What: Le Parisien
Where: Les Filles Café and More, 67730 E. Palm Canyon Drive, No. 103, Cathedral City
How much: $14.95
Contact: 760-895-7062; les-filles-cafe.com.
Why: Four-ingredient perfection.
A while back, the hubby and I started a food diary. We kept having food-related conversations with questions we couldn’t answer, like: “Where did we have that French dip that was really good?” Or, while sitting at a restaurant we hadn’t been to in a while: “We’ve had the Caesar salad here before. Was it good?”
Our food diary is a shared Google document where, after each meal, we take a few moments to write down our thoughts—so when we’re wondering where we had that amazing French dip, or how the Caesar salad was at a particular restaurant, we have notes where we can get answers.
Here’s what I wrote in the food diary about the sandwich I had during a recent Friday lunch, with my colleague Kevin, at Les Filles Café and More: “Le Parisien (ham, butter, Gruyère on baguette) = OMG yum. Very bready but the butter and cheese, with salt from ham, was amazing.”
That amazing sandwich was so darned simple, with just four quality ingredients assembled into a perfect lunch. I have never been to Paris, but Kevin has spent some time there, and he vouched for the sandwich’s authenticity.
In addition to baguette/sandwich offerings, Les Filles also serves focaccia sandwiches, sweet and savory croissants, pastries, desserts and a number of coffee offerings. You’ll order at a counter, and while the restaurant’s space is small, the service is excellent. And if you want your mouth to start watering, head to Les Filles’ socials (@lesfillescafe).
Les Filles opened in June, in the space that previously housed short-lived cafés like Choco Churros USA, and From Mouth to Mouth Italian Bakery and Deli. Considering how excellent our lunch visit was, I am hopeful that Les Filles will have the staying power these other restaurants did not—and if Les Filles does stick around, trust me: It will be mentioned regularly in our food diary.
Awesome, but now what we really need to know is where DID you have the french dip that was really good?
Unfortunately, it was a place in San Diego, we finally realized. The best one locally I’ve found is not a true French dip, but it’s French dip-adjacent: The grilled sour at Billy Reed’s.
good to know, but now I have a craving
Les Filles Cafe is fabulous! I go there at least once a week, and it’s conveniently located next to Trader Joe’s in Cathedral City. The owners are an extremely charming couple, one French, one Italian: it is the best of both worlds. Make sure you buy a jar of the pistachio spread too. Heaven.