Fauchon

Even delicatessens make a fashion statement in Paris. Be warned, it is difficult to “just” stop by Fauchon to pick up a hostess gift. Hot pink tins of chocolate bonbons, tea and sweets tempt the palate as well as the eye, coaxing you to leave with a few extra boxes for yourself. Every foodstuff the French love are repackaged in a shock of color, slicked to the edge with a gloss of black and FAUCHON branded in narrow capital letters. You know you are paying for packaging  – the champagne, foie gras, and caviar are cheaper at more traditional grocers, more delicious from historically-recognized brands – but they are still hard to resist, compact containers of sophisticated bold style.

Everything you wanted to outfit your fantasy pantry is here: truffle oil, Ethiopian coffee, pastel sea salts from Provence. But where Fauchon shines brightest is through its whimsical sweets: springy pâte de fruit bursting with flavor; dense, satisfying caramels; imaginative flavors of pop art éclairs filled with fluffy Chantilly crème; strawberry rose jam with its delicate perfume; buttery biscuits and rows upon rows of too-pretty-to-eat pastries. Such sweetness is best tempered with a cup from Fauchon’s range of world-inspired teas.

The flagship also houses a tea salon where a counter sells savory quiches, salads, sandwiches and snacks like the clever salmon mille-feuille (Norwegian salmon and dill-cream between layers of flakey crust). Avoid the upstairs seating, which always seems touristy and rushed. Take yours to go if nothing opens up in the terrace overlooking Madeleine church.