I think our most memorable meals in Paris will be the picnics we’ve been putting together almost nightly. This has been a great way to try amazing French products on a budget and to feel like we are living like locals. I like shopping for picnic items at the covered markets because they have pretty much everything you need in one place (sort of like SF’s Ferry Building). The closest one to us is the Marche Saint-Martin.
We like to stop by the boucherie to get some cured meats (speck is a favorite). Some boucheries also have deli items, like tomato tartare and marinated artichokes.
At the fromagerie, we’ve been favoring runny, stinky cheeses. Epoisses is probably the best we’ve had so far.
Of course, we also stop by the fruit stand to get some stone fruit or berries to snack on. These fraises du bois are wild strawberries that grow in the forest and taste like they were made by magical berry wizards:
Once we are ready for our picnic we stop by the boulangerie to get a fresh baguette (and probably a pastry). Boulangerie Liberte near our apartment in the 10th is a good one:
Then we feast, usually along the Canal Saint-Martin with everyone else:
