I had heard of Willie’s from several people who said it’s a must try. Curiosity got the better of Dominique and me, so on a day we didn’t have class until 3:30, we paid Willie’s a visit.

Precisely at noon, we stroll in through the non-descript storefront on 13 Rue des Petits-Champs. The place is deserted except for the waiters all dressed in white with long white aprons. Immediately I know I could never work there. There’s no way I could possibly keep a uniform that white in a wine bar! The bright white walls are a nice contrast to the large wooden bar and ancient wood floor. The waiter greets us, and ushers us back to a small table. Little vases filled with summer flowers grace the starched white tablecloths.

Willie’s slogan is: Peace, Love and Good Wine. Evidently it was written by someone with a passion for all three. Some very clever comments jump out at me from the menu: “American Express - leave home without it” and “Smokers are cordially invited to pursue their habit on the pavement”.

The prix fixe menu for lunch is set at 25 Euros that includes an entre (appetizer) and a plat (main course). To start, I select a delicate salad of crab and avocado that pairs quite nicely with the late harvest Gewürztraminer that I’ve been drinking as an aperitif. For my main course, I choose a roasted lamb. When the waiter asks me how I would like it cooked, I ask for medium rare. He then politely says he’ll have the chef cook it rose – it’s much better that way he assures me with a smile. I smile back in agreement.

To accompany our plats, Dominique and I order a Premier Cru from Burgundy. It’s subtle mineral notes with just a hint of fruit compliment the rustic nature of the lamb. We eat in silence, smiling at each other across the table.

When we finish lunch, we still have a half bottle of wine left. Dominique is convinced that we can take the bottle with us. I’m not so sure, so I proceed to pour us glasses until the last drop has been drained from the bottle. By this time, it’s time to catch the metro for class. When I stand, the wine hits me full force. I’m very tipsy. When we reach class, I’m still feeling the effects of the wine. Thank goodness it’s only a demo and not a practical where I have to perform.

Note to self: Don’t go to class having drunk a half bottle of wine. I took notes on the wrong recipe, left out several very important steps, and wrote things like “make it pretty” and “put some stuff in the other stuff to make it taste good”. Thankfully I have great friends in class who let me borrow their notes once I had sobered up a bit.

So despite the fact that our little outing was so fun, I will never, never drink before class again! But if you’re coming to visit Paris, Willie’s should be high on your list.

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