We'll be leaving on an 11:30 am flight from CDG back to the states - with about 20 hours of flight and airport time until we get home. Though I know we'll be sad to leave, does anyone have any suggestions for a last high quality (early) breakfast in Paris that will send us on our journey well sustained?
Also, what would foods would folks suggest to bring home - and perhaps sample on the plane without annoying nearby passengers (stinky cheese is probably out). We're flying coach on Delta, so won't be expecting too much from the on-flight food service.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Which district are you staying at? That will help others to answer your breakfast question.

As to what foods to bring back I suggest to bring back as many pastries as possible. You can sample them on he plane and get envious looks.

Hi wren,

Bring back macarons from Pierre Herme' and/or Laduree.

Lots of places will provide you with sandwiches of all sorts.

Stop at a local pastry shop and pick up a few to go. We did this every evening we were in Paris and brought them back to our hotel room for dessert later on.

The only thing it may make the other passengers on the plane do is drool.

Bonjour wren!
Having just returned from Paris- we did this also, having a 15 hour trip ahead of us.
I picked up bread and pastries at the local Boulangerie. You can bring cheese, just be sure it is mild and non-smelly (Brie is my favorite) and fruit, a small box of crackers, (we used the local FranPrix) and of course, chocolates (in any form)
It was interesting to see the petite lady travelling with a chef from Paris, who after take-off, unwrapped a long baguette stuffed with cheese and proceeded to demolish it all by herself..
Do take a good book, some magazines and watch all the videos, no matter how boring..it is such a looong flight home and our layover in Newark was 4 hours...zzzz.
Bon Appetit & Bon Voyage!

Go to Paul's for breakfast (there are several in Paris) and have them put together a box lunch for the plane. Also get some macarons to bring back - Pierre Hermes.

I always go to a patisserie or boulangerie or fromagerie for provisions for the flight home. I love watching everyone else's faces (i'm sadistic I know) when they did into their chicken or beef, and I pull out a quiche, cheeses, and pastries.

We took the Eurostar over Xmas time and stopped at Fabien LeDoux at 12 Rue Mabillon in the 6th. This is a boulangerie and they were so kind to us. We took croissants, quiche, juices for breakfast and they packed us a fabulous lunch of sandwiches and pastries for the train. We ate the breakfast while we were waiting at the Gare du Nord. On the train, people really were salivating and give us hungry looks while we ate our lunch as they were relegated to buying stale sandwiches from the bar car. Hope you are staying near there to be able to indulge. Also, if you are near a Monoprix, they have a great take out department as well. We went from Paris to London and brought with us all sorts of yummy cookies, choclates, and packaged goods and we were grateful.

Just be cautioned, you are not allowed to bring back to the States fresh fruits & vegetables, meats, and soft cheese. All this is great to bring on your first leg, but once you land in the States, it will not be allowed.

When we arrived at Newark, there were dogs sniffing in the baggage area prior to going thru customs -- several people were caught.

Be prepared to eat airport food once you arrive in the States.

So, eat the baguettes, patries, fruit and whatnot before you get to teh states; save the chocolates for when you're IN the States! A can or two of pate wouldn't hurt much either...

HI
if you go to pagesjaunes.fr and search on Boulangeries Paul (suggested above) you will get a list of the many locations, and they do open early

You will need to be in the cab headed for the airport at 8AM. Cafes will be open. Bakeries probably. You could eat breakfast at the airport with better choice of food probably. We have done that. You can bring back cheese of any kind. No meats or sausage unless tinned, like foie gras. You'll get a couple of meals on the plane. I don't find trans-atlantic meals all that bad.
It seems easier to me to eat while waiting for the plane--luggage is gone, you are where you need to be.

There is also a Paul's kiosk in the CDG airport before you go through security. I picked up a great sandwich and a pastry there, since I was in a rush. There is also a second Paul's on the below level as you come out of CDG on your way to exit the airport.

To save time, we bought several pains au chocolate at Paul's the night before our flight; they were just fine the following morning.

Thanks for all the great ideas. We'll be staying at the Hotel des Grandes Ecole, in the 5th (Contrescarpe neighborhood). I've been to Paris and stayed there before, but this will be my husbands first trip. One of the reasons I love the Grandes Ecole is for it's courtyard. I know hotel breakfasts usually aren't a bargain, but the ambiance of having cafe au lait and warm croissants/baguettes served to you in a Paris courtyard in June is definitely worth the price. It's also a pleasant place to enjoy your market finds and goodies!

Wren2, are you going to be at the Grandes Ecoles at the end of June? I am going to be there also for 3 days..

We'll be there in early June. I'd stick with the Grande Ecole breakfast, but thought we'd better add more protein with on a long travel day.

Love the idea of getting a box lunch made up and/or building our own. Will definitely check out Paul's. Any other highly recommended places for "to go" foods?

A good cheese shop can now vacuum pack your cheese. Furhtermore you can tell them the date that you will consume it, and it will be ripened by that date and not before. Thus the cheese should not be that ripe while traveling with it, and will not emit an odor in the cabin.