Archive for the ‘boat cruise’ Category

A Brunch Cruise on the Ourcq Canal

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015
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On the heels of the 4th of July boat cruise that we took with the Seine-Saint-Denis Tourist Office (our blog of July 5), we took another cruise last Saturday. This one was called Croisière brunch sur l’Ourcq avec les Marmites volantes, and it promised to be as fun as the first.

Our Cruise Boat - The Henri IV Photograph by sss.DiscoverParis.net

Our Cruise Boat – The Henri IV
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Monique and I showed up at the Bassin de la Villette, the rendezvous point, at 11:15 a.m. A short time later, the boat pulled up to the dock.

Thomas Guillot Prepares to Greet Guests Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Thomas Guillot Prepares to Greet Guests
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Thomas Guillot of the Seine-Saint-Denis Tourist Office greeted us as we climbed on board. We went to the upper deck to enjoy the view while the boat got ready to shove off!

Enjoying the View from the Top Deck Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Enjoying the View from the Top Deck while Waiting for the Boat to Shove Off
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Lift Bridge on Rue de Crimée Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Lift Bridge on Rue de Crimée
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Bridge Rising Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Bridge Rising
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

The boat left the dock and we approached the lift bridge on rue de Crimée. The bridge rose, we passed under, and we were on our way!

Settling In for Brunch

Settling In for Brunch
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Then came the signal that brunch was served, and we filed down to the dining room where the tables were already set.

What We Had for Brunch Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

What We Had for Brunch
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Surprise! It was a vegetarian brunch! Here’s what we had –
Row one from left to right: Watermelon juice; Fresh country bread from La Conquête du Pain
Row two from left to right: Salad of carrot, red cabbage, white cabbage, pumpkin seed, and herbs; Salad of bulgar, beet, feta cheese, apricot, and parsley
Row three from left to right: Spanish omelet (potato tortilla); Fruit salad with white cheese and granola
Row four: Brownie with hazelnuts; carrot cake
Not pictured: Tomato gaspacho

Coffee and tea were available for free; wine and fruit juice were available for purchase.

It was a delicious, filling, and healthy meal.

Madalena Guerra with Her Marmites

Madalena Guerra with Her Marmites
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Madalena Guerra - Lelio Lemoine

Madalena Guerra and Lelio Lemoine
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Congratulations to Madalena Guerra and Lelio Lemoine, co-managers of Les Marmites Volantes, a restaurant that delivers freshly-made vegetarian and omnivore lunches to office workers in northeastern Paris. Sit-down dining at the restaurant is also available.

Rotonde de la Villette Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Rotonde de la Villette
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Returning to the Bassin de la Villette at the end of the cruise, we were treated to a spectacular view of the Rotonde de la Villette, one of the four remaining tax offices built by architect Claude Nicolas Ledoux in the 18th century .

A good time was had by all!

Special note: The Seine-Saint-Denis Tourist Office has organized other brunch cruises for the summer. Check out their Web site: http://www.tourisme93.com/visites/2002-6846-croisiere-brunch-sur-l-ourcq.html

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A Burger Cruise with the Seine-Saint-Denis Office of Tourism

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013
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The Burger Boat

The Burger Boat
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

On the evening of August 17 I joined a group of burgerphiles for a boat cruise on the Ourcq Canal. The event was organized by the Seine-Saint-Denis Tourism Office. They put on some great events! (See my blog of August 21, 2013).

Raphaëlle Gras and Bertrand Allombert

Raphaëlle Gras and Bertrand Allombert
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

On board were Raphaëlle Gras and Bertrand Allombert, both chefs at a collective of associations called Plaine de Saveurs. Raphaëlle’s association is called Chardi Kala. They organize events to promote the culture and traditions of Northern India. That night Raphaëlle would prepare an Indian vegetarian burger. Bertrand’s association is called Chef on Line, a catering service that specializes in “nonconformist receptions.” He would prepare an Italian burger, which he called vitello tonnato (veal with tuna sauce).

Raphaëlle Shows How to Prepare an Indian Vegetarian Burger

Raphaëlle Shows How to Prepare an Indian Vegetarian Burger
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Bertrand Gives A Cooking Demonstration

Bertrand Gives A Cooking Demonstration
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

And so they began! Each chef demonstrated the fine points of burger making, while hungry burgerphiles looked on.

Assembling an Italian Vitello Tonnato Burger

Assembling an Italian “Vitello Tonnato” Burger
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

At last, the assembly! Bertrand finished his demonstration and began assembling the burgers.

Italian "Vitello Tonnato" Burger

The Italian “Vitello Tonnato” Burger
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Alas, we were entitled to only one burger. I quickly weighed the pros and cons of an Indian Vegetarian Burger versus an Italian “Vitello Tonnato” burger and decided to try the latter.

I enjoyed the flavor, but there was one small hitch. The burger contained a large piece of veal that had not been ground. As I tried to chew it, the portion slid out from between the buns and briefly dangled from my teeth. Although I was by myself, I imagined what I would have looked like if I had been sitting across the table from a woman whom I was wooing. This is not the kind of thing that one wants to happen on a first date!

Ready to Eat!

Ready to Eat!
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

A good time was had by all!

(A French burger blogger gave an account of this cruise at the following link: www.paris-burger.com/croisiere-degustation-les-burgers-du-monde. In the first picture, I’m the guy in the rose-colored shirt. I’m talking with Bertrand and enjoying the view of the canal. See the photos that I took of the scenes along the canal on Facebook!)

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