Thursday, March 05, 2009

Roger La Grenouille


It was hard to come up with a decent photo, because the place is not really photo worthy, but it's a real Paris institution. This restaurant is called :"Roger la grenouille" (Roger the frog) and I remember hearing about it when I was a little boy. As you can imagine, from the name of the place, the specialty of the place is frog legs [but not only!]. For yes, as you probably know we do eat frog legs in France (that is also why the Brits call us "Frogs"!). I had them once and did not like them. But I never went to Roger La Grenouille, I hear they cook them 9 different ways... Maybe I'll give it a second try one day...
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58 comments:

  1. Ribbit!! I love frogs, and yes, I call my husband a frog, too! Better than calling him a cabbage, if you ask me.

    Is this another door? I love the painting. Sounds like a fun place.

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  2. I had frog's legs once as a child and didn't mind them. Is that a crown on his head? If so, it looks like we had better do no more than smack our lips if we find them succulent (a word from the movie Entre les murs) because an inadvertent kiss could result in this appearing on our plate, and we wouldn't want to get our clothes stained from all the "Purple Rain."

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  3. Apparently from what I have been told "grenouille" is a French word that only native speaker can pronounce properly.

    Also, I love French version of "ribbit". I saw a performance of La Fontaine's Fables at the Comedie Francaise which included much "ribbiting". I was quited entertained by the French version, however I can no longer recall exactly what it was, hopefully I have it written down in the journal that I was required to keep on that trip.

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  4. My sister ate at this restaurant one New Years Eve. They have a vast selection of hats from which you choose one to wear for the evening. I think a riotous time was had by all!

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  5. I have never heard of this place, and hope they have other things on the menu as I would love to go.

    There was a frog that peeked into my life one day. I used a toilet at the University of Miami , and as it was cold that day, I had nothing better to do than look at the flushing water as I put on my layers. To my HORROR, there was a frog in the toilet, defying the flushing water and also what the previous few minutes involved. What a nice view he had of me. What a nice collection of frogs I received because of the incident from my friends throughout the years.

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  6. You had them ONCE? I thought Frenchmen had them for breakfast every day, just like people think the English have bacon & eggs every morning! Pah. I'm disappointed.

    I like the taste; kind of chickeny. I tried them a couple of times when I came to France. It would be unheard of in England though. Frogs are considered cute. I've heard of this restaurant.

    Ew Phx! That's a horrid thought isn't it. Enough to cause a toilet phobia. Is there a name for that?

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  7. Aw, he's charming! I think frogs are cute, too, Lynn. I'd have a hard time eating those little teensy drumsticks.

    LOL, Phx! Years ago, some friends loaned me their beach unit for the weekend and when I arrived, they'd left a list of helpful hints with a PS: A frog lives in the toilet. No other instructions. I tinkled discreetly in the bushes the entire time. {Lynn, I just googled it and it's coprophobia. Believe it or not, Cheltenham Hypnotherapy Centre came up on the first page!}

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  8. I'm toad-ally interested in how to pronounce grenouille. Anyone willing to give it a go?

    Happy Birthday to a favorite frog of mine, Thib!!

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  9. Lynn:

    COPROPHOBIA or CORPOROPHOBIA - fear of going to the loo (passing faeces) Aka: toilet phobia

    A fear of anything related to a bowel movment, toilets, public toilets, being heard going to the toilet, feeling unclean or dirty generally. Another fairly common Phobia. Typically the sufferer would find it difficult (if not impossible) to use a public loo. A lot of the time the fear is specifically of losing bowel control - in public. Quite often the sufferer has very precise routines they have to adhere to - in order to be able to go to the loo.

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  10. I didn't know there way a word for toilet phobia but the frogs in question are called voyeurs!!!!

    Since not all French eat frogs legs, and not all Brits eat bacon and eggs for breakfast, I want to be on record as a non hamburger eating American, and I have NEVER eaten in Mc Doo's(did I get McD's correct the French way?).

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  11. Eiffel Tower Suzy:

    Here is a start to the pronunciation of grenouille. Sounds a bit like a cross between "granola" and "good to know ya." Hmm. Do French people have frog's legs along with hippy breakfast cereal the morning after a one-night stand? I would imagine a froglette's legs rather tasty under those conditions.

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  12. Eric (wherever Down Under you may be right now) -- I like your photo a lot, actually. This grenouille is quite charmant. Wart can I say but "give me a kiss!"

    Way to go on GF, Suzy (and "toad-ally")

    I'll have a go at pronouncing grenouille, and maybe Guille or Thib or someone will weigh in.
    How about gruhn-WEE?

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  13. Phx -- forgot to tell you that when I was in India some years ago, I was in the shower and a snake came out of the drain—and that was just the beginning of the critter encounters! And I love and am also somewhat horrified by your froggie tale (tail?).

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  14. Alexa wins the pun prize again! What a cute froggie! I can't imagine eating frog's legs and enjoying them, but I would try them. They just aren't very easy to find around here for some reason!

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  15. Had frogs legs once in a famous London French restaurant (if that isn't an oxymoron!) - they were OK but I wouldn't bother with them again! And yes they taste like chicken!

    We may call you 'frogs' but you call us 'le ros beef'!

    Now snails I could never consider eating - nasty things which I wage a continous war with in my garden.

    In Paris I always find it difficult to get a steak 'saignent' - as far as I am concerned you show the steak the grill and then put it on the plate! But Parisian waiters must tell the chef 'she is English so the steak must be very well done'.

    Vive Kermit!!!

    Eli
    x

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  16. Your snake story wins hands down. I would be traumatized forever. Alexa.

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  17. I'm not sure I could eat frog legs with that crown-wearing cutie watching everything I put in my mouth!

    (I recently found your blog and I've been thoroughly enjoying it!)

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  18. Believe it or not, here in Tiny Town Texas one of our two (yes, two!) restaurants serves frog's legs! I have yet to try them and I've been here 15 years. (I hope to leave soon.)

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  19. I like this bright green frog but I don't think I'd ever have the courage to try frogs legs.

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  20. They don't taste like chicken, they've a unique flavor. Tasty, the one time I had frog legs.

    I don't recall seeing this sign. It definitely is amusing.

    Must be off to the club for some exercise. Only 60 days from departure for Europe. (I am REALLY jealous of Monica because she will have a full month of holiday. I'm green with envy, just like Roger!)

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  21. Jeff...are you saying that "it's not that easy bein' green...but green's the color of Spring and green can be cool and friendly-like and green can be big like an ocean or important like a mountain or tall like a tree..."? LOL Move aside Kermit. Yeah, I thought that's what you meant. ;-) Personally, I like more meat on my legs. Okay, I'll hop on outta here now. ;-)

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  22. It seems to me I've had frog's legs. But don't you think I'd remember? That's so weird.

    I'd think it would be gruhn-WEE-eh. Sort of.

    Eric, it's so nice that you posted or are posting all this stuff, however it worked out. I hope you're enjoying your vacation.

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  23. I've actually eaten here and both the frog's legs and hostesses were great. PHX, my toilet story goes somethong like this...

    I brought my mom here to eat once and at the time she was in a wheelchair. When she needed to use the loo, the 2 hostesses took her to their apartment to use their private one. The one in the restaurant isof the "Turkish" variety and unmanageable for the average person, let alone a handicapped person. I'll never forget their kindness.

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  24. Oh yeah!!! Bah OUI!!! I love those Frog Legs...always have! I think they are a bit like Chicken Wings...but to each their own! My favorite preparation is "Cuisses de grenouilles sautées à l'ail et au persil."...The Best!!

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  25. Petrea -- think you may be right (with the last little 'eh' being very subtle, right?).
    Not for nuthin', but I've always thought that the hardest word for foreigners to pronounce in French is "rue."

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  26. I had dinner several times at the very fun and boisterous Roger la Grenouille in the 70's when Roger was still around. The walls were coverd with customers' business cards, notes, and other items (even bras) that contented diners wished to leave behind. Roger has passed on, the place changed hands, and now it's all crisp, white tablecloths and stuffiness.

    Not so fun anymore, even if their frog legs are good.

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  27. Another unique feature of Roger's is their desert menu! The "chef's surprise" comes in both a male and female version. The rest of the description I'll leave as a surprise.

    Thanks for the memories Eric!

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  28. "That which we call a Kermit by any other name would taste as sweet. So Roger would, were he not Roger call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title..."

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  29. I think so, Alexa. Just a tiny "eh."

    Bibi, you remind me of a Paris bra maker I read about. I'd almost make a special trip just to have one personally fitted for me by this woman. Wish I could remember the name of her shop.

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  30. Uh, no thanks. It's a specialty in one of our provinces too but I've never tried them. Besides, how can you kiss a frog prince if you eat him?

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  31. Petrea, would it be Sabbia Rose? I read about her recently {in 'La Vie Parisienne' by Janelle McCulloch} ... She was on rue des Saints-Pères at that time. Apparently Dustin Hoffman and Cindy Crawford are among her clientele {not sure if Dustin went in his Tootsie days or shopping for his wife...}

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  32. I love the little couryard of this place and have taken many photos there. I haven't tried the restaurant-and wouldn't have frog legs if I did-but I heard they have a very good new chef. The interior looks so cozy-about the size of a train car.

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  33. Hahaha! The comments are hilarious, today! ;)

    I will not post my toilet story because it's hardly proper on a post featuring a restaurant but let me just leave you with one world of advice: if you ever encounter these Turkish toilets while you're in France, and it happens to be Summer and you have open-toe sandals (or not), and you're about to flush the toilet... just remember ... GET YOUR FEET OUT OF THERE FIRST!!! Enuf said ;)

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  35. Eric, this just might be the frog I need to kiss to turn into my prince?! giggles.

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  36. lol well we always learn something here at PDP. Culture; history; language - and toilet phobia. Thanks for looking it up. he he Shell that Cheltenham was flushed up in the search. Snigger.

    Michael that's such a touching story how kind of them. I appreciate it very much as my own mother is presently using a wheelchair.
    p.s. What's a Turkish toilet? Careful now: will I be sick if you tell me? I'm quite squeamish......

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  37. Misplaced Parisian: now you're talking! I need one of those frogs for sure. I'm puckering up at the ready.

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  38. Eek I've just seen your comment Tomate. Ugh. Blek. Grimace. Screwing my eyes and nose up, but my morbid fascination behoves me to ask again: what is a Turkish loo?

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  39. Helloooooooo!!!!
    A lot of fun with this froggy stories... and toilet comments jajajajaja.... I dont like met... im vegetarian.. and Frogs in my opinion are only to kiss jajajajaja maybe a french prince is inside... (yes right) My wish is to kiss a french guy in a french way .... thats all... no more... I miss that part when I was in Paris... I was shy to ask someone a french kiss... lol..

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  40. Shell, that doesn't sound familiar but I think I saved the article somewhere. I'll have a look later.

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  41. My French mother-in-law said it was pronounced grin-oo-ee. That's not so tough to say.

    >>>My wish is to kiss a french guy in a french way .... thats all... no more... I miss that part when I was in Paris... I was shy to ask someone a french kiss... lol..<<<
    Laury, I think the offers are going to start pouring in! LOL

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  42. Petrea, if you go up to my last comment and click on the blue "Here" then the little blue triangle thing you can get something of a version of the pronunciation of grenouille.

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  43. lynn: the Turkish toilets are those without seats, no commode, just a hole in the ground.'

    It's actually pretty sanitary, believe it or not, well for a public toilet, that is.

    I'll see if I can find a picture somewhere.

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  44. Here you go

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squat_toilet

    Look at the "French" example on top, that's the one. See the designated place to put your feet? Well, before you flush, get your feet out of there!

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  45. Frogs alwasy worth a second try! A bit like chicken from my experience.

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  46. Oh dear God Tomate - a photo too? Well as you can imagine I had to click. Ugh. I have seen these before only in pictures. Thank goodness my stilettos have been nowhere them, neither my trainers. NEITHER will they EVER. This is so not my scene I could keep you here for hours explaining. No, no, no. I gather from your warning that water covers your feet when you flush? How utterly revolting. Is it just water? No don't answer. This is an insult to Jimmy Choos everywhere.

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  47. Lynn, if you find one, will you please make sure he has a brother for me? I'll do the same for you! giggles.

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  48. @Lynn: Stilettos? Hmm...oh dear..Well don't slip! ;)

    Water cover your feet? Hmmm... yeah, you could call it that. Depends how full the tank is, or whatever was there before, you know. ;)

    Obviously the sample on Wiki is real clean, but public toilets, in reality ... you know...

    Like I said, if you want to keep your frog legs down I should probably shut up right aroud now ;) just let your imagination fill in the blanks!

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  49. Petrea, we are on the same page! The bra maker was mentioned in MORE magazine, and her name is Madame Poupe. I told Mr. PHX I wanted one and he said HOW MUCH?????
    I don't care, it's my money and I am treating myself!! If I really do it, I'll let you know if it was worth it.
    Love the story about your mother, Michael.

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  50. Madame Poupe? How ironic, given the conversation here today!

    See, Eric, you go away and it all goes to shit.

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  51. You know what that means, don't ya? We're probably way overdue for another dog poop close up! ;)

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  52. Oh God Tomate it just gets worse. I feel the world is falling out of my bottom.

    lol Suzy!

    Ok Misplaced Parisian. We're officially on the lookout. I'm currently in love with Alexander Petrovsky of Sex and the City though.....it's a toughie.

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  53. Yes, PHX! Madame Poupe! If I remember correctly, the cheapest bra you can get from her is about $800. If they really fit well it would be worth it. I've never had a comfortable one in my life.

    Gary, the speaker is Canadian. The accent is VERY different! I must trust Suzy's French mother in law this time.

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  54. 'See Eric, you go away and it all goes to shit'. Suzy, that REALLY made me laugh !!!!!!!

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  58. I was there several years ago on a trip to Paris. It was a wonderful place and the food is super. They even "allowed" us to sign the wall in the back dining area. We had a wonderful experience. Go if you can

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