Parisian Dreams
Meringue Windows
Paris, the City of Lights, or as I like to think of it, the 'City where Foodie Dreams Come True'. My weekend adventure was jam packed with the usual sightseeing spots, but highlighted by the delicious snacks and meals in between. Back stateside (loaded with herbs and chocolate), I am inspired to find my inner Julia and get to work on my soufflé technique.
Sali-vation
Paul Bakery & Patisserie, 84 Ave Champs Elysees, 75008 Paris, France Boy, were we repeat customers here! This place has best baguette sandwiches I've ever tasted accompanied by flakey pastries and luscious, melt-in-your-mouth jumbo macaroons.
French Cappucino and Croque Madame
En Route to The Louvre, we stopped into Cafes Richard, 10 Rue la Fayette 75009 Paris, France. This little cafe was a lunch spot packed with locals. Traditional yet simple Croque Madame served with a Mesclun salad and the usual French dijon vinaigrette made for a yummy pick-me-up during a frigid trek to the Louvre. A delightful surprise came in the form of a frothy French cappuccino topped with cocoa powder and served in a tall glass.
Spinach and Goat Cheese Souffle
Le Souffle, 36 Rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris, France We stumbled upon this specialty restaurant on an evening walk through the Vendome neighborhood. Here you will find authentic French cuisine, without tourist traps. We even were asked by a table of locals how we happened to find ourselves dining there. I'm happy to share the secret; the souffle experience is that fantastic.
Souflee School
La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004, Paris, France Continuing my affinity for Souffle, I took a cooking class to learn to perfect the delicate art. La Cuisine is a cooking school located in the Hotel de Ville area that offers foodie walks, market tours, cooking and pastry classes. Bonus: they are one of the only places in town offering all courses in English as well as French.
Shopper's Delight, Lafyette Gourmet
Lafayette Gourmet, 48 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France Located in the famed Galeries Lafayette, this is the go-to for specialty French ingredients and foodie souvenirs. As per usual with my love of international markets, I strolled the aisles and sections for quite some time. From local produce, to flavorful foie gras and endless variety of chocolate, this one stop shop really has it all- even a spice market of mix and match options packed in glass tubes for stylish storage.
Laduree's Parisian Macarons
Ladurée- This famous tea and macaron shop is a must see during any trip to Paris. The vision of the colorful cookies alone are worth the trip. Laduree lays claim to creating the first Parisian Macaron, and each delicate cookie is carefully constructed by expert pastry chefs, and set aside to achieve flavor perfection for 2 days before being placed in the display case for sale. If you miss out on stopping into any of their beautiful city locations, you will find a boutique version of the shop in Terminal 2 of Charles De Gaulle Airport.
Onion Soup, Sauvignon, Shaved Duck Breast and Foie Gras Salad