[Breton Beats]

Hello,

My family and I are headed to France in a few weeks and will be spending a week in an apartment in Paris. I been before soI know my way around a bit but I was hoping to get some advice from other professional food people.

Do you have any favorite must-do? Quaint but GOOD bistros, favorite place to shop, favorite ingrediant to buy? ( I will have a kitchen) or Kitchen shop?

(Sorry no high-end restaurants this time can't afford it and I am with my 3 year old son)

I would love to hear your ideas!

[stir it up]

Lucky you Breton!

I've spent more time in other parts of France, more in the countryside, Normandy, the South, Paris was always rushed, with friends taking me here and there, and me not recalling the names of places I had that great cassoulet, etc...

But I was thinking an affordable thing to do is hit some nice bakeries, sample some of the more renowned breads.

You could pick up a Pain Poilane (miche) Bienvenue chez Poilâne in your first couple days, they're big and keep long, and you'll have something around. I love grocery shopping in France, simple things there like the array of olives at the olive counter, or being able to get a good duck breast or rabbit tenderloin or such, just in a basic supermarket. Great wines for much more affordable prices than here.

Eric Kayser's bakery is a must also (rue Monge), for some levain croissants, buckwheat batard, whatnot. He and Alain Ducasse co-own a "deli" BoulangEpicier Boulange épicier in the 8th. I've never been there but sounds like a must go to place, and you can pick up some nice groceries too.

I also like Bernard Ganachaud, he's MOF (meilleur ouvrier de France)

You could hit a choclatier or two also. I always love finding unique cheeses when I travel also.

[BrooklynChef]

I just got back from France myself. I am always a fan of street food. I think you get such a great sense of culture by eating the street food. It seems a little crazy to do this in Paris, but a Sandwich Grecque - (the turkish/greek immigrant to France version of the Gyro in every pizza place in NY) It is served often on a baguette with fries on the sandwhich. They are incredible. Also, parisien hot dogs. I mean, NY, Chicago, and LA all have there styles right? Well how can you beat a foot long on a baguette with gruyer melted on it with dijon mustard. Falafel in the Marais (the jewish section) Stop at Pierre Hermes boutique for some macaroons, but go to the back of this snooty little boutique for the best croissant and a pastry you cannot miss called a Kouign Aman (pronounced queen amman). Really special. As far as Brasseries - Bofinger (pronounced Bo-fan-jhay) has a roasted pig's foot on the menu that is seriously awesome and filling!
Oh yeah, and if you want to taste something shockingly good, all the supermarkets (we went to a Monoprix) have pre-roasted chickens in a zippered plastic sack. That you can actually heat in the microwave, and that are so good. It truly begs the question as to what are we doing wrong in this country. I mean how can chicken in a bag in a microwave be good? It is awesome.
Have fun. Eat lots

[Breton Beats]

Thanks for the suggestions, I too have spent lots of time in France living and working but mostly in the Cote d'Azur and Brittany(where my in-laws live) that it is rare I get some time to relax in Paris. Happily I am familiar with some of the ideas and happy that others feel the same way, so for others watching this thread I agree with all of the above (Well except for the Poilane, never been a fan of the bread) But if you are truly interested in the best croissants on the planet try Pourjauran, Best apple pastries Stohrers.

I hear you to BrooklynChef for the word on street food. As a student it was I'll I ate, I will never understand why in american we can't just have a big hunk of meat rotating in our restaurant. Something Americans never realize is how many nationalities live in Paris and the ethnic food to be found is astounding. (Best Chinese ever)

As far as Kouign Aman (actually pronounced cooig amam it is Breton, where my husband is from, and I get enough from my mother in-law.

I have looked up the other places and will definately work them into my schedule (roasted pigs foot mmmmmmm!) and poulet au zip-loc.

Thanks again.