Aman & Nadya’s
Guide to Paris: Food and Shopping
39 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France
Our
first meal in Paris was so gooood, we came back on the last day to have it
again. Apart from the big hoo ha of us eating escargots (this is a personal
choice, you did your research, we’ve also done our research so to each his own
ok!), the food was magnificent.
Le
Petit Gourmet is a small cozy restaurant and we were seated by the window. We
ordered quite a bit of food because we were so hungry and I remember us being
blown away by the steak and the duck confit. If you ever go there, please order
the special duck confit. It’s the bomb diggity bomb, guys. The food serving is
quite huge, every main will come with some form of carb, either spaghetti or
potatoes if I’m not wrong. They also have a set menu, which comes with a drink,
main course and dessert. The price is also quite affordable. Standard
restaurant pricing, I would say.
If
you’re staying near the Eiffel Tower, you have to take the subway. But if you’re
staying near Gare Du Nord, the restaurant is just a short walk away.
Nasi Lemak Paris - @nasilemakparis on Instagram
I didn’t really have a craving for Malay food but I kept seeing Nasi
Lemak Paris on my Instagram and I thought, ok let’s try. We’re going to have to
go all Italian for the next couple of days, so I told Aman, let’s order! Plus,
we were soooo tired from walking all around Paris that day, we thought ok let’s
just order in.
I would definitely recommend them. Ordering was so easy, I just had to
text the code number of what I wanted. We ordered Nasi Lemak with chicken and
Prawn Sambal. Yums. We bought drinks from the supermarket just across the street
and had our sumptuous dinner in the comfort of our hotel room. The whole
ordering process was easy and delivery was free, quick and on time.
Ladurée and Pierre Hermé
I don’t know how to compare this two but I love them both. Bought a
box of Ladurée as we were walking along Champs-Élysées. There is
also a Pierre Hermé outlet there but I went to the one at Rue Cambon. If you’re
thinking of buying Ladurée for your family back home, make your purchase at the
airport (after immigration, at the duty free shopping area). Not only is it tax
free, you don’t have to carry the fragile macarons all the way to the airport.
Crepes
I don’t know if it’s just my mentality or crepes in Paris taste so
much better. You can find crepe stalls quite easily, there are a few around the
Eiffel Tower area but take note that it is a bit pricey. Otherwise, you’ll somehow
chance upon crepe stalls on your way back to your hotel. We shared a crepe,
strawberries with Nutella, it was piping hot and we had it on a super cold day.
Really syiok. There are so many fillings to choose from, so take your pick.
102 rue de paris
A French family friend brought us to a certified Halal Italian
restaurant. It’s not within the touristy area of Paris so we had to take a
subway out from our hotel, Ecole Militaire > Invalides > Mairie de
Clichy. From there, you have to walk a bit before reaching the restaurant. I
had Chicken Cordon Bleu and Aman had Spaghetti Bolognese. Highlight of the
dinner would be the Halal Foie Grae. The creamy texture of the foie grae, eaten
with biscuits or bread and jam. Yummeh! Such an interesting experience for us :) Thank you Charlene!
Grand Mosque of Paris
Around the area of the Grand Mosque of Paris, there are several halal
restaurants. I can’t remember the name of the restaurant we went to, but just
ask the people working at the mosque and they will happily give you directions.
Its just a 3-4 minutes walk from the mosque and you’ll find a row of halal
restaurants. We settled for one and had kebab, couscous and the works :)
Supermarket – Pastries and Puddings
Get a hotel near a small supermarket so you don’t have to take the
hotel room with breakfast. For all our hotels, we took it without breakfast as we
prefer buying our own. Afterall, you’re in Paris. Try the croissants, pastries
and the 1001 different puddings and desserts from the supermarket. We always
made sure to buy some back so that we can have our breakfast in our hotel room,
or even have it at night if you’re feeling peckish.
37 rue de la Bûcherie
75005 Paris
This was an unplanned rest stop for us. It was soooo cold so we
thought, ok let’s get a hot cup of drink to warm ourselves up. If you’re tired
from walking to the Notre Dame Cathedral from The Grand Mosque of Paris, this
would be a good rest stop. The café is a bit small though so you might have to
wait for a seat.
Shopping
64, BOULEVARD HAUSSMANN
75009 PARIS – FRANCE
75009 PARIS – FRANCE
Shopping in Paris is heavenly. If you’re thinking of buying branded
goods, majority of tourists will head to Galeries La Fayette. I prefer going to
Printemps, just a short walk away from Galeries Lafayette as it is less crowded
and I get better service. Tax refund process is done in the same building. You
can opt for cash or credit card but they will give you a lower amount if you
opt for cash. Please remember to submit your tax refund forms at the airport before
leaving Paris!
Souvenirs
Get the Eiffel tower keychains from the African sellers around the
Eiffel tower area. They sell them wayyyyyy cheaper and you can bargain with
them as compared to buying it from proper tourist souvenirs stalls. If you’re
buying t-shirts or other souvenirs, head towards Sacré-Cœur
Basilica.There are so many souvenir shops selling
a large variety of souvenirs from t-shirts, postcards to actual figurines of
Paris landmarks.
When it comes to food, always ask. Is there alcohol? Gelatine?
Animal-based products? Whenever we bought anything from the supermarket, we
always made sure to check the ingredients first before purchasing. Ingredients
in another language? Get Google Translate. Its heaven sent. Just take a photo
and it will translate all the ingredients for you.
We enjoyed every bit of our Paris trip. We walked, explored and tried
many new things. I hope my entry has somehow helped you craft your own itinerary.
At the end of the day, I am writing this blog entry not only as a guide, but as
a way for me to remember my first trip with Aman :)
Much love,
Nadya Abd
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