Did you know that Paris is the number one tourist destination in the world? People come to the City of Lights for its history, art, nightlife, fashion and shopping. And no trip to Paris would be complete without experiencing incredible French cuisine. I am a frequent visitor to Paris, but I’m no expert when it comes to recommending four-star restaurants.
As a high school French teacher, my cultural experiences abroad usually include a bus full of teenagers who must be steered away from a daily menu of McDonald’s. I like to create a learning experience in which my students go on a sort of shopping scavenger hunt to create a French picnic.
Any traveler to Paris, no matter how wealthy or sophisticated, is sure to enjoy this authentic and fun cultural experience. So, skip the lunch reservations for a day, make a list, and divvy up the shopping. Let’s revisit French 101: Markets.
Boulangerie – Bakery
A meal is just not French if you forget the baguette. Parisians buy this long, thin bread daily from one of the many boulangeries dotting the City of Light. No matter how hard I try, I just cannot find an American version of baguette which is quite as crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. Delicieux! The French take their bread seriously.
In fact, there is recent legislation that requires bread to be made entirely by hand and from scratch at the premises in order for a bakery to call itself a “boulangerie.” Before departing for your trip, anticipate the glories of French bread by watching it being made via webcam in a Parisian bakery (http://www.bonneau.fr/Webcam.htm) Baguette is inexpensive, usually under 1 euro, so pick up a few loaves.
Charcuterie – Deli
Try some prepared meats, such as ham, sausage, or pate. You’ll need the energy only protein can provide for a busy day of sightseeing.
Fromagerie – Cheese shop
Cheese is served as a regular part of meals each day. Forget the crackers–the French eat their cheese on that world-famous baguette! The most difficult part of shopping at a fromagerie is the vast selection. There are over 400 varieties of French cheese! For those of you new to the world of French cheese, here is a simplified guide:
Double creme cheeses contain at least 60% butter fat per gram. A popular variety is Boursin, a spreadable cheese flavored with herbs.
Soft cheeses require that you cut through the crust (which you do not eat) in order to get to the smooth, gooey inside. Best known are Brie and Camembert.
Semi-soft cheeses are often mild and, while they are soft, they are solid enough to be cut with a knife. Bonbel and babybel are easy choices for a picnic.
Chevre is a rather tart cheese made from goat milk.
Marche des fruits – Fruit Market
No picnic would be complete without some fresh fruits. Peruse an open-air market or corner fruit stand for a wonderful selection to accompany your picnic.
Cave – Wine Cellar (Wine is also readily available at local grocers and wine shops)
Assuming that you are not travelling as the employee of a school district like me, go ahead and purchase a nice bottle of wine to go with your lunch. Might I suggest a nice red Bordeaux or Beaujolais, a white such as a Pinot Blanc from Languedoc or Alsace, or Vouvray from Touraine. Why not celebrate your Parisian vacation with a bottle of Champagne? French law requires that only high-quality sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France may be called “champagne.
Patisserie ou Chocolaterie
Ah, dessert! The best part of any picnic. Back in the day when I was a college student studying in Paris, I created an alternative to bar-hopping. I called it “patisserie-hopping”. Some of my favorites are mille-feuilles (Napoleons), eclairs, palmiers (puffed pastry cookie), tartes aux fruits (small fruit pies), and Madeleines (mini shell-shaped cakes.)
And the chocolate, oh the chocolate! Who wouldn’t love an entire shop dedicated to exquisitie chocolates. Check out local Parisian shops, or Leonidas, a popular chain of Belgian chocolates.
Once you have completed your marketing and mingled a bit with the locals, be sure that you have the essentials such as a corkscrew, plates, napkins, and knives. And be warned that many small shops close during the lunch hour (12:30 – 3:00.) Shop early! Now all you need a park with a nice patch of grass or a park bench. Just avoid areas that are marked “Pelouse Interdite” (Stay off the grass.)
Here is a list of just a few of the great spots throughout the city:
Notre Dame, in the square in front of the cathedral or the garden behind it
Quais (platforms) by the Seine
Jardin du Luxembourg, a garden from the1600’s with elaborate fountains, statues and children sailing toy boats.
Bois de Vincennes, a park and also a zoo
Bois de Boulogne, a vast park with trees, trails, lakes & gardens
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, a park from the mid-19th century, with a manmade lake, waterfalls and grottos. Tres joli!
Only when you experience your first authentic French picnic can you truly say you’ve eaten out in Paris. Bon appetit!
