Where to buy cheese to Paris
 

Hi,

We are going to Paris in October. What kind of cheese should we buy in Paris and where's a good place we can go to buy them?

Thanks

You should buy cheeses that you like to eat, not ones recommended by strangers on the internet. Given that France produces hundreds of varieties, you have a lot to choose from. If you go to a fromagerie you are likely to be able to sample different ones. But supermarkets have an astonishing variety as well. There's no one good place to go buy cheese - just go somewhere nearby where you're staying - cheese will never be far away.

Charles de Gaulle said: "How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?"

Sample all of them and find your favorites. IMHO I've never met a goat cheese I didn't like.

Make sure that you have refrigeration in your room to keep them cold AND make sure that your cheese is a hard cheese as customs agents are always checking flights for those goodies.

Without knowing what types of cheese you like - how can anyone make a reco.

Hard?
Soft?
Goat milk?
Bleu?
Sharp?
Bland?
Stongly flavored?

If you tell us you favorites (assuming they aren't already French people can make recos. But - you can get the same info at any fromagerie along with more details about the specific cheeses they carry.

De Gaulle, for once, underestimated. I've read that France has more mustards than that number, never mind cheeses. I like to go to the street markets, which open a day or two a week, or to specialty stores, of which I'll bet there are 246 examples in Paris (I was too busy eating to actually count.) You can find up-market stores that put on the airs of wine-tasting bars but I like to see the rustic spreads on market stalls with rustic experts behind them who may or may not have the time to offer explanations. Bon appetit indeed.

For the less than experienced cheese lovers, the number one place to buy cheese in Paris is Barthélémy, 51 Rue de Grenell, in the 7th.

Or, at Androuet, 37, rue de Verneuil, Paris 7.

You will find cheese everywhere and in a good restaurant experience thee cheese tray to find what you prefer.

I agree with Southam. The best cheese we had was one we sampled at the market. The vendor talked us into trying his best cheese, and then when we decided to buy, but didn't have the correct change, he threw in another cheese for our change! A great story to go with great cheese.

Most good cheese shops will now vacuum seal the cheese upon request. They will also sell the cheese according to its degree of ripeness. One can tell the vendor that the camembert should be ready in three days and that it involves travel with no refrigeration, and s/he will choose the appropriate cheese for those conditions.

Quattrehomme is an excellent cheese shop, as is Barthelemy.

Barthelemy, without a doubt!
Do not expect the same experience you encounter buying cheese in the US. In my experience there is no sampling to help you decide on a choice(s) : you must be quick in making a decision. Spend time looking at the cheeses before you step into line. My experience has always been that the staff is impatient and expects you to know what you want. However, this is one of THE very best places to buy cheese in Paris.
For other recommendations, in other Arrondisements, try Patricia Well's Paris food app.

The most fun place to buy cheese is at one of the street markets with a cheese display to make you weep. There are cheese shops on every market street. We loved the one on rue Cler.
What are you going to do with it? Bring it home? Eat it in your room? what do you like (as others have said)?
One of my favorites is coulumier, which you cannot buy in the US.
YOu ARE allowed to bring cheese back into the US.

P.S.: I had forgotten about the outdoor markets. There will be good cheeses there and the experience might be more comfortable if you are new to cheeses and want to discuss the relative merits/sample.
Also, cheese should be served at room temperature for maximum flavor. Yes, do store your cheese in the refrigerator, but there is no point in buying fine cheese and eating it right out of the while it is still cold.

<i>coulumier, which you cannot buy in the US. </i>

Coulommiers is available in the States, at least in large cities, but it is made of pasteurized milk, whereas the best is made from raw milk.

That's what I really meant, although I haven't been able to find it in pretty good/big places like Whole Foods, and the pretty extensive cheese counter at Southern Season.
Thanks for the spell correction--I knew it was wrong when I did it!!