Making Parisian Food Fantasies a Reality
Dining well in Paris without breaking the bank!
MAKING FOOD FANTASIES A REALITY or how to budget food in Paris
INSTALLMENT ONE
Last week, I know my segment on food in Paris got a bit buried at the end of my long post- so I am just reposting this segment! So much surrounds us that a bit of fantasy is fun!
Bonjour! Keep your France dreams alive. Food is always a part of a trip to France! In 2018 (and I had not been in France in 30 years) I discovered how fresh eggs and poultry taste! Most of the vegetables I bought were fresh and in season. This is changing a bit – and I noticed a few imported vegetables in the supermarché. However, most Parisians shop for groceries several times a week, if not daily, as did I. Refrigerators are small. Mealtime is an event. Most French do not believe in eating between meals. Add this to lots of walking - and the French model a healthy lifestyle.
Yes, the French love to visit a boulangerie each morning for a fresh baguette – to read more about why the lower gluten in French bread and pasta allows me to enjoy it, read my Substack newsletter Lessons From a Pause: - by Janis Commentz
Since 2018, I have made four trips to France, increasing the length of each visit. There is so much more to see, taste and learn! My trips have included parts of Normandy, Brittany, the Dordogne, Toulouse, and, of course, Paris.
As I reviewed the costs of food during my most recent Paris visit – a five week stay, Iwas quite surprised to find my daily food expenditure was $20.04 (dollars on my credit card bill). I ate well and had delicious food- visiting the places that were on my wish list such as the well-known Le Train Bleu Le Train Bleu | Restaurant Bar at the Heart of Gare de Lyon | Paris 12. I travel solo and enjoy cooking in my flat. I generally eat out once a day and sometimes splurge. I love to eat locally and when I see a crowd, I am confident that the food will be good and the company lively! If I am in a museum, I often eat at the cafeteria – such as in the Louvre on a snowy day! While it looks like all I did was eat- it is 3 times a day event!
Adventure Dining (above) Eating out - for coffee or a meal: La Favorite in Le Marais, Paris (with the pink floral decor!) where I met a friend for coffee; Galeries Lafayette, famous shopping mall built in 1893 where I sketched the incredible central Christmas tree ; Le Train Bleu - yes my splurge! And worth it. Beef wrapped in kale with stew. Yummmm; La Palette Cafe - This must’ve been my funniest meal! I ordered tuna and should have realized it might come in the tin as sardines do. Believe it or not, this was the best tuna and toast I have ever had with a delightful blend of chopped herbs and lemon served on the side; Le Hibou, a nearby favorite! ; museum “cafeteria” at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, which features the indigenous art and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
As you can see it is fun to cook at home in a tiny kitchen!
Let’s call this Installment One of food in Paris! In this crazy world of 2025, carve out some quiet time, design your own creative challenges, grab opportunities to make memories, and remember vacation eating - even in Paris - does not have to break the bank.
Enjoy!
Inspired by all of you!
I am very impressed that you managed to eat on $20/day in Paris. And had a wonderful variety of food.