Experience a bit of daily life in my left bank neighborhood where I’ll introduce you to the award-winning food artisans and hidden gems that most visitors never find on their own. These walks are designed to be fun, interactive and informative in teaching you on location about French bread, cheese, chocolate and wine – including a lively wine bar that everyone from chefs, winemakers and journalists call their local canteen (including fan Anthony Bourdain).
For breakfast, we’ll visit a third generation artisan bakery to learn about his bread making techniques while eating a crusty hot baguette de tradition (straight from the oven!) and a sampling of the pastries that keep the residents lining up throughout the day.
Then we’ll see what produce and seafood is in season such as gorgeous thick white asparagus, bright pink spring strawberries and plump figs-apricots-peaches. If you truly love oysters, we’ll even slurp them straight out of their shells.
You’ll meet a rock star cheese affineur (cheese ager) who works with the best dairy farmers and cheese makers in the world to fill his gorgeous shop shelves with a staggering seasonal selection of cheese, farm butter, yogurt and eggs. With so many types and varieties of cheese, navigating a shop of this caliber on your own can be overwhelming – but no worries – you’ll become a cheese pro in no time. I’ll even teach you how to articulate which ones you like and don’t like so that you’ll be able to order from a cheese trolley in a restaurant or create your own cheese platter at home with confidence.
No food lover’s trip to Paris would be complete without sharing a glass of wine with the locals. We’ll head to my favorite wine-tapas bar to drink a glass of wine with other area residents who adore the place as much as I do for its casual and convivial ambiance – or – if you are interested in purchasing a delicious affordable bottle of wine, we can visit a favorite local wine shop to learn about small producers, natural and organic wines and which regions of France fit your “grape” personality so that you can shop for and order from a wine list with ease.
Dessert for the day will be with one of Paris’ most adored and playful chocolatiers – his unique and clever ideas take shape in edible works of art from sculptures, savory flavor profiles and grand cru chocolate bars. His chocolate window displays are legendary for making us laugh or think.
As with all my walks and visits, you’ll have an opportunity to eat, drink and shop for various French foods – but first and foremost these walks are informative cultural experiences created so that you come away with a deeper understanding of France’s food, culture and customs.
TOUR DETAILS:
Mornings: Tuesday, Wednesday + Friday at 10:00 am
Afternoons: Tuesday – Saturday 1:15 pm
Duration is 3 hours
Tours are private with a two person minimum and limited up to 4 people
Tours are 160e per person, tastings included
Exact meeting location details and transportation suggestions will be provided upon reservation
Walks are held rain or shine
MAKING A RESERVATION IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3:
1. Be sure that you are signing up for the correct day, month and year based on the tour dates before completing your reservation. This tour is available Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 10:00 am, and Tuesday – Saturday afternoons at 1:15 pm.
2. Click here to purchase reservations online and let me know which tour you are taking in the note section while registering.
3. You will receive an immediate confirmation at the email address you registered with – this confirmation provides all details related to your walk, along with a brief questionnaire so that I can know more about your tastes, preferences and allergies to tailor the walk as best I can!
CANCELLATION POLICY:
All reservations are nonrefundable. This includes late arrivals and no shows. Tours start promptly, and it is your responsibility to be on time at the correct location a few minutes early, especially if you are not familiar with Paris. For rescheduling a walk, at least seven days notice is needed. Although every effort will be made to reschedule, there is no guarantee that there will be space available.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Questions regarding allergies, children or physical fitness before reserving? You can find answers here on the FAQ page
