Photos by Elena-Amalia Radu and Michelle Sit Aboha
Where does all the amazingly delicious food in Paris come from? From the amazingly wonderful food shops scattered across the capital, bien sûr.
Here is just a glimpse of what awaits you in Paris. These 11 foods can be found in shops across the capital, and are sure to whet your appetite and either entice you to cook at home, or have a quick snack (not the raw fish, please) before heading out to a restaurant.
Bon appetit!
1. Olives
Start your meal with something savoury or enjoy olives as a delicious snack. Plenty of shops dotting the capital sell fresh olives by the milligram. Prices vary and if you’re short on cash, visit the French equivalent of a corner shop where you can find tinned olives at a cheaper price.
Hint: Some grocery shops sell (almost) fresh olives in vacuum-packed bags. They are cheaper than those sold in delis and are often just as tasty!
2. Cheese, glorious cheese
What’s life without cheese? Disappointing. The golden rule for French cheese is: the smellier the better.
According to The Cheese Wanker (no, really), there are eight different types of French cheeses:
- 1 Fresh cheese.
- 2 Soft white mould cheese.
- 3 Soft washed rind cheese.
- 4 Pressed uncooked cheese.
- 5 Pressed cooked cheese.
- 6 Blue cheese.
- 7 Whey cheese.
- 8 Pasta Filata cheese.
We cannot vouch for all of them, but use the eight types as a guide – they focus primarily on how the cheese is made, and the texture, smell and taste are all wildly different as a result of that process.
Our advice? Try them all!
3. Pretty pasta parcels
Supposedly the entire world – not just France – is obsessed with French Onion pasta. We couldn’t find any in Paris, but we did find a plethora of interesting pasta shapes to take home and prepare – just by throwing into a pot of boiling water.
Check out these delicious parcels – make sure you buy some great pasta sauce to go with, or at least some fresh garlic, grated cheese (see above) and lashes of butter.
4. Shrimp and snails
Next you’ll want a main dish – we recommend fish… But make sure you know how to cook it before you start. Snails are a staple that is often served as an appetizer, and unlike in some parts of the continent, they range in size from small to large.
Serve them with garlic, melted butter, parsley and salt. Don’t be squeamish – they are yummy!
Fine selection in local deli
5. Lovely langoustine
If you thought these looked like salmon-coloured lobsters, you’d not be wrong. Also known as the Norway lobster, “shlobster”, fake crayfish, Dublin Bay prawn, langoustine or scampi, these are some of the most truly delicious crustaceans around.
Buy them in season (shiny eyes are a sign they’re fresh) and boil away. Great British Chefs says: “Remove from the pan and drain before serving, preferably on a big platter with some mayonnaise for dipping, lemon wedges and some salt.
“Sucking the heads is optional, but do make the effort to crack the claws and pick out the delicious morsels of meat inside.”
6. Sexy, saucy scallops
If you want a fishy snack without a head and eyes, scallops are for you. They are easy to prepare as the proud prawn, and when served with a garlic butter are probably more delicious.
“There’s no need to be intimidated,” says our experts at Inspired Taste. “Scallops are easy to prepare, promise. With a few tricks, you’ll be cooking them like a pro in no time.”
7. Poulet Rôti
That’s “rotisserie chicken” to you mate, and what a wonderful thing it is if you’re on the go and looking for a delicious, fast meal (and you’re not vegan). Buy a baguette accompaniment and you are good to go!
8. Les fruits
It’s never too late to attempt to eat healthily – even in Paris. Pop on down to any shop and buy something fresh and healthy – your body will say “merci” later.
Apples and bananas and pears, oh my!
9. Marvellous macarons
These are almost as expensive in Paris as they are back in Blighty, but when they’re done well, you know that they are worth every centime.
Primary ingredients are sugar, ground almonds and egg whites – and some more sugar. And sugar. Be sure to brush your teeth well after eating!
10. The perfect pastry
The Cordon Bleu has a list of the top 10 French pastries you should know. They are:
- Macarons
- Profiterole
- Religieuse
- Pain Au Chocolat
- Mille Feuille
- Éclair
- Madeleine
- Cannele
- Kouign Amann
- Chouquette
We never heard of the last two – they are a multi-layered pastry with butter, and one made from choux dough.
All you really need to know is that patisseries are everywhere, so get you pastry head on and start eating!
11. Le pain
No, we are not talking about S & M here. Bread. There are 13 types of French bread, according to MasterClass, and they are so delicious you *might* want to try them all.
“For the French, le pain is a national birthright and much more than a standalone ingredient,” they say.
“French bread is about expression and tradition, and the innumerable variations and styles each have a place in the choreography of everyday life.”
Bon appetit!
Check out more French foodie info here: A culinary tour of the French capital
Leave a Reply