MARCEL

-PARIS-

The streets of Paris are lined with quirky and individual shops and restaurants sitting amongst there symmetrical and structural architecture.

You can stroll, take the metro, cycle, or even scoot around the city of love these days.

But whatever your mode of transport, make Marcel your first pit stop.

It’s a short walk from the Metro stop to Rue de Babylone, a small street in a quaint community.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so we choose to indulge during dawn.

The morning gloom is still lifting and the briskness functions as a refreshing wake-up call.

I'm excited to reach a watering hole.

The dark exterior of Marcel ensures it stands out in this neutral neighbourhood.

It is a brunch spot thats more casual than calculated: most diners just walk in and wait for a table.

It's already hectic inside as the mid-morning rush sets in.

The staff demonstrate a level of enthusiasm that is just unfathomable to possess at this time of the day, but it's a refreshing attitude all the same.

There’s something about your morning beverage that sets the tone of your day; and a frothy cappuccino is my poison.

It's essential to gear up for a day exploring Paris, especially as I need a bit of rocket fuel in the morning.

We ponder the menus, which are canary yellow cards on clipboards.

It's a fierce contrast to the subdued beige and black interior of the restaurant.

It's rustic and simple, lined with black benches and chairs on the opposite sides.

Which makes sitting down quite the performance.

The table is yanked out of its place as one of you climbs in – a bit disruptive by British standards, but no one seems to bat an eyelid.

Brunch is clearly Marcel’s forte, with array of traditional and tasteful options.

Whether you fancy Eggs Benedict, a Cobb salad, or French Toast, this menu accommodates every mood.

I order some blueberry pancakes (€12) to satisfy my sweet tooth.

^{Thick, fluffy, and the perfect shade of tan, an angelic stack of American pancakes were swiftly brought out.

They're served with maple syrup or you can order chocolate sauce for an extra euro.

It’s not that cheap, sticky stuff – it’s real melted chocolate, silky and smooth, almost a similar texture to ganache.

The poor syrup didn’t stand a chance.

Hearty and homely, it’s a sickly-sweet combination, amplified by the sharpness of the blueberries.

The perfect pancakes are hard to find... but I think these might come close.}

^{Now, the full English breakfast.

It’s a mandatory morning ritual for most Brits when abroad – you can bet your life someone will order one.

It certainly looked the part: colourful with a decent amount of carbs, it looks like a magical hangover elixir.

It’s interesting take of the staple British breakfast, with the use of roasted vine tomatoes and roasted potatoes.}
^{It just goes to show, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.}

^{Two fried eggs, sausages, toast, and bacon are also in the line-up.

But it’s a bit of an anti-climax.

The bacon is thickly cut and almost charred, so we leave it before were in tooth chipping territory.

The roasted potatoes also don’t make for good company – they even look somewhat out of place.

A roaster is just too stodgy for morning time – leave them on Sunday Dinners and call it quits.

It’s also quite dry, clearly suffering from the lack of the fundamental alchemist of a full English – the baked bean.

Ketchup proves the only saviour and at €15, it’s a bit disappointing.}

^{After doing sweet and savoury, it’s time for something nutritious.

We go for an acai bowl, with blueberries, kiwi, and dried coconut costing €9.

Originating in Brazil, this boujee breakfast is made of frozen acai palm fruit which is pureed and topped with fruit and granola.}
^{It’s a colourful ensemble of natural goodness, sat upon a rejuvenating juice.

The granola and dried fruit create an interesting consistency amongst the softness of the acai – it’s just a bit tiresome on the jaw.

It's one of those breakfasts that makes you think, yeah, you know what? Sign me up for that marathon.

Superheroes eat this for breakfast.

The tropical tones of the dried coconut pairs well with the rest of the fruit and proved the pinnacle ingredient.

It’s got a robust nuttiness (obviously) that creates a soundboard for the other flavours to bounce off and it works really well.

Delicious and nutritious.}

It’s seems it was a strong start to the day after all.

After trying a good variation of the different elements of the menu, I’m content.

The majority of the food is worth the money - if only the Full English had been up to scratch.

Long live the baked bean!

However, it's still an ideal pit stop for brunch completed by the warmness of the staff.

I'm leaving with a full belly - a triumph, but maybe not the ideal accessory for a shopping trip around Paris.