Paris recommendation request

[omnivorette]

Thanks, we can hardly wait. I got all excited when the key to the apartment arrived in the mail...

[omnivorette]

Okay....so tell me, what should I be on the lookout for? Anything seasonal I should be focusing on? I will definitely buy a Bresse chicken and roast it. Cheese I should not miss at this time of year? Definitely gonna get me some cheval.

 

And what are your favorite Parisian delights? (Not talking restaurants or sightseeing here).

 

Street food? Snacks? Favorite markets?

[bushey]

Are we talking food-related delights? Or general interest?

[omnivorette]

I was primarily talking food-related...but bring it on if there's some tidbit you'd like to share, whatever it is!

[Daisy]

Well, shopping of course. I love French tableware stores--the glasses,plates, napkins,tablecloths are terrific. There is one on I think the rue de Varenne called Diners en Ville. Point a la Ligne is good for candles. Cosmetics stores are great. It goes without saying you can get excellent tea, spices,jam, chocolates, etc. For extremely high end vintage clothing and accessories go to Didier Ludot in the Palais-Royal. Chantal Thomass has gorgeous lingerie. Bon Marche for kitchen utensils. Lots of great little shops in the Marais, an interesting area to walk around in and home of the Place des Vosges, the loveliest square in the city IMO. The flea markets are fun if pricey.I also like poking around the bookstores and antique shops near the Quai Voltaire.

 

One of my favorite museums is the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. Another is the Rodin museum, which has a gorgeous garden which is a lovely place to sit on a nice day. The Baccarat museum is a bit of a hoot.

 

If it is a nice day, you can do worse than taking a river cruise. Touristy, yes, but a nice way to see the city. Lasts about an hour, a lot leave from the left bank near the Pont Neuf.

 

Have a great time!

[Orik]

I was going to suggest boucherie chevaline, but it looks like it just closed

 

http://13espritvillage.hautetfort.com/arch...line_ferme.html

[yumyum]

Just got back. From Provence mainly but had one night in Paris and I can recommend:

 

- sitting and drinking and people watching (and eating) in the Place Ste. Catherine sort of tucked away behind St. Paul metro. You'll laugh at me when you see the Blini restaurant there (actually pretty good food) but the other cafes there are some of my old sentimental favorites. Avoid the Asian restaurant there, but the others are good and good value for money.

 

- there is a huge supermarche there that I adored last time I did any shopping and cooking in Paris itself. The name escapes me now but others will surely know it. Get all of your staples as well as prepared foods, etc. Bring back fleur de sel and amazing canned tuna for your friends. Be prepared to be awed by the vast selection of yogurt. Those mini chocolate mousses you see are actually good.

 

- Crepes. I like a stand on the road right off the Bastille walking East. Again, the name is gone, sorry. But you can't swing a cat without hitting a crepe stand so you'll do fine.

 

- for an interesting "other" museum experience, I enjoyed the Musee du Monde Arab last time. Absolutely gorgeous.

 

- You know this already, but ice cream at Berthillon

 

- CHEESE! I think I left a petit morceau of cheese uneaten in France but you'll have to check. St. Marcellin, Banon, Mimolette, Morbier, Reblochon, Comte, Epoisse ... the funkier the better in my book, but all of them were outrageous.

 

- Of course you'll have your local boulangerie for baguettes but you might seek out Poilane bread and/or Levain

 

- We really enjoyed all of the 2002 Bordeaux we could get our hands on, red and white.

 

- Agree on the Marais and Place de Bosges. Beautiful gorgeous fabulous.

 

- I've brought back people cheese knives in the past as souvenirs. They loved em and you can still pack them in your luggage. Sausisson sec, you cannot. Don't try it.

[omnivorette]

Thanks everybody, keep it coming.

 

I am not bringing back anything I can buy here, even if it's cheaper there (which it won't be).

 

FYI - This is my 5th or 6th trip to Paris (as an adult), fwiw.

[Lippy]

I don't know of any place here that sells Christine Ferber jams.

[Rail Paul]

had a good supper with magpie at flora back in Jan

 

reasonably priced one star-ish food

 

a woman chef (flora mikula), unusually

 

J

 

Second the rec. We had two meals there last year. Quite reasonably priced for both lunch and dinner.

 

Across the street from Four Seasons George V

[ngatti]

Maybe the best Cassoulet you'll eat

 

Le cassoulet Trou Gascon aux haricots tarbais (confits et saucisse maison, épaule d'agneau) 32 €

[ngatti]

You'll eat well and not go for your lungs here.

 

If he still offers complete dinners; then go for them. About four different ones in gradually increasing price. The calves brains in brown butter were superb.

[omnivorette]

Thanks, everybody - don't need any restaurants though. That's all done.

[pim]

had a good supper with magpie at flora back in Jan

 

reasonably priced one star-ish food

 

a woman chef (flora mikula), unusually

 

J

 

Second the rec. We had two meals there last year. Quite reasonably priced for both lunch and dinner.

 

Across the street from Four Seasons George V

I had an awful meal there more recently than you two, I think. Whatever you do, don't do the tasting menu.

[marcus]

had a good supper with magpie at flora back in Jan

 

reasonably priced one star-ish food

 

a woman chef (flora mikula), unusually

 

J

 

Second the rec. We had two meals there last year. Quite reasonably priced for both lunch and dinner.

 

Across the street from Four Seasons George V

I had an awful meal there more recently than you two, I think. Whatever you do, don't do the tasting menu.

She is a very well known provencale chef. I only ate in her original Olivades restaurant in the 7th. The food was simple, but good. Perhaps she is overreaching. The other question is tasting menus. Although there are exceptions, in my experience ordering a la carte in Paris yields a significantly better meal in four out of five restaurants.