What to Eat in Paris – Best Foods to Try

Everybody knows that France is the ultimate destination for foodies from all over the world. The French are incredibly famous for their fancy cuisine and Paris is undoubtedly heaven for people who love to taste their way around the world.

Even though fine dining is something that defines France, the truth is that French food isn’t all about fancy eating, and sometimes you can have some of the best dishes in Paris, at the corner boulangerie or the neighborhood restaurant. But, whether you choose to explore the more expensive restaurants in Paris, or you just want to indulge in the regular Parisian lifestyle, you have to add the delicious foods listed below to your must-eat in Paris list.

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A Fresh Croissant and a tasty Coffee- The Perfect Way to Begin a Day in Paris

If you are used to indulging in a rich breakfast that contains a diversity of foods like eggs, bacon, sausages, jams or pancakes, you must forget about that during your trip in Paris, especially if you want to live like a local for a few days.

The truth is that French people don’t believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, saving the best for lunch. So, in the morning, they prefer to have a big coffee and a bit of pastry, usually a freshly baked croissant.

Not grabbing a croissant in the morning when you are in Paris is practically impossible since the fantastic smell of fresh pastries from all bakeries forces you to go in and get something. 

And, of course, you cannot completely enjoy the croissant if you don’t pair it with a good coffee.

Even though it might come as a surprise, French people don’t begin their days drinking wine, and they really love coffee. You will see all the cafés filled with people indulging in rich, dark coffee while they enthusiastically chat with their companions. While you are in Paris have a cup of coffee at Coutume Café. You will immediately fall in love with this tastefully arranged place and with its mouthwatering products.  

Coutume Café: Address: 47 Rue de Babylone, 75007 Paris, France, Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30AM–5:30PM; Saturday and Sunday: 9AM–6PM, Phone: +33 1 45 51 50 47

 

Indulge in the Famous French Cheese: The Delightful “Fromage”

You probably already know that French people have an extremely special relationship with cheese, as well as with other dairy products. They love this product so much that they have an incredible number of official cheeses so, don’t feel bad if you don’t even know half of them. Not too many foreigners do.

If you have never tried French cheese, except the few popular types everybody knows about, you should begin your “cheesy adventure” with a selection of five or, if you feel adventurous, maybe six kinds of cheese, in a variety of milk types, styles, and strengths. You must feel ready to try blue, mountain, fresh, ash-coated as well as wash-rind cheeses from cows, sheeps, and goats.

There are many restaurants where you can ask the waiter for advice when it comes to putting together a complete platter, as well as to pairing the cheese with a local wine. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the traditional cheese tasting. Or, if you are already a French cheese connoisseur, you can go to a neighborhood cheese store, like Fromagerie Lepic, get a few types of cheese, stop at a bakery and get a fresh baguette, then buy a bottle of good wine and find a good spot for a picnic, where you can organize an improvised cheese tasting.

Fromagerie Lepic

Address: 20 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris, France, Hours: 8AM–8:30PM (Except Monday: Closed), Phone: +33 1 46 06 90 97

 

What to Eat in Paris: Taste a Real Artisanal “Baguette de Paris”

Paris is probably the best place for people who love bread, not only because French people are so into their baguette, but also because of the amazing freshness and quality of this product. Even if you don’t usually eat bread when in Paris you will probably begin to enjoy it.

Just keep in mind that, in order to eat bread like a Parisian, it has to be made by hand. Therefore, when you buy a baguette, make sure its ends are pointy because if they are rounded, the bread was machine made and that means it has a lower quality.

A fantastic place where you can find mouthwatering baguettes is Aux Délices du Palais. Just visit this place, grab a baguette and something to eat it with, sit on a bench, indulge in the goodies and see “la vie en rose”.

Aux Délices du Palais

Address: 60 Boulevard Brune, 75014 Paris, France, Hours: 6:30AM–8PM ( Except Wednesdays: Closed), Phone: +33 1 45 39 48 68

 

Add Some Smooth Bordier Butter or Some Fancy Foie Gras to Your Hand Made Baguette

You might be surprised that butter is on this list, but as soon as you taste Le Beurre Bordier, you understand that it is not the usual, standard butter. Not only is Bordier butter extremely smooth but it also has an impossible to forget rich flavor. Hopefully, you have enough bread to eat as much as you want. You can buy this butter from many cheese shops, like Laurent Dubois Cheese Shop.

In addition to the delicious butter, you can also indulge in the famous foie gras. It is similar to the butter, but it is made from duck liver and it is a delicacy everywhere in the world. The foie gras is rich, smooth and delicious, and has the power to easily make people addicted to it.

The majority of French people spread it on toast, but it is mouthwatering when eaten with baguette, as well.

Fromagerie Laurent Dubois (http://www.fromageslaurentdubois.fr/fr/)

Address: 47 Ter Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005 Paris, France, Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 8AM–8PM; Saturday: 7:30AM–8PM; Sunday: 8AM–1: PM; Monday: Closed, Phone: +33 1 43 54 50 93

 

Be Brave and Taste Boudin Noir

If you are thinking about what to eat in Paris, how about some boudin noir? You probably bought a lot of bread and you can’t waste something that amazing, so you will have to eat it with something. And boudin noir sounds extremely sexy. However, it is not, unless you think that black pudding or blood sausage can be on the same plate with strawberries and chocolate.

However, even though your first thought is not to eat boudin noir, you might really fall for its rich, flavorful taste. You can taste it in many restaurants and bistros or you can find it at any charcuterie if you want to add it to your special Parisian picnic.

Spoil Yourself with Dreamy Dishes: Escargots and Mussels

If you have never eaten snails, hen you visit Paris is the perfect moment for trying new culinary delicacies. Escargots is one of those amazing French dishes you have to try. Yes, they are still snails, but they are bathed in delicious garlic butter and their taste is absolutely divine.

However, if you don’t feel adventurous enough to eat the snails, you can begin your French culinary exploration with luxuriating with delicious mussels bathed in bacon and cream dish. You will feel like in heaven while eating the mussels served at Au Pied de Cochon, a charming restaurant with an interesting menu and a great historical importance. The pork-flavored mussels will create an explosion of pleasure for your tasting buds and will probably give you the courage you need to order the tasty escargots, as well.

Au Pied de Cochon

Chef Martin Picard’s hearty Québécois fare, starring foie gras & pork, served in a lively space. 

Address: 536 Avenue Duluth E, Montréal, QC H2L 1A9, Canada, Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 5 PM to 12 AM; Monday & Tuesday: Closed, Phone: +1 514-281-1114

 

What to Eat in Paris: Amaze Your Tasting Buds with the Best Duck Confit

You probably know what confit duck is but if you have never tasted the French one, it’s time to do it. The duck thighs are cooked in their own fat in order to make the meat extremely tender and to preserve it fresh until consumed in the future.

The majority of bistros serve products from the best producers which are in the Southwest of France. The duck is usually served with an amazing side dish made from potatoes and garlic, sautéed in duck fat. Absolutely mouthwatering! Going to Paris and not spoiling yourself with such a divine dish is absolutely unacceptable!

 

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with Some Heavenly Macarons and the Famous Street-Stand Crêpes

France is also famous for the exquisite sweets its people indulge in. Therefore, when visiting Paris, you must try some of the delicacies they have. A great choice is represented by the delicate pastry known as macarons.

The two almond meringue shells put together with the help of some tasty buttercream just melt in your mouth making your tasting buds go wild and never want to feel anything else. No wonder this desert conquered the world!

They come in different colors and flavors and sometimes are just factory-made sweets. So, at least while you are in Paris, try to eat them from the best pastry shops, where they actually make them by hand!

In addition to macarons, your sweet tooth also needs the famous crêpes. The best way to have this popular French dessert is to eat it from a street stand, because this is, after all, street food. Just make sure that the place does not reheat the crêpes instead of cooking them to order!

Also, they must be thin and if you want to have the authentic crêpes experience, ask for the beurre-sucre ones. I know you might be tempted to add chocolate and all kinds of toppings, but do it the real French way and save those for the next time!

You can find amazing street side crêpes: 7 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018.Give them a try!

 

A Meal Without Wine is Called Breakfast: Welcome to France!

Besides tasty food and mouthwatering sweets, wine is a real “thing” In Paris, and all over France. People have it with most of their meals and it is one if the basic daily consumer products Parisians truly love. Of course, if you tasted French wine you can understand why they love it so much.

If you never had a glass of good French wine, it is time to change that. Whether you buy it in a specialty shop or you prefer having your first glass in a restaurant, make sure you choose a good one. The best way to do that is to ask. French people might not speak too much English but they will definitely point to the bets bottle when you ask them. They really know their wine!

Now, don’t imagine that people in Paris drink a whole bottle when they are having lunch because this is far from being the case. They indulge in a small glass or two instead of having pints of beer or fizzy drinks. And they always have water on the table.

 

Eat French Food at Astier

Address: 44 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris, France, Hours: 12:15–2:15PM, 7–10:30PM (except Saturday: 12:15–2:15PM, 7–11PM & Sunday: 2:30–2:15PM, 7–10:30PM), Phone: +33 1 43 57 16 35

Final Tip:

If you want to have at least one meal as regular French people do, you have to keep in mind that this consists of a starter, which can be some paté, salad or soup. Then, you should expect to get the main course, which can be a choice of fish, meat with a side and this is followed by a selection of local cheeses and a dessert. And as you probably expected bread, wine and water are always on the table. This is how a regular French meal looks like and you can enjoy it in a restaurant while in Paris, or you can learn how to cook French dishes and surprise your friends and family with a special dinner when you go back from your trip.