Peer inside this small red café on the Rue Marie-et-Louise, and you might spot two women busy at work behind the counter. One will probably be rolling out pastry while the other fills little pouches with stuffing before putting them in the oven. They’ll be making empanadas, a small golden pasty from Argentina.
This small Parisian business started with a food van, but demand was so high the owners decided to open a full-fledged restaurant – an understated little place with industrial lighting and faded walls near the Canal Saint-Martin. There isn’t much choice on the menu, but all the varieties on offer are fantastic. We say skip the beef and ham, and instead opt for the brilliantly unctuous chicken (blended with mushrooms, aubergines and coconut milk), or the moreish veggie (sweet potato, ricotta, rosemary and egg). The lunch menu is great value, combining two empanadas with a salad and a dessert for €10, while drinks range from Argentinian wines to coffees carefully selected by Parisian coffee house Terres de Café. You can either eat in or take away and sit out by the canal (heartily recommended if it’s sunny).
TRANSLATION: FLORA HUDSON