Paris Guide: Breakfast at Muscovado
My wife and I arrived in Paris around 7:00 a.m. on Monday November 11th. I was in a great mood and not very tired despite the long overnight flight. I was pumped to get into the city and make the most of day one. We decided to reacquaint ourselves with the metro system and took the train from the airport to our hotel in the 11th arrondissement. If you have the time and patience I highly recommend learning and using the metro system in any major city you visit. It can be incredibly convenient, helping you to avoid traffic related delays and a quick way to learn the lay of the city. We also made acquaintances along the way, locals who gave us tips for our visit.
After dropping luggage and freshening up at the hotel, we met up with my wife's sister and her husband who were in Paris to celebrate with us. Originally we had planned to eat breakfast at Mokonut however we had not realized that Monday was a holiday in Paris. It was Armistice Day and it effected business hours for many locales and Mokonut was closed.
We needed a new plan. The four of us took shelter from the light rain fall at Mel, Mich & Martin. This was a happy find. We ordered espresso drinks (very welcome after the long flight) and enjoyed browsing through items in their little shop.
Fortunately, Lynette had done a lot of research (she wanted to keep this group of foodies happy) so an alternative breakfast plan was easy. We settled on Muscovado, and called in advance to be sure they were open. Muscovado is also located in the 11th arrondissement, so we decided to take the ten minute walk. The walk was like stepping into a fairytale. This was my second time in Paris, but until you return it's easy to forget how picturesque and romantic a simple walk in the city can be. While of course modern establishments and shops are set up, the buildings themselves are well preserved relics from a distant past; a symbol of continuity of the culture and the French way of life.
Muscovado is operated by two sisters from the Philippines and immediately upon entering you feel an inviting and familial vibe to the establishment. It is a small cafe and neighbors at the tables easily slide in and out of conversation with each other offering advice on what to order, commenting on the weather, or laughing with one another at the unruly toddler guests. As a jetlagged American it was also welcoming to be greeted and helped navigate the menu with American English speakers.
The food itself was really good. It wasn't anything that knocks your socks off but it was hearty and delicious, a good breakfast variety at very reasonable prices. We ordered mushroom toast, avocado toast with smoked trout, and our table shared the lemon pistachio cake. The bread itself was delicious and all the flavors came together nicely.
Muscovado is definitely worth stopping in to when in Paris. If our trip had been a few days longer, likely I would have had a second or third visit.
Below you can see my short video on Breakfast in Paris. Over the next few weeks I'll be sure to post some write ups about each locale that we went to.
Have you been to Paris? Comment below to let me know what your favorite eats in the city of lights! If you haven't been, is there somewhere there you're dying to try?
