One of the best choices I made for my Paris trip was to use Air BNB and rent myself a cute little studio apartment. It was cheaper than area hotels, I had my own kitchen, I was extremely close (directly above, actually) a small supermarket and across the street from the Metro… It was amazing.
The best part – not the view of the very top of the Eiffel Tower from my balcony – but being a 10 minute walk from this. I made a point to walk here every single day, just to sit and admire this. I didn’t need nor want to go to the top; I just wanted to sit and enjoy the view from the bottom. (There’s a long, complicated backstory to why I didn’t want to go to the top, but I doubt I’ll share it here – it is incredibly personal.)
The random, small supermarket at the bottom of my building – Franprix – which I was informed isn’t even that good – boasted an incredible selection of cured meats and cheeses that put any non-specialty supermarket in the US to shame.
I love snacks from other countries. Roasted chicken flavor chips, which I didn’t like… a bottle of rose which cost me about $5 USD… the most amazing little lemon tart cookies from Bonne Maman, and really terrible strawberry cookies by LuLu (they tasted so fake and gross!).
I literally ate an entire baguette a day. Thankfully, I also walked just about everywhere, so I didn’t gain 15 pounds. I picked up foie (liver pate), rosette (sliced cured meat of some sort), bagged salad, mustard – Maille mustard was about $1.50 a large jar!!, olives, Boursin cheese, the baguette was roughly $1 USD… omg, I was in heaven.
The bags of goodies I got for my birthday picnic!
My first night there – salad, baguette with foie and Boursin fig+walnut (wish they’d sell this flavor here!), and rosette + mustard. So good.
Breakfast of Zespri kiwis! I found Zespri at Rue de Cler, so I bought some – for way too much.
My beautiful tower all lit up at night.
My Fauchon birthday picnic; saucisson; French panna cotta (fromage blanc), an herb salad that was super tasty, a cheese sampler and… omg… GOOSE FOIE GRAS!!! I wish it was easier to find in NYC but goose foie gras is so much earthier, richer, more delicious… I may be ruined for foie gras forever.
On my walk to eat in front of the Eiffel Tower on my birthday, this view struck me silent.
The sun came out strong on my birthday; the days prior to that were fairly grey. I took this as a sign. I’m doing something right. I’ll be okay. I know it.
French bugles are gross, FYI.
I thoroughly enjoyed having my own apartment in Paris, and I highly recommend the experience to anyone who wants to visit. It was absolutely glorious…
I can’t wait to go back!
Sarah Spigelman Richter says
LOVED this post!!!! So much foie! So much Paris!!! Please do a hundred more paris posts!
Feisty Foodie says
I’m trying! There are more coming 🙂
Janine says
Le’ sigh.
But I have to ask. Why in the hell would you go to Paris and buy Bugles? I understand a junk food craving? But Bugles? C’mon. giggle [you’re in good company – your whole family, except for me, in Virginia love those things.]
Thank you. I loved this post.
Feisty Foodie says
Because they were bacon and ham&cheese flavored!!
gigifromca says
Loved this post, but felt sad you had to spend your b’day in
beautiful Paris all by yourself. I take it this was your choice
though. Would love to go their one day, the pics are lovely!
Feisty Foodie says
No need to feel sad when someone gets exactly what they wanted for their birthday: a trip to Paris all by herself. 🙂
Monique says
i am so inspired to go to Paris right now! Great advice about Air Bnb!
And i want a birthday picnic now! (in my Veruka Salt voice)
happy Birthday
Feisty Foodie says
I tried to take a picture of the actual picnic on the lawn, but it was hard – lots of kids running around and I just wanted to stuff my face 😡
I stayed in a really great apartment, but it’s best suited for just one person (though it’s listed as acceptable for two) — or I’d send you the link 🙂
I Just Want To Eat says
Hi Yvo, Happy belated Birthday! Glad you liked Paris.
It is not that Franprix is not good: it is a cheaper supermarket option, where you can anyway find some good products. Definitely not the baguette that is much better in a boulangerie (I hope you also indulged in croissants and pains au chocolat). As for the bugles, yes, they are gross…Too bad you could not find all these delicious apéritif options that I miss here and that you can easily find in supermarkets.
JP
Feisty Foodie says
Hi JP! A few people in France said to me that Franprix wasn’t very good; maybe a misunderstanding/language barrier (my French is moderate)? I would love to hear more about the aperitifs I missed, because I intend to return very shortly!
I Just Want To Eat says
Hi Yvo, the Franprix brand is not good for sure. However, they sell some other brands at a cheaper price such as Lu, Balsen, Belin… If you go to a supermarket like Monoprix (that is definitely much better than franprix), you will find an aperitif section where they sell some delicious stuff made or flavored with cheese (emmental, roquefort, gouda), as well as tomato, onion… Aperitif is a tradition there, where you will typically get a drink with couple of things to eat (biscuits aperitif) before having dinner, in a relaxed atmosphere. It usually takes place in the living room.
JP