Best Food Tours in Paris

Paris is one of the delights of France where the wonders of delicious French cuisines are put to display. Parisian food tours are one of the easiest ways to gain access to the depth and the beauty of the rich culture of the city, as well as a good avenue to explore these dishes that would be professionally monitored by top-notch chefs in order to expose you to the history and developmental background of each dish.

These tours range from insightful digging into the savor and flavors of French cuisines to the most delicious of desserts and drinks obtainable and it is almost certain that you cannot get it wrong when next you travel to Paris and use any of our recommended food tours which we are going to list below.

Paris Bike Tour

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to have a better option aside buses or tramp carriages to experience the beauty of a place you couldn’t help but explore? If you have, then this very innovative experience is for you. They took away the conventional way by designing tours that expose you to almost a 360-degree view of the glory of Paris on a well-organized itinerary adventure on a bike. The beautiful sights can never be hidden using their service and you get the most delicious and delicately prepared dishes at a very budget friendly cost.

Maybe you are used to getting a quick bite of croissant and Parisian coffee or you value the taste of regional cheese and a slice of cold meat especially when eaten at a local market, this four hours deep culinary adventure around the most prominent of places such as Marais, Beaubourg and Place de la Bastille would expose you to the cultural significance of those dishes as well as the history of the places visited.

Now you might want to ask, ‘but how much would this cost?’. As mentioned earlier this experience is the cheapest you would find around at an amount starting from eighty Euros per person and at this amount, you would get to be escorted by the most experienced and well-certified professionals. Major expenses such as bike rentals, helmet, basket, rain poncho and even water are covered. You can never regret you visited Paris using their service.

Paris by Mouth Food Tours

If the Wall Street Journal should take their time to review a food tour company as being the ‘definitive blog on the city’s local dishes and wine scene’, nothing less than excellence and perfection is expected from such company. They run daily trips including Sundays even, making them one of the most reliable food tours when it comes to quick booking or reservation as well as an undoubted delightful experience. You can be sure to be escorted by highly trained and well-certified professionals who might be chefs also. Most certain places to visit using their service include a patisserie, boulangerie, a wine shop and even a fromagerie.

This food tour tells a tale of historical secrecy as well as exclusivity in the unique recipes essentially used in making dishes obtainable around which are often different from others and as such, makes every bite appear really special. In case you are also a fan of chocolate, no other guide can make you explore the world of chocolate better.

Gourmet French Food

You don’t have to settle for automobiles or bikes before you enjoy the best of trips around Paris. Sometimes, walking around the capital is just all you need to need to pick unique places you never thought existed. They offer one of the most exclusive trips that are capable of blowing the mind of almost every foodie.

This three-hour walking sightsee is one of the most kid-friendly tours you can ever consider in case you want to share the moments with your gourmet cooking.

This tour exposes you to the world of home-made traditional delights such as handcrafted cheese and home-made kitchen croissants that makes you want to elongate the hours. For those who don’t like walking and eating, this might really not be the best for you but you definitely cannot regret walking around the architectural and historical grounds of the metropolis if you choose using their service which starts from a very pocket-friendly price of $120.

Secret Food Tours

They provide incredible and fun-filled trips that expose you to three full hours of very tasty French gastronomy. However, you are advised not to eat before going on this adventure so as to bare your buds to the goodness of delicately made cuisines and the superb traditional desserts which are best accompanied with traditional wines. They organize heartwarming trips that would take you around the historical sites of Saint Germain, and Le Marais and polish all you think you know about this beautiful metropolis as a whole with good sites to visit and marvelously chosen dishes.

The most notable thing about these tours is their ability to always recreate a secret dish for every experience that leaves regular clients always looking forward to that very secret dish. Aside this is the fact that you would not only be restricted to the normal traditional dishes that are always cheesy, buttery or otherwise but on this adventure, you would get to visit the most remarkable restaurants that have dedicated their existence to perfecting the taste of raw food. Your escapades around the city wouldn't be complete unless the world of cheese is explored and they simply know those paradisiacal fromageries. Also, no other food tour knows their way around wonderfully succulent traditional hams and pure cured sausages in local butcheries the way they do, all of these beautiful adventures you would get to experience starting from a little above $100.

With their signature orange umbrella, they appear to be always distinctive and very exclusive to find in all their meeting points around the metropolis. This is no doubt one of the most remarkable cuisine experiences that would forever change the way you see and eat dishes around.

Paris Urban Adventures

This company combines the awesomeness in the local beauty of France by exposing tourists to not just the dishes and drinks but also the secret gems of France hidden in Paris and major places that are rarely considered beautiful but are in fact breathtaking. They are also only not just about the meal but also about the aesthetical revelation of the metropolis, maybe that is why they are really unique.

Unlike the common three to four hours provided by other food tours in France, Paris Urban Adventures offers a most delectable experience of up to one day of full urban escapades that would leave your tummy not only delightfully full but also leaves you refreshed from the overwhelming knowledge of the tickling glees of Paris you never thought existed.

The professionally trained guides are naturally good at communicating such that they are not only telling you about traditional and local dishes or pastries and major sites but also exposing you to deep conversations about major areas and markets around which would help you melt into the totality of the hospitable Paris. The good news is also that you don’t have to break the bank for this urban adventure as most of their services start from the range of $80. However, if total luxury is what you are looking forward to in your next travel in Paris, you might not really find it using their service and this would be totally understandable from their range of prices. However, enjoyment is nothing but obtainable, leaving you craving for Paris the more.

Paris is beautiful, a place of wonderful and ancient architectures that never seem old with a blend of classic urban modernity that makes you wonder why a place could be that beautiful. However, her beauty, especially in the aspect of her dishes and culture as well as wine, might not be properly explored if you are not exposed to the best of the best places to gain access to the major wonders of the metropolis. And because we understand that by tasting just the eatables around wouldn’t make you understand the history and the traditional significance of each meal neither would tasting of wine expose you to these things, that is why we have put together a list of budget-friendly and yet highly adventurous food tours to help you keep your visit to Paris to be nothing but pure adventure and fun.

For more information, please refer to the following pages:

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!