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Where To Get The Best Macarons in Paris

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Where To Get The Best Parisian Staple - Macarons

Paris, a dining capital with fine restaurants, casual bistros, bustling markets and fabulous gourmet shops. Of all the lovely foods to be savoured in the city – amazing cheeses, luscious wines, delectable charcuterie and to-die-for pastries – one little gem stands out from the rest: Macarons! This luxurious French delicacy is a must-eat in Paris, where you will find some of the best macaron makers in the world, and here are some of the places that you can find them.

Laduree

The name Laduree shouldn’t be foreign to you because of how it is usually the talk of the town. The traditional macaron is a staple for an everyday Parisian, and this is where they go and get it. Known for its consistency, crunchy outer pastry and soft flavourful filling – a must try. Each season they come up with new flavours just to spice it up, as well as a limited edition box where they collaborate with fashion designers (you should really consider buying a collection as they all look like jewelry boxes).

Pierre Herme

This next macaron house is as famous as Laduree. Infact, there has been many reviews challenging Laudree’s position as the best macaron house in Paris. Pierre Herme, a master of our era, started his career at iconic house of Fauchon before working at Laudree. The creator of one of the most mouthwatering macarons out there, the famous Isfahan desert which is made out of two macaron shells with a fresh raspberry centre, rose cream filling and a lychee in the centre.

Now you might ask, what differentiates Pierre Herme to Laduree? Pierre Herme provides a twist to the tradition macarons. Venturing off the path of flavours such as ‘chocolate’, ‘vanilla’ and ‘strawberry’, Pierre Herme brings to the table modern and experiemental flavours such as white chocolate and wine, passion fruit and the one that surprised us all, foie gras. This is definitely the macaron house to go to if you are looking for something less mainstream anda little different.

Angelina

This next place, Angelina, though known for their hot chocolate and Mont-Blanc, their macarons, crunchy with light fillings, should not be missed either. Their iconic “chocolat chaud à l’ancienne” is a must try (you’ll never look at a cup of hot chocolate the same again), paired together with some of their amazing macarons as well. A perfect mix of luxury and Parisian patisserie experience.

Homemade Macarons

And why not have a taste of home-made macarons! For this luxury dining experience you will be ushered into a chic Haussmann-styled apartment in Paris and handed a glass of champagne- the perfect introduction to Parisian life! You will learn how to make macarons with pastry expert Benedicte and also the secrets of macaron making and you will also get to eat with a local in Paris. As I am sure you know- food always tastes best when it is homemade! With your belly full of sweetness and your heart filled with pride after mastering this macaron cooking class you can head off for a stroll along the Champs Elysées or explore Montmartre- both of which are only 15 minutes from Benedicte’s Parisian kitchen!

Know of any other macaron stores there are as good as the ones mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below 🙂

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A Parisian Affair with Wine: The Best Wine Bars in Paris

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A Parisian Affair with Wine: The Best Wine Bars in Paris

When you think of Paris, you think of the City of love, fashion, literature and producer of the world’s finest wines. To find out how France become one of the world's largest producer of wines, we would have to go back to over 2600 years. The Romans came to know aobut viticulture and wanted to spread it throughout the country. It has since then become well known in regions such as Champagne, Burgundy, Loire Valley. With years of experience, France have become a master of the field. Producing wines such as Chardonnay, Château Barreyres and much more. Wine bars in France provide the perfect bridge between the rich history, culture and social significance to Parisians everyday life.There are countless wine bars in Paris that offer you the opportunity to get to try some of these amazing wines from red, white to champagne without having to pay for the whole bottle and at the same time be able to try a whole range of other wines prepared by wine enthusiasts and experts. 

They say one of life's simple pleasures is drinking good wine paired with good food in good company. 

 

Tours de Cuisine – La Cave à Vincent

Head over to the buzzing 11th district for a mesmirising wine tasting session in Paris. Not only do you get to sample the best wines in France, but you will come away a conoisseur- learning how to pair wine with different dishes. there's certainly more to it than just red or white! 

Willi’s Wine Bar 

This French-themed bar is run by a man named Mark Williamson, who opened it in the 1980s. He has cultivated a culture around food and wine. In the words of The Guardian ‘Mark Williams, […] has probably had a bigger influence on what Parisians drink today than almost anyone else.'  The food is cooked to perfection and the man behind the counter, sometimes Mark himself, will be there to offer you the best wine pairings with your food. The atmosphere, food, and wine is absolutely sublime. Wine tasting and vegetarian options are also available. 

l'Ecluse Grands Augustins

In the heart of historical Paris, near Notre Dame and the Place St Michel, you will see a wine bar with a royal blue canapy. L'Ecluse is known for serving absolutely divine Bordeaux wine, so if you would like to try some come on down! Order some food along with the server's recommendation of wine for that day and sit on the terrace that offers an amazing view of the Notre Dame. 

Le Baron Rouge 

Le Baron Rouge is a bar where all the locals after working hours flock to. Why you might ask? This wine bar is a place where you can quench your thirst with good quality vintage wine. The walls are covered in bottles and barrels from top to bottom to mark the bar as a space devoted to the glory of wine. However, this makes it difficult to move about in the bar, which is why all these blue-collar Parisians stand outside of the bar. 

Verjus Wine Bar 

Braden Perkins and Laura Adrian the owners of Verjus, initially started out as a highly-regarded dinner place called the Hidden Kitchen. Known for their bold, elegant, a la mode American cooking that has been the talk of the town for several years and hasn't died down yet. They later expanded in the year 2012, and have included a charming wine bar that is both cosy and stylish, located just beneath the restaurant. Verjus offers an updated monthly menu, so be prepared to be wowed every time you visit. From scandinavian-inspired trout to tender ink duck breast with rich crisp golden skin, everything tastes absolutely sublime… not to mention the wine that they serve which is absolutely divine.

Albion

Albion is a wine bar that has an underground wine cellar and geometric wooden wine racks that line the walls of the restaurant. Albion’s menu changes weekly and is paired with a weekly list of wines to choose from, starting at as little as €4 a glass. Starting off with Russian-inspired salads to mains such as the cod fillet accompanied with chard, apples, walnuts and spiced chutney.

If you have been to any other wine bars and believe they are one of the best in Paris, leave a comment below! We would love to hear about it! 

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14 Best Must-Visit Cafes All Around Paris

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14 Best Cafes All Around Paris.

With a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, street markets and food trucks in Paris, it is sometimes hard to narrow down to the few restaurants that you should without a doubt taste and see while in the City of Light.

So..where are you heading to? Let’s check out the following neighbourhoods. 😉

Bastille

Bastille, formally known as Bastille Saint-Antoine, a neighbourhood that played an undeniable role in the history of France. It has been used, for most of its existence, as a prison by the King of France. Though the original prison is now long gone, it still serves as a historical landmark, imbued with political symbolism for Parisians. Despite its dark past, Bastille has evolved into a neighbourhood lined with small private galleries for art lovers, grungy record stores for music lovers, and mouthwatering restaurants for foodies! Here are a few you have to try:

la-fee-verte

La Fée Verte

La Fée Verte (which means the Green Fairy) is a fascinating absinthe bar and café near the Bastille. In the day, it is a great place for a cup of coffee and lunch (think: burgers and beef bourguignon), at night it is the place to hang out and unwind with a drink. They have a great range of absinthe and it is still served in the traditional way, with a special absinthe spoon and cubes of sugar. Definitely a place to add to your list of must-visits.

This photo of Merci is courtesy of TripAdvisor

La Cantine Merci

La Cantine Merci, located in the trendy fairtrade concept store Merci, is all about healthy, balanced and nutritious lunches. Take your pick from their fresh and colourful salads, soup, risotto, vegetable tarts and much more. There is also a selection of vitamin-packed fruit cocktails – Merci does strike a good balance between plate and cup. Homemade deserts here are also delightful: “light” cheesecake and gluten-free chocolate sponge cake anyone? The dining space opens up into a garden, and the greens just brightens up the day, making it is a wonderful place to while the afternoon away.

used-book-cafe-merci

Used Books Cafe

An ideal place for a spot of coffee or afternoon tea (Darjeeling, sencha, herbal teas, you names it) where you will find yummy bites such as organic soft-boiled eggs and rosemary scones. You may also choose a book from the 10,000 books in their library collection. The chance of discovering a new story is part of the thrill of the hunt in this unique bookstore-themed cafe. The cafe is also connected to La Cantine Merci.

Montmartre

Montmartre, otherwise known as The Mountain of Martyrs, is a culturally rich neighbourhood with picturesque bohemian architect lining the streets. Being 130 metres high, Montmartre is known as the 2nd highest point in Paris besides the Eiffel tower. Primarily known for the white-dome Basilica of the Sacre- Coeur and as a nightclub district, there are several highly-acclaimed restaurants that you should add to your must-visit list when going to Montmartre.

Le Coq Rico

Le Coq Rico, also called the bistro of beautiful birds, as perhaps you can tell, known for its flavour infused and succulent roasted chicken. Antoine Westermann serves his gourmet poultry dishes in an elegant and polished white-walled space with sleek black marble-top banquettes. There are different birds to choose from on the menu — chickens of different breeds from the various provinces of France, duck and guinea fowl. It generally takes about 45 minutes of waiting time if you order the chicken, and it arrives sizzling and roasted to perfection. There are very tasty appetisers to fill the time until the main event (the roasted chicken) arrives, which includes the soft boiled egg served with salmon egg & sea weed butter finger bread, and duck liver roasted with poppy seeds crumb and served with arugula salad, green apple & chicken jus vinaigrette.

 

soul-kitchen-paris

Soul Kitchen

Tucked away on the corner of a street, upon entering Soul Kitchen, you are greeted with warm smiles and the whimsical interior design. You can tell almost immediately that there is good hospitality and food here just by looking at how so much attention is being paid to the decor of the cafe, such as the installation of paper butterflies, the vintage touch with old wine crates, a big bay window, trays overflowing with food, pretty coloured furniture and a huge chalkboard menu at the counter, giving the place a real homely atmosphere. It is helmed by three affable lady chefs who presents a selection of wholesome dishes from their ever-changing menu of homemade recipes prepared with organic local produce. A charming cafe with even more delicious food, Soul Kitchen is one place you would not want to miss.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the four administrative quarters and the quarter has a large number of bookstores, publishing houses and several famous cafes that you have to visit.

Les Deux Magots

The name of the restaurant is actually dervied from two chinese figurines. Founded in 1812 and later expanded to its current location, the two statues that adorn the cafe now stand as witnesses to that era. In 1885, the cafe started serving alcohol and acted as a hotspot for many intellectual elites such as Earnest Hemmingway, Arthur Rimbaud, and Paul Verlaine. Then in 1933 with creation of the Prix des Deux Magots, the cafe asserted its literacy vocation that lead to many famed artists to visit such, as Elsa Triolet, Louis Aragon, André Gide, Jean Giraudoux, Pablo Picasso, and others. As one of the oldest cafes in Paris, it attracts people from different background from the world of politics to the world of fashion, arts and literature and not forgetting you travelers as well.

City Crepes Cafe

If you come to Paris and do not eat a crepe, it will have been a wasted trip. At the City Crepes Cafe, you can build your own crepe or order one straight off the menu! If you are interested to find out where you can go to learn how to make other french pastries, you can check out this crepe making class with locals in their homes in Paris!

Boulangeries Paul

Looking for bite in Paris? Paul is the place to go! Serving your everyday Parisian pastries, baguettes and cakes that are price friendly and waiting for tourists like yourself to snap them up! After collecting your snack, head over to the banks of Seine or the Luxembourg Gardens and enjoy your breakfast or lunch with a view 😉

Pere Lachaise & Menilmontant

There are countless of ways in which you could possibly soak up the Parisian culture. One of them would be visiting the Pere Lachaise cemetery. This neighborhood is tucked away in a little-known stretch of Paris, protected from the hullabaloo of the city but at the same time close enough to all the major attractions, this is where you can get a taste of the real Paris.

Clint

Decorated with soft orange light, bright, clean wooden floors and tables with cushioned chairs, this cafe is designed to promote an intimate and cosy dining experience, as well as absolutely sublime brewed coffee. Your Parisian coffee-break should indeed be spent here. Clint is also known for its excellent service, where you will witness baristas and waiters coming up to you, talking to you and at the same time allowing for visitors to have their own private time, making tourists feel like a local in a foreign land.

L’ Artiste

Walking along the pavements of the 11th arrondissement and you will come across a restaurant that has colourful beach umbrellas and rattan chairs fanned out inviting you to come in to enjoy a cup of coffee. L’ Artiste offers a myraid of options at their brunch buffet, from croissants to chicken drumsticks! Everything that you could possibly hope for to eat during brunch. For tourists that cannot speak French, have no fear for the staff here at L’Artiste are fluent in english and service is fast and efficient.

La Bellevilloise

Imagine a huge warehouse, air-conditoned, with a transparent roof that allows light to pour in at any time of the day- now you should be picturing la Bellevilloise! There are huge trees planted around the warehouse, with their leaves out on display and the scent filling the warehouse mixed with the delicious mix of sweet and savoury food cooking in the kitchen. This unique place, the la Bellevilloise, used to be a building to house the capital’s first workers, but has since turned into a bar, restaurant, club, exhibition space and a place to host regular film and music festivals. Food, service, atmosphere and people, La Bellevilloise has got it all right.

Champ Elysses

Champ Elysses  is known for its theatres, cafés and luxury shops, and for the military parade that takes place each year on the avenue on 14 July to celebrate Bastille Day.

Cafe Kousmichoff

Cafe Kousmichoff is the famous house of tea that sells Kusmi tea, which are Russian-styled teas and tea blends. You can come here for an afternoon tea or coffee as they offer a wide range of Kusmi aromatic teas along with a selection of cakes. The design of the cafe invokes a sense of serenity and freshness, a good place for lunch, afternoon tea as well as dinner. When you eat you will be on the upper level and you can eat and sip your tea whilst peering out of the window and looking at people go by on the Champs Elysees!

11 Carpaccio – La Royal Monceau

A one Michelin-star Italian restaurant in Paris. Its design of beige curtains, tall glass windows and soothing coloured furniture gives off a Silician baroque style that opens onto a lovely glass conservatory drenched in light. The II Carpaccio celebrates the intricate flavours of mouth-watering and sophisticated dishes crafted from the freshest seasonal products, and the chef gives a very personal interpretation of traditional family recipes from many of Italy’s regions. Here tourists and travelers alike can eat and enjoy the Italian flavours.

Laduree

A French luxury bakery established in 1862. Laduree is known for its double decker macarons, of which fifteen thousand of them are sold everyday. You can also head down to the cafe and enjoy some snacks and afternoon high tea! Its light blue painted walls and classic design will take you back to that era, including all their cutlery and plates!

In addition to eating macarons and other lovely treats, you may also want to experience macaron making and learn about other French pastries with local home chefs, and take the Paris experience home with you.

Know of any other cafes in Paris that are unique and have great food? Leave a comment below! 🙂

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Top 5 Must-Try Food Trucks in Paris

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Top 5 Must-Try Food Trucks in Paris

Food trucks have never been popular in central Paris, however there has been an increased liking for such food. I believe it owes its success to the authentic, fresh and high-quality products that each food truck tries to offer to its consumers. Packed in a small truck, shouting across heads to get the order to the cook and most importantly how it is cooked freshly on the spot.

[PARIS-PASTRIES https://www.bonappetour.com/melody/cook-the-best-french-pastries]

Food trucks have been gaining so much traction that the Paris Authority agreed to allocate 40 food truck spots located in different arrondissements of Paris. With so many food trucks to try, here are some of the most famous food trucks in Paris that have amazing reviews and long queues to prove the quality of their food. 

1. Le Camion qui fume

In 2009, Californian Chef Kristin Fredrick went to a well-regarded French culinary school and after she graduated launched Le Camion qui fume, which was one of the food trucks that started off the trend across the globe of gourmet food truck burgers. You don’t need to see long winding lines of salivating Parisians to know that this is one of the best food trucks in Paris. The truck acts a nomad, travelling from spot to spot everyday, to places such as la Madeleine, Porte Maillot, Canal St-Martin, MK2 Bibliothèque, and in front of the Musée d’Orsay! Before you go looking for the truck be sure to confirm on their website and Facebook pages! 

2. Cantine California

Is anything worth standing up queuing for 40 minutes and paying €11 for? The short answer is definitely yes when it comes to Cantine California! They serve a slice of America on four wheels and the local Parisians are hungry for it!!! Catine California’s menus include burgers (we reccommend the unmissable Tex-Mex option!) and tacos. A bite into the juice-filled beef patty and buttered buns is sure to induce a foodgasm indeed. Of course, they not only excel in the department of mouthwatering food, but service as well. This cosmopolitan food truck team will serve you an ultimate spot-on, unforgettable experience. There are a just a few things to note:the long queues, waiting time as well as the little amount of standing tables for you to eat on! But take this opportunity to stroll around paris, for all you know you might find a hidden gem 😉 

3. Le Réfectoire 

Being in Paris, you should definitely want to soak in the Parisian culture. Le Réfectoire provides you with the opportunity to do just that. Burgers prepared by them are served with the most French flair in Paris. Their food includes typical French cheeses like comté, raclette, homemade mayo and grilled goat's cheese with honey to Frenchify your burger. Standing in line waiting for your turn to order your burger can be dehydrating to some and Le Refectoire  understands, so they have concocted a deliciously rehydrating drink called the ‘’rehab lemonade’’ to satisfy your needs! 

4. Classico Argentino 

A little piece of Argentina on wheels as they would call it. Serving you fresh ingredients straight out of a truck that goes beyond the simple ingredients of steak and ceviche and instead serve superior, delicious empanadas. Constantly in competition with tapas as a choice of snack in Paris, the Classico Argentina has come up with countless of creative ways to stay relevant and be one of the best food trucks! So you must try to decide for yourself! Tapas or Classico Argentino?  

5. Glaces Glazed 

Heard enough about savoury food trucks? Here is one that finally can satisfy your sweet tooth and offer an escape from the heat during summer! What makes this so special is that it does not just serve you the normal vanilla, chocolate, pistachio etc…if you want to try something new, this is the exact truck you should hunt down!! Flavours that will stun and wow your taste buds from the colour, the soft texture and even the names such as ‘Highway to Ale’ (flavoured with beer!) or even the ‘Black sugar Sex Magic’ which is a well-mixed sorbet made with dark chocolate, wasabi and ginger, and what better ice cream to try in the city of love than the ‘Tunnel of love’, infused with wood strawberries and topped with sancho berries, it's definitely a sight to see. They not only serve ice cream, they sell ice lollies too, with a more grown-up twist, such as absinthe and an apple liqueur flavour named ‘’Smells like Teen Spirit’’. All these unorthodox flavours and ice cream names are bound to instil some form of uncertainty, but give it a try! It's so popular for a reason! It's well blended, delicious and simple ice cream art that you’ve got to try! 

Thats all for now! If you have tried any other food trucks in Paris that I didn't mention above, leave a comment below! I would love to hear about them 🙂 

image credits: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8  

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