Bistros

= Bistro = The first bistro opened in 1982 in the basement kitchens of Parisians, although the name bistros entered the French language in 1814 during the the Russian occupation of Paris. Russian officers who were impatient to be served would yell the word bystro. The word bistro may come from Russians but in the French language it means small restaurant.

The residents, in order to afford to keep their houses, opened their basement kitchens to paying customers. Not only were customers allowed to eat in the kitchens, sometimes landlords opened rooms for people to live. Menus in most bistros are straightforward and the food was prepared in large amounts. Often times wine and coffee were available. In 1984, a bistro that was opened to all customers was in the French Pavilion and there were many small restaurants to choose from. Bistros have transformed so much from when they first were introduced. Some bistro foods like onion soup and a meat and butter dish called  blanquette de veau are now mass produced in factory type settings. Most bistro foods end up being traditional, honest foods served with a glass of wine. The bistro is a traditional part of the history of France, one of which the residents are quite proud.