The culture of crêpes is strong in France, especially in the Latin Quarter of Paris, as it has always been a student neighborhood, and there is no better lunch for a student and as affordable and hearty as a freshly made crêpe. There are many crêperies in Paris, but I have found one to be particularly good, and as is often the case, it is because of the owners.
Crêpes & Bagels on Rue Mouffetard is run by a Greek family, so their signature (and my favorite) galette (a buckwheat crêpe) has feta and olives inside. Also: fresh lettuce, tomatoes and thin slices of grilled eggplant – it is absolutely amazing! Lakis, the owner, is the one who usually bakes the crêpes, and while doing that, he sings, treats passing-by children with candies and switches between French and Greek, if someone from his family shows up in the back.
Each time I visit, there is a new crêpe or galette filling they have come up with. When I am in a desperate need of a sweet calorie bomb, I go for banana, Nutella and strawberries – it’s a winner.
If you go there, remember to say ‘Efharisto!’ once you get your food. The smile that brightens the face of Lakis, when he hears ‘Thank you!’ in Greek, makes the experience complete.
