What you must eat in Paris, a gastronomic capital of the world

Dip a buttery croissant into your coffee as you recollect the dizzying views from the Eiffel Tower. Sample some foie gras or escargots while you reminisce about your favourite works of art from the Louvre. Take everything in – the sights and flavours of the City of Light. Soak up the atmosphere in Montmartre as you dine on duck confit, or in the bustling Quartier Latin while you snack on a croque monsieur. Browse our list of ten foods you must try during your stay in Paris, to experience the city with all your senses!

This luxury food is synonymous with Christmas and New Year celebrations in France. The Aquitaine region is the leading producer of foie gras in France, but no French festive table would be complete without some mouthwatering slices of this delicacy served with toasted bread, brioche or gingerbread, and a dollop of fig jam. It tops our list of things you must eat in Paris. Specially trained artisans make it from the livers of mulard and Muscovy ducks or Landes grey geese, which are carefully fattened using techniques that have been passed down for hundreds of years. The prepared livers are then soaked in Armagnac, Cognac or Pineau before being made into a smooth, creamy terrine. Try it with pear chutney at Millésime, located in the sleek Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles Expo Hotel.

What is the most famous thing to eat in Paris? Along with frogs’ legs, escargots would have to be one of France’s most emblematic dishes. Who but the French could turn the humble snail into a gastronomic icon? The king of edible snails is the Burgundy snail, which measures about four centimetres. The sought-after creatures can be prepared in a number of ways, but the general consensus is that they are best cooked in their shells with plenty of butter, garlic and parsley. They are also served in their shells, and you eat them with a special pair of tongs and a tiny fork. Try them at the classic Escargot Montorgueil.

A tradition from the south-west of France, confit de canard is a way of preserving duck. The meat is slow-cooked in its own fat, then placed in jars which are sealed air-tight with a protective layer of duck fat. The age-old recipe for duck confit involves frying or grilling the meat in a small amount of fat until the skin is brown and crispy, then roasting garlic-seasoned potatoes in the remaining fat to accompany it. D’Chez Eux is renowned for some of the best duck confit in Paris.

Ask any French traveller what they miss the most when away from home and the answer will inevitably be: le fromage. Take advantage of your time in Paris to try as many varieties as you can – there are more than a thousand different kinds! There are spreadable cheeses such as Boursin; soft cheeses with a bloomy rind like Camembert or Brie; soft, washed-rind cheeses, including Maroilles (of ‘Welcome to the Sticks’ fame); uncooked, pressed cheeses such as Cantal, and cooked, pressed, cheeses like the tangy Comté. Then there are blue-veined cheeses like Roquefort and Bleu d'Auvergne, or goat's cheeses such as Rocamadour or Crottin de Chavignol. Order a cheese board instead of dessert in any Paris restaurant, or stop in at The Cheese School of Paris to taste to your heart’s delight.

If you love pastry, you must try this ethereal cake. An urban myth would have it named after the patron saint of pastry chefs (yes, there is one!). As it happens, Saint Honoré is the patron saint of bakers. Apparently however, this classic French dessert actually bears the name of the street where its creator, Auguste Chiboust, resided. A disk of light-as-air flaky pastry is crowned with a ring of cream-filled choux pastries drizzled with caramel. The centre is filled with more crème chiboust and topped with whipped cream piped through a special Saint-Honoré piping tip. Taste your slice of heaven at Le Bar du Faubourg in the chic Sofitel Paris le Faubourg hotel.

The ideal quick-stop snack to renew your strength after climbing all those steps in Montmartre, the croque monsieur is the quintessential French grilled cheese sandwich. Containing a slice of ham and grated Emmental or Comté cheese mixed with cream and mustard, and with more of the delicious cheesy mixture on top, this is a very more-ish sandwich. At Fric-Frac, you will find many variations on this tasty theme, to eat in or take out, or even order on-line.

The French do classic favourites well and this is no exception. Your steak will be done the way you like it – from blue to well-done (although the chef may think it a pity if you order it well-done) – and your chips will be crisp on the outside and soft in the centre. The entrecôte, or rib steak, is considered the best cut. After an afternoon wandering through the Louvre's galleries, enjoy one at the Bistrot Victoires (6 rue de la Vrillière, 75001 Paris; tel: +33 1 42 61 43 78).

Originating from the east of France, the Quiche Lorraine, with its smoked bacon and creamy egg filling, is the best-known quiche variety. Apparently, the earliest egg tarts were not made with pastry, but bread dough. We have the Franco-Prussian war to thank for this dish making its way across the nation, as local inhabitants were forced out of the Lorraine region, bringing their delicious recipe with them. Today there are countless combinations of quiche fillings and it is definitely one of the must-eat dishes in Paris. Try the delectable salmon and spinach quiche at Le Petit Baigneur (10 rue de la Sablière, 75014 Paris; tel: +33 1 45 45 47 12).

Originally from Brittany, the crepe must surely be the most sophisticated of comfort foods. A fitting finale to a fine meal when soaked in orange caramel sauce and flambéed with Grand Marnier (“Crepes Suzette”), a folded crepe with a humble sprinkling of sugar or jam is also a perfectly portable afternoon snack. All along the scale between these two extremes lie endless possibilities of toppings. Be sure to try salted butter caramel, with or without apples. Or, if you’re in a savoury mood, opt for a buckwheat galette, filled with ham, cheese and egg, or a more sophisticated combination of goat’s cheese, honey and walnuts, or scallops and leeks. Paris abounds with creperies, among them:

• Little Breizh: 11 rue Grégoire de Tours, 75006 Paris; tel: +33 1 43 54 60 74
• Mad’eo: 14 rue de Cadix, 75015 Paris; tel: +33 1 42 50 52 43
• La Creperie Bretonne: 56 rue du Montparnasse, 75014 Paris; tel: +33 1 43 20 89 58

What could be more French than a croissant? And what better place to eat one than Paris? This delightfully crisp and buttery crescent roll can hold its own, but it you’re particularly gourmand, a dab of jam is allowed. If a chocolate viennoiserie is what tempts your tastebuds, a pain au chocolat is the best choice for you. Then there are pains aux raisins – flaky spirals filled with pastry cream and raisins – apple turnovers, brioches, tiny sugar-sprinkled chouquettes, and the list goes on! Maybe the best option would be to order a basket of mini-viennoiseries, so you can sample one of each…

The French art de vivre includes knowing how to eat well. It’s not just what you eat, but when, where and how. Food is to be enjoyed intentionally – better to go hungry than eat something substandard. Better to wait until you can focus on the textures, colours and flavours on your plate rather than swallow something on the run. Take time to enjoy your culinary adventure in Paris!