boulangeries, patisseries, etc.

When people are asked to conjure up images of Paris, their attention is immediately focused on the Tour d’Eiffel, Champs d’Elysees, and handholding, beret clad couples along the Seine. For me, when I think of Paris, I think of boulangeries and patisseries. So it's only fitting that the summary of our 4-day trip to the French capital starts with food.

I’m not sure where my love of food stems from. I think my interest in baking started in junior high during home economics. I would repeat all recipes I learned in class at home. My interest in baking flourished into a passion when I moved into my first apartment when I started collecting kitchen gadgets and cookbooks. I'm sure my partner's love of all things sweet aided to the craze. Now, here in the UK, I have a cupboard devoted to my baking supplies, which includes 5 (!) different types of sugars.

While in Paris, our preferred mode of transportation was our two feet. This enabled us to explore all the little nooks and crannies. At times, we got a bit lost navigating the narrow streets but since we never had a final destination to get to, how lost can you truly really be? And, with a boulangerie on every street block, a safe -- and glorious smelling -- refuge can always be found. We satisfied our puffed pastry and butter quota by sampling a range of Parisian pastries, including pain aux raisins and chausson aux pommes. I may be the only person in the world who doesn't go head-over-heels for pain au chocolat.

Speaking of chocolate, we made our way to the shop of French chocolatier, Patrick Roger. After browsing his wide selection of chocolate, I felt so chic when I was walking on Boulevard Saint-Germain carrying my purchases in a slim turquoise bag.


We also made visits to two outdoor Parisian markets and brought fruit to go along with our lunch on most days. I only wished that I had a kitchen to work on while I was there so I could have bought more! Everything looked so colourful.






Armed with recommendations, a place that I had to visit was Pierre Hermé. Renowned for his macarons, this patisserie did not disappoint. We went there on Saturday evening and were surprised that we had to wait in line just to enter the store.


We picked out 4 multi-coloured macarons -- chocolate and caramel, salted caramel, milk chocolate and passion fruit, and rose -- to share on a nearby park bench. Each macaron, in turn, was more delicate and more delicious than the previous one. The flavours -- subtle and intense all at the same time -- were true to its description.


We enjoyed them so much that we queued outside the store the next day for another 4! If you're interested, we had coffee, green tea, white truffle and hazelnuts, and wasabi and grapefruit. The last flavour combination may sound odd but -- trust me -- amazing! Definitely one of the highlights of the trip!