A. Lerch Here they still prepare the famous flammenküche, which is becoming increasingly rare, even in Alsace. At 2 euros a slice, you’ll find no better version in Paris. As rustic and as crusty as they come, garnished with fresh cream and onions browned in butter, there’s no match for these... unless you’re in the mood for the delicious little homemade spicy breads displayed in the shop window (2 euros for 100g). When you’ve discovered the incomparable flavor of these cakes coated with a thin layer of icing, you’ll understand why they’re vital to all village festivities in Alsace. Wed-Sun 8am to 7:30pm, 4 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, 5e, M° Maubert-Mutualité, tel 01 43 26 15 80
La Maison du Miel Gracious sales assistants introduce you to more than 40 varieties of honey — at the best prices — in this gourmet boutique that’s a feast for the eye and palate. There’s also an impressive choice of gift boxes for all budgets (5-25 euros), proffering all kinds of delicacies, as well as honey-based skincare products. Mon-Sat 9am to 7pm, 24 rue Vignon, 9e, M° Madeleine, tel: 01 47 42 26 70
Pierre Oteiza A Basque in Paris... He’s proud of his region and quite rightly so, in view of the high quality of his products, including his tasty low fat Aldudes sausage, at 21 euros per kilo. There are also deliciously dry tommes de brebis (sheep’s cheese) at 18 euros per kilo, along with black cherry jam (4 euros) and excellently prepared dishes and preserves in jars, including classic garbures (a soup with diced vegetables and cabbage, combined with goose or duck) and piperades (a Basque favorite featuring tomatoes, pimentos and beaten eggs). Plus... less well-known specialties such as marmitaki and a tuna stew (9 euros for four). All of which should be accompanied by the traditional Irouléguy. Mon-Sat 10am to 8pm, 13 rue Vignon, 8e, M° Madeleine, tel: 01 47 42 23 03
Henri Ceccaldi — U Spuntinu Corsican shops are rare in Paris. Yet, at U Spuntinu, Henri Ceccaldi proudly offers no less than ten varieties of cheese from the Island of Beauty. Unfortunately, they’re rather expensive (24 euros per kilo) and sold only whole, or as a half. However, you can buy tomme de brebis at 21 euros per kilo or opt for prime quality charcuteries: such as coppa (ham) for 29 euros per kilo, which is just right — meaty and tender, neither too fat nor too dry. You’ll be welcomed like family. Mon-Fri 8am to 7:30pm, 21 rue des Mathurins, 9e, M° Havre-Caumartin , tel: 01 47 42 66 52
Les Papilles Gérard Katz and Pierre Martin welcome you to their grocery store/wine cellar and invite you, not simply to buy their products, but to taste them first. You’ll find more than 120 wines on sale, many of which come from small producers and rarely exceed 15 euros. There is also olive oil, honey, cheese, cold meat and country sausage for 22 euros per kilo, as well as jambon de cochon fruité maigre ardéchois (lean, fruity ham from the Ardèche) for 23 eyros. Open till 8:30pm for takeout. Mon-Sat 10:30am to9pm, 30 rue Gay-Lussac, 5e, RER Luxembourg, tel: 01 43 25 20 79.
La Campagne A visit to Michel Christy’s store is a gastronomic experience in itself. Offering everything from homemade cassoulets (a stew combining kidney beans, goose, duck, pork) to terrines, charcuteries from the Basque country (for instance, Ibaïona ham) and regional sausages... it also specializes in confits (meat preserved in its own fat), magrets (duck breast), boudins (blood sausages) from the Landes region and high quality foie gras.Tue-Sat 8:30am to 1pm & 4-8pm, Sun 8:30am to 1pm, 111 bd de Grenelle, 15e, M° La Motte-Picquet-Grenelle, tel: 01 47 34 77 05
Jean-Claude et Nanou Come and discover the best of the Auvergne region in this quaintly charming boutique. For more than three decades, Jean-Claude Clément, a trained butcher, has been providing his clients with salaisons (sausages, rosette and all kinds of ham cuts and dishes — notably ham and lentils), as well as cheese (Saint-Nectaire, tomme...). Tue-Sat 8:30am to 1pm, 4-8pm, Sun 8:30am to 1pm, 46 rue Legendre, 17e, M° Villiers, tel: 01 42 27 15 08
