Paris Snack Reviews - Pierre Herme, Patissier Boulanger, Hugo et Victor, Eric Kayser, Laduree, La Patisserie des Reves, Berthillon

[fatmanthinwallet]

Although I did not post up my proposed itinerary, many thanks to everyone who contributes to this board for giving me ideas in planning my second trip to Paris in January. I hope these brief reviews can help other travellers in the future.

[John Talbott]

Interesting
Figaroscope's Dossier today covers snack places:
L'Epicerie Misicale
Le Camion qui Fume
L'Epicerie du Verre Vole
Clasico Argentino
Cuissons
Daily syrien
Mitsou
L'Epicerie du Breizh Cafe
Itacate
Hot Dog House
and - Aux Deux Amis, Le siffleur de Ballons & Boco.

[Parigi]

"Daily Syrien" Beautiful name. Forgettable falafel.
"Hot Dog House" on rue Faubourg St Denis? Sucks even more.
Those two hip eateries have in less than a year dragged down the street's food fengshui.

[Ptipois]

I agree, these two places have put a deep dent in the Faubourg's food fengshui. As sang Madame Armfeldt, "Let's hope that this lunacy is just a trend." The hot dog is particularly dreadful. A classic Paris hot dog with baguette, full-size saucisse de Francfort and grated cheese is a tastier deal.

[Parnassien]

I actually like Daily Syrien ... but only for a late afternoon snack ... assembly line food at lunch and dinner.... and I ask for the falafel to be freshly fried

and yes, Hot Dog House is laughable. Maybe the occasion for forming another of our therapy groups... like the counseling sessions for the wine-in-baby-bottles folks

[Busk]

But US Dogs behind BHV is cool. Looks like the guy is making money hand over fist. Yes, some folks in Paris want a NYC style hotdog with kraut from time to time...

[fatmanthinwallet]

Berthillon

29-31 Rue Saint Louis En l'Ile
75004 Paris, France

www.berthillon.fr

The Good
Excellent desserts served in massive portions at reasonable prices.

The Bad
A little too out of the way to justify the journey considering options available elsewhere in Paris.

Photos can be seen on the blog at http://fatmanthinwallet.wordpress.com...

[Parigi]

Very thorough report, thank you.

"A little too out of the way to justify the journey considering options available elsewhere in Paris."

Very strange comment on the Ile Saint Louis location, which is a mere 5-minute walk to Notre Dame de Paris which is considered the "official" geographic center of Paris.
For example, when a road sign on the freeway indicates 148 km from Paris, it means it is 148 km from Notre Dame, not St Germain, not Sacré Coeur, not the Champs.
To find Berthillon out of the way, were you hanging out in the Longchamp racecourse when you were not snacking? :-)

Ceci dit, I agree Berthillon is nice but not a destination. I would not make a trip to the center of center for it.
Come to think of it, locals actually rarely go to Ile St Louis.

[fatmanthinwallet]

When I say "out of the way", perhaps I should instead say "out of the way in walking distance from where I started walking to Berthillon, with tired feet as a result of walking all day, at 4pm in the afternoon of the 16th day of a four week holiday, bearing in mind I then walked all the way back from there to my hotel near the Eiffel Tower" :-P

[Parigi]

Indeed you were closer to the Longchamp racecourse than to Paris center. :-)

[Piccolinaabroad]

Thanks good list! Very useful for my upcoming trip :-)

[trueblu]

Out of interest: where would you go for a 'destination' ice-cream. I very much enjoy Berthillon, but wouldn't mind sampling some other good ice-creams next week.

I know some restaurants make great ice-cream, but my meal 'freedom' is fairly limited this trip. However, snacking is more flexible!

tb

[Parigi]

My recent favorite is A La Mère de Famille (the one on rue Faubourg Montmartre), specifically the coffee flavor. DH is faithful to Caramel. It actually is close to my place, but if I lived across town, I'd schlep back to Rue Fbg Montmartre for it.
In fact the ice cream kitchen is visible from the street. No cheating there, and great fun to watch.
Come to think of it, it's good NOT to live too enar a good glacier.

[trueblu]

Thanks...although I may not make it to Montmartre on this trip: will save it for a future occasion.

I disagree(ish). In Boston we lived very close to a 'decent' ice-cream place: not blow your mind cross town for, but very good, and the strawberry and pistachio in particular were excellent. It was a weekly treat (in summer or winter) but no more frequently than that. I really miss being close to (any) good ice-cream.

tb

[Parigi]

Rue Faubourg Montmartre is not in Montmartre. It is right next to the entrance of Passage Verdeau, one of the beautiful "passages couverts" of Paris, abou a 10-minute walk from Opéra Garnier.

[trueblu]

Good to know, thanks.

tb

[dietndesire]

Christian Constant.

[trueblu]

Thanks -- this happens to almost round the corner of where I'm staying, so will check it out.

tb

[Nancy S.]

Martine Lambert

[Delucacheesemonger]

Grom gelato on Rue Seine in the 6th. Their liquorice is my fav anywhere.

[dietndesire]

Deluca, have you been to Grom in the US or Italy? Could you compare them all if so? Thanks

[Nancy S.]

I've been to Grom in Paris, Rome, New York and San Remo. The taste is relatively the same. When I first had Grom a few years ago in Paris I thought it was quite good. Since then I have noticed a change in texture and flavor. Now it's oppressively "buttery" and a bit more "airy".

[Delucacheesemonger]

Have been to two in NY, one in Los Angeles, one in Tokyo, and the one in Paris. Sorry, none in Italy. Guess my taste buds may be going south, but the same at all of the shops visited. Remeber, only flavor eaten is liquorize, others are too sweet for me.
Constant has great passion fruit as does the house brand at Picard frozen food stores, and that one is half the price of the others.

[trueblu]

I note you say only this flavour there: do you only eat liquorice ice-cream as a general rule, or is the liquorice here 'must have', and for other flavours you would go elsewhere? I like liquorice, have never had liquorice ice-cream, but am willing to try, but I can't imagine it becoming my favourite thing (but who knows...?).

tb

[Delucacheesemonger]

Oh the other flavors are great as well, but a little too sweet for me. l also get reglisse (liquorice) at Berthillon. It is the with Passionfruit the flavor of choice with me. Oh yes, the house made vanilla from Auberge le Quincy is awesome as well, almost grey with vanilla bean flecks.

[Nancy S.]

Martine Labert's vanilla is excellent as is her vanilla with chocolate shavings. The vanilla is not good at Grom.

[trueblu]

vanilla with chocolate shavings sounds yummy.

tb

[mangeur]

Not a fan on Grom (too sweet for me but so is almost everyone else), I just tried their fior de latte/menthe granita. Superb! Not too sweet, milky but not icy. When served, I blurted, "I can't possibly finish all that!". I did in a few very short minutes. They listed it under 'summer flavors; I'm hoping for endless summer.

[Ptipois]

The only flavor I like at Grom is fiordilatte, and I do like it very, very much.

Otherwise when it comes to ice cream and sorbets, I still think Berthillon and Christian Constant (for sorbets) remain unmatched.
Berthillon is not equally successful in every flavor but they are still the best for depth and concentration of taste.
Raimo is watery. I don't understand the excitement about it.

[fatmanthinwallet]

La Patisserie des Reves

93 Rue du Bac
75007 Paris, France

www.lapatisseriedesreves.com/

The Good
Excellent pastries, especially the Sugared brioche and Chausson aux Pommes.

The Bad
None.

Photos can be seen on the blog at http://fatmanthinwallet.wordpress.com...

[fatmanthinwallet]

Laduree

21 Rue Bonaparte
75006 Paris, France

www.laduree.fr

The Good
Decent macarons and an excellent Divin available at a convenient location near Galleries Lafayette.

The Bad
The macarons do not hold up well compared to those at Pierre Herme or, especially, Hugo et Victor.

Photos can be seen on the blog at http://fatmanthinwallet.wordpress.com...

[fatmanthinwallet]

Eric Kayser

33 Rue Danielle Casanova
75001 Paris, France

www.maison-kayser.com

The Good
Excellent chocolate-filled brioche available directly across from our hotel.

The Bad
A rather bland sugared brioche and terrible coffee.

Photos can be seen on the blog at http://fatmanthinwallet.wordpress.com...

[fatmanthinwallet]

Hugo et Victor

40 Boulevard Raspail
75007 Paris, France

www.hugovictor.com

The Good
Excellent macarons and chocolates; absolutely stunning pastries and specialty items.

The Bad
Nothing.

Photos can be seen on the blog at http://fatmanthinwallet.wordpress.com...

[fatmanthinwallet]

Patissier Boulanger

203 Rue Saint-Honoré
75001 Paris, France

The Good
The most amazing beignets I have ever had in the world, available in plain or apple, chocolate or raspberry-filled flavours.

The Bad
The fact that all other beignets pale in comparison.

Photos can be seen on the blog at http://fatmanthinwallet.wordpress.com...

[fatmanthinwallet]

Pierre Herme

185 Rue de Vaugirard
75015 Paris, France

www.pierreherme.com

The Good
Excellent macarons and pastries, noting in particular the strawberry filled-and-topped Ispahan.

The Bad
The specialty macarons with foie gras had lost their texture and flavour when we tried them several hours after buying them.

Photos can be seen on the blog at http://fatmanthinwallet.wordpress.com...