It was a rainy Saturday afternoon and M and I were exploring the Passage des Panoramas when hunger struck, right in front of this delightful, convivial bistro.

An unpretentious hangout for fashionistas where owner Omar Guerida pops in and out at mealtimes to maintain a watchful eye and selectively tablehop.

After a long absence and a change in ownership I was reintroduced to this wonderful little bistro near the Place des Vosges but far enough away to keep the true tourists at a distance. My go between was the oft-married, blonde, Healdsburg, Ca interior designer Myra Hoefer, whose atelier is across the street and who uses Chez Janou as her personal canteen-with her oversized glasses and great stories she merits a write-up of her own.

AAngMy Angela, my Petaluma girlfriend was in town for her annual visit, and as is customary I took her to lunch to celebrate her 89th. My selection, LES NOCES de JEANNETTE.

After a 5 year absence I’ve recently moved back to the “Marais” whose traditional core is Paris’ historic Jewish Quarter. It now extends to the Haut-Marais, rue de Bretagne and the area north of he rue des Francs-Bourgeois.

I had just finished hugging and kissing my guests after another Paris Through Expatriate Eyes literary salon with Gourmet’s European correspondent and author of Hungry for Paris, Alec Lobrano and was joined by two regulars in search of dinner.

The Chez Vong experience begins with a warm welcome from Madame Vong. She was one of the lucky ones who escaped the terror of the Pol Pot regime and was doubly lucky when she met M. Vong in Paris.

 As a reward for enduring me for six years, M and I celebrated at the 2-star Michelin, Le Grand Véfour.

I knew that the food would be superb and fully expected a warm welcome but I was truly blown away by the graciousness of the staff, beginning with Chef Guy Martin, who made a point of coming out of the kitchen to greet us upon our arrival.