I would like to make this trip to Paris a culinary one...any fun suggestions. I saw a chocolate walking tour -

You're going in August, right? I'm not sure that is prime chocolate season in Paris.

You should probably indicate your budget, if you have one, for foodie thrills. In Paris, the sky's the limit, but you can have marvelous treats for a few euros too.

You should post your exact dates because some places close for parts of August.

davidlebovitz.com

You really should check out this excellent website before you make any further plans. David is a cookbook author living in Paris who blogs about food, chocolate and his adopted city with great panache.

some time first 3 weeks of august...and I am on a budget - don't need fancy meals - just fun and experiential!

thanks saige - good idea

You'll know what to ignore reading this site, but it might give you some clues:

http://www.gourmet.com/travel/cityguides/paris

If you are on a budget, it makes sense to limit how much you spend on sit-down meals and instead, haunt the crepe stands, cheese sellers, bakeries, and summer markets to pick up treats. You might end up having to really ratchet down on sit-down meals -- meaning, you eat cheap first and foremost and hope for the best, and piece together the thrills piece by piece from vendors.

Others with more recent experience may disagree, but I have found in the past that when I wanted to sit down and eat something tasty in Paris on a budget, Leon de Bruxelles was fine -- but I like mussels.

http://www.leon-de-bruxelles.fr/les_...ts_a_paris.php

and this might help you

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-paris-1.cfm

I quite agree with zeppole, picking up foods like fresh bread, cheese, fruit and chocolate for picnics is a great way to save money and still have good food in Paris. If you haven't tried mussels, this is a great opportunity to discover a wonderful new food!

I might skip the mussels - I usually do the picnic thing when I travel - all sounds good

As a foodie in Paris I am attracted to the food market streets such as Rue de Buci.
Those golden chickens roasting, dripping on potatoes,cheese shops with hundreds of different and smelly choices.Bakeries,fresh produce and a supermarket for everything else.
I think it might be my favorite street in Paris.

A wonderful lower end pricewise place to try the recipes of a top chef is Cocottes on rue St. Dominique in the 7th. It's one of the christian Constant places with a no reservation policy and all/most of its food served in small Staub pots. Excellent food at minimal prices, e.g. 15 euros for some mains.

Pomze was one restaurant that sounds interesing, uses apples in all of his menus.

Don't forget the simple things..crepes from a street vendor, Amorino and Berthillon ice cream, a nice sandwich mixte, and of course the patisseries.

ONe trip I used the Michelin Red Guide as a place to find restaurants. Not the 'star'ed' ones, but the ones they recommended as good value or good regional food. It worked out nicely, went to some smaller places.

bookmarking

If your want to really blow out a culinary experience and you don't mind spending for it...L'Atelier Joel Robuchon was sooo decadent and delicious. We went for lunch and got the menu degustation and it is the most expensive meal we have ever had but it was fabulous. We still talk about it and they were very kind to us. You can order a la carte and keep the cost down some. We loved the decor, as well. It was one of those, "what the hell, let's do it" things and we are glad we did it. But I like a street crepe, as much as the next person too!

Oh, Amorino... I can't wait to get back in October. Amorino, Amorino... it's calling my name...

hmm yumm paris food guide.. bookmarking

A friend recommended the below website for the top 10 paris bistrots

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...is.restaurants

I have been to Chez Germaine and agree with the reviewer. The crepe cart outside St Germain metro is great. One of the best budget sit down meals I have ever had was a spontaneous walk up, look at the menu and just sit down. Look for lots of locals as a tipoff to a great place.

There are several foodie tours in addition to chocolate. Sign into our Paris Forum as a guest and get lots of good suggestions. Several members lead free foodie tours. It's probably too late to sign up for a cooking class at Daniel Rose's Spring but you could try.

I think the Strret markets like Buci and Cler really lack the true market feel. Try Saxe Breteuil or Richard Lenoir markets

Lots of wine tastings always available

Well, if you are going for "fun and experiential", you might consider Dans Le Noir http://www.danslenoir.com/accueil/accueil.php
It is a restaurant in which you eat in total darkness. All of the wait staff is blind. We found it an extraordinary experience.

Definitely take a cooking class! I took four while I was there in January, and I can't wait to go back in October and hopefully take some more. It was so much fun!

Some options include:

Ateliers des Chefs (Taught in French)
L'Ecole Ritz Escoffier
Cookn with Class (www.cooknwithclass.com)
Le Cordon Bleu