In this 2.5 hour Paris food tour led by a local chef or food writer, we will stroll the charming streets of St.-Germain-des-Pres and the Left Bank, explore the culinary culture of Paris. Our guide will introduce the basics of French cuisine while we meet the owners of tiny food shops, taste artisanal products, and enliven our senses to the amazing culinary traditions for which France has known the world over. This is a gustatory adventure not to be missed! 

• Taste and discover French culinary traditions and philosophies.
• Accompanied by a professional chef or food writer.
• Small-group tour—no more than 6 people.
• Takes place in St. Germain 

Taste of St Germain

Traveling through the chic Saint Germain des Pres neighborhood, our walk visits a select group of specialty food shops our docents have evaluated for their exceptional, artisanal wares. Once the home of the intellectual café culture of the 1950s, this upscale quartier is now known for its high-end shopping, beautiful boulevards, and most importantly, the gourmet food shops—some of which have been in the area for generations. Our culinary experts will lead us through the best of the best—tailored to their particular specialties and relationships with shopkeepers. Thus, our exact presentation and tour of shops will vary depending on the docent and group, creating a unique experience.

Bon Appétit - Paris Food Tour

With so many aspects of French cuisine to choose from, we begin by grounding ourselves with two Parisian staples: bread and cheese. Rarely missing from a French table, we learn that these items have an impact on both France's culinary and cultural identity. As such, we may open the walk with a visit to one of the best boulangerie to discover what defines a good baguette and its importance on the Parisian table, followed by a stop into an artisanal fromagerie to learn about some of France's nearly 400 types of cheese (and the various ways to correctly slice them). Aided by a variety of tastings, learning about the seasonality and aging process of French cheese is yet another delicious chapter of this edible cultural exchange.

Following our introduction to the basics, we'll delve deeper into French specialties, potentially paying visits to the butcher to tempt our palates with foie gras, homemade rillettes, or this season's wild game. We might then sample a succulent chocolate made of roasted Equatorial cocoa beans, peer through the windows of the traiteur once responsible for Versailles's elegant fare, or even pop into the pâtissierie of our dreams. Our Epicurious journey may come to a close with a glass of Armagnac in a wine shop passed from generation to generation since 1905.

Understanding the French Diet

Along the way, we will examine how all of these products fit into the French diet, as well as other culinary traditions and philosophies. We may discuss how this legacy of culinary excellence has evolved into today's dining trends, discovering the differences between a brasserie, bistro, and restaurant, or simply focus on the French emphasis on dining ensemble. As we finish, we should have an excellent foundation in the cornerstones of French gastronomy and be better prepared to further discover French food during our stay and beyond.