Cover image: Oh Africa! at the Marché Saint-Quentin
© Entrée to Black Paris

During a recent, unplanned stroll through the 10th arrondissement, I found myself in the neighborhood the covered marked called Marché Saint-Quentin on boulevard Magenta.  I had a little time on my hands, so I ventured inside.

Marché Saint-Quentin
Lionel Allorge, photographer
CC BY-SA-3.0

As I meandered through the aisles, I was pleasantly surprised to find three restaurants that serve Creole cuisine!

Oh Africa!* is installed near the rue Chabrol entrance to the market.

Customers queuing at Oh Africa at the Marché Saint-Quentin
© Entrée to Black Paris

Despite the restaurant's name, the dishes on the menu are not entirely African.  Two of the three main dishes offered - Poulet coco-curry (coconut-curry chicken) and Colombo (chicken or beef served with sweet potatoes, zucchini, and eggplant in colombo herbs and spices) - are decidedly Creole. 

The "Afro-bols"  (think Poké bowls with an African twist) contain either rice, fonio (a type of millet), or attiéké (manioc) served with marinated beef or chicken, chiquetaille (minced) fish (another Creole preparation), or red beans.  All bowls are dressed with snow peas, chopped peanuts, fried plantains, and fried onions.

The two salads offered by the restaurant are called "Créole" and "Rasta."

Closer to the exit on boulevard Magenta is La Bahianaise. 

La Bahianaise
© Entrée to Black Paris

This Brazilian restaurant describes its cuisine as inventive, lively, and modern and as being inspired by the freshness of Brazilian street food.  Customers need to scan a QR code to access their menu. 

La Bahianaise menu - QR code
© Entrée to Black Paris

One of the dishes I saw upon scanning the code was Feijão tropeiro (a bean and sausage dish containing collard greens) from Minas Gerias, the state that shares a northern border with Bahia.  

La Bahianaise's offerings change weekly, so grab your cell phone and scan the image above to find out what they're serving today!

The last place I saw was a Reunion Island restaurant called Ti Caz.

Ti Caz
© Entrée to Black Paris

Their achards de légumes (pickled vegetables), rougail (spicy vegetable preparation served with meat or fish), and cari (curry) dishes are typically Creole.

Ti Caz menu board
© Entrée to Black Paris

I didn't get to eat at any of these places, but they are all on my list to try!

Oh Africa! signage at Marché Saint-Quentin
© Entrée to Black Paris

*Oh Africa! has a dedicated restaurant space near the market at 6, rue de Paradis.