Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
PATRICIA WELLS' CULINARY SHOPPING SECRETS
Cookery teacher and author of The Food Lover's Guide to Paris,American Patricia
Wells (
www.patriciawells.com
) has lived, cooked and shopped in Paris since 1980, and
is considered to have truly captured the soul of French cuisine.
WWhat is it th
y shoppiing? The tradition, the
quality, the quantity, the atmosphere and the physical beauty!
WWhere do y
t is it that m
t maakes P
s Paris s
is so w
o wondderful f
ul for c
r culin
ulinary sh
ekly groceriiess? All over: the Sunday organic market at
Rennes (
Marché Raspail
)
- I love the dried fruits and nuts;
Poilâne
for bread;
Quatre-
homme
for cheese; and
Poissonnerie du Bac
for fish.
WWhat ab
e do you b
u buy y
uy your w
ur weekly g
al? I shop regularly at Le Bon Marché's
La
Grande Épicerie de Paris
because it is right down the street from me. But for special
meals I always order things in advance and go from shop to shop -
La Maison du
Chocolat
and
Pierre Hermé
for chocolate and cakes, and
La Dernière Goutte
for wine.
That is the fun of Paris, and of France.
Your t
t about f
ut for a
r an e
n extraspecial g
ial gouurmet m
t meal?
ip? If you live in Paris, become a client fidèleso they reach in
the back and give you the best stuff. If you only go once in a while, just smile and be
friendly.
A p
ur top f
p food-sh
d-shoppiing t
g tip?
A perfect s
is?
Fragonard
, the perfume maker, has a great shop on bd
St-Germain. It has a changing litany of greatthings for the home, such as fabulous
vases with an Eiffel Tower theme, lovely embroidered napkins with a fish or vegetable
theme, great little spoons with a cake or pastry theme. Nothing is very expensive and
the offerings change every few months, so you have to pounce when you find
something you love. The gift wrapping in gorgeous Fragonard bags is worth it alone!
Interviewed by Nicola Williams
t souuvenir f
ir from P
m Paris?
DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
St-Germain's Carrefour de l'Odéon has a cluster of lively bars and cafes.
Rues de Buci, St-André des Arts and de l'Odéon enjoy a fair slice of night ac-
tion with arty cafes and busy pubs, while place St-Germain des Prés buzzes
with the pavement terraces of fabled literary cafes.
