© Copyright 2009. French Moments
Gourmet PARIS
As many of our students have been asking for good tips about their future trip to Paris, we thought we would post some recommendations on our French Savvy section. We are sure you will ‘stumble’ across many other amazing places as you walk through the Parisian arrondissements, but these might be useful... so here are some gastronomic destinations when in Paris… there are so many one would need a book to list them but here is a small selection…
More info about Paris!
Tourist information centre of Paris: http://en.parisinfo.com/
Paris Walking Tours: http://www.paris-walking-tours.com/
Métro and bus info (RATP): http://www.ratp.com/
Boulangeries - Pâtisseries - Chocolateries
Restaurants
Le Fumoir - 6 rue de l’amiral Coligny, 1st (métro station: Louvre-Rivoli).
[‘fumer’ is French for smoking; thankfully the café is now non-smoking inside due to the change in French law] is a great place to sink into a comfortable chair and rest your legs after a shopping spree or visit to the Louvre. (métro station: Louvre-Rivoli).
They serve very good hot chocolate, tea and coffee and are also highly recommended for a relaxed glass of wine and plate of cheese, which is served with warm brioche-type bread. The jazz music and décor takes you back to a different era where life was not rushed and people took the time to just ‘be’. They also have a good cocktail list.
Be – a famous boulangerie / épicerie called ‘be’ on rue de Courcelles which is one of Alain Ducasse’s inventions... they do very good bread. Maybe get some things and then picnic in the Parc Monceau not far away on foot.
www.alain-ducasse.com/public_us/cest_aussi/fr_boulangepicier.htm
For coffee snobs, Paris is probably not the best destination for a real latte but Caffe Kimbo, 5 Place des Ternes, 17th (métro station: Ternes) was the closest we found to a latte and the coffee had a good favour, the milk was almost textured correctly and the overall experience was good… we did try countless cafés and this was the best we found in Paris itself. They serve little chocolate-coated almonds or chocolate-squares with the coffee. In the morning you can get good croissants too.
If you can drink espressos then you will be easier to please and will find your ‘bonheur’ in many Parisian cafés!
Séraphin – 5 rue Mabillon, 6th (métro station: Mabillon).
This is a great local restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere, suitable for children too. Good food is served with some classics and modern twists.
La Bastide d’Opio – 9 rue Guisarde, 6th (métro station: Saint-Sulpice).
This restaurant does Provencale food and is just round the corner from Séraphin. Set on two levels, it serves very good quality dishes and fresh flavours based on the scents of Provence … lavender, basil, thyme etc!
There are other restaurants on rue Guisarde worth a try and you will also find some interesting ones on Rue du Dragon in Saint Germain des Prés.
Have a nice stay in Paris and Bon Appétit!
Great for take home food and picnics ... and to put in your suitcase!
La Grande Epicerie de Paris: www.lagrandeepicerie.fr
Fauchon: www.fauchon.com/fr/fr/#
Hédiard: www.hediard.fr
Lenôtre: www.lenotre.fr
L’Envue - 39 rue Boissy d’Anglas, 8th (métro station: Concorde). Quite chic and trendy. Their website is well done and you can see inside the restaurant.
Get travel advice about Paris!
If you live in Sydney and are planning a trip to Paris and want to know more about its popular attractions, we can advise you.
Elegant tearooms...
Gourmet grocery stores...
Gérard Mulot – 76 rue de Seine, Saint Germain des Prés, 6th (métro station: Saint Germain des Prés)
La Durée is a Parisian icon that we recommend to all our students visiting Paris!
This institution is world famous for the quality of its macarons and has 5 locations throughout Paris: Saint-Germain des Prés (6th), Champs-Elysées (8th), Madeleine (8th), Printemps Department Store (8th) and Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Other international locations include Geneva (Switzerland), London (UK) and Tokyo (Japan).
The Champs-Elysées location is the biggest (go upstairs if you can to admire the showcase of their pastries and macarons, as well as the “salons particuliers” which are stunning). Many people also prefer the Saint Germain location, as it is the oldest.
La Durée specialises in macarons of all different flavours: vanilla, chocolate, coffee, liquorice, violet, raspberry, etc and also delicious patisserie and croissants of the highest standard. They also do main meals and full breakfasts. We personally prefer going there for breakfast or morning/afternoon tea – but you can go anytime of the day.
Their website is very creative (and has a very “French touch”!). You will find all the information you need about locations, menus, and history of La Durée.
You might also like to look at Lenôtre – they have prestigious restaurants, cafés and cooking schools (some with day courses) and shops. The one located at the Champs-Elysées Pavilion (10 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 8th, métro station: Clémenceau) is a nice experience as the architecture reflects the Belle Epoque.
They have other shops across Paris where you can buy delicious items...
For other locations see www.lenotre.fr
Mariages Frères have beautiful tearooms where you will find exceptional teas, which are world famous. There are four Mariage Frères tearooms in Paris: in the Marais, in the Left Bank, near the Champs-Elysées and in the Madeleine area.
All the addresses can be found here: www.mariagefreres.com
You will be overwhelmed with the choice available but as with anything, there are those little places known by the locals as being the best place for croissants or éclairs … each one has its own special atmosphere and versions of French classics.
La Maison du Chocolat is world famous and is worth a visit to sample some of the most exquisite chocolate in the world. If you smile nicely and try a little French on the vendeur / vendeuse you might be lucky enough to be offered a ‘degustation’ of one or two chocolates! A smile goes a long way – so Rachel found out!
Sometimes the best restaurants are not the most ‘obvious’ and everyone has their own personal preference for the type of food, presentation, atmosphere and price. Here are a few recommendations which we personally like … you can find your own or borrow our suggestions in the meantime if you like …
There is also the famous Senderens restaurant in this part of town next the Madeleine métro station in the main square. http://www.senderens.fr/uk/navigation.htm
Restaurant Balthazar - 73 avenue Niel, 17th (métro station: Ternes) also serves delicious food.
For those of you who are looking to experience ‘Haute Cuisine’, check out the following websites … these are amongst the best restaurants in the world…
L’Arpège (www.alain-passard.com)
Hélène Darroze (www.helenedarroze.com)
George (www.centrepompidou.com)
Restaurant Laurent (www.le-laurent.com)
Le Doyen (www.ledoyen.com)
Le Grand Vefour (www.grand-vefour.com)
Le Meurice (www.lemeurice.com/restaurants-bars)
Le Jules Verne (www.lejulesverne-paris.com)
Alain Ducasse (www.alain-ducasse.com)
Agape (www.agape-paris.fr)
Les Ambassadeurs (www.crillon.com)
Michel Rostang (www.michelrostang.com)
Pierre Gagnaire (www.pierre-gagnaire.com)
Le Pré Catelan (www.precatelanparis.com)
La Table de Joël Robuchon (www.joel-robuchon.com)
Taillevent (www.taillevent.com)
Restaurant Apicius (www.restaurant-apicius.com)
La Maison Blanche (www.maison-blanche.fr).
Café Sud - 12 rue de Castellane (behind the Madeleine), 8th(métro station: Madeleine) is a cosy intimate restaurant, just off the beaten track and not full of tourists.
