La course des cafés
Originally called “la course des garçons de cafés, on Sunday, March 24 (2024), 200 waiters and waitresses of Paris’ cafés (apprentices or more experienced) took a challenge.
The challenge
They had to walk almost 2 kms, carrying a tray, with on it a cup of coffee, a glass of water and a croissant without dropping anything from their tray. And they were not allowed to run
The event was organized by the City of Paris and the Company “Eau de Paris” ( = “Paris water”)
A 2 kms loop : starting point and arrival at the Parvis de l’Hotel de Ville (Paris City Hall)
An yearly event invented in 1914.
After a 13 years interruption, this race has made a comeback in 2024. It was organized as a part of the “Semaine des bistrots” (“week of bistrots”). More details below.
In a street of le Marais neighborhood. They were dressed in a traditional outfit : a white top, a black bottom and an apron which provided by the race organizers.
The bistro week
The “bistro week” run from March 15 to March 24 in Paris. The goal is to honor through the cafés and bistrots, heritage and soul of Paris.
During 10 days : award of medals to 62 bistro’s owners, meetings and lectures in different bistros of Paris.
The week concluded on Sunday March 24 by la “Course des cafés” (a race of waiters)
On Friday March 15, 62 Paris bistros were awarded the Grande Médaille de Vermeil from the City of Paris at the City Hall.
The selection criteria were :
- the presence of a counter and a counter where drinks and/or dishes are served,
- a continuous opening,
- a place that doesn’t belong to a chain,
- and affordable prices.
The Jury was composed of 8 personnes. Among them some bistrots customers and members of the “l’Association pour la reconnaissance de l’art de vivre dans les bistrots et cafés de France en tant que patrimoine culturel immatériel » ( = Association for the recognition of the art of living in bistros and cafés of France as intangible cultural heritage)
List of the 62 awarded :
https://www.paris.fr/pages/paris-celebre-ses-bistrots-et-honore-62-d-entre-eux-26606
In a street of le Marais neighborhood
What's a bistro ?
Les bistros et les cafés : there is a fine line between these 2 places. Somehow it’s a bit fuzzy !!
The bistros are a symbol of the Parisian art of living. A true part of our cultural heritage, the soul of Paris.
A place where traditionally, one comes without distinction of social class, origin or age. A place where “everything’s possible”, unformal atmosphere and convivial places.
A place for freedom. A place for exchange. A melting pot of cultures.
« People watching » is only a mini tiny part of what they offer. I would even say that “people watching” is clearly marginal and not even the reason for which Parisians enjoy their cafés and bistrots and not what make them so special and enjoyable.
Cafés and bistrots are much more than that.
What makes a bistro different ?
In Paris, you can find bistros, cafés, brasseries and restaurants. It’s not easy to distinguish between them. There is only a fine line between these different places
Here is how bistros are defined : the bistro has always a counter (also called “zinc”, although traditionally made of tin, wood or covered with formica ) and offers drinks and small dishes (like eggs and mayonnaise or croque monsieur) which can be served at the counter.
During this “bistro week”, I attended an interesting lecture lead by Alain Fontaine (president of the “association des bistrots and cafés de France” and Pierre Josse (rédacteur en chef des Guides du Routard)
BTW : the word can be written “bistro” or “bistrot”
