Paris' Best Private Food Tours

When it comes to cuisine, France is by far, one of the best nations in this regard. The country is legendary for its wine and restaurants, however, these living arts continually evolve and the city of Paris, in particular, uphold the nation’s culture. The ideal experience for those who fall head over heels for French cuisine with a spark of history – foods and exciting tours to tantalize your palate with great French gourmet foods as you explore a new pulsating neighborhood in Paris! The below-mentioned private food tours are undoubtedly the best as far as the practice of the culinary arts in Paris is concerned.

Taste of Le Marais Food Tour

Have you ever wanted to travel to a place you could only dream of? In Le Marais, you’ll feel a particular atmosphere and a certain adrenaline rush that would make you realize that the dream has actually been realized. During your tour in Paris, you’ll get the chance to attempt a wide range of culinary pleasures, guaranteed to set your palate in the mood. In the first place, your Parisian guide will take you to a classic brasserie to try out some popular traditional croque-monsieur, wine, or coffee.

Also, during your tour, you will drop by a boulangerie where you will find out about classic baguettes and bread. And lastly, to put the icing on the cake, you will be offered the nation’s best macarons and chocolates.

Tour Highlights

Small-group tour.
Anchored by a native guide.
Ideal for all ages and ability level.

Chocolate and Pastry Food Tour

Consolidate your affection for cakes and chocolate with your passion for this legendary city in France! Out of all private tours in Paris, they’re the only tour that consolidates French gourmet specialism with a day or night walking tour in order for you to have a clear conscience about your adventure. Savor the experience of this delicious blend of pastries, custom, and history, as you peruse the amusement of the neighborhood.

The numbers of persons in the group are usually limited to eight, making it more suitable to get personalized attention from your tour guide. The tour is anchored by a veteran, who will walk you through the neighborhood of your choice to visit some renowned bakeries, chocolate, and pastry shops. They also offer day and night service!

Tour highlights

Small-group tour to ensure personal service all day long.
Free snacks available.
Anchored by a native guide.

Dinner Cruise on the Canal Saint-Martin Food Tour

With this tour group, you’re guaranteed an amazing experience of gliding along one of the most beautiful waterways in Paris on a dinner cruise of the Canal Saint-Martin. What more? Look forward to floating past the romantic walkways sheltered by chestnut trees. Hop aboard for a lovely evening voyage along the Canal Saint-Martin and peruse the charming atmosphere of Paris. Set out at the former home of the Bassin de la Villette and pay homage to the Rotonde de la Villette, a part of the historical walls.

During your tour, you’ll have the opportunity to wander through the cryptic passageways to encounter a feeling of magic and beauty and end it at the Port de l'Arsenal to witness the virtuoso of the Place de la Bastille alongside its high column measured at 52 meters. That’s not all actually as the tour also includes a stop at the River Seine where you’ll see some of the most delightful landmarks around, it has probably offered way more than many private tours in Paris. Also on your way, you’ll pass the nine locks, two swing bridges, and four footbridges as you devour from the onboard dinner.

Tour Highlights

Discover the cryptic passageways of the most romantic watercourses.
Cruise along the famous Canal Saint-Martin.
Experience the melodic atmosphere of the old "guinguettes".

Marché d'Aligre: 2-Hour Market Food Tour

Discover the clamoring market arts of Paris during a 2-hour tour via the vibrant Marché d'Aligre, one of the best tours in the country. During your tour, you’ll have the chance to explore the stalls of tapenades, flowers, spices, and coffees, and head to the flea market to take a look at some fascinating souvenirs. Some parts of Paris are often forgotten by tourists but with this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to maximize your travel by visiting this place.

With regards to the available markets, the Marché d'Aligre is as cool as you would think, circumscribing the pulsating North African shops and included two market areas: the outdoor street market and the indoor Marché Couvert Beauvau. Make a short trip to the famous rare covered market, one of the last twenty remaining from the historical "passages couverts" situated behind the great boulevards. This 2-hour experience could be the best you’ve had amongst your tours.

Tour Highlights

Discover the interesting market's history.
Learn about the dynamic market at Marché d'Aligre.
Enjoy a few tastings of forte foods and discover the flea market.

VIP Michelin Star Food Tour

Get set for a private Parisian cuisine experience like never before! Appreciate divine dishes at three distinctive Michelin Star Restaurants during this exceptional with-locals visit. You will enjoy first class culinary manifestations at the coolest place to eat in Paris. During this tour, your will have your first stop at Benoit, the French bistro-style eatery under the watchful eyes of incredible chef Alain Ducasse.

Get hold of signature dishes combined with French wine only for you, making you feel like a genuine Parisian in the tasteful layout of the bistro. Proceed for your next 2 sequences at Le Violon d'Ingres and take your time to enjoy a dessert and a main dish at the famous Chef Christian Constant eatery! After that, it's on to the Ritz Hotel with 2 star Chef who will serve you your preferred dessert.

Tour Highlights

Transportation by Uber Taxi.
A glass of water and wine at Benoit.
Four servings at 3-Michelin star bistros.

Practicality, few things educate you about the way of life of some people and their foods around the world. They might not even be seen in a book until you set out to find out yourself. However, with the above-mentioned recommendations of private food tours, you may end up leaving Paris with something other than the memories of its classic landmarks and fascinating language, yet with a profound, lingering gratitude for its bold, rich flavors.

For more information, please refer to the following pages:

Paris food tour St Germain

More About Our Baguettes Classes

Getting a bit technical during our Baguette Class in Paris

The French baguette, actually probably better known as the Parisian baguette has beome a true symbol of French popular gastronomy. A true icon of French life even - look around and you will see the Parisians strolling back home with their baguettes under their arm. But if you are French why would you learn how to do this? You can buy a baguette at any corner of Paris for about one Euro a piece. But in our Baguette Class in Paris you will learn how do this from scratch. It is somewhat technical, but also full of tips and tricks. But when you leave, it will have not secret left for you. From the original mix to the famous "scarification" through adding water to your oven through baking, you will see and do it all.

Learning more during your Baguette class in Paris: Croque Monsieur Bread and Brioche

This class is like all our other baking or cooking classes: totally hands-on. So you get to practice from beginning to end - and to taste at the end. But not only will you learn how to make Baguette, but you will also learn to make two more types of bread: the French Croque Monsieur bread. The basis for the classic French bistrot appetizer. And in your Baguette class in Paris you will also learn how to make your own Brioche. Probably the most indulgent bread you will find in France - if not the lightest ...

And you might learn some history during your Baguette Class in Paris

While you will learn the techniques to create - and get to taste - three classic types of French breads, you will also learn some of the stories on the origin of the baguette. Just beware it is still being quite hotly debated. What is for sure though is that the Baguette is absolutely part of today Parisian's life. A classic you will be able to take back home with you.

More About Our Wine and Cheese Lunch in Paris

Cheese and Wine in Paris

The pleasures we can derive from French cuisine can seem endless. However two of the best known and loved French gastronomic heroes are French cheese and wine. Whether we talk about a Brie which actually comes from very close to Paris, to a creamy Camembert from Normandy, or a Comté from the Alps, French cheese has a delight for all palates. And of course, French wines are even better known whether from Bordeaux great wines or Burgundy sophisticated whites – all of which enthral wine lovers. Well, at our course on cheese and wine in Paris you will come to appreciate that although each is delicious on its own, properly matched cheese and wine together can make the experience of each even more enjoyable and an absolute delight.

How to pair French cheese and wine

Because not all pairings are actually what people expect, at Le Foodist we have decided to call these experiences 'Daring Pairings'. Maybe because we like to step out of the ordinary to challenge our taste buds, but really all we try to do is give you the perfect match fo cheese and wine in Paris. So not only will you learn how to select the best wine to go with your cheese, but you will also learn what are the big cheese families in France – there are actually only five, and this is one of the keys to great pairing. In discovering all these pairings of cheese with wine you will be convinced that indeed two things together can be better than the sum of their parts.

It is important to have fun with pairing cheese and wine in Paris

Beyond the tastings though, we have found that the best way to help our clients remember and re-use their experience is to vary the way to approach both wine and cheese. That is why during our courses on cheese and wine in Paris we share sensory games and many an anecdote to bring the produce to life in your mind as well as on your palate. Overall we will feature four excellent wines, one Champagne and demonstrate to you how best each combines with cheese, letting your taste guide you along with our teaching.

Understanding cheese and wine pairing while in Paris

While for many top Parisian wine stores and restaurant wine lists can be confusing and even intimidating, we believe that after our lunch learning how to pair cheese and wine in Paris, you will feel much more comfortable navigating all of those. And we sincerely hope your knowledge will help you unlock a door to a whole new world of enjoyment of French wine and cheese pairing. At every step of the way our sommelier will also share unique tips and tricks to understand wines better and how culture and wine are so related in France; hopefully enriching your own experience as well.

And they do not have to do with what you will find in those markets. They have to do with when you can go shopping there. Open Air markets are only open in the morning. Typically from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. And they are not open every day. As a matter of fact for the vast majority they are open either open every other day (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Wednesday, Friday, Sunday), or sometimes only twice a week.

This is the case of the Bastille Market (Metro Bastille and Metro Bréguet Sabin )which is open only on Thursday and Sunday morning. We like to send people there because it is a very big market with over one hundred vendors. And it has a nice stand of Crêperie in the middle. Here you get a video of a lady preparing a crêpe there; and you can get that crêpe for only 3 Euros!
There is only one Open Air market open every day of the week, it is called Marché Aligre (Metro Ledru Rollin or Metro Faidherbe Chaligny) which happens on the eponymous street. It is an interesting market because you find all kinds of quality in that market – the good, the bad and the ugly. There is also a nice covered market in the middle of it called Marché Beauveau – sometimes called Marché Beauveau Aligre. On the contrary, Covered Markets are open every day, and not just in the morning, but also in the late afternoon. Typically from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

We are blessed with two markets close to where Le Foodist is located, so we can walk to a market every morning – sometimes it is the Maubert market, and sometimes it is the Monge market. Both nice with their own specififies. Last but not least, none of these markets is open on Monday. Do not sign-up for a Market Tour on Monday, you might never see that money again …

Choosing Ingredients in Paris

While all markets are different, they also have some things in common. First they work on specific schedules as explained before. But also you will find always at a minimum the following vendors: a Maraîcher – this is the name we give to people selling fruits and vegetables, a butcher, a fishmonger, a cheesemonger and a baker. Normally you will find several of each, with different levels of quality, organic or non-organic, local or not local (but mostly not local unfortunately).
And we explain how to recognize each of those of course during our Market Visits and Cooking Classes in Paris. But choosing ingredients can be daunting at first, because of the variety that is on display. A typical fishmonger will carry 20 different types of fishes, and as many shrimp and shelf fish varieties. A good cheese monger will easily carry up to 100 different types of cheese and obviously you could get over 100 different cuts of meat at a butcher (from the type of meat to the cut itself). And a normal Maraicher will carry between 50 and 100 fruits and vegetables as well.
This is what makes these markets so exciting – the variety of products, the beauty of their display, and the exchange you can have with most of the vendors. We give you tips though on how to make sure that exchange with the vendors go well – a few magic words, and everything will be fine!

Cooking in Paris

Obviously going to markets is nice, but actually knowing that you are going to cook what you find there is even more exciting. It is not uncommon for Parisians to buy a little bit too much food because they get so excited at the idea of cooking it all! But as most of us have hardly any space where we live, that can limit the enthusiasm sometimes. Because of the lack of space, Cooking in Paris can be quite different from cooking in the rest of France. And there are also dishes that are typically associated with regions which the Parisian will not cook at home – but taste when they visit friends or families in the various regions of France. However our kitchen has plenty of space, so we can cook traditional French dishes without a problem – whether they come from Paris or any region. And the most important part for us is to ensure that we share techniques much more than just recipes. As a matter of fact, we love to share a bit of the science behind what we do so people can better remember the “what” by understanding the “why”.

Sharing Stories

In November 2010, some experts from the UN cultural organisation, decided tha France’s multi-course gastronomic meal, with its rites and its presentation, fulfilled the conditions for featuring on the “world intangible list” of the UNESCO.
In this list you can find all kinds of cultural practices, including Mexico Day of the Dead festival for example. Importantly this is not suggesting French cuisine is better than other cuisines (even though we the French tend to believe that …). It is only saying that the gastronomic meal and what it entails is a very vivid cultural practice which people in France partake into on a very regular basis. That is why the same experts indicated that the French gastronomic meal is a “social custom aimed at celebrating the most important moments in the lives of individuals and groups”. And in that social custom, there are many parts: the attention we pay to the way we choose ingredients, how we pair wine with food, how many dishes we will present to our guests, how we lay the table, etc… But one big part of the cultural practice is that commensality (the fact of sharing the food) is always accompanied by sharing stories about …. Well, you would have guessed it, Food of course!
To us it is THE perfect example of how Food and Culture come together – actually we decide to share food is a considered a cultural practice. I would argue that it is true of all countries, regions, etc… As the way we relate to Food is such a big part of anybody’s identity. But as a result and to make sure you have the most genuine experience of French culture, after the a coking class in Paris at Le Foodist, you will share a gastronomic meal at a common table with your Chef and fellow participants to the class.

French Wine and Food Pairing

As mentioned above, one of the big cultural practices in France is choosing how to pair Wine and Food in general and Wine and Cheese in particular. We actually have a class which focuses specifically on this. As it is so important though, we always make sure we share white and red wines during our meals, chosen to pair well in our opinion with the food we cook. And being at the table together is a good opportunity to discuss about wine as well, with concepts such as “terroir” (to simplify, terroir means “what you do depends on where you are”) which are essential to grasp the way the French think about Food.
And all this will always go with a cheering “Santé” – which quite simply means, to your good health!