Named by Time Out as the “fried chicken temple”, Gumbo Yaya is without a doubt one of the best places to eat chicken and waffles in Paris. Situated on 3 rue Charles Robin in the 10th, although very small, you won’t miss the unique restaurant because of its colourful, retro exterior and the white “soul food” lettering in the window. Inside the tables are more similar to picnic benches and everyone is a bit squished together, making you feel as if you are truly in a southern United States hut where everyone knows each other and have one big thing in common: their love and passion for their homeland’s fried chicken.
For only €10 a dish, choose from two large pieces of chicken accompanied with waffles, a waffle chicken burger, a normal chicken burger (if you don’t fancy waffles) and a wide range of various sides, such as fries, macaroni cheese, salad, or even more chicken. So much better than KFC and for almost as cheap, Gumbo Yaya is THE place to go for chicken or waffle lovers alike – I bet the Chicken Connoisseur would approve.
A few weeks ago the sun finally came out in Paris and although frosty, the sky was blue and there were smiles on Parisians’ faces for a change: a perfect day to go for a stroll around the city. I had been to a few parks in Paris already – the Jardin des Plantes, Champ de Mars, Tuileries, the Palais Royale garden, and my favorite, the Luxembourg Gardens. But on this particular sunny Saturday I found a new favourite, in the north of the city and just a short walking distance from the Belleville area, called Parc des Buttes Chaumont. Measuring 25 hectares, the park is one of the biggest green spaces in Paris, and I imagine in summer it must get incredibly busy with people coming from every corner of the city with their picnic baskets and bottles of wine to lie down on the grass and enjoy the peaceful ambience.
The good thing about going in winter is that it must be even more peaceful, with only a few dog-walkers and families going for a quiet stroll. It’s amazing to think that there is such a calm and green place in the middle of Paris – I almost forgot that I was in a city until I climbed up to one of the park’s many viewpoints and saw a magnificent view of the Sacré Coeur on one side and the modern skyscrapers of the financial district on the other side. There’s also an impressive bridge that stands high above a lake (frozen in winter) and even a cool restaurant-bar called the Rosa Bonheur, which I’ll definitely be checking out next time.
Situated in the Latin Quarter in the 5th, which is also known as a buzzing student area as the Sorbonne and the Sciences Po universities are nearby, 2 Bis is my and my friends’ favourite bar in Paris. There is nothing special about the place’s appearance – it’s not edgy or cool looking and doesn’t have a particularly pretty terrace – but no matter because here is the place where you will find the City of Lights’ cheapest wine: for only €2 a glass. Unbelievable! And it is good wine too, even better than the UK’s cheap wine equivalent of £5-a-bottle Blossom Hill.
The chicken and chips are also to die for, and there is even a panini and crepe stall right next door if you want a mid-sesh snack or something to eat on the last metro home. 2 Bis is the perfect place to start your night out, or even to end it, and if you fancy brushing up on your French, you are guaranteed to meet groups of friendly French and international students that are always up for a chat. Cheap drinks, delicious food and an always busy and bustling crowd and atmosphere, what’s not to love about 2 Bis?
Mared Gruffydd 