| If there's one thing the French know how to do well, | | | | 'boulanger' (baker) and 'épicier' (grocer). Its |
| it's food. Food is more of an art (and for some, a | | | | culinary creations are inspired by simple, traditional |
| quasi religion) in France, and so I knew I would be | | | | French recipes. |
| remiss in my duties to readers of | | | | BE is housed in a smart, typically Parisian building |
| paris-eiffel-tower-news if I did not go and seek out | | | | located not too far from the Arc de Triomphe, and |
| Paris's finest gastronomic glories for you. Sampling the | | | | close to the Parc Monceau. This makes it an ideal |
| following is not an option - it's a must! | | | | spot for a take-away lunch near one of Paris's |
| In Part I, we discovered Paris's finest fromageries in | | | | loveliest green expanse. |
| Androuet's 5 Parisian cheese shops and real French | | | | On sale is a carefully selected range of fine products |
| bread at Poilane's. Now, we bring to you two more | | | | and a tempting selection of sandwiches, homemade |
| of those glorious Parisian gourmet food places. | | | | soups and fresh salads as well as pastries and |
| Lafayette Gourmet - a Riot of Tastes and Colors | | | | desserts, whether to take away or eat in (there is a |
| The Galeries Lafayette is one of the most | | | | seating area that takes about ten). |
| distinguished and famous shopping landmarks in Paris. | | | | On the grocery front, BE sells a range of gourmet |
| Their high-fashion displays and grand old-world | | | | goods (unusual spices, condiments, jams, chocolate, |
| architecture (including a very fine stained-glass dome) | | | | candy, pasta etc.), and a small selection of organic |
| make any shopping there a remarkable experience. I | | | | produce and dairy products. |
| have to admit though that I tend to spend most of | | | | On the bakery front, they sell Mr. Keyser's renowned |
| my time loitering around its breathtaking Gourmet | | | | breads, made on the premises, whether as a loaf to |
| food court. | | | | take home or in the mouth-watering array of |
| The food court is located on the top floor of the | | | | ready-made sandwiches. I had never actually tasted |
| Galeries, and is a veritable riot of tastes and colors. | | | | Keyser bread, and was genuinely surprised to find |
| There you'll find everything and more to tantalize the | | | | that it was far superior to almost anything I tried |
| dedicated gourmet: a bakery with a dizzying array of | | | | from other Parisian bakeries, including the famous |
| specialty breads and pastries (testament to France's | | | | Paujauran bread. |
| continuing love affair with baked goods of every | | | | The array of breads is carefully displayed; they are |
| description); a cheese counter with at least a hundred | | | | made from various combinations of high-quality |
| different varieties of cheese (both French and | | | | ingredients and are all at once tasty, crusty, fresh |
| imported); meats and seafood; a deli offering the | | | | and moist, a welcome break from the ubiquitous |
| very best specialty foodstuffs; and fruit and veggies | | | | mass-produced chewy white bread. |
| of every origin from all around the world -- all | | | | I was particularly intrigued by their concept of |
| products flawlessly fresh. | | | | 'Sandwich Brochettes', an assortment of |
| There is even a large section dedicated to every | | | | mini-sandwiches on skewers. After much deliberation, |
| spice imaginable. The luxury chocolate and candy | | | | I went for the 'Brochette Riviera', which was |
| displays are worth a prolonged visit. I usually stock up | | | | comprised of little buns of black olive bread filled with |
| here on all kinds of European chocolates when I'm in | | | | tapenade (olive paste) and slices of fresh goat |
| town as many brands can't be found in the US and all | | | | cheese; tomato buns filled with tomato 'caviar' and |
| of them are sold cheaper in Paris. | | | | basil turkey; and then basil buns filled with pesto and |
| To top things off, Lafayette Gourmet also boasts a | | | | sun-dried tomatoes. Wise choice. |
| 'wine library' unlike any other: 1,800 of the world's | | | | I washed down the lot with a bottle of Orezza, a |
| finest wines, classified and presented with enough | | | | sparking mineral water sourced from springs near |
| loving attention to satisfy demanding wine | | | | Rappagio in Corsica. I'd never tasted it before, and |
| connoisseurs. | | | | had expected to find the more common French |
| 40, boulevard Haussmann 75009 PARIS | | | | mineral water brands such as Chateldon and Badoit, |
| Metro: Chaussée d'Antin La Fayette | | | | but it was a pleasant surprise - Orezza has a fine |
| BE - Tasty and Classy | | | | flinty aftertaste and delicate levels of natural gas. |
| Boulangépicier, or 'BE' for short, is owned by | | | | Naturally, this 'designer food' isn't the cheapest: |
| two of Paris's most famed and respected chef and | | | | sandwiches start at 5 euros, and my Brochette |
| baker: Alain Ducasse and Eric Keyser, respectively. | | | | Riviera set me back 7.5 euros. But it was worth |
| BE's name and concept result of the fusion of | | | | every cent. |