Gourmet Food Markets
of Paris

Unravel the wonder of
gourmet food in Paris!

Gourmet Food Markets of Paris. Gourmet food markets are found throughout the city and even in the quiet suburbs.

There is still a connection in the minds of the French between food and where it comes from, and you see this in the gourmet food markets throughout Paris. All the food is labelled with quality, AOC and origin.

Even the signs at the fish stalls indicate where the fish is from (what ocean or sea and what part of it) and how it was caught: line-caught being the preferred method.

We had a chance to delve deep into one of the gourmet food markets, the covered market at Puteaux with a food and market expert. In this excerpt from our book, you'll discover the secrets and intricacies of French food —

Here's an Excerpt about gourmet food markets
from our book —

How to Cook Bouillabaisse in 37 Easy Steps :

Culinary Adventures in Paris and Provence

Chapter 19: Paris Markets

Paris Markets

The scent of roasting chicken wafts towards us as we near the market. Among the scattering of outdoor stalls are the roasters found at every market in France, filled with a variety of large and small birds, pressed pork, and roasted potatoes…

…"What are the four types of cheese?" she asks us. We guess more or less correctly – hard, soft, goat, and blue cheeses. She points out examples of each and explains their origins and launches into a detailed description of the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée system (controlled designation of origin, or AOC)...

"The system dates back to the 15th century," she tells us. "Champagne and Roquefort are two AOCs you probably recognize." The system… was created to ensure the source and the method of production of various foods, including cheese, meat and wine. Even lentils have an AOC,the best coming from Le Puy…

"Look at the signs… In France vendors identify where the produce is grown, not only the country but the region, and will rate the quality. Extra means best quality: no bruising, no spots, perfect. Catégorie 1 means good quality with little bruising. Catégorie 2 is everything else, still good product, but perhaps suitable for cooking or preserving. The fruit here is all Extra and Catégorie 1."

Aha, the signs that I've usually ignored actually contain vital information about the source and quality: the apricots are from the Drome, haricots verts from Kenya, the tomatoes from Bergerac. It's all about the terroir…

Order our award-winning book online and

get free shipping!

How to Cook Bouillabaisse in 37 Easy Steps : Culinary Adventures in Paris and Provence recently won the prestigious Paris Gourmand Cookbook Award for Best French Cuisine Book in North America!

We're still so excited by the awards ceremony in Paris that we're offering free shipping on the book!

Order online and make your payment with PayPal, the safest and most secure online payment service. Pay with a credit card or a debit card (in the US) with peace of mind.

Order now with free shipping, before we come to our senses!