The Original Flavors of Paris
Hey guys, Ash here! I'm curious; are you someone that loves to eat authentic local cuisine when exploring a new city? Because I definitely am!
On one of my trips to Paris, I was with my favorite gals, who all love food. So, we decided to do something a little different and try a food tour. It was the best decision ever! We chose The Original Flavors of Paris food tour because of all the amazing reviews it had. We also liked that the stops were in a part of Paris that we had not explored yet, Saint-Germain-des-Prés (p.s. this is now my favorite parisian neighborhood!). Our tour guide, Lisa, was amazing. She knew so much about Paris and knew all the best spots for local Parisian food.
Our first stop was a wonderful patisserie, Eric Kayser. We popped in to try their famous croissants. Lisa taught us that true croissants are made with butter and the way to tell if it has been baked with butter and not margarine, is the shape of the croissant. A true croissant is straight and not curved, like most croissants you find! The croissants were fluffy and delicious. We also tried the specialty chestnut bread for the Christmas season and it was perfectly sweet and savory. They prefer you not take pictures of the items in the bakery, so sadly I have none of the wonderful breads, but it is definitely worth a stop in!
Our second stop was an adorable grocery, Maison Bremond 1830. It has been around since 1830 and is committed to only selling the best of the best. I had the best time exploring this little shop and trying everything they had to offer. They specialize in olive oils, balsamics, jams, pates and all things Truffle! I couldn’t leave here without bringing some of Paris and Provence home with me!
Our third stop was a chocolate shop, Un Dimanche de Paris, which means a Sunday in Paris. The shop also has a tea parlor and restaurant attached to it. The creator, Pierre Cluizel, wanted to create a place where you could have everything you have always dreamed of. And that he did. We had the pleasure of trying the macarons and hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was rich and creamy and like drinking pure chocolate and the macarons were some of the best in Paris. They had many wonderful chocolate pastries, including a chocolate Christmas tree!
Our final stop on the tour was at this exquisite market, Marche Saint Germain. If I lived in Paris, I would be at this market every sunday! It has everything you need, from fresh seafood to a huge selection of cheeses to jamon cut straight off the pig and even an adorable wine shop! Lisa gathered some amazing cheese from Fromagerie Sanders, Jamon from J’Go and wine from Bacchus & Ariane, for a wonderful picnic inside the market. It was a perfect ending to a perfect food tour.
The best part of the tour was not only the food, but the history we learned from Lisa. She showed us Les Deux Magots, a cafe that was frequented by many famous writers, like Ernest Hemingway. She also took us to Cafe de Flore, another famous cafe that hosted the likes of Pablo Picasso and George Clooney, who Lisa once spotted there! It was also featured in Gossip Girl, which made me very excited. Lisa knew so much about this little neighborhood in Paris and taught us many things as we strolled through the cutest streets. Lisa is the heart of this tour and made it one of our favorite experiences on our Parisian vacation. Don’t miss this tour on your next trip!!