Paris By Mouth Food Tours

 Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Too much French bread, fromage or caramels?
Everything is balanced on a tour with Paris By Mouth led by Phyllis Flick to Marche Bastille and le Marais.

 

 First stop - buy some baguette de tradition for our fromage later.

 I've painted this corner boulangerie many times...a favorite.

 Once inside the bustling marche Bastille, Phyllis took us to la creme de la creme of purveyors. If you see a long line join the queue.
 

 I didn't know all French food must indicate it's place of origin. The mark of AOC (controled appelation of origin) is sign of quality. Eggs are marked with a numbered system 0-3 (0 is organic, 1 is free-range, 3 is battery caged hens). Chickens with a red seal/'label rouge' on them are prefered.
 

We found a park nearby and wolfed down the best Roquefort ever. It just happens to be the right season at the moment for chevre too, so do get over here PDQ!
 

 A marinated rotisserie chicken from David Lebovitz' chicken lady was demolished in a flash.
 

 Salt demos from the Maitre de Sel de Guerande had us enhaling various flavored salt.
 

 Phyllis showed us the best place for mushrooms.
 

 And fresh produce.
 

 Post-marche we wended our way through many alley-ways in the Marais I've never visited. As we walked Phyllis pointed out restaurants worth a future visit.
You can also find Phyllis on her blog Paris Notebook.

 Meert was one destination on rue Elzevir for vintage sweets.
 

 Alice would be quite content here.

 Meert is famous for their unpronouncable Gaufres de Lille.
 

 But I ate with my eyes the pretty berry cakes in the window.
 

 On to a 'horizontal' tasting of Gerard Mulot and Dalloyau  macarons chocolat.
 

 The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was a visit to superb chocolatier Jacques Genin - 133, rue de Turenne 75003
 

 Very grand and spacious for a Paris shop.
 

 The pastries are exquisite
 

 And made throughout the day Phyllis explained. Freshness is key. The best eclair I've ever tasted. Much more chocolate than sugar.
 

 I forgot to mention our stop in covered marche des Enfant Rouges for an olive tasting at Premiere Presson Provence. I browsed doggies.
 

 I've seen this Paris Respire map many times but never understood it shows streets in the Marais closed off to traffic on Sundays.

 If you go walkies your shoes should match your tot's outfit
The final piece de resistance was MANGO PASSION caramel from Jacques Genin - probably the BEST caramel on the planet. Words can't describe how our tastebuds were educated on Paris by Mouth's Tour. You'll have to try it out for yourself PBers.