Paris 2013
2013
Today we had arranged a food tour of The Marais to get ourselves oriented to the places to shop!!!?
We visited the following establishments:
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a.Poilane. Famous French baker who now exports to over 50 countries. Simple philosophy - Artisan bread in the traditional method and minimal fancy stuff - mainly croissant, apple pastries, pain au chocolat and biscuits. We had some tastings here.
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b.134 RDT. Famous award winning baguette maker to learn the vagiaries of baguettes
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c.Tratier- Maison Ramella. All sorts of prepared food. Sausage, Ham, Terrines, Pates, Salads, Cold Meats, Charcuterie, Cheese,Pickles etc, etc. We had some tastings here.
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d.Jouannault Fromageur. An Affineur - a family run business where they mature their cheeses on the premises. Saw some decadent low calorie, low cholesterol, fresh Bries infused with truffles.
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e.Olive Oils from Provence. Visited a small shop where we tasted the difference between oils made from green, black and fermented black olives. A lovely shop that we will return to to get some raw material for salad dressing.
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f.Walked through the market Marche de Enfant Rouge. Mainly a lunch place with Italian, Lebanese, Moroccan, Pizza, places with some fish and vege stalls.
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g.Stopped in a small park for Poilane bread and cheeses that the guide had purchased earlier. Poilane sourdough with Goats cheese, Comte, Epoisses(washed rind smelly) from Burgundy and Roquefort.
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h.Chocolatier - Jacque Genin. That is the photo at the top of his chocolates. We tasted - mint chocolate( like a fresh mint leaf). Sechuan Pepper Chocolate, Concentrated fruit jellies( Mango and passionfruit, other flavours included, strawberry, raspberry, lemon, cassis, blood orange etc) and caramels. The most decadent chocolate place I have ever been to.
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i.Macaroon Shop. They also served icecream, small cakes and tarts and a rum baba to die for. We tasted a salted caramel macaroon, Lemon tart and the rum baba. Normally macaroons are a bit bland in flavour but these were flavour explosions in your mouth.
After all the walking and the eating Jill and I retired for a well earned rest BUT all the places we visited were within 1 Km of the apartment where we are staying. So we are sure to return.
Marais Food Tour
18 Jul 13
Paris is Chocolate but more about the food tour later.
Our trip from London was as follows:
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a.Breakfast on the back deck of the ship overlooking Tower Bridge
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b.London Taxi to St Pancras station - 2 hour wait
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c.Stuffed into Eurostar train. Journey quick but boring - too fast to see anything
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d.Drag luggage (we had to take hot and cold weather gear) to taxi rank at Gare du Nord.
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e.Wait at Taxi rank in 30 degree heat (with at least 200 other people)while amused by chaotic French method a allocating taxis.
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f.Arrive at RV with apartment owner - not there. He said he would be wearing a white hat. Notice at least 3 people at the RV cafe with white hats and every second man in the street in a white hat!!
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g.RV with apartment owner and settle into apartment. Very satisfied.
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h.Find prix marche and buy basics.
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i.Out for dinner at local family-run cafe. Food passable.
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j.Rush back to the apartment to sit in front of a fan. Paris is having a heatwave and is not known for its’ air conditioning.
Breakfast in London
First Breakfast in Paris
Poilane pastries and bread
The Tratier
The Frommagerie
Bread and Cheese in the Park
Caramels
Fruit Jellies
Cakes
Macaroons
