The Connoisseur

One-day discovery of cheese and wine tasting and pairing

Join us for an intimate experience discovering some of what makes Paris the gourmet capital of the world. Not only will you taste savory and sweet delights, but you will experience creating some of your own in private hands-on workshops. And what would a French gourmet’s experience be without wine and cheese?  And learn how to pair them with France’s unparalleled array of artisanal cheeses and more. From outdoor markets and specialty food shops frequented by locals, you will meet and learn from French culinary and wine experts as well as traditional artisans during an incomparable gourmet escapade in the City of Light.

For those whose appetite craves more – please have a look at The Epicurean, a 3-day tour with in-depth wine, pastry and restaurant discovery workshops.

 On weekdays:
one day between Tuesday to Friday

• Café croissant in St Germain des Prés

• Visit the oldest outdoor market of Paris

Café croissant in St Germain des Prés

The best of bakery:

“In staying true to its founding principles—making high quality bread for all—and in creatively joining the arts of living well and eating well, Poilâne has flourished, offering its savoir-faire across France and all over the world. At Poilâne, we use only carefully selected stone-ground local grains, and follow an ancestral slow fermentation technique with our natural sourdough leaven. We take our duties as bakers seriously: each handmade batch showcases our passion for transforming nutrient-rich grains through fermentation to create healthy breads with unique tastes.” L. Poilâne

 Paris’s famous outdoor markets

Visit one of Paris’ fabulous food markets – created in the early 17th century - in one of its traditional covered halls.

Wander the cornucopia of stands where the purveyors of the freshest fruits and vegetables hawk their wares alongside butchers, fishmongers and bakers.

These markets happen to be about more than just food, as important as this is, they are also central to the life of each neighborhood and preserve a community and a way of eating that is fast disappearing in many parts of the world.  

Cheese tasting and wine pairing in a traditional aging cellar

Visit a fromagerie (French cheese shop).

In an old cellar of the 18th century you will learn about the different families of cheeses – Camembert, Roquefort, Chevre, etc. – their regions, tastes, terroir, raw vs. pasteurized milks, and aging techniques.

You will learn how to taste cheese and how to pair them with the correct wines. Our chief fromager is the son of a Burgundy wine maker which means you will be in very good hands.

 A selection of these cheeses, breads, deli and fruits will accompany a buffet to close our private visit.

 Shopping in Paris’ specialty professional culinary shops

In case you are still hungry after such a treat, we may have dinner lately in an restaurant in the medieval quarter of “Les Halles” (a parisian and non touristic venue) : see description in The Epicurean tour (dinner on day 2).