be dangerous. I also found out there’s a metro stop there, although that particular metro station isn’t as connected as Gare de Lyon. But it could come in handy sometimes. I also figured out where Ble Sucre is (a patisserie I will be trying out, at some point).
I walked into the Monoprix, deftly grabbed a shopping basket like I knew what I was doing. And no one even thought to make fun of the silly American trying to shop for groceries in French. The store is laid out pretty easy enough to figure out, so I headed for the cheese first and picked out a sampling of four cheeses (only one of which I ended up liking, but hey, you never know until you try). I also grabbed a wedge of cheddar, as its my favorite and I knew it would be a million times better here (it was). And then I hit the wine aisle. No wait… I meant to say wine aisles. And at that point, I stood there scratching my head.
Fortunately for me, lots of French people were shopping, so I just watched what they picked out and followed their lead. I found a lovely red bordeaux that cost all of 7,75 Euros that ended up being absolutely wonderful. I did happen to remember what my tour guide said two years ago about any bottle of wine over 6 Euros is generally good. I wish that held true in the States!
So I checked out and spoke some French to the cashier, who responded with some really really fast French and I still have no freakin’ idea what he said! LOL And as I’d read that most stores encourage you to bring your own bag, I had my Harrod’s bag handy (it folds in on itself, so it fits in my purse) and packed up my cheese and wine and headed back to the apartment.
Where I dined on cheese and wine and the rest of that baguette until I couldn’t dine anymore. It was a very good meal.
Note to self: I seem not to like the stinky cheeses. If it smells like feet, it might just taste like that. I definitely don’t like Cantal and Morbier. Considering there’s 365 or so cheeses in France, I’ve now officially tried about 5 and only have 360 left to go. Oh, dear.
The wine, though? It was very very very good. I haven’t had a good red in a very long time and this was one of the best I’ve had. It was sort of like Merlot, but not quite as dry with a just a tiny hint of sweet. I just Googled it and apparently it’s a combination of merlot and cabernet, the two red wines I tend to favor. Well, that makes sense. I do plan on trying some champagne (oh, was I eyeing those bottles of Dom Perignon that I can’t afford at the store) and some rose and whites, though, while I’m here. This is as much a culinary adventure as a sightseeing one, after all.
And now? With all this wine in my system, I think it just might be about time to try and get some sleep. I need about 12-14 hours, at this point, and I think I may just get it. I have a very happy stomach (who loves French Cheddar and Chevre) and a very happy head (who loves bordeaux, apparently).