My sister and I are renting an apartment in Paris for a week in June. We'll have 3 teens with us. She and I think that we'd cook or eat in for the most part of our meals to save money. But seriously, I wonder how much cooking we'd truly end up doing after each day's touristy activities.

Do you have any quick and easy ideas for a Parisian/French menu for dining/cooking in, or maybe a wonderful French style take-away meals?

TIA

That is the good part about renting an apartment, you can cook or you don't have to but at least you have the option.

If you see something good in one of the markets, just buy it and cook it.

Have fun.

The meal where you can really save money is breakfast. You can buy fruit, yogurt, orange juice, and bread at the local market. Also, it's nice (and less expensive) to take an aperitif in your apartment before dinner, with cheese or other snacks.

I think there was another thread with this same topic recently.

Just had this same thread a week ago:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35121913

Stu Dudley

I don't, or not as much as I thought I would, but with three teens...

You'll save a fortune on breakfast. And, beverages. Find the nearest grocery store and stock up. We buy a couple of small bottles, then everything in litres and refill.

And, for sure, the "wonderful take-away places" are amazing. Especially for roasted chickens and all sorts of sides to go with them.

Be SURE to find the nearest Picard - frozen food heaven, and not what you'd presume. High quality foods, easy to prepare quickly in microwave - and in quantities if you like (meats, vegetables, potatoes every way imaginable). Also good for soup bases, authentic sauces, all sorts of ice cream and snacks.

I no longer gather in the markets. It's just too time consuming. And, it's best to go early, then you have to return to the apartment with your things before heading out for the day. And, I always forget something or can't find it.

Lucky for us, there was a take-away place right across the street for breads, sandwiches and desserts.

About those chickens...find out what time they close, and order ahead. Trying to pick one up on your way home is often not successful. Either they've run out, or those remaining are "reserved".

Our apartment had a combo microwave/convection oven. So, making those "tartines" - French bread heaped with fresh vegetables, herbs, tomatoes, CHEESE, was fantastic!

One problem with eating out with teens is that the beverages seriously increase the tab!

Yes, I agree about the breakfast savings. That alone saves a bunch of money for five people. We ate breakfast in our apartment every day in Paris. We also had the wine and cheese before going out in the evening. And teens usually want lots of snacks - so having the kitchen helps. We also picked up chicken, etc., at the neighborhood delis or markets. One night we got pizza and brought back to the apartment. You can also pick up quiche, desserts, sandwiches, etc. at the bakeries. There are also frozen dinners that are supposed to be quite good that different ones have reported on this forum. Even if you don't eat at home every night, it will be a big savings if you can several times. Some people enjoy buying the ingredients and cooking nice dinners, but we never really cooked - just picked up food at different places.

I have never used a rented apartment for cooking, but it is possible to buy terrific food that you don't have to cook. First of all, I always buy fruit to have on hand, as that is one thing I don't seem to get when I eat out all the time. Then I love to get the local cheese, charcuterie, and bread, and keep it on hand for easy meals. Last month I was on my own in Paris for the first time, and I got roast chicken and potatoes at the Bastille market.

The bakeries have wonderful pastries for dessert and croissants or pain au chocolat for breakfast.

Eating one meal a day in a restaurant is usually quite enough. One of the best things about staying in an apartment is that when you pass all the wonderful displays of food in the shops, you can buy them and take them home rather than just window shopping.

Thank you all so much for the replies and suggestions! I'm now totally pumped about going to Paris. I sort of dreaded the idea of having to cook something (hate to chop things and clean up afterwards). Plus the kitchen I expect, would be tiny and won't have all the tools I need to make a meal for five of us!

I'm not much of a breakfast eater, but I want my coffee in the morning first thing, though a piece of toast or croissant with jam would be nice. But I'd be darned if I have to put some clothes on first thing, just to buy a cup of coffee down the street before showering! ;-) I hated having to do that so when we stayed at a hotel last year. By the time we all got ready to go out, I was dying for my first cup of joe. I want to chill out much more this time, and save Euros, too.

Oh, yeah. When we stayed in a hotel last year, there was no room to enjoy our wine and cheese. It was quite pathetic to drink wine from plastic cups sitting on our beds in a crampy room. So I am looking forward to lots of pre-made food (cheese, fruit, bread, pastries, and wine, of course) to be enjoyed in our apartment DINING ROOM/TERRACE this time around!

Much thanks again to all of your suggestions.

Eating out at lunchtime is cheaper and we tend to do that especially as our 10 yr old likes to eat dinner fairly early. We also enjoy having a leisurely lunch break to rest our feet between sightseeing.
For dinners at the apartment we cook very simply; pasta with sauce for example or we don't 'cook' we buy fresh bread, cheese, ham, fruit etc as others have described.

We have done a number of home exchanges(in France, though not in Paris) where the kitchens were very well equipped with cooking pans, knives, condiments, and food especially left for us.

Although we usually ate lunch or dinner out (one meal), we shopped at the local markets. They have so many prepared foods, from crepes, to stews, to frozen foods like pizzas and prepared meals, etc that if you don't feel like preparing a meal, you can easily put one together simply and cheaply with very little strain and still find yourself sampling some interesting things.

You will find all kinds of cheeses, butters, breads, various chickens, etc to sample. Even tuna fish comes canned in all kinds of interesting varieties with tomatoes, olives, etc.

We did not do much cooking, but we did do some, since my husband was often intrigued (and later delighted) by some of the fresh foods he could buy and later cook. We, also found after shopping frequently at large supermarkets, that some of this prepared market food was sometimes presented to us as restaurant fare.

It is a good compromise having a kitchen where you can eat breakfast, and a light meal either at lunch or dinner. We found it more relaxing, not having to explain why (I'm a vegetarian . . the chicken mentioned above was for my husband!) and wanted only the first course. And of course in the days before the smoking ban in restaurant, it meant cleaner air.

Good luck and enjoy your apartment stay. We love having the extra room an apartment provides. Itis so comfortable to be able to spread out. Have a good time.

We usually rent apartments while in Pairs and enjoy the conveniece of going to the local shops for excellent ready to heat take out or the open street markets to pick up fresh fruit, produce and baked goods. Buying wine, beer, soda or champagne in the Monoprix or small grocery stores is by far cheaper than going to a cafe. There is much information on this site about the street markets and their days/hours they are open. Each neighborhood has several that are open different days of the week so that you can always buy fresh items. Please feel free to email me should you want more detailed information about them. The teenagers can also get into the act preparing some of the food goodies bought at the markets or specialty stores on streets like the Rue du Buci and the Rue Cler. As for eating out, some of the street vendors in the 5th and 6th around the Place St. Michel offer great values and decent food. My husband and kids love the Gyros and Falalfel spots where you can get a meal for 4-5 euros complete with drink. They also love the crepes and panini sandwiches from street vendors at 3-4 euros.
We often get fresh seafood to cook quickly with fresh veggies or we do some sort of pasta. Some of the butcher shops have stuffed pork roasts that cook up nicely along with super selections of sausages, cheeses etc. at the charcuteries. Love the hotdog sausages baked right into the rolls at the boulangerie. For a splurge check out the salads, take out main courses and the sinful desserts at Gerard Mulot on the Rue du Seine in the 6th. Maison Kaiser Rue Monge( 5th) has fresh from the oven baguettes in the morning to die for. Enjoy!

As others have said, it's easy to eat healthy and well without turning on the oven. One of my favourite dinners is a huge fresh salad with olive oil and vinegar, fresh bread, and cheese for dessert. You can make up meals from cured meats, roasted chicken, humus, fresh nuts, fruit, yogurt, and boxed cereal. Try out different mustards and vinegars. Keep a jar of Nutella on hand.

I personally find it much easier to throw together a simple meal after a long day of sightseeing, than going out in search of a restaurant feeling tired and hungry and maybe ending up with a not-so-great dinner besides. Plus it's fun to go grocery shopping in a different country.

Usually we make up a cold plate using all the wonderful fresh ingredients, add bread, wine, some pastry and it's so good. Then take a little walk after dinner, just like at home. heaven.

There are two reasons why I have not cooked much in rented apartments (no, laziness isn't one of them, because I like to cook).

The first one is that the kitchen equipment provided is usually not very good -- particularly the knives and the pots and pans.

The second one is that for one or two proper meals it can actually work out quite expensive because you would need to buy a selection of store cupboard items, much of which you would end up not having time to use.

Breakfast and snacks, yes, and on those alone you can save quite a bit.

Absolutely plan to cook a meal or two in your apartment. After a busy day there is nothing like going home to a simple meal and some wine. Shopping in the grocery market is an essential part of the enjoying the culture and a greta deal of fun. Like I said just plan the evenings up front.

I don't actually "cook" but I do make good use of an apartment kitchen for light breakfasts (yogurt & juice), the frig to keep leftovers, and "make" meals put together from various take-away (bakeries, grocery stores, delis).

Yes, I do cook in the apartments that we have rented. One thing that I always bring with me are a few things to cook with so that I don't have to buy them at the store to cook only 2-3 meals.

I always bring a very sharp knife, target has some really cheap Henkles, 4 for $10, I don't usually bring them back.
I put salt and pepper and a few spices that I always use in little zip-locks, put all of them in one big Ziploc and I am set to go. It weighs nothing and takes no space. Ther is always at least one big pot or frypan to make a meal in

A simple dinner to cook while vacationing is pasta.
Saute an onion and garlic in the fry pan with olive oil, any veggie such as zucchini , broccoli ,spinish,tomatoes, what ever there is fresh that day. I use angle hair pasta broken up, throw that in the pan above with a can of chicken broth and if need be some water, it will cook in about 3 mins, you want the liquid to totally evaporate so don't add water unless it needs it, top with cheese. For a more substantial dinner I will use some roasted chicken or fish is you want, add bread and wine, viola, dinner in about 15 mins.

Another favorite sauce to make for pasta, very easy, two egg yokes beaten with a handful of parmigiana cheese and olive oil, throw in hot pasta that has been tossed with a little butter, the heat will cook the egg enough so that it is not raw, you can add chopped tomatoes and basil if they are in season.

The scallops are to die for in Paris and quite expensive in a restaurant and not nearly enough. I will buy them at the local fish store, saute them in a little olive oil, garlic ,balsamic vinegar and seasoning, take them out and whisk in a little creme fresh and serve all of this over a bed of greens, oh how I wish I were there now cooking this one!

I agree with others that sometimes it is more work to come home, freshen up and go out to a restaurant for a nice 2-3 hour dinner. Sometimes I am just too tired for this.

Susanna makes a good point about the knives. Most apartments have dull knives. I do the same as she and leave the one I bought behind....don't forget to pack it in your checked bag. I also bring a single pot vacuum sealed packet of coffee - just in case the apartment has none....nothing tastes better the morning you arrive than a pot of familiar coffee (and pack sweetner too)

Yes, I do cook - and am planning on cooking when we are there for 10 nights in December. With 3 teens, unless you have a big bank account you want to spend on food - you might indeed find yourself cooking

booking marking this thread...

Dawn

Susanna also makes a good point about the herbs.

I pack my favorites in those tiny zip locks for pills. Along with some white peppercorns. Purchasing these in Paris is quite the investment, unless you find them in beautiful jars and tins and want to collect them to bring home and refill (I love the names in French on them and the beautiful labels).

Fresh herbs are available all over, but in fairly large bunches.