Finding your favourite flavours from Home
…in Paris
All over France you will find some of the best markets that you will see anywhere in the world. “Le Marche” as it is called is an integral part of French life, and from the smallest towns to even the big cities you will find local markets held at least once a week or more. Even in Paris, you will find little markets in almost every district, each with a local flair that represents the neighbourhood. But no matter which market you visit, you will always find the freshest and the best ingredients. The French take great pride in their food.
Almost everywhere in Paris you can find ingredients for African cooking. Most corner shops and all of the big chains will have a section for ethnic foods. The French had (and still have) a huge influence in wide parts of Africa, so it only makes sense that the cuisine has been imported too.
Whether displayed quite OCD-like in jars, library-like marked tins and personalized labels on beautiful bottles; or even via traditional market displays, the ingredients to your next dish from home will not be hard to craft with the ingredients at hand in Parisian markets.
You will pay considerably higher prices in the big chain stores and the corner shop will never have every item that you require.
However, if you head to Alimentation Africaine Exotique in the18th androssiment between metro lines Barbes (line 2–4) and Château Rouge (line 4), you will find shops that sell everything that you need.
For Oriental and Asian delights, there are a number of great places.
Everything Japanese can be found at Kioko. From Soba to Wasabi and sake to tempura batter, it’s all here. Plus, the area is filled with great Japanese restaurants if you are in the mood for some sushi. You can find the shop at 46, rue des Petits-Champs. The Paris store(also known as Hypermarche Asiatique) has three big shops all around Paris. Here you can find everything Asia and more. This is by far the biggest and most economical selection.
If it is Latin flavours that you are after, try Epicerie Latina at 11 Rue Chemin Vert or the Mercatienda Latina at 78, rue de Dunkerque . At the latter, you will find something from just about ever South American country. No matter if it is your favorite cerveza, yerba mate or fiery hot chillis, you will find it all there.
The Americans in Paris need not look further than The Real McCoy at 194, rue de Grenelle.
Often times when you crave a taste from back home it can be a chore to find, but here you’ll find everything. Be warned, as this stuff is all imported, it’s much more expensive than back home. But if you must have your pop tarts, cheese doodles and hershey’s bars, they are all here. They even have a cafe if you are craving a proper burger or American breakfast.
For the Eastern Europeans, it is not as simple to find one place that covers the entire region’s cuisine. Izba Russe at 11, rue de la Folie-Méricourt has everything Russia, from vodka to CCCP t-shirts. La Petite Pologne located at 32, rue Bichat has everything Polish that you can imagine.
For open air markets with a little of everything, you cant beat the Barbés market at Barbès-Rochechouart metro, though this is generally for African and Arab foodstuffs. For Indian foods, look around Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord in a place called Passage Brady. Traditional Jewish foodstuffs can be found in the 14th androsiiment on Rue des Rosiers.
Would you like to hear about the nearest local markets in your new home away from Home?
I’ve lived and traveled to 79% of the world and will search, eat and share my way to your hearts by helping bring that “Home” feeling in your home in any city in the world. Let me know!
Originally published at momotop.co.
