Send in the Clowns

We had a lovely meal tonight in le Clown Bar, next door to the cirque d'hiver at the top of rue vielle du temple. I had a parmentier made with boudin noir, and sam had a confit du cannette with a sauce au framboise. The waitress was very friendly, as she was the first time we were there in january, and at one point I helped her translate the dish of the day to the Italian couple sitting next to us. Everything was going well until right at the end, when after paying we went to the waitress to say goodbye, she said that the Italians had left without paying. We looked round and it was clear she was right - they'd been really clever about it in fact - they went out for a cigarette after ordering their first course, and has gone for a walk up the street before coming back for the food, giving the impression that that was their normal behaviour. Then after their main course, they did the same thing, leaving the girl's handbag on the seat before leaving. Only the second time, they just went up the street and didn't come back, and the handbag of course was empty - no doubt some kind of free thing worth about 5 euros. I was really surprised, they seemed quite respectable and had a lonely planet guidebook on Paris and everything, but evidently they thought that it was good sport to screw over a small bistro with a staff of 3 by not paying - nice going guys. Hope you're feeling pleased with yourselves.

One good result of this is we got to make friends with the waitress in a place we'll certainly be going back to. But shame on the guys who walked out, considering what good value the food and wine is in that place.