Given that I have been lucky enough to travel to Paris for three reasons (yes, another list: friends, food and art), I spend a good deal of time figuring out how to maximize my time in each of those three areas. And since friends and art can be organized around food as well, that category benefits the most. So here's the list:
- Croissant au beurre (as opposed to croissant ordinaire -- this distinction is important, and the best ones come from places which offer both, and thus give you the option of having the extra-indulgent, greasy, and wonderfully luscious type)
- Ossau Iraty cheese from Androuet or really any good fromagerie
- Poulet de Bresse on the rotisserie at the local boucherie
- Crepes (sweet ones on the street -- au buerre sucre, au nutella et bananas; and savory buckwheat ones in a breton or normand restaurant -- au jambon et fromage, with or without the oeuf)
- Duck confit (try Les Philosophes in the Marais, which does it with a honey and spice combination that is sweet and salty at the same time)
- Falafel from L'As du Falafel in the Marais
- Fines claires numero 6 (the smallest oysters I've been able to find; have a lemon and some mignonette handy)
- Pate de campagne from a local boucherie (or Le Comptoir in the 7e - best I've found)
- Hand-made chocolates from Michel Cluizel in the 1e
- Berthillon ice cream on Ile St. Louis
What do you love to eat in Paris?
My list of honorable mentions:
- Tartine at the boulangerie: great baguette, sea-salted butter from Brittany, and myrtilles (blueberry) jam
- Croque madame at almost any brasserie
- Quiche Lorraine with salade verte
- Pizza at San Remo in the 17e (add an egg for a Southern French style)
- Coquilles St. Jacques (scallops) at Violon d'Ingres
- Tartes from Fauchon
- 24-month aged Tomme de Savoie cheese
- Assiettes de saucissons secs and jambon (again Le Comptoir stands out in this regard, but you can always collect a fun sampling at a local butcher)
- Roasted potatoes with extra drippings from aforementioned rotisserie chicken at the boucherie
9 comments:
I've never been to Paris but my Snapple lid told me that there are more French restaurants in New York City than there are in Paris. So that means I should be able to find some decent French faire easily enough! :)
I can't stop in Paris without a stop for some of my favorite foods.
Roy
ndttkyuvat Brasseri Balzar in the 5th (a classic french dish at a classic Brasseri)
Boeuf Bourguignon at le Bistro Vieux in the 4th (Ille de Cite) this small local family owned bistro does this dish in the classic way...yummy on a cold winter night.
Butter Cookies (Punitiones)at Poilâne Bakery (http://www.poilane.fr) which is one of Paris' most famous boulangeries
I can't stop in Paris without a stop for some of my favorite foods.
Roy Sardina
Steak Tartar at Brasseri Balzar in the 5th (a classic french dish at a classic Brasseri)
Boeuf Bourguignon at le Bistro Vieux in the 4th (Ille de Cite) this small local family owned bistro does this dish in the classic way...yummy on a cold winter night.
Butter Cookies (Punitiones)at Poilâne Bakery (http://www.poilane.fr) which is one of Paris' most famous boulangeries
- A box full of colorful macaroons
- restaurants that bring saucisson instead of bread before the meal
- any restaurant that hand-carries a blackboard menu around to each table, explaining that the "lapin" special came from a farmer he knows who shot it this morning
What about the Pain au Chocolate?? Or the Crepe Fraise?
Chocolates at Hediard which I prefer to Fauchon
Pain au chocolat
The steak au poivre from Poule au Pot in the 1st, amazing (as is the kir royal)
Cafe creme from anywhere!
I'll be in Paris this Thursday!
How could you forget something as simple and wonderful as a warm baguette? It doesn't matter where it comes from...it's Paris! Munching a toasty, warm baguette on the way to the Musee d'Orsay...that is heaven, Mr. Ranker. Get out of your restaurants and enjoy the culture!
Mr/Ms Anonymous,
Undoubtedly part of "culture" is language... A "tartine" -- mentioned as the first "honorable" mention, is exactly that warm baguette of which you speak and deride me for my lack of culture. I'm with ya -- baguettes in Paris are as good as anything (besides the other things ranked ahead of it, of course!).
--sj
How can you leave out the "steak frites" from Le Relais de l'Entrecote? That is by far the best single dish I've ever had, the secret family sauce is amazing. And be sure to get something good from the desert menu like their tiramisu.
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