When I spotted the flower-bedecked Au Chien qui Fume—The Dog Who Smokes—on a corner near Les Halles, in Paris, on a rainy morning, I knew I had to know more.
And now I do.
The restaurant, which traces its history to a market-side restaurant in 1740 has survived, albeit in different quarters, the fall of the Ancien Regime and the ancient market, the building of Les Halles in the 1840s and their destruction fifty years ago. Today, it’s at the edge of a trendy shopping district, and offers poke bowls along with traditional seafood plateaus.
Oh, but the name: Somewhere along the way, it was owned by a man who trained his two dogs to smoke (or appear to) a pipe and a cigar. It was apparently a successful stunt to help the place stand out from its competition.
And to make possible its decorative theme; the pictures you see here are a mere sample of the parody art within.
Very interesting! Is Au Chien qui Fume in Paris?
It is in Paris. I’ve updated the post.