Thanks for the tips. This week, chef Dolce Debbie and I made a run to A.Simon, G. Detou, and Mora. Scored a 90mm x 200mm pastry ring (the 90mm ones are difficult to find here in Italy) at Mora, real vanilla extract with bits of beans, and a nice looking tube of vanilla beans at G. Detou, and some other stuff at A. Simon. One curiosity was that many, many of the items at Mora are made in Italy, but here in Italy are nearly impossible to find (well, at least in Liguria). And even the Auchan in Nice doesn't have vanilla extract (only aroma de vanille). So, we're good to go for a month or so. Mille merci.
I always make a trip to G. Detou when I’m in Paris and the new floor design is so much better (and the checkout process). Usually, I buy more from the “savory” side, though, which is never as busy. You can’t beat the big pouches of dried espelette pepper, bags of longue pepper (which is almost impossible to find in the states), or the little jars of truffle paste. On the “sweet” side, I stock up on violette aroma and candied petals. Such a great store!
What a fabulous place!! We bought quite a few goodies to take back to the UK. We live about 40km north of London. We bought several things that if you can get them at all in the UK would be fantastically expensive. If I lived in Paris I’d be in this shop all the time.
I bought most of my knives at A Simon's in 1998, I got a nice student discount while attending Le Cordon Bleu. Everytime in Paris, I would make the tour from Dehillern, to Simon, to Detou, and finish with Mora. Stuff dreams are made of.
But, frequently I would tire and need to rest at Les Cloches des Halles. Sadly, since changing hands it does pour St, Joseph by the glass nor appears to still have the superb onion tart.
Are you aware of a reputable shipper who will care for getting your larger purchases back to the USA?
Must vsit again. It has been years. Also - Pruneaux d’Agen fourrés are simply one of the culinary and confectionary wonders of the world. I did not discover them until 2013 when staying near Mme Acabo's wonderful shop À l'Etoile d'Or in the 9eme. Sadly no longer open. Since then we have become regular visitors to the SW and enjoy the prune stuffed prunes of Gascony at our leisure. Thank you for the reminder
Bonjour David, Fortunately, here in Carmel Valley, we have a grocery store owned by a French chef.
He carries many of the items you wrote about. French chocolates, wines, mustards, boudins croissants, pain de Mie and a local yogurt which tastes just like French yogurt. I thought I would never taste that again. Reading your subscribers comments I feel very lucky to be able to source wonderful French food products here at home. Glad the remodel is fini !!! Bonne journee.
Not sure where to post this--it's related to a super-summer-y recipe that you posted 10 years ago (with comments closed), which I am about to make right now: corn cakes.
Ingredients include "2 cups (2kernels, 300g) ears of fresh corn"
If 2 kernels weigh 300g, I don't want to see the whole cob! I assume it should have said something like this: 2 cups (300g) kernels from 2 ears of fresh corn
David, your recipes remain available and invaluable--worth fixing? Merci!
Oooo, that shop looks dreamy! Please do try the whole bean chocolate, I'm dying to know what it's like. And while you're at it, check out the eglantine syrup--I only know that name from Shakespeare: " I know a bank . . . quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, with sweet musk-roses and with eglantine" so it must taste quite magical!
The world needs more pros like you David: someone who knows the city and country, fluent in the language, writes well, trained chef, not mean or snarky, and funny.
Boy, I would think I had died and gone to heaven being in that shop. We don’t even have a decent delicatessen in the area that I live, I don’t have a clue as to why the best one we did have closed, but I am sure Covid and lockdowns had a lot to do with it. The only negative would be is that my credit card bill could possibly double! My grandchildren already think my pantry looks like a Supermarket, and like you occasionally I have a clean out, which I did recently and found a bottle of Chicory Essence dated 2002.
Another essay - you are tops in 'choice of items' to describe, whether it be kitchen hardware, kitchen tools, and/ or a variety of food items. Love all of it David. I am learning. I am changing my menus. I am having FUN doing it!
I took a double take on the "prune stuffed prunes"! That's alot of prune! My partner loves prunes so I thought this would be a great anniversary gift. After extensive searching for a company that would ship to the states(most in the states were out of stock) I finally found a Canadian company that would ship. https://doucefrance.ca/ I can't wait to try them!
Thanks for the tips. This week, chef Dolce Debbie and I made a run to A.Simon, G. Detou, and Mora. Scored a 90mm x 200mm pastry ring (the 90mm ones are difficult to find here in Italy) at Mora, real vanilla extract with bits of beans, and a nice looking tube of vanilla beans at G. Detou, and some other stuff at A. Simon. One curiosity was that many, many of the items at Mora are made in Italy, but here in Italy are nearly impossible to find (well, at least in Liguria). And even the Auchan in Nice doesn't have vanilla extract (only aroma de vanille). So, we're good to go for a month or so. Mille merci.
I always make a trip to G. Detou when I’m in Paris and the new floor design is so much better (and the checkout process). Usually, I buy more from the “savory” side, though, which is never as busy. You can’t beat the big pouches of dried espelette pepper, bags of longue pepper (which is almost impossible to find in the states), or the little jars of truffle paste. On the “sweet” side, I stock up on violette aroma and candied petals. Such a great store!
What a fabulous place!! We bought quite a few goodies to take back to the UK. We live about 40km north of London. We bought several things that if you can get them at all in the UK would be fantastically expensive. If I lived in Paris I’d be in this shop all the time.
Will go in next 2 days. Went to A. Simon today - awesome - then lunch at Kubri - outstanding. Thanks!
I bought most of my knives at A Simon's in 1998, I got a nice student discount while attending Le Cordon Bleu. Everytime in Paris, I would make the tour from Dehillern, to Simon, to Detou, and finish with Mora. Stuff dreams are made of.
But, frequently I would tire and need to rest at Les Cloches des Halles. Sadly, since changing hands it does pour St, Joseph by the glass nor appears to still have the superb onion tart.
Are you aware of a reputable shipper who will care for getting your larger purchases back to the USA?
Must vsit again. It has been years. Also - Pruneaux d’Agen fourrés are simply one of the culinary and confectionary wonders of the world. I did not discover them until 2013 when staying near Mme Acabo's wonderful shop À l'Etoile d'Or in the 9eme. Sadly no longer open. Since then we have become regular visitors to the SW and enjoy the prune stuffed prunes of Gascony at our leisure. Thank you for the reminder
My sister and I happened upon the store today. It was as wonderful as you said!
Love your articles and photos! I so enjoy visiting Paris virtually!
Bonjour David, Fortunately, here in Carmel Valley, we have a grocery store owned by a French chef.
He carries many of the items you wrote about. French chocolates, wines, mustards, boudins croissants, pain de Mie and a local yogurt which tastes just like French yogurt. I thought I would never taste that again. Reading your subscribers comments I feel very lucky to be able to source wonderful French food products here at home. Glad the remodel is fini !!! Bonne journee.
Vanilla beans, wow. All I've ever seen have been seriously dehydrated, sad, sere little things. And pistachio butter? I hope you have some.
Not sure where to post this--it's related to a super-summer-y recipe that you posted 10 years ago (with comments closed), which I am about to make right now: corn cakes.
https://www.davidlebovitz.com/fresh-corn-cakes-recipe/
Ingredients include "2 cups (2kernels, 300g) ears of fresh corn"
If 2 kernels weigh 300g, I don't want to see the whole cob! I assume it should have said something like this: 2 cups (300g) kernels from 2 ears of fresh corn
David, your recipes remain available and invaluable--worth fixing? Merci!
Oooo, that shop looks dreamy! Please do try the whole bean chocolate, I'm dying to know what it's like. And while you're at it, check out the eglantine syrup--I only know that name from Shakespeare: " I know a bank . . . quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, with sweet musk-roses and with eglantine" so it must taste quite magical!
The world needs more pros like you David: someone who knows the city and country, fluent in the language, writes well, trained chef, not mean or snarky, and funny.
Boy, I would think I had died and gone to heaven being in that shop. We don’t even have a decent delicatessen in the area that I live, I don’t have a clue as to why the best one we did have closed, but I am sure Covid and lockdowns had a lot to do with it. The only negative would be is that my credit card bill could possibly double! My grandchildren already think my pantry looks like a Supermarket, and like you occasionally I have a clean out, which I did recently and found a bottle of Chicory Essence dated 2002.
Another essay - you are tops in 'choice of items' to describe, whether it be kitchen hardware, kitchen tools, and/ or a variety of food items. Love all of it David. I am learning. I am changing my menus. I am having FUN doing it!
I took a double take on the "prune stuffed prunes"! That's alot of prune! My partner loves prunes so I thought this would be a great anniversary gift. After extensive searching for a company that would ship to the states(most in the states were out of stock) I finally found a Canadian company that would ship. https://doucefrance.ca/ I can't wait to try them!