foods to try in Paris
Oct 16th, 2006, 08:19 AM
#22
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Some other miscellaneous...
There is Kir, and then is Kir Royal, made with champagne instead of white wine.
You will also find that the desserts are out of this world (and sometimes look like works of art), and that there will be patisseries everywhere, so you can try new ones all the time. Some of these places are temples of chocolat, and the makes are truly artists.
I also noticed how good the bread is. Something that you think of as just a "garnish" to meals becomes something else to go yumm over. The famous bread maker is Poilane, and some restaurants even advertise that they serve their bread. There is also a competition every year to determine that best baguette maker, so you could visit the winner's for a taste.
Angelina's on rue Rivoli near the Louvre has a dark hot chocolate drink (l'Africain) that is another wow treat. They also make a good dessert, a Mont Blanc. Sugar and pleasure rush.
There is Kir, and then is Kir Royal, made with champagne instead of white wine.
You will also find that the desserts are out of this world (and sometimes look like works of art), and that there will be patisseries everywhere, so you can try new ones all the time. Some of these places are temples of chocolat, and the makes are truly artists.
I also noticed how good the bread is. Something that you think of as just a "garnish" to meals becomes something else to go yumm over. The famous bread maker is Poilane, and some restaurants even advertise that they serve their bread. There is also a competition every year to determine that best baguette maker, so you could visit the winner's for a taste.
Angelina's on rue Rivoli near the Louvre has a dark hot chocolate drink (l'Africain) that is another wow treat. They also make a good dessert, a Mont Blanc. Sugar and pleasure rush.
Oct 16th, 2006, 10:50 AM
#23
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Coquille St Jacques. Best I've had was at Le Repaire de Cartouche, 8, Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire in the 11th. Actually, my sister ordered them. I had a bite and was jealous, jealous, jealous.
Oct 16th, 2006, 01:19 PM
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I highly recommend Guy Savoys Le Bouquinestes (53 Quai des Grandes Augustins) I ate the most heavenly foie gras there as well as a perfect filet de canette. it isn't inexpensive, but its' worth every penny. They have a fine 3 course prix fixe lunch for around 25 euros, a real steal, but the foie gras is an a la carte choice. Do splurge, though.
A rediculousy inexpensive and outrageously delicious place for classic French fare is Le Hangar (12 Impasse Berthaud, behind the pompidou center) There we had a huge slab of foie gras served on a bed of the creamiest potato puree, as well as duck shepard pie and an amazing French take on beef Stroganoff. 3 of us had appetizers, dinner, dessert and a bottle of wine for under 100 euros and the food was great!
I had frogs legs at Le Cavaeau Delisle (www.lecaveaudelisle.com) on the isle of St. Louis. They were lightly battered and fried and nothing really special. The restaurant was loveley and the prix fix dinner was very reasonably priced, although not the very best food in paris.
We ate pastry all over paris, and croissants, and ham sandwiches on amazing bagettes from numerous bakeries and crepes from street vendors. Enjoy it all!
Think about buying the museum pass. If you plan to go to 3 or 4 museums (including notre dame and St, Chappelle) in a 3 day period it pays for itself and saves waiting in line at Musee D'Orsee and the Orangerie as well as other places (you still have to wait in the line to climb the tower of Notre dame)
have a great trip!
A rediculousy inexpensive and outrageously delicious place for classic French fare is Le Hangar (12 Impasse Berthaud, behind the pompidou center) There we had a huge slab of foie gras served on a bed of the creamiest potato puree, as well as duck shepard pie and an amazing French take on beef Stroganoff. 3 of us had appetizers, dinner, dessert and a bottle of wine for under 100 euros and the food was great!
I had frogs legs at Le Cavaeau Delisle (www.lecaveaudelisle.com) on the isle of St. Louis. They were lightly battered and fried and nothing really special. The restaurant was loveley and the prix fix dinner was very reasonably priced, although not the very best food in paris.
We ate pastry all over paris, and croissants, and ham sandwiches on amazing bagettes from numerous bakeries and crepes from street vendors. Enjoy it all!
Think about buying the museum pass. If you plan to go to 3 or 4 museums (including notre dame and St, Chappelle) in a 3 day period it pays for itself and saves waiting in line at Musee D'Orsee and the Orangerie as well as other places (you still have to wait in the line to climb the tower of Notre dame)
have a great trip!
Oct 16th, 2006, 03:03 PM
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Don't forget rabbit (lapin). Usually it's served like chicken, with mashed potatoes. 2 weeks ago at Le Florimond, I had a rabbit filet + rabbit sausage with some kind of herbed patty for starch. But don't force yourself to order it if it's not served or cooked in a way that you wouldn't find appetizing. I prefer the rabbit + mashed potatoes best; the rabbit sausage didn't float my boat as much as sausage normally would.
Au Pied de Cochon has pig's trotters prepared in a variety of ways. One very nice one has it wrapped around duck liver....very rich! I think I had mine breaded and served with a bernaise sauce.
Oh, and have a nice Tarte Tartin for dessert if you can!
Au Pied de Cochon has pig's trotters prepared in a variety of ways. One very nice one has it wrapped around duck liver....very rich! I think I had mine breaded and served with a bernaise sauce.
Oh, and have a nice Tarte Tartin for dessert if you can!
Oct 16th, 2006, 04:43 PM
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You haven't had ice cream until you've had Berthillon ice cream on the Isle St. Louis (just behind Notre Dame). I dream of chocolat noir.
And how much do you love the fact that the French word for flavor is "parfum"?!
And how much do you love the fact that the French word for flavor is "parfum"?!
Oct 16th, 2006, 07:43 PM
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In season, game is a speciality at Traversiere, a small restaurant at 40 rue Traversiere-one block beyond the Viaduct des Artes near the Gare de Lyon. It is a Michelin Bib Gourmand. I had boudin sausage grilled and my wife had chicken in a calvados sauce. A small typical restauranht with a marvelous bakery-patisserie across the street. You should be there during venison season. Enjoy
Oct 16th, 2006, 09:04 PM
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Oh! Also if you are into organ meats (which I am)--did you know that when serving tripe, France serves all 4 of the cow's stomachs? This is important for tripe lovers like myself, because the US only serves 3 of the 4. IF you're into it, of course.
Oct 17th, 2006, 01:41 AM
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Oh, I'm drooling at the memories of food in Paris...
No one's said CONFIT DE CANARD yet?? Oooohhhhh, I ate it several times during our trip to Paris and became addicted. Now I resort to ordering it from online suppliers. Try it, it's delicious!
Fancy meals are fabulous, but don't miss out on a couple simple crepes from a street vendor... jambon et fromage, buerre et sucre, and nutella et banane. Yum!
And rabbit/le lapin is wonderful, as someone above mentioned. It's not gamey at all, so don't be afraid to try it. It's like chicken (really!), only better.
No one's said CONFIT DE CANARD yet?? Oooohhhhh, I ate it several times during our trip to Paris and became addicted. Now I resort to ordering it from online suppliers. Try it, it's delicious!
Fancy meals are fabulous, but don't miss out on a couple simple crepes from a street vendor... jambon et fromage, buerre et sucre, and nutella et banane. Yum!
And rabbit/le lapin is wonderful, as someone above mentioned. It's not gamey at all, so don't be afraid to try it. It's like chicken (really!), only better.
Oct 17th, 2006, 03:16 AM
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Make the confit yourself. It is easy. Delicious with risotto. But in a restaurant, between confit de canard and magret, the latter wins. But cassoulet is above them, and foie gras carries the day every day.
Oct 17th, 2006, 07:54 AM
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Charcuterie, or what we call luncheon meats, are always good. Stores that sell charcuterie are usually seperate from the cheese stores.
Tarte Tatin, or upside down apple cake, is yummy when served warm.
Profiteroles, or filled cream puffs, are great.
Pain au chocolate, or chocolate croissants, are terrific.
Millefille, or Napoleons, are terrific.
If you order a steak, make sure that you request that it is cooked well-done. The French like their steaks very rare. So, if you order a steak well-done, it will come out rate by U.S. standards.
Well done=Ben cuit (Ben coo-eet)
I second the hot chocolate African at Angelina's. It is a dessert in itself.
Of course, chocolate mousse is always a terrific dessert.
For lunch, I love a croque monsieur, which is a ham and cheese sandwich baked with bechamel sauce.
Pack warm clothes and a coat for your trip, because it will be chilly in Paris this time of year.
Lines will be short for museums you want to see. No advance reservation is required.
BTW, if you miss fois gras and the cheeses when you return, there are some terrific stores that sell these products. Whole Foods sells quite a variety of French Cheeses, and stores like DiBruno's cheese shop sell good French pates and confit of duck by D'Artagnan of New York. (The founder of D'Artagnan is from Southwest France). {www.dibruno.com}
Tarte Tatin, or upside down apple cake, is yummy when served warm.
Profiteroles, or filled cream puffs, are great.
Pain au chocolate, or chocolate croissants, are terrific.
Millefille, or Napoleons, are terrific.
If you order a steak, make sure that you request that it is cooked well-done. The French like their steaks very rare. So, if you order a steak well-done, it will come out rate by U.S. standards.
Well done=Ben cuit (Ben coo-eet)
I second the hot chocolate African at Angelina's. It is a dessert in itself.
Of course, chocolate mousse is always a terrific dessert.
For lunch, I love a croque monsieur, which is a ham and cheese sandwich baked with bechamel sauce.
Pack warm clothes and a coat for your trip, because it will be chilly in Paris this time of year.
Lines will be short for museums you want to see. No advance reservation is required.
BTW, if you miss fois gras and the cheeses when you return, there are some terrific stores that sell these products. Whole Foods sells quite a variety of French Cheeses, and stores like DiBruno's cheese shop sell good French pates and confit of duck by D'Artagnan of New York. (The founder of D'Artagnan is from Southwest France). {www.dibruno.com}
Oct 17th, 2006, 11:47 AM
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perhaps a typo, but it's really "bien" cuit for well-cooked. I don't agree with that advice, and would never recommend anyone order a steak welldone in Paris if you don't truly mean it. What a way to ruin a steak. I always order mine medium or medium rare (a point), and they are cooked that way, just as I requested.
Oct 17th, 2006, 12:39 PM
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Brandade de morue - mashed potatoes mixed with crème fraîche and salt cod
Aligot - melted cheese and mashed potatoes - about half and half
And a hearty second for my ultimate comfort food - confit de canard.
Aligot - melted cheese and mashed potatoes - about half and half
And a hearty second for my ultimate comfort food - confit de canard.
