I was talking to a friend earlier this week about choices and we were saying that it’s OK – even ideal – to make snap decisions. If you know what you want why delay your decision with endless trials “just to make sure”? Sometimes I find what I want on the first try and with good-humored stubborness, like children, I just stick to it. Such was the case with Paul.
One of the most important things when I travel is finding good food. Getting food poisoning will kill just about any germinating plans. But since we are astute travelers (hehe) we started to scoop out locations as soon as we arrived in London.
Our hotel, Easyhotel (read more about why it’s awesome in this post) is at Gloucester on the Metro map. This part of town is rather quiet, mostly residential. A perfect place to retreat at night, away from the noisy center but only 15 minutes away from said noisy, exciting center.
When we jump out of the mouth of the Underground the first thing we see is Starbucks! Good, good. And next to Starbucks, Paul. Not Paul’s. Just Paul. Curious. Who is Paul? Paul makes fragrant baguettes, cottony croissants…Excellent, we think.
The next morning we beat a straight path to Paul. There are a lot of people in there and by a lot I mean maybe seventeen. It’s crowded because the café is small. Yet cozy. Everyone looks lively and excited to be here and soon we find out why. The food is heavenly!
Some of patrons spill out to the outdoor tables. There is no music but for the medley of voices. Many of the patrons are French. Some look like locals; others are French from France who’ve come here for a taste of home. Naturally we google the place.
Paul is a international chain of French cafés that started from a small boulangerie in the north of France in 1889. The phrase “international chain” seems ill-used because this café has the intimate feel of a mom-and-pop.
We resolved to eat here every single morning. I still remember salivating in anticipation every morning as we walked through the morning chill to Paul.
Whenever I’m traveling I like to eat big breakfasts because I have long days walking. Paul has the best baguette sandwiches. My favorite was ham and butter with pickles.
An acquaintance worth making!
1 comment
April says:
Jul 1, 2011
Looks heavenly. I love making discoveries like that. We stayed in East Croydon when we went to London. I loved staying in a normal residential area.