Tom Reeves at Discover Paris! has been a long-time participant of WanderFood Wednesday, so when I thought “who do I know in Paris who could recommend foodie experiences?” the team at Discover Paris! was at the top of my list. Check them out, and read on for their resident-Parisian perspective on 3 Places You Have to Go in Paris.
3 Places on Rue Mouffetard, One of Paris’ Colorful Market Streets
Rue Mouffetard is an ancient Roman road that wends its way from Place de la Contrescarpe down the southern slope of a hill called Montaigne Sainte-Geneviève. On the lower portion, between rue de l’Epée de Bois and rue Censier lies an outdoor market with open-air vendors selling fruits and vegetables and shops that specialize in everything from meat and fish to wine, cheese, bread, and chocolate.
It is a real pleasure to amble down this cobblestone street. Stop in at the Brûlerie des Ternes at number 111 and buy an espresso for only 1€. Stand at the tall tables on the sidewalk terrace to drink it and watch the locals and tourists stroll by. Life is unhurried here.
Just above rue de l’Epée de Bois at number 89 lies Mococha, a shop that sells fine chocolates from three master French chocolate-makers, Fabrice Gillotte, Jacques Bellanger, and Patrice Chapon. Every three months, proprietor Marie-Hélène Gantois features a fourth chocolate maker, giving chocolate aficionados the opportunity to taste unusual products. Last quarter she featured Frederic Marr, who produces chocolates from beans that have not been roasted and are not treated above 42° C. The process produces chocolate with surprisingly earthy flavors. Currently, Marie-Hélène features beautifully-decorated silky chocolates made by Alexandra Whisnant.
On the other side of rue Censier, at 5 rue de Bazeilles, stands La Table d’Orphée, a catering and take-out service and restaurant. At lunchtime the restaurant offers a three-course meal for only 16€, an extraordinarily low price considering the quality and quantity of the food served here. Co-proprietor and chef Alexis Chavance worked at a number of top-rated restaurants in France before he opened this one five years ago. La Table d’Orphée is open for lunch every day of the year except January 1 and May 1.
Heading to Paris? I love learning a city via walking tours and cooking classes, and Discover Paris offers both and more!
Discover Paris! has provided walking tours of the City of Light since 1999. Their monthly newsletter, Paris Insights, looks beyond stereotypes that many travelers hold about the city and presents lesser-known historical and cultural aspects that make the French capital such a fascinating place to visit.