Candelaria

Candelaria! 

Tacos! Tostadas! 

((These pollo tostadas with black beans, creme fraiche, queso fresco and lots of fresh cilantro were my favorite.))

Mexican in Paris, what?? --->

I feel as if I am on a constant quest to find where to eat in Paris. Growing up in a tiny town with Applebee's and also a Perkins, the infinitely numerous restaurants in Paris are a indescribable upgrade and also a bit overwhelming. Because you want to be at a cool restaurant, in a good area, with affordable prices and most importantly delicious food. And while I adore French food, I am always trying to find a little variety from breads and cheeses. I would definitely be lost without all the guides on the internet - I like HiP Paris and was scrolling through when saw their post on Candelaria: Tacos and Clandestine Cocktails. Naturally, immediately intrigued. It was in the third arrondissement by the Rebulique metro stop. We walked up to the small unassuming restaurant door that was surrounded by french hipsters smoking cigarettes and a bouncer asked us if we would be drinking before he ushered us into a tiny little restaurant with one table. We were lucky enough to steal two seats at the very small bar. The whole food operation was very simple, you could see the employees prepare everything as you ordered it.

Simple but delicious! Especially considering my completely unfulfilled penchant for Mexican food since moving to France, the minimal menu with a few types of tostados and tacos, margaritas and guacamole, all so fresh, was quite perfect.

Margaritas were actually really expensive and not that delicious. I complained and the kind waitress told me just to bring it back to the bar and ask for something else. Back to the bar? We had read about the clandestine cocktails and while we had been smothering hot sauce on our tacos (only complaint - the lack of spice), trendy young things had been moving back to the end of the restaurant and disappearing behind a little door...

So we decided to try our luck and another more delicious cocktail and went through the unmarked little door. Surprised, we wandered into a swanky, dimly lit bar with cool decor and little corners filled with Parisians laying on fur chairs and lounges. Okay then.

Behind the bar, the bartenders were the trendiest of hipsters seriously shaking up a variety of admittedly interesting cocktails that had many little accouterments. My apricot brandy cocktail - on the house and much more reccomended than the margarita had little gold flecks atop the golden liquid - cute.!

We made some french friends, like always, before we ended up sleepily taking the metro back home. I would go back to Candelaria for the tacos and the bar to have a little hiatus from all things so very French.