Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Maison Larnicol Chocolaterie, Paris

Well worth a visit: EVERYTHING is made of chocolate and there are billions of different scoop-your-own tiny chocolates. Chocolate praline-covered mandarin segments... have a look at their website. 


Monday, January 09, 2012

Swiss supermarket

I really love foreign supermarkets. I just want to SEE what is THERE that is NEW and EXCITING. 
Whether it's true or not, I feel like you can get a real insight into a culture by trawling a supermarket. These are from the local Zurich supermarket (incidentally, the Swiss have already adopted the online shopping system where pictures of items are displayed on external walls, bus shelters, etc: you scan a picture of the item on your phone and it gets delivered to your home. Can't wait for that to happen here.)
Many many breads


Green "Sweetie" grapefuit

Dairy... huge, as always

Instant puddings and cakes

The chocolate section. NEVER have I seen more chocolate in one aisle... and this wasn't even half of it

Ready-made grill packs: smoked ham, sausages, chicken etc

Dried meat chips made from horse and chicken

Frozen whole sardines and mixed seafood

Ladurée (again)

I've blogged about LadurĂ©e before. This visit was JUST AS GOOD. 


They make their own champagne: who knew. 




I blogged about having a rustic kouign amman in St Malo a few years ago.

My favourite every pastry: the palmier (front left). The thing in the middle is a Paris Brest. 






Fromagerie Alleosse


Alleosse: the best cheesery in Paris. 






Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Hotel de Ville markets, Paris

These markets are just behind the Hotel de Ville on the north bank of the river. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. I could have watched and explored for hours.  
Chicken pieces and skewers, seafood and vegetarian paella 
Hams and wursts, pizza and savoury pastries

Charcuterie, terrines, brawn, head cheese, rillettes

Mince, rolled roasts, cured ham, bacon, speck

Root vegetables

Beetroot

Lettuce









Goose, guinea-fowl capon (young rooster)

Ready-rolled venison (doe), mushroom sauce, stuffing of mushroom and armagnac

Rabbit galantine

Roast chicken

Whole roast suckling pig, chickens and turkey

Dried fruits, beans and nuts


Stonefruit, lychees, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries

Flavoured honey







Whelks