The Second Glass

While the “Going out in Boston” Issue is still on the stands, I thought it only fair to throw out a few more wine bar suggestions, this time for Paris. Far away? Yes. Expensive? Yes. Irrelevant? Absolutely not! It’s a wine-lover’s paradise, they even have a museum devoted to the stuff. Also, I am still in a state of Franco-phillic bliss from last week’s Wine Blog Wednesday round-up of mid-priced wines from the Midi. Here is one of my favorite hot-spots if you are lucky enough to make it over to the city of lights:

Le Baron Bouge
1 rue Théophile-Roussel, 12th arrondissment

Everyday except Monday, The Marche d”Aligre, is the quintessential Paris open-air market: throngs of people line the sidewalks and stalls, searching out the freshest fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat fish and every other superlative food item under the sun. There are even a few clothing and antique vendors thrown into the mix. Find yourself a vintage picnic basket, fill it with goodies and head south towards the Seine for a cheap romantic afternoon.

Just around the corner from the city’s oldest market, the mayhem continues at Baron Bouge, a wine bar unlike any other. Originally dubbed “Le Baron Rouge,” the owners shifted titles in order to avert a law-suit for copy-right infringement. Thus, was born “The Baron Moves” - and does it ever. On any given day of the week this joint, jumps, jives and wails; Locals line up cheek-by-jowl to grab a glass of any one of two dozen wines, all French naturally, most priced between 2 to 3 Euros. Dirt-cheap delicious pours to complement the dirty floors. There are a handful of tables, but more likely than not you you will find yourself fighting for a spot at bar, the window-side counter or a patch of over-turned wine-barrel that function as communal tables. If it gets a bit too cozy for your liking, take a cue from the locals and take your glass outside.
Ah, I love a country without blue laws.

Don’t stray too far, however. The bar offers a smattering of not-to-be-missed small plates: Try a sliver of duck pate, or perhaps one of their homemade sausages. My personal favorite is the cheese plate: although they sell them a la carte, I would advise going for the trio. One of them is guaranteed to be the sort of over-ripe, unpasteurized monstrosity that would land you in jail if you dared smuggling it back into the US. Despite the penalty I was sorely tempted.