The Grand Epicerie - Everthing a Food Lover Could Want

 

The Grand Epicerie, part of the Bon Marche, is a department store foodie style.  It has everything you could want, whether you're cooking a special dinner at home or putting together items for a picnic.  There's a butcherie, a bakery, a patisserie, a charcuterie, a frommagerie, butter from every place in France, a fruit and vegetable stand, and aisles and aisles of chocolate.

 

They have some rare or hard-to-find stuff for the everyday shopper.  They had salt that was in it's original rock form, maybe weighing about a kilo.  They sold that with a cheese grater.  They had small jars of nappage (A shiny final coating mainly used by pastry professionals--very hard to find, if not impossible, at a retail store in the U.S.) What was truly unbelievable to me was the vacuum-packed duck confit.  Unable to get enough fat to confit your duck legs? Just go to the Grand Epicerie and it's already done for you.  I can spend hours in the store just looking through each aisle.  They also have foie gras, both duck and goose in many sizes and prices to match.  The largest size of goose fois gras was priced at 367 euros. 

 

Since it's right around the corner from where I'm staying, I have, walking around in awe at all they have.  When I took these pictures I pretended to appear as though I were actually shopping for something.  For some reason, photos are not allowed.  I had to get a photo of the duck confit though, so I took my little camera with me, turned off the flash, and took as many pictures as I could before I got caught. 

 

And get caught I did, right in the chocolate aisle.  The man who stopped me was a very serious suited fellow, normally he stands guard at the front with his earpiece in.   He rushed over and said, "Madame, no photo."  With a shocked look on my face in English, I said, "Oh, I'm so sorry."  I don't think he was buying it.  He glared at my camera, and I'm sure if we were anywhere near the Seine, he would have thrown it in.  I was able to get a few pictures to share.

 

If you want to put together a picnic lunch and don't want or have time to spend going to the outdoor market, a boulangerie, charcuterie, frommagerie, and patisserie separately, you can go to the Grand Epicerie and find all you need.  The price is a little higher, but you pay for the convenience.  The staff at the frommagerie was very helpful in helping me choose cheese that fit my particular taste.  I purchased a triple-creme Brillat Savarin and a hard Tomme di Pyrenees.  

The Grand Epicerie, located at 38 rue de Sevres, is right behind a park where rue Sevres, rue Raspail, and rue Babylone intersect (Metro:  Sevres-Babylone).  You are also within walking distance to the Champs des Mars, the park next to the Museum Invalides, and a short walk from the Seine.  They also have pre-made hot foods, sandwiches, and individually packed salads. 

Comments

[Jozee Pizzurro]

Wow, what a delightful place to shop. I am glad that you were able to take some great pictures before you got caught. I can just imagine that innocent look you gave the guard. Funny! Jozee

[Shelly Peppel]

I wonder how many 367 euro goose fois gras they sell! Did you go upstairs and shop for shoes afterwards? Looooooove Bon Marché. You're living the good life :-)

[Rozee]

Love the photo's. You certainly are in 7th Heaven, being among all that food. Sure makes me hungry for some of it.
Rozee

[Paula Aiello]

You know, after seeing all the wonderful photos you've taken, you REALLY ought to consider photography as a career. Food photography is a specialty and you could be great at it because you manage to make the food look good without using the silly tricks the "pros" use.

[Andrea]

La Grande Epicerie - the best shop in the world :)