Food lover’s guide to Paris
Beyond the big-ticket sights, Paris offers Europe’s finest gourmgourmand experiences – here’s where you can find them. By James Wilkinson
SHOPS
Start your foodie fossic fossick at Place de la Madeleine, in the 8th a arrondissement, famous for its church. A two-storey temple to gourmet delights, HédiardHé takes up almost an entire corner of the square. Head into the specialty food s store on the street level, with perfectly arr arrayed own-brand spices, salts, condiment condiments, teas, cured meats, wine, Champagnes and liqueurs. 21 Place de la Madeleine. www.hediard.com. Métro: Madeleine.
Pop next door to La Maison de la Truffe during truffle season (Nov-Mar): the heady aroma of France’s finest fungi can be detected wafting g out the doors and down the street. Here, findfi truffle-infused salts, oils, mustards, pât pâtés, and even sweets. Quirky vintage postersp and truffle-shaped scrubbing brushesb are also on offer. 19 Place de la Madeleine. maison-de-la-truffe.com. Métro: Madeleine.
Across the plaza is Fauchon.Fauc Brash, loud and in-your-face, its p pink and black branding screams nouveau riche but the still-warm, freshly baked m madeleines being handed out as you walk pa past will get you in the door anyway. Also look out for their chocolates, macarons, cake cakes and pastries. 24-26 Place de la Madeleine.Madelein www.fauchon. com/en/. Métro: Madeleine Madeleine.
Head down the Rue RoyaleRoya to the nearby pastel ambiance of Ladurée,Laduré where sitting down to afternoon tea at theth very first of Paris’s famed chain of macaronmac shops is like settling into a Fabergé egg (it was modelled on Marie Antoinette’s personalpers chambers at Versailles). 16-18 rue Roya Royale. www.laduree. com. Métro: Madeleine.
Up next, visit Rue Montorgueil,Mon which runs through the 1st1s and 2nd arrondissements, where youyo can pick up seasonal fruit and veg from the greengrocers, glistening, freshf poissons from the fishmongers, and before you make your choice, take time to gazeg at the treats at Stohrer, one of the city’scity oldest patisseries. 51 rue Montorgueil.Montor www.
M