France 2′s investigative documentary program, Envoyé Spécial, highlighted, in a 2004 documentary, the poor and downright disgusting hygiene and food storage in some of Paris’ Asian restaurants. The program has been re-shown on France 2 and there has been a huge commotion surrounding the whole affair.
Many Parisians have been put off the idea of eating in in Japanese and Chinese restaurants. And what a shame that is, because a well chosen Chinese restaurant can be a delightful experience, leaving your appetite satisfied in a way that no Magret de Canard could replace and still leaving you with change from 10E.
Finding a good Chinese is less of a struggle if you’re passing through the 3rd arrondissement though. Torwards Arts and Metires Metro station, on rue Beaubourg, there is a small Chinese Noodle restaurant serving up freshly made noodles and magical bowls of soup. They make noodles in the traditional Shanghai way, by swinging it around and stretching the dough into thinner and thinner strips. The chef stands in the restaurant window and can be seen by passers by swinging the noodles above his/her head and around the tiny kitchen area.
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