1. CARAMELS

I brought some home for friends and watched their eyes light up with uncontrollable joy as they slowly savored each morsel of caramel goodness.  If you have to pick only one place to do your caramel shopping, I would definitely choose Jacques Genin (get the natural caramel or the ginger caramel… both are amazing).

 

2. BORDIER BUTTER

Le Beurre Bordier will revolutionize your current standard of butter.  It will seriously blow your mind.  Bordier butter is amazingly super smooth and super rich in flavor.  You will literally eat loaves and loaves of bread just to eat more of this butter (especially when you add a sprinkle of fleur de sel).

 

3. BAGUETTE, PAIN AU CHOCOLAT, AND PASTRIES

Since coming home from Paris, I’ve yet to have a baguette or pastry that comes even remotely close to the ones I enjoyed while in the City of Light.  It’s sad really.  Kind of depressing just thinking about it…  Ask Asheley, I’ve actually been quite upset that I don’t have daily access to artisan boulangers and patisseries.  So while you are in Paris, take advantage of the superior breads and baked goods.  Find yourself a quality Artisan Boulanger (bread shop).

 

4. CHOCOLATE

There is no shortage of great chocolate in Paris.  You can read all about my chocolate experiences while in Paris here: The Best Paris Chocolatiers.  But if you twisted my arm and said I had to narrow it down, this is what you need to eat

 

 

5. CHEESE FROM LAURENT DUBOIS

Our cheese consultant was superb.  They had us try some different varieties to get a sense of what kinds of cheeses we liked, then they started making some recommendations based upon our needs/wants.  Want cheese to pair with a certain wine?  Or maybe to pair with certain foods?  Oh, and you want the cheese to be perfectly ripe for 3 days from now?  A week from now?  No problem for these experts!  For instance, we told him we wanted a nice variety of cheese for a get-together we would be having back home the following week.  He not only picked great cheeses based on what we tasted and liked, but he also found ones that were perfectly ripe and ready to eat when our party was taking place.