Easy Parisian meal plan inspired by a cool café

Bonjour and bienvenue September! In Paris it’s la rentrée. A new season, a fresh start, and renewed energy. Imagine Paris in early Autumn, the beautiful weather, the excitement in the air. Stepping into a cool, cozy Paris café, taking a seat on the terrace facing an old market and watching the (Parisian) world go by. My café of choice? Café Charlot. Everything on the menu looks simple and delicious. This meal plan is all about fresh, simple, French-inspired meals that are easy to cook at home. I hope you enjoy this trip to Paris with me with and an easy Parisian meal plan inspired by a cool café.

Why a Paris Café–Inspired Meal Plan?

Usually in Autumn I like to to do a little refresh, like this Simple Autumn Meal Plan to Reset and Glow. I will probably start with that, even though it’s a reset, it’s a fun plan. But September has me thinking about the charm of French café dining: cozy, seasonal, and unhurried. I’ve been thinking of this meal plan for awhile now. Café Charlot seems to embody Paris café culture, meals that feel elegant but approachable and these Paris-inspired recipes feel perfect for this time of year.

How to Use This Easy Parisian Meal Plan

This is a 7-day meal plan, but make it yours. Pick a few days you want to romanticize, or just do 3 or 5 days. ✨ Paris Tips: : shop once a week, focus on seasonal produce (tomatoes, pears, eggplant, green beans). This French-inspired weekly meal plan uses quite a bit of seasonal foods, so it should be very easy. And, after your lemon water, start the day with un café!

🥐 Easy Parisian Meal Plan Inspired by a cool Café

Bring the charm of a Paris café to your kitchen this September. Cozy, simple, and romantic meals that feel indulgent yet easy to prepare.

🏵️Day 2 — Café Classics

Breakfast: Avocado toast topped w/ a poached egg
Lunch: Tomato Salad topped w/ Burrata. For extra protein, serve with some flaky smoked salmon or a nice tinned fish (like Fishwife’s lemon tuna).
Dinner: Omelette, frites & salad – a very traditional café dish.

🏵️Day 3 — Cozy Comforts

Breakfast: La Fermière yogurt – so delicious
Lunch: Salmon Beurre, found in this May meal plan. Also there, is a recipe for chicken tenders you could use on tonight’s salad.
Dinner: César crispy chicken – make it like Charlot with chicken tenders, toasted baguette and big slices of shaved parmesan. Goop has a great Vegan Caesar Dressing recipe.

🏵️Day 4 — Easy Parisian

Breakfast: a nice juicy pear 🍐
Lunch: Salade de Chèvre chaud – another classic French dish. Make it by simply broiling the Chèvre cheese on French bread, and serve with a green salad and vinaigrette, don’t forget the radicchio!
Dinner: Sunny Paris Salmon – serve with beurre blanc, grilled artichokes or seasonal pipérade, & a side of jasmine rice

🏵️Day 5 — Friday Night Twist

Breakfast: Greek yogurt, pistachios and berries
Lunch: Smoked Salmon & Avocado Tartare (new recipe below) – serve with les frites for a special Friday treat 🥑
Dinner: Rigatoni w/ eggplant & Burrata with seasonal eggplant, a twist on the usual pizza. Use your favorite jar of sauce, sauté eggplant cut into 1 inch pieces and stir in. I HIGHLY recommend Sauz. The Hot Honey or the Creamy Calabrian would go great with this, but you must try the Summer Lemon before Summer is truly over.

🏵️Day 6 — Casual Café Saturday

Breakfast: Café au lait
Lunch: Croque Jeune Fille au Comté & frites. Basically a grilled cheese made with thinly sliced bread, Comté and topped w/ an egg. A salad with vinaigrette would also go well with this.
Dinner: Chicken Paillard with Pistachio Pesto Vinaigrette – the first Charlot dish that inspired me to create my own recipe.

🏵️Day 7 — Simple French Breakfast + Bistro-Style Dinner

Breakfast/Brunch: Soft boiled eggs, toasted baguette w/jam & croissant
Dinner: Chicken or Portobello filet w/ risotto & mozzarella – chicken or filet de portobello mushroom would be equally delicious 😋 Ina has an easy risotto recipe that is my go-to.

✨ Paris Tip: Add café charm at home with a little French jazz, a lit candle, and a fresh baguette on the table.

Tips for Adding Paris Café Charm at Home

• Serve with simple touches: fresh bread, cloth napkins, candles.
• Music: French café jazz playlist.
• Drinks: café au lait, sparkling water with lemon, a nice French wine.

I hope you enjoy this Easy September meal plan inspired by a Paris café. Please try one – or both! – of my new recipes or go all out and follow the full week menu plan. Click HERE for a printable PDF. If you enjoyed this post, please save, print or post on Pinterest or Insta. Merci and à bientôt!

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Smoked Salmon & Avocado Tartare

A layered avocado and smoked salmon dish inspired straight from a dish from Cafe Charlot in Paris. Quick, easy and elegant, serve as a starter with baguette slices or crackers, or as a main dish accompanied by les frites for an indulgent dinner.

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, dinner, lunch

Cuisine: French

Keyword: easy, elegant, fresh, healthy, tartar

Servings: 2

Calories: 250kcal

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado chopped
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• salt & pepper to taste
• 150 grams smoked salmon finely diced
• 2 tbsp crème fraîche or Greek Yogurt
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp fresh dill chopped, plus extra for garnish
• 1 tsp chives finely chopped
• hot sauce or lemon zest for brightness optional

For garnish:

• Dijon mustard sauce whisk Dijon mustard + olive oil + tiny bit of honey or lemon juice
• fresh dill sprigs

Instructions

• Prepare the avocado base:

  Dice the avocado, mix gently with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

  Place in a round ring mold (or improvise with a food can with both ends removed). Press lightly to form the bottom layer.
• Prepare the salmon mixture

  In a bowl, mix diced smoked salmon with crème fraîche, Dijon mustard, olive oil, dill, and chives. Season lightly with pepper (smoked salmon is usually salty enough).
• Assemble

  Spoon the salmon mixture over the avocado base in the mold. Smooth the top and carefully remove the ring mold.
• Plate & garnish

  Drizzle or dot Dijon mustard sauce around the plate as in the picture.

  Garnish with a sprig of fresh dill on top.