What to Eat in Paris

Related posts:
Top 12 Paris (minus my food adventure)
Paris Hotel Recommendation - Campanile Paris XV


I won't claim to be a Paris food expert. I just decided to come up with this entry to document and share some of my Parisian food discoveries and adventures. Here they are in particular order:

1. Laduree Macaroons: 

Please don't leave Paris without trying Laduree. Its Soft Salted Caramel Macaroons is the best macaroons you could ever taste... others just fail in comparison! After all, Laduree won't be the favorite of Barbra Streisand and the daughters of President Obama for nothing.

If you buy "To Go", the line is worth the wait. If you opt to dine inside, you get to experience its poshness. 

This is their store in Champs Elysees:

EUR1.50 (Php95) per piece of a SMALL macaroon... still worth it!

The line inside... don't get too intimated. They're very efficient and its worth the effort!

The entrance along Champs Elysees

Opulent interior

Would you believe this is a toilet hallway?

The full list of stores can be found in: http://www.laduree.fr/en/maisons/adresses

2. Berthillon Ice Cream: 

Berthillon is a French manufacturer and retailer of luxury ice cream and sorbet. This is their primary store in Île Saint-Louis. It is famous for using of natural ingredients, with no chemical preservatives, artificial sweeteners or stabilizers. 

The line moves fast so don't be afraid

You may have a hard time choosing which flavor to order

Location Map

3. Confit de canard, pommes persillees (Confit of duck, potatoes with chopped parsley and garlic) at Bistro Dupleix:

This is what I ate after spending quite some time lining up to go to the top of the Eiffel and watching the Eiffel Nightly Illumination (where the Eiffel literally sparkles) for several times. I don't know if I was just hungry but it tasted so good for me. 

To go there, just alight at the Dupleix train station and I'm sure you would see Hotel de Petit Louvre which houses Bistro Dupleix. If you still have a problem finding it, its exact address is 62 boulevard de Grenelle 75015 Paris and its Tel. no. is 01 45 77 24 96. 

Costs EUR13.50 (Php850).. remember it's a duck (not a chicken) so even a drumstick is big enough

Look for this after alighting at the Dupleix Station

4. Steak Tartare (meat dish made from finely chopped or minced raw beef) at Ma Bourgogne:

This is my first and only Steak Tartare experience so I can't say how it fares with other restaurants that serve Steak Tartare. Nonetheless, I did like how it tasted. Unfortunately, I have to warn you because THE WAITERS ARE RUDE AND SNOOTY.

If you're up for the challenge, it's not very hard to find as it is just around the Place des Vosges area. You may contact them at 01 42 78 44 64.

This meal costs EUR24+/- (Php1,500) if I remember correctly

 

5. Escargots

Escargot is a popular local food in Paris. Had my first experience in George V Cafe along Champs Elysees. Sit outside, like what I did, if you want to observe and feel the Champs Elysees vibe/spirit... this will mean that your food will cost more compared to eating inside. 

Costs EUR11 (Php693) for 6 snails 

(what can you expect... its not an outdoor cafe along the famous Champs Elysees for nothing)

6. French Onion Soup:

Of course, you'd want to say you had French Onion Soup in France... and I did! This was my first taste (literally) of Paris. Had mine in Creperie Cluny Cafe which I will describe in more detail below. 

Cost: EUR8 (Php504)

7. Creperie Cluny Cafe: 

This is a cafe that's relatively near famous spots such as Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie. Aside from the cafe's good food and cramped yet nice ambiance, walking around its environs is already a treat.

Galette California for EUR8.50 (Php536)

Galette Basquaise EUR8.30 (Php523) - Chicken, ratatouille, gratinated cheese ,egg

Location Map

8. Cheese aka Fromage: 

I didn't really get to have a cheese adventure in Paris but I suggest you do. This is a shot I took somewhere in Ile St. Louis or Ile de la Cite... such variety of cheeses!

Yes, there's lots of food to try in Paris. Don't control yourself, you'll burn the calories with all the walking you'll do anyway. 

Paris Hotel Recommendation - Campanile Paris XV

Related posts:
- Top 12 Paris (minus my food adventure) -
- What to Eat in Paris -

"che said...

thank you for sharing your photos and will include it to my must-visit places

what hotel did you stay? i'm searching for a hotel- 3 days in Paris but it's quite expensive. do you have any recommendation? thanks"

The above comment made me so happy because it's the first time a visitor of this blog sought for a recommendation. As a sign of gratitude, I decided to make an entire review of the hotel where I stayed. I believe the hotel also deserves this because I am according it a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating. Please note that my HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating is mainly on value-for-money. There are lots of glitzy hotels in Paris but they surely come with glaring prices. Even if you have the money to spend on fancy hotels, I'm sure you wouldn't mind spending that on shopping or dining instead.

Paris is such an expensive city partially because it is the world's most popular tourist destination with an estimated 27 million visitors per year (think of law of supply and demand). Although it is the world's most popular destination, it is very hard to find "value-for-money" accommodations. While I was researching for my Euro Trip, I encountered a lot of Paris hotel horror stories. Luckily, I stumbled upon a two-star hotel named Campanile Paris XV located at 30 Rue Saint Charles, 15th Arr., 75015 Paris. (Note that there are several Campanile Hotels in Paris)

Now, here are the reasons why Campanile Paris XV got its HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating:

1. Strategic Location - The hotel is just two to three blocks from the Metro Station. It is walking distance from the Eiffel Tower, which is very visible if you step outside of the hotel.

2. Relatively Cheap - If you've been scouting for accommodations in Paris, I'm sure you would agree that this is already cheap. If you find a cheaper deal, it is most likely that the hotel is either remotely located (Campanile XV is within central Paris and is walking distance from Eiffel) or dirty (yes, I've read a lot of Paris Hotel Horror Stories).

Price I paid: USD94/night or USD282 for 3 nights (April 2 to April 5, 2010)

3. Spotlessly Clean - It's not a fancy hotel but I can vouch for it's cleanliness. 

 

Some other images:

View from my room

The buffet breakfast area (Having a "free" buffet breakfast means that your room will cost more... It's not free after all! I decided to opt out because I wanted to eat as much local food)

Points for consideration: 

Here are some of the things which you may set you back from Campanile Paris XV. But personally, I don't mind them:

1. Very small elevator - This is common in Paris because each square meter is very expensive. I think the elevator will only fit two to three people. If you have a luggage with you, I think it's only good for one.

2. Narrow hallways - Same logic as above... making the most out of every square meter

My seal of confidence: I will book in this hotel again given the chance to go back to Paris!

Top 12 Paris (minus my food adventure)

Related posts:


- What to Eat in Paris -
- Paris Hotel Recommendation - Campanile Paris XV -


Because it has always been my dream to go to Europe, I can't explain how ecstatic I was from the time I got my Schengen Visa till the time I was cleared by the French immigration (because my interrogation experience with the Australian immigration still lingers on me) so that I can finally travel to my first European destination --- Paris. Even until I got off the Cite station, I still can't believe that I was finally in Europe so I wanted to jump as high as I could (good thing I was able to control myself from doing so). After my four-day trip from April 2, 2010 to April 5, 2010, I realized that Paris had a lot more to offer than the Eiffel Tower and that the Eiffel Tower was not overrated. As a result, I'd like to share my favorite Parisian experiences (except for eating as I will be dedicating a separate post for that) during my short but jam-packed stay:


Note: I am not claiming to be an expert in Paris as my stay was relatively short. I acknowledge that Paris could have a lot more to offer than these.


1. Going to Versailles - Going to Versailles was non-negotiable to me. I read so many good things about it that I just can't let the opportunity pass. It didn't fail me. The trip to Versailles on my 2nd day made me feel that my vacation in Europe was already worth every cent. I will be sharing more of my trip to Versailles on a separate post.

 

2. Watching the Eiffel Tower Sparkle - Once the sky darkens, the Eiffel Tower literally glitters every hour. Can't get enough of this experience that I caught it thrice in one day (1 while I was in the elevator going up the tower  so the glittering bulbs were literally beside me; 1 while I was under the tower... this felt magical as I experienced the entire spectacle very near; 1 while I was near Ecole Militaire... can't help but get awed by the charm of this moment)

The view near Ecole Militaire

Morning version of the Eiffel Tower (I took this photo from Trocadero and I'm proud of it)

3. Discovering that Notre Dame has another facade (at the back) which is miles better than the front facade

4. Searching for the famous Moulin Rouge

5. Walking alongside the Seine River while seeing the La Conciergerie, etc.

6. Walking around the Louvre Complex (Outside only! I wasn't able to go inside because the enormous amount of visitors prompted the museum to close earlier than usual... or should I say I prioritized my food adventure during my last day in Paris so I didn't have enough time to get into Louvre)

My only glimpse of the Louvre from a glass outside

7. Having a risky photo with the Arc de Triomphe - If you want a picture of the entire landmark with you in the middle, you have to take the risk of getting a similar shot right in the middle of Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Tip: No need to go up but make sure to get at least to the base by passing through an underpass via Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

 

  

8. Walking along the sidestreets of Paris - Walking around the sidestreets of Paris is already an activity of its own. Just savor the feel of the city and enjoy the shops and cafes all around. Suggested areas: Latin Quarter, Marais, Montmartre, Opera Garnier, Ile-St Louis 

9. Walking along Avenue des Champs-Élysées - catch the latest in fashion, cars, music or simply have your own Parisian cafe experience

 

Louis Vuitton Flagship Store along Avenue des Champs-Élysées

People lining up just to get inside LV's Flagship Store

Video of LV's Window Display

10. Walking around the area of Opera Garnier - This landmark is marvelous! Walking around the sidestreets of the area also offers a great opportunity to expore Paris' hidden secrets. I wasn't able to go inside as I had my luggage along with me when I went here. I will definitely go inside given the chance to come back to Paris.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Photo courtesy of concertclassic.com

11. Gazing at Sainte-Chapelle's stained glass windows - Make sure you go upstairs to the main attraction as the staircase leading to it isn't very noticeable

12. Appreciating the artistry of Paris' Metro stations - Make sure to gaze outside of the train's windows at every station to see the variety of design each one offers.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia