Where to buy fresh ingredients in Paris for your Cooking?

Fresh chilies. Photo by Calum Lewis- Unsplash

Where to buy fresh ingredients in Paris for your Cooking?

It can be challenging to settle into a new city however, here at Discovery Walks, we like to make sure our visitors get the “locals-only” understanding as soon as they check into their own flats. Following that, we’ll discuss where to buy groceries in Paris. Today, we’d like to concentrate on where to buy food, especially the grocery store chains that can be found in any Paris neighborhood. Whether you prefer the traditional French way of life or the more “modern convenience” way of life, this list will come in handy during your trip to Paris!

Read more on; 10 Best Things to Know About Grocery Stores in Paris

1.Marché des Enfants Rouges

The name of this legendary market comes from the 16th-century orphanage that once stood on the premises; the red of the children’s clothes implied that they had been donated by Christian charities. Although the orphanage was closed prior to the revolution, the enforcing wooden building prevailed and was renovated as a luxury food market in 2000 following extensive local petitioning.

With its amazing array of Italian, Lebanese, African, Japanese, and other kiosks, the market is now a sort of tourism destination, capable of filling the emptiest of tummies (while unloading the utmost of wallets). If a quick takeaway meal isn’t enough, there are numerous handcrafted and organic food stalls to keep you busy for a few hours. One of Paris’s more ambient food markets.

practical information

ADDRESS:39 rue de Bretagne Paris 75003

2. La Maison Plisson

Stack of pancakes and fresh blueberries. Photo by Calum Lewis- Unsplash

Delphine Plisson, retired marketing director at French fashion brands Maje and Sandro, established La Maison Plisson, one of Paris’ greatest fine dining stores. The deli collaborates with local food suppliers and offers a highly selected selection of olive oil, sardines, chocolate, wine, cheese, saucisson, and other items. It first launched on Boulevard Beaumarchais and quickly gained a following among Parisians, prompting it to open a café in the Jardin des Tuileries, just feet away from Le Meurice. There’s also a boulangerie and a lovely choice of home and kitchenware.

practical information

ADDRESS: 93 boulevards Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris

3.Place de la Madeleine

Place de la Madeleine has been the go-to spot in Paris for specialized gourmet food for over a century. Fauchon, a gourmet grocer, and Hediard, a rival, both began here. Unfortunately, both of these gourmet monuments have closed due to the pandemic, changes in shopping habits, or company makeovers. Prunier, thankfully, is still alive.

Across the street from the former Fauchon location, Alfred Prunier, a 19th-century young man, opened his first oyster restaurant in 1872, quickly uncovering that his customers couldn’t get enough of the caviar he sold on the side. As a result, a new company was born.

To meet demand, his son Emile started cultivating sturgeon on the banks of the Dordogne river in 1918. (This is a good thing because importing Russian caviar into France has become a crime.) Today, you can taste a wide range of caviar at Prunier’s main floor tasting room, which features a glass-enclosed, refrigerated sampling booth. (Another location can be found on Avenue Victor Hugo on the 16th.) Prunier is also well-known for its smoked salmon and other seafood dishes. On the upper level, there is a very nice restaurant.

practical information

ADDRESS: 15 Place de la Madeleine AND 16 Avenue Victor Hugo, 16th Arrondissement

4.Épices & Saveurs

A range of different spices is displayed. Photo by Martijn Vonk- Unsplash

Despite the fact that it appears to be your typical Arabic épicerie (food shop), of which there are numerous in Paris, you can shop at Épices & Saveurs because it is well-stocked. The shop is spotless, and in addition to the standard selection of harissas, nuts, and dried fruits in bulk, olive oils and spices are available.

They have a small choice of fresh fruits and vegetables outside. There are also some enigmatic bergamots to be found (the true ones, which are different than the sweet lemons sold as bergamots in France). Fresh turmeric and small knobs of fresh ginger may also be found outside, as well as French shallots longues and oignons rosés (pink onions) from Roscoff, Brittany.

practical information

ADDRESS:2, avenue Parmentier (11th)

5. Biocoop

What started in the 1970s as a cooperative for purchasing organic foods has evolved into a chain of over 300 independently owned stores, 11 of which are located in Paris. According to their vision and mission, they prefer local, seasonal produce and every stop works directly with regional farmers. Avocados from South Africa and Kiwis from New Zealand are not available at Biocoop.

It’s a lovely shop with bread, pastries, a cheese and charcuterie counter, freshly prepared foods, local vegetables (along with some heirloom varieties), honey, a large choice of large buys, and a wellness and beauty area.

Also check out; Bargain shopping: The Best Flea Markets in Paris

practical information

ADDRESS:4 Av. Frédéric Estèbe, 31200 Toulouse, France, 32 All. Jean Jaurès, 31000 Toulouse, France, 44 Bd de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France,  301 Av. de Grande Bretagne, 31300 Toulouse and France, 10 Cr de l’Argonne

6.Marché d’Aligre

Marché d’Aligre, possibly the most crowded market in the city, is one of my picks for this list of the best food markets in Paris. Marché d’Aligre is sited in Paris’ international 12th district, making it an amazing combination of cultures. Although less well-known than the Marché des Enfants Rouges, this market attracts a large number of locals looking for fresh produce. Marché d’Aligre is the place to go if you want to save money on fresh food.

Prices are reasonable and the collection is larger and more multicultural than at most other food markets in Paris. I suggest going to the market in the early afternoon (around 1 p.m.) for the finest experience. Because the market is about to close, now is the time to bargain with the vendors and get some great deals!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: PLACE D’ALIGRE, 75012 PARIS

Book a tour with us: FLEA MARKET TOUR

7. La Fermette

La Fermette, located in the thriving Rue Montorgueil in the second arrondissement, is the place to go for all your cheese needs. Choose from a wide selection of French products, such as 12-month-aged comté, rounds of camembert and a wide range of goat cheeses. There are also high-quality saucisson, pickles, chutney, and jams to complement your meal. The helpful salesmen will also vacuum-pack your cheese for the trip home.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: 86 Rue Montorgueil, 75002 Paris, France

Book a food tour with us: FOOD & DRINK TOUR

8.La Grande Épicerie de Paris

La Grande Épicerie (the gourmand section of Le Bon Marché) can be found on rue de Sèvres and rue de Passy and stocks everything from truffle oil and champagne to cheese and chocolate, as well as a distinctive choice of taste and sweet relishes. Chapon chocolate (one of the few chocolate makers in France that roast its own cocoa), Charaix macarons, Mariage Frères teas, La Cour d’Orgères homemade jams, and Vérantis whole-bean coffee are all available. Discover the massive cellar with over 3,000 extraordinary bottles of wine and look for fresh produce.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: 38 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris

Create your own tour with us, book it here: CUSTOMISED TOUR

9.Marché International de Rungis

Tomatoes in Farmer’s market. Photo by Robert Kalinagil – Unsplash

The Marché International de Rungis, the world’s biggest wholesale food market, is located in Paris. This 232-hectare monster market meets all of your gastronomic requirements. Rungis, which was founded in the city center in the 10th century, had to relocate by 1969 due to the high demand for vendors. The existing market location is in the southern suburbs, which is slightly further away than the original location but freely obtainable by train or car.

Rungis is a favorite supply store for many Parisian chefs. And it’s no surprise: high-quality, organic products range from fruits and vegetables to fish, meat, dairy products and flowers. As a distributor, half of your sales are on-site and the other half are deliveries. The market even recycles its waste, using the incinerator’s energy to heat the market and the nearby Orly Airport.

Because Rungis is so large and sells mostly in bulk, there is no market for the casual stroller. Nonetheless, over 20,000 visitors come the market each year, making it one of the most popular professional destinations in France. The guided market trips begin at 4.30 a.m. and continue until 8 a.m., followed by a breakfast of the freshest market produce.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: 1 Rue de la Tour, 94150 Rungis, France

10.Picard

If you discover that Picard only sells frozen foods, don’t dismiss it right away. The taste is generally pretty good! The favorite aspect is that you can try easy-to-prepare and low-cost versions of French cuisines like confit de canard (duck confit). Try their Flammekueche, an Alsatian pizza-like, thin-crust, savory tart topped with gruyère, caramelized onions, and bacon. Make the most of your flat’s fully furnished kitchen by baking these frozen treats!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: 48 Rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75003 Paris, France, 195 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, France, 26-28 Rue de Clichy, 75009 Paris, France and 18 Av. Trudaine, 75009 Paris, France

11.Rue Montorgueil

The pedestrian friendly Rue Montorgueil is half market, half foodie paradise shopping street, teeming with flower vendors, rotisseries, tantalizing bakers and aromatic cheese shops. You could stop for a hot chocolate at Charles Chocolatier, a pastry at Stohrer (Paris’ oldest pastry shop, with a beautiful ceiling inside), strawberries from the fruit and veg stalls, shellfish from the fish market and handcrafted cider from a booze shop as you make your way down. For frequent pit stops, there are numerous tantalizing cafés stretched along the length of the street.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: Rue Montorgueil, 75001 Paris, France

12.Maison Verot

Since its inception in 1930, Maison Verot, founded by world famous expert charcutier Gilles Verot, has provided the best charcuterie in Paris. Pâté en croute, made of layers of pork, duck foie gras and ham, is one of the restaurant’s specialties. Pastrami, terrines, boudin noir (black pudding) and saucisse sèche are among the other delights available (dried sausage). Items change with the seasons and traditional foods range from pot au feu and vegetables to shepherd’s pie.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: 38 rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, 3 Rue Notre Dame des Champs, 75006 Paris, France, 7 Rue Lecourbe, 75015 Paris, France, 35 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France and 51 Rue Tête d’Or, 69006 Lyon, France

13.Grand Épicerie

Before supermarket chains became prevalent, the opening of a food counter at Le Bon Marché, Paris’s first department store, revolutionized the industry completely. They rapidly grew into a second building and presently, the Grand Épicerie is a foodie’s paradise. All of the French cuisines, produce from around the world, food counters where you can grab a bite and other amenities are available.

So, whether you tend to favor a steady pace by shopping at open-air markets and specific shops, or you would like the convenience of supermarkets, you now know where to buy groceries in Paris. Prepare to stock your Paris Perfect apartment fridge with a variety of fresh foods!

Read more on; A useful guide to supermarkets, grocery shopping, and food markets when visiting Paris

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS:38 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris, France

14. Marché Dejean

The Marché Dejean in the 18th arrondissement’s Goutte d’Or neighborhood is the place to go for tilapia and manioc, or just to get a taste of Paris’ West African community. Market vendors, butcher shops, beauty salons and cafés crowd the small sidewalks, filling it with exotic aromas and colors.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: Rue Dejean, 18eParis

15.Causses

Causses, located in the trendy SoPi (South Pigalle) neighborhood, is where the popular kids go to get their grocery items. They have a lovely selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as eclectic seasonings and dressings, coffee beans, glazed fruit, cheese biscuits, and over 50 French wines. If you want something to go, they have freshly made salads, soup, and sandwiches, as well as interesting juice combinations like radish, turnip, strawberry, and apple.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

ADDRESS: 55 Rue Notre Dame de Lorette, 75009 Paris, France

These are the best food tours in Paris.