Fauchon

Looking to save money in Paris by avoiding expensive restaurants and doing your own shopping? Don't go to Fauchon.

Fauchon is hands-down the most decadent gourmet supermarket in Paris, way more decadent than Le Bon Marché Épicerie. For example: with truffles (the mushroom kind) at 3400 euros per kilo, a 50-gram (1.76 oz.) sliver will still cost you 170 euros. Most everything else is similarly overpriced (although not usually so much per kilo). But the presentation is pretty impressive, at least in the boulangerie/patisserie/boucherie/charcuterie building, which is across the street from the restaurant/wine cellar/chocolaterie/épicerie building (which one of our friends referred to as "sterile").


And although we were too sticker-shocked to try one, their pâtisseries look pretty darn good - even amazing.


I'm not so much trying to tell you not to go to Fauchon - if you feel like splurging, or even if you just want to salivate over/complain about incredibly fancy and high-priced food, you should absolutely check it out. But if you're looking for high-quality, native French delicacies and "luxury" products like foie gras, rillettes, chocolates, and wine, go to any of the neighborhood shops you'll walk by on your way to and from the métro every day. Because out-of-control prices, even for the most delicious gourmet food, can leave a bitter taste in your mouth.