These plates have a price printed on them—2F, ½ F, etc. In his Movable Feast, Hemingway described Parisian cafes that used these saucer plates under drinks to indicate prices--coffee is ½ franc, whiskey is 2F.
Today, less than 2 euros gives you coffee and the right to sit on a terrace for hours. The Crystal in Juan-les-Pins is one of my favorites because the coffee and service are good but mainly because the people watching is excellent. No need to bring a book or newspaper.
On sunny days, the Place aux Aires in Grasse has back-to-back cafes, which also serve lunch on the square that is used for the open-air market.
My kids are very particular about their coffee. Not only do we explore cafes, but we also have tested many coffee machines. Nespresso has colorful pods with numerous flavors.
I have a smaller version, the Pixie, which my kids gave me for my birthday. Was it to ensure I experience wonderful coffee back in the States? Or to guarantee great coffee on their visits?
Now that the coffee issue has been resolved, about the cups? Never enough!
What about the waiter at the Gare de Lyon, who swept off the plates and cups onto the floor to clean up?
ReplyDelete(Celle ci m'a beaucoup plu, ah les endroits favoris!)