There’s always been a café there, right there in the Place des Vosges. Thats is, ever since the end of XVIIIth century. Ma Bourgogne is its name and you just can’t miss it, especially when wandering along the arcades of the well known Place. Ma Bourgogne happens to be one of these archetypal « Bistros parisiens », heart and soul of a whole neighbourhood. There, a mix between country flavoured cooking and more adventurous dishes, attracts from average tourists to the usual and elegant alumnies of « Le Marais ».

Aimé Cougoureux reigns here. Born in a farm way down in Aveyron, he should have been his father’s successor. But, when only 19, his first born son pushed him on his way to Paris. In those days, this was what hundredths of young Aveyron folks were bound to do. As most of them, Aimé had to go the hard way, dish-washer, bar-tender, waiter, until he happened to land in Place des Vosges, and fall in love with Ma Bourgogne.

Don’t ever tell him of leaving Paris – « I couldn’t leave Paris, it would be like leaving the best part of me », he cries. It’s everything to him, and he is at everything, working 18 hours a day. Tables and plates had better be well dressed, and hell on the waiter whose clients have not clean cut finished their plates – Aimé will have to know why ! Don’t tell him about mere quality : he’ll ask for perfection. Who else would be the first on the markets, at dawn, picking up the best products, from wild strawberries to delicatessen, and tomatoes, and meats and… For Aimé believes in freshness. Every now and then, you’ll find him in the kitchen, hulling peas, peeling beans, whatever, he’s your man.
Ma Bourgogne prides itself mostly over its renowned Tartar of beef. You ask it, they hack it – right away, and Aimé fixes it himself, unless you’re one for a preparation of his wife, Thérèse. Both schools have supporters, although none with official fan-clubs. Tartar is but one meal so let’s not forget the real deep country dishes, some may consider as hardcore stuff, Ma Bourgogne provides : Andouillettes, Tripoux, or Petit Salé. And when not THAT hungry, you may rely upon many salads and fishes – haddock, anglers, soles – fresh out from the sea, the way you expect them to be !
As for wines… Well, Aimé simply intends to provide the best-ones, to each and every taste. Whether you’re going for Bordeaux, Medoc, Pauillac, Pomerol, or Burgundy, Pelligny, Montrachet, Corton Charlemagne, or Côtes-du-Rhône, you’ll find one suiting you. And don’t get puzzled with these great names : every week, Aimé also offers a list of wines from small producers he personally fetches, and who can prove just as marvellous.

Ma Bourgogne
19 place des Vosges
75004 Paris
Phone : 01 42 78 44 64
Open every day from 8 AM to 1.30AM

COTE PLACE,
Aimé’s other side

Being well aware that gastronomic raiders are but a part of the potential customers, Ma Bourgogne’s big boss decided to open another restaurant on the other side of the street, dedicated to a lighter kind of restauration. A rather funny place is that Coté Place, trendy, colourful, more intended somehow to the artistic, gipsy-like side of Le Marais. A luxuriant dining-room, jungle coloured, tawny seats to match with elegant wine-tasting glasses and such a moody atmosphere. Coté Place is where you want to go hanging around with some friends, havin’ a chat, or relieving from some heavy Saturday shopping in the many chic shops around. And of course let’s enjoy the delicious home-made pastries, or if you’re more on the salty side, some italian delicatessen, with a glass of Morgon on the side. Let’s not talk of the Bruschetta, and of the outstanding salada, and… And so much more !