Cornucopia of Paris pastries at the café Les Deux Magots in Paris. Photo by Victoria Cyr. Guest blogger Victoria Cyr on French food adventures in Paris.
When Ernest Hemingway wrote “Paris is a moveable feast", he was right in every sense of the word including being surrounded by sumptuous food 24/7 (which means French gastronomy even sneaks its way into your sleep). However living in Paris, if I don’t resist the ever-present temptation to indulge, there will be a lot more moving on me than I’d like...so although I walk a lot, I still need Pilates and jogs along the Seine.
Other hobbies of mine include champagne and French wine (vin rouge in particular), but perhaps the greatest temptation are the amazing boulangeries because they’re everywhere you turn — it’s as if they follow you around.
They’re a huge part of the beauty of living in Paris, but every time I buy my delicious, freshly baked baguette or morning almond croissant and the lovely mademoiselle smiles and asks if I’d like anything else, the world stops for a moment as I scan the pastries, quiches and croque monsieurs one more time before regaining the fortitude to say, “Non, merci. La prochaine fois.” Naturally other days I break down and leave with my arms full of savory assortments remembering that life is short and la vie est belle.
That being said, having a strategy is helpful. Cheese and chocolate are two other delectable dangers I adore. Usually I just buy two or three pieces of chocolate (maybe four) versus a box, to avoid the angst of trying to hide it somewhere so I won’t be tempted to eat it all at once.
The other day I stepped into a chocolate store I’d never been to near metro Vaneau and for the first time ever, the woman behind the counter looked at me suspiciously and said there was a minimum order of ten, so that solved that dilemma for the day and I left empty-handed.
Of course enjoying the glorious French gastronomy is a gift that I appreciate every day and one of the many special things I miss every time I’m away — and a beautiful temptation I can’t imagine living without.
Follow Victoria on Twitter or Instagram for more Paris discoveries.
When Ernest Hemingway wrote “Paris is a moveable feast", he was right in every sense of the word including being surrounded by sumptuous food 24/7 (which means French gastronomy even sneaks its way into your sleep). However living in Paris, if I don’t resist the ever-present temptation to indulge, there will be a lot more moving on me than I’d like...so although I walk a lot, I still need Pilates and jogs along the Seine.
Other hobbies of mine include champagne and French wine (vin rouge in particular), but perhaps the greatest temptation are the amazing boulangeries because they’re everywhere you turn — it’s as if they follow you around.
They’re a huge part of the beauty of living in Paris, but every time I buy my delicious, freshly baked baguette or morning almond croissant and the lovely mademoiselle smiles and asks if I’d like anything else, the world stops for a moment as I scan the pastries, quiches and croque monsieurs one more time before regaining the fortitude to say, “Non, merci. La prochaine fois.” Naturally other days I break down and leave with my arms full of savory assortments remembering that life is short and la vie est belle.
That being said, having a strategy is helpful. Cheese and chocolate are two other delectable dangers I adore. Usually I just buy two or three pieces of chocolate (maybe four) versus a box, to avoid the angst of trying to hide it somewhere so I won’t be tempted to eat it all at once.
The other day I stepped into a chocolate store I’d never been to near metro Vaneau and for the first time ever, the woman behind the counter looked at me suspiciously and said there was a minimum order of ten, so that solved that dilemma for the day and I left empty-handed.
Of course enjoying the glorious French gastronomy is a gift that I appreciate every day and one of the many special things I miss every time I’m away — and a beautiful temptation I can’t imagine living without.
Follow Victoria on Twitter or Instagram for more Paris discoveries.
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