I love hearing from you about your experiences at markets. I’ve received emails where I could practically hear the jubilant cries of travelers who sought out flea markets (“I got two awesome vintage purses and a vintage rosary…at great prices. And my husband found a great…
Mention shopping at the fun markets in Paris and what usually springs to mind is ambling among stalls under a leafy canopy of sycamores or chestnut trees. True enough, many of the best food and flea and craft markets extend several city blocks on sidewalks or median strips….
Markets in Paris can be sorted into two broad groups: food and non-food. This post describes different kinds of food markets you can find in Paris. Other posts delve into a variety of other classic Parisian markets, such as flea markets, brocantes, and more. A few…
The picturesque booksellers–les bouquinistes–along the Seine seem familiar even when laying eyes upon them for the first time. No wonder since many movies show them to establish Paris as a setting. They are also an iconic image on local postcards, second only to Notre Dame or…
What’s 125 years old and still going strong? Which shellfish feast doesn’t include lobster or beer and yet still ranks as one of the best anywhere, ever? Where do “cranky Yankees” (as I saw on a bumper sticker) shell out $50 per ticket and leave…
Text & photos by Debbie Gabriel. One of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris is in the Marais along rue de Bretagne. The Marais is known as the Jewish quarter. Its main artery, rue des Rosiers, is lined with delis and falafel stands. But its northern…
One need not look far to find gourmet foods in Paris. A couple places, however, stand out for their extraordinary selection and quality. Two food emporiums tower above the rest: La Grande Épicerie and Lafayette Gourmet. Spreading the bounty on each side of the Seine,…
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, made her first official solo visit to Paris and among her stops was Marché Raspail. She tasted charcuterie, bought berets and scarves, and was presented with a copy of Markets of Paris, 2nd ed. (Thank you, Pascal Bensidoun.) Camilla’s summary of her…
Text & photos by Brian Pfeiffer. Versailles is one of the wonders of the world and has been for nearly 350 years – and it’s not just the chateau and gardens which were planned to serve Europe’s most magnificent court during the seventeenth and eighteenth…
Spring’s triumphant arrival in Paris is evident not only by the tulips blooming in the Tuileries but also by the brocantes popping up all over the city. Brocantes are temporary, pop-up flea markets. The dealers are like a band of gypsies who rove the brocante…
Someone recently asked why I bother to shop at farmer’s markets. The question took me by surprise. The answer seemed obvious, and yet I burbled on incoherently. Afterwards I sat down to give it more thought. Here are the top reasons why I shop at…
News reports about customers losing interest in “fresh” produce at big-box stores doesn’t come as a big surprise. Any food that’s been in transit for days and then left languishing on shelves, is going to suffer. Not only freshness and flavor are at stake, but…
During one of the interviews that I did with Rick Steves for his NPR radio show “Travel with Rick Steves,” we fielded a question from a woman who was planning a trip to Paris for herself and her 15-year-old daughter. She wanted to choose activities…
Paris is known as the City of Light but its nickname could as convincingly be the City of Love. Lovers entangle themselves in the parks, along the sidewalks, and behind not always clasped shades. The architecture, sculpture, fashion, food, wine, and even the weather and…
My worst memory of truffles hasn’t faded. I was traveling in Italy and bought a bottle of truffle oil as a gift for a friend who loves to cook. An expensive gift, but she’s worth it. I wrapped the bottle inside several layers of clothing…
There are a handful of winter market options in New England, but nothing (yet) that compares to what’s available in Parisian markets all year round. Even during the shortest and coldest days of the year, food markets in Paris overflow with fresh produce, cheeses, meats,…
I’m recently back from several weeks in France. I gave presentations at the American Library in Paris, the Bloom Where You’re Planted Program (held annually at the American Church), and the American Embassy in Paris. Shakespeare and Company hosted a book signing. At each event,…
I’ve been curious about how Thanksgiving is celebrated in Paris. Of course I understand it’s not a French holiday, but for Americans there it surely has significance. So, how does one manage to recreate a quintessentially American meal when living in Paris? Is it even…
I’m recently back from a trip to France. As usual, I visited as many markets as I could fit into my itinerary. I arrived early to some, late to others. In each instance, I was reminded of how important timing is to having a good…
