Shops that Make Paris a Special Place

The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, when not in East Hampton, lives In Paris between the "best things in Paris":

• the bread bakery Poilâne (8 rue du Cherche-Midi), 
• the cheese shop Fromagerie Barthélemy (51 rue de Grenelle),
• Bon Marché (38 rue de Sèvres), a huge specialty food store that's amazing. 
• Marianne Robic (39 rue de Babylone), a flower shop and 
• Favorite hotel is the Les Crayere's Hotel in Reims. (Fodor's)

Poilane Boulangerie Bread

Read on...

It's said that Poilane bread is the BEST sourdough bread ever....even the San Franciscan's can't beat it.  But you decide.  You can order this hearty, world famous bread and pay a hefty price or you can buy locally made French breads for less, but will it be as yummy?  I recently saw the Barefoot Contessa mention Poilane bread from Paris which sparked my interest in doing this post.  Must share all good things French too...

In 1932, a young baker from Normandy came to Paris to open his first shop. 

The bakery was located on 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi in the artsy Saint- Germain des Prés district.  Despite the fierce competition, he was determined to bake the traditional French sourdough loaves which were not as popular as baguettes. At the time, there were 5 bakeries on rue du cherche-midi. Today, there is only 1.  

Large round off-white crumb sourdough loaves are a traditional French bread. However, after World War II, the Parisians preferred white bread in opposition to the dark flour loaves they had to eat during the war. Nevertheless, Pierre Poilâne saw a dual advantage to his four pound loaves: they kept longer and could be cut into large slices. Thus, he continued to bake this bread using stone-ground flour, sea salt from Guérande and a wood-fired oven.

• Poilane French Toast recipe
• 
  
• 6 slices of Poilane’s sourdough bread
• 2 eggs
• ½ pint of milk
• Butter
• 
  
• Instructions

Beat the eggs and put them in a plate.  Soak the slices of bread in a plate containing the milk.  Then soak the slices in the egg mixture.  Melt butter in a pan and pan-fry the slices of bread until they are golden.  Top the baked slices with confectioner’s sugar (optional).

Fromagerie Barthelemy

 Very small wonderful cheese shop

Le Bon Marche Shopping Center

Marianne Robic and Les Crayeres 

This  flower shop (above left), is located across the street from the gardens of the Prime minister’s home, is absolutely stunning. The freshness of the flowers is matched by the diversity and originality of the arrangements. If you want to buy flowers at her shop on a Saturday, Robic advises that you come early so you don’t miss out on the variety.

Marianne Robic  39 Rue de Babylone75007 Paristel: 01.53.63.14.00; and

Ina Garten's lavish and beautiful favorite hotel in the town of Reims, France.