Page 297 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  295

White Wine
The finest white Bordeaux and
Burgundies are best with food,
but for everyday drink ing,
try a light dry wine such
as Entre-Deux-Mers from
Bordeaux, or Anjou Blanc Alsace wines are usually Loire wines include
or Sauvignon de Touraine labelled by grape variety. Pouilly-Fumé. It is very
from the Loire. Alsace Gewürz traminer is one dry, often with a slightly
makes some reliable white of the most distinctive. smoky perfume.
wines. Sweet wines such
as Sauternes, Barsac or
Coteaux du Layon are
delicious with foie gras.
Alsace Riesling and
Burgundy
Burgundy wines The Loire has the per-
include Chablis, a fresh, fect partner to seafood
Sparkling Wine full-flavoured dry wine dishes in Muscadet, a
In France, Champagne is the first from the northernmost dry white wine from
choice for a celebration drink, and vineyards. the Atlantic Coast.
styles range from non-vintage to
deluxe. Many other wine regions
make sparkling wines by the
champagne method which tend
to be a lot cheaper. Look out for
Crémant de Loire, Crémant de
Bourgogne, Vouvray Mousseux, Champagne vineyards Sweet Bordeaux are
Saumur Mousseux and Blanquette east of Paris produce the luscious, golden-
de Limoux. famous sparkling wine. coloured dessert wines,
Champagne Billecart-Salmon is a the most famous being
light, pink Champagne. Barsac and Sauternes.
Aperitifs and Digestifs Other Drinks
Kir, white wine mixed with a small amount of The brightly coloured drinks consumed in cafés
blackcurrant liqueur or crème de cassis, is the all over Paris are mixtures of flavoured syrups and
ubiquitous apéritif. Also common is aniseed- mineral waters, called sirops à l’eau. The emerald-
flavoured pastis which is served with ice and a green drinks use mint syrup, the red ones grenadine.
pitcher of water and can be very Fruit juices and tomato juice are sold in bottles
refreshing. Vermouths, especially unless you specify citron pressé or orange pressée
Noilly-Prat, are also common (freshly squeezed lemon or orange), which are
aperitifs. Digestifs, or after-dinner served with a pitcher of water and with sugar or
drinks, are often ordered with sugar syrup for you to dilute and sweeten to taste.
coffee and include eaux-de-vie, If you ask for water, you will be served mineral
the strong colourless spirits infused water, sparkling (gazeuse) or still (naturelle); if you
with fruit, and brandies such as Cognac, don’t want to be charged, ask for tap water (eau de
Armagnac and Calvados. robinet) or a pitcher of
water (carafe d’eau).
Kir: white wine with cassis
Beers
Beer in France is sold either by the bottle or, more
cheaply, on tap by the glass – un demi. The
cheapest is lager-style bière française, and the
best brands are Meteor and Mutzig, followed by
“33”, “1664” and Kronenbourg. Pelforth makes very
good dark beer and lager. Some bars and cafés
specialize in foreign beers, especially from Belgium,
and these are very malty and strong – Leffe, for
example, comes as brune (dark, fully flavoured)
or as a lighter blonde (lager). There are bars that
brew their own beer. (For beer bars see p309). Fresh lemon juice is served with water and sugar

294-295_EW_Paris.indd 295 03/04/17 10:57 am