Most people know Paris for the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, or the Louvre Museum. However, Parisian gastronomy is one of the city’s hidden treasures. It conquers both the stomach and the heart of everyone who tries it. At LOCK & enjoy!, we invite you to explore the city from a culinary perspective.
Have you left your hotel or apartment in the morning and don’t know where to leave your luggage? Don’t worry, rent one of our lockers in Paris to enjoy the typical dishes available in the numerous bars and restaurants.
Parisian Gastronomy: Discover the Best Dishes
Traditional French cuisine is characterised by its richness and wide variety. However, Paris has its own personality in its famous dishes, some originating in the city and others brought from different regions of France.
Keep reading if you’re unsure what to eat in Paris!
Croque-Monsieur
This is one of the most popular classics of traditional Parisian food.
It is a hot sandwich made with sliced bread, cooked ham, and Gruyère cheese, but with the particularity that all the ingredients are gratinated with béchamel sauce on top. Over the years, a new gastronomic version called Croque-Madame has appeared, with the only difference being that it includes a fried egg on top.
This sandwich is ideal for a mid-morning lunch. You’ll find it in most bakeries in the city centre, but if you want to try it at authentic traditional places, we recommend the following:
- Café de Flore.
- Le Select.
- Holybelly.
What’s the secret to its success? The crunchiness of the bread, the melted cheese, and the intense flavour of the ham make this snack one of the locals’ favourites.
French Onion Soup
Also known as soupe à l’oignon, this is a perfect soup that, although consumed throughout the year, is ideal for cold evenings.
It is prepared with caramelised onions cooked slowly, beef broth, toasted bread, and gratinated melted cheese. It has a very intense flavour and a creamy texture. This dish combines rustic character with elegance, as it blends the sweetness of the onion with the intensity of the broth and the crispy gratin.
To try this dish, we recommend the Parisian restaurant Au Pied de Cochon, known for its authentic food and decoration.
Have you been shopping in Paris, and it’s your last day in the capital, but you don’t know where to store your belongings? Near this restaurant, you’ll find our lockers in Châtelet – Les Halles. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Escargots de Bourgogne
Although Escargots de Bourgogne may not be tourists’ favourite dish, it is highly appreciated among locals due to its combination of flavours and ingredients. At first, the idea of eating snails may surprise you, but we assure you that once you try them, you’ll discover a delicious delicacy.
This dish is cooked with garlic butter and parsley, and the snails are served in their shells, accompanied by a small utensil to hold them and another to extract them. It’s a tender and tasty bite. Served as a starter, it is often accompanied by a glass of dry white wine, such as Chablis.
The best place to try them is L’Escargot Montorgueil, located in the heart of the city. This restaurant was founded in 1832 and is famous for its classic recipe and authentic atmosphere.
Ratatouille
Another star of traditional French gastronomy, although it doesn’t originate in Paris but in the Provence region, Ratatouille has won the hearts of both tourists and locals due to its simplicity, flavour, and freshness.
It is a vegetable stew (courgette, aubergine, pepper, tomato, etc.) slowly cooked with olive oil, garlic, and Provençal herbs. Every bite is a magical explosion of vegetal and Mediterranean flavours.
You can enjoy it in many ways – as a starter or main dish, as well as a filling for savoury pies and pastries. It’s also an ideal option for those looking for a light but energetic meal.
The top spot to try this dish is located in The Marais: Le Potager du Marais. We’d like to highlight that very close to here, you’ll find another of our luggage lockers near Notre-Dame.
Crêpes
It would be a mistake to write this post and not mention the famous crêpes, as they can be found in nearly every corner of the city centre.
These thin and delicate pancakes originate from Brittany, but they have become a recognisable symbol of traditional Parisian cuisine. Made with a simple batter of flour, eggs, milk, and a bit of butter, their secret lies in the fact that they can be sweet or savoury, with all the flavours you can imagine (strawberry, chocolate, chicken, fried egg, etc.).
Raclette
Another quintessential French dish that wins over people with its intense flavour and irresistible aroma of melted cheese. Although its origin is Swiss, you can find it on the menus of many restaurants in Paris.
The star of this dish is Raclette cheese, a semi-hard cheese that melts easily over the other ingredients that make up the dish: boiled potatoes, assorted cold cuts, gherkins, and pickled pearl onions. Traditionally prepared over a fire, nowadays small individual grills are used, allowing diners to cook the dish their way at their table.
The best places in Paris to try this dish are Les Fondus de la Raclette.
Visit Paris and experience Parisian gastronomy! Once you’ve regained your strength and energy, at LOCK & enjoy!, we encourage you to book any tourist activity in Paris to continue getting to know the city.
Sevilla