FAMOUS PARIS FOODS

1. Breads: Croissant, Baguette, Pain Au Chocolat

Baguettes, Croissants, and Pain au Chocolat are to France what Hamburgers and Pizzas are to the USA — talk about clichés associated with the regions.

For the uninitiated, Baguettes are long, thin loaves of bread that are a staple in France while Croissants are flaky, buttery, layered viennoiseries made from yeast-leavened dough with additional ingredients.

On the other hand, Pain au Chocolat (also known as chocolatine or bread with chocolate), is a sweet viennoiserie that is somehow similar to croissants but with pieces of chocolate in it.

2. Crêpes

Crêpes are probably the best French street food in Paris, and you will find crêperies and street stands serving crêpes around most street corners of Paris.

You can opt for the sweet kind like the classic Nutella crêpe, the indulgent crêpe beurre-sucre (butter & sugar), or the savory variety like a ham and cheese crêpe.

-Some of the best crêperies you can go to for the best crêpes include; Breizh Café in Marais, Little Breizh in the 6th arrondissement, La Crêperie and many others

3.Soupe À L’Oignon (Onion Soup)

Onion soup is made by mixing beef or chicken broth with caramelized onions and melted Gruyère cheese. It is then served with a side of crunchy croutons, French bread, or baguette.

Luckily, you can find this French comfort food in a number of restaurants with varying prices but it’s generally affordable.

Some of the classic places to have this soup are Bistrot des Vosges in the 4th arrondissement, Le Cinq in the 8th, La Poule au Pot in the 1st, Au Pied de Cochon in the 1st and so many others,

4.Croque Monsieur & Croque Madame

Croque Monsieur is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with melted cheese or béchamel sauce on top, while Croque Madame has all the above plus a fried egg on top.

The sandwich bread used to make these is the pain de mie (the sliced white kind) with a Paris ham.

You have the option of trying it pan-fried or baked, and you’ll find both these variants in most cafés in Paris.

5.Quiche

Quiche is a popular French pie constituting a pastry crust filled with eggs, cream, bacon, cheese, and onion, with optional additions of mushrooms or seafood.

Served by cutting it into slices, you can have it either warm or cold.

The two most ordered varieties of quiche are Quiche Lorraine and Quiche Florentine. While the former includes bacon in the filling, the latter is a vegetarian variation with spinach and cheese.

6.OYSTERS

Despite being far from the sea, oysters (huîtres) is a popular food to eat in Paris. Parisians love to eat oysters, especially if they are washed down with a glass of good white wine!

There’s a specific way to eat oysters and also a specific time. You open the oyster, put some drops of lemon on it, and eat it right from its shell. Also, oysters are in season during any month that has an R in it in French (September-April), but you start having the best oysters from October.

You can find the best oysters in Paris in Huîtrerie Régis, in Paris 6, and they’re available for take-out or to eat on the spot in their little dining room.