Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

Food in Paris

Place de la Madeleine has the smallest market in Paris. I think it's on Tuesdays. There are also loads of overly-flash food boutiques on the square that are worth going in to drool. And to feel poor.
The very best market in paris, according to my gourmand parisian grandfather, is Grenelle, in the 15th, metro; La Motte Piquet Grenelle. It's awesome, it's under the "metro aerien" (elevated metro) line which makes for a weird setting and has probably got the finest selection of food I have ever witnessed. I've only ever been on Sundays, but it appears to be held on wednesdays as well. Although I can't vouch for the stalls, I imagine they'll be similar.
 
When you happen to be near Galleries Lafayette ( big department store ) enter and make your way all the way to the top . You can go onto the roof where you have a great view all over Paris ...... for free !!!! (not many tourists know this!)

:cool:
 
Yeah! Good tip. The Galleries are really impressive inside- there's a magnificent dome in the middle, it's hard to describe but worth seeing if you're in the vicinity.
 
BlackSpecs said:
When you happen to be near Galleries Lafayette ( big department store ) enter and make your way all the way to the top . You can go onto the roof where you have a great view all over Paris ...... for free !!!! (not many tourists know this!)

:cool:
Click to expand...

Thanks, great tip!
 
mae said:
Oh according to that list the bastille one is also on thursdays. Basically all of the markets are good as far as I can tell... There's a very cute permanent one in the 3rd, marché des enfants rouges I think, which has lovely carribean food as well as all the usual stuff.
Click to expand...

Sorry Mae, I should have clicked on the link before asking. I think Opera is in the 9th arrondisment.
 
Also make sure once it's dark you visit the Trocadero ( metro lines 6 or 9 , stop Trocadero )

It's by the Eiffel Tower - which when dark sparkels every half an hour . IMO it's one of the most romantic things you can do in Paris ......

 
I have now booked Le Procope online and located Galleries Lafayette on my pop-out map. The Eiffel tower has a light show? Who knew.
 
Excellent, ta. Our hotel seems very convenient for everything, right next to the Place de la Madeleine.

Now I need to practice - "Nous sommes en vacances des noces" - oui?
 
Ah, the one on Rue Royale's probably nearer then. Hmmm speaking French to Parisiens, good luck with that :D
 
Another amusing thing is wherever you see beef on the menu it will be followed by either (France), (Germany) or (Netherlands).

My guess is that is due to the end of the formal EU ban on British beef, but they still wouldn't dream of eating it. Who can blame them.
 
missfran - my experience has been that they'll either (a) reply back in very rapid French which you won't be able to follow let alone reply to; or (b) reply back in English; or (c) pretend they don't understand.

I'm a bit cynical mind :o

Different in other parts of France, seems a local phenomenon.

*waits* :D
 
missfran said:
So far a friend has reccommended La Tourelle, which sounds right up my street:
Click to expand...

I think I've been there, I liked it and took a card so I would not forget where it was.

I took a few cards for the places I liked, too many tourist bullshit places everywhere so I am always careful not to forget the good ones.
 
cesare said:
missfran - my experience has been that they'll either (a) reply back in very rapid French which you won't be able to follow let alone reply to; or (b) reply back in English; or (c) pretend they don't understand.

I'm a bit cynical mind :o

Different in other parts of France, seems a local phenomenon.

*waits* :D
Click to expand...

Well, those three responses to a non-native speaker seem reasonable given that they may have been either been (a) understood perfectly well and assumed to have a decent command of the language; (b) not understood so the English speaking French person decides to help them out; (c) not understood and the French person doesn't speak English so an impasse is reached.

How often do Londoners politely go out of their way to assist non-English speaking people?

I find it a bit tiresome to suggest that Parisians are in any way ruder than any other people in capital cities anywhere in Europe. I can't say I've ever had a problem being understood (even when my French wasn't so good), particularly in restaurants, where the obsession with food incorporates service. Yes, it may be brusque and to the point, never obsequious or ingratiating, but the job is 9/10 done efficiently. I have, obviously, encountered the odd tosser, but that is only to be expected.
 
Indeed...no ruder than Londoners! If you make an effort in bad French they're more open than if you try speaking English very slowly and patronise them.
 
About the subject of foreigners not speaking English. I found it quite annoying that Sebastien Coe recently had a grumble about the Chinese torch attendants not speaking English. I think it's a bit arrogant of him to assume that everyone should speak English. I reckon he doesn't speak any Chinese.

Anyway back to the thread in question, Miss Fran, I think it's great that you will try to speak French whilst you are there. Definitely worth the effort. People generally appreciate it when you make an effort to speak their language.

I see that you have made your booking for Le Procope. Good choice. You wont be disappointed. I hope not anyway. I've been there a few times and have enjoyed each ocasion.
 
Tip for bars - drink what the French do, ie glasses of wine, or pastis. Refreshing and cheap. If you insist on being a British beer monster, you'll be entering the world of the nine euro "pint" of Kronenborg piss.
 
editor said:
If you're veggie, forget it. I've had some of the worst veggie food ever in Parisian restaurants.

The bread, cheese and wine, on the other hand, is
chef_says_okay.png
Click to expand...

i went for chinese style veggie restaurant in paris.
note to all veggies who fancy visiting paris:
it's called green garden by rue nationale.
 
HackneyE9 said:
Tip for bars - drink what the French do, ie glasses of wine, or pastis. Refreshing and cheap. If you insist on being a British beer monster, you'll be entering the world of the nine euro "pint" of Kronenborg piss.
Click to expand...

Not strictly true as there are some cafes/bars that serve very good French beer (and cider). Rather shockingly the French drink beer and cider too. Who'da thunk it? Wine is generally (but not strictly) an accompaniment for food. Pastis is just an aperitif. The 250ml 'demi' is standard in most of Europe. If you've been paying nine euros for it you've been going to the tourist rip-off joints.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Numbers
Disneyland Paris - anyone been?
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
tommers
tommers
hash tag
Paris caberet
Replies
3
Views
228
Numbers
Numbers
R
3 days in Uga, Lanzarote, in August
Replies
19
Views
378
rutabowa
R
telbert
4/5 days in Paris
Replies
20
Views
859
AnnO'Neemus
A
klang
2 weeks in a camper around the uk
Replies
25
Views
1K
dessiato
dessiato
Back
Top Bottom