Paris by Mouth

Category Archives: Primers

Oysters in Paris

In a half shell, here’s everything you need to know about buying, ordering, and eating oysters in Paris.

Can’t distinguish your colvert from your crapaudine? No need to grouse – we’ve created a glossary for all the gibier (wild game) jargon that you’ll find on Paris menus in the fall. Bécasse we love you.

Truffles – Black Diamond Basics

It’s truffle season in Paris, and the knobby tubers are turning up on restaurant menus all over town. Many people, however, don’t know their Alba from their elbow, and can’t understand why a kilo of fungus might sell for thousands of euros. Are are some basics, with a little help from truffle maven Patricia Wells.

Our guides are constantly tasting and learning since there are more than 500 cheeses in France. It’s a tough job…

#1 among Paris food tours on TripAdvisor because we keep our groups tiny, spend generously in the best shops, and pair you with the most insanely knowledgable guides. Here are just a handful of the rave reviews we received in recent weeks:

“Latin Quarter– Our guide, Aurélien, was knowledgeable, responsive and extremely articulate in English. Beyond that, he was clearly capable of handling questions of a more detailed or technical nature – explaining the intricacies of refining cheeses, the history of the area, or the grueling process of becoming one of France’s now only 12 extant master chocolatiers (MOFs). Thoroughly enjoyable, informative and tasty. Would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Perfectly ripe cheeses, like this runny Époisses

“Simply Amazing. The guide’s command of French cuisine, history and law was engrossing. In the small amount of time that we were together, the group formed a friendly bond. I have been on many vacations and tours. This was one of the best. Tip: don’t eat before the tour. You will have plenty of food during the trip and may end up being over full. I wish I could give them a higher rating.”

“Highlight of Paris. My two older teens and I did the tour of the Latin Quarter with Aurelian as our very knowledgeable and friendly guide. There were only 5 of us on the tour that centered around rue Mouffetard, one of the most famous market streets in Paris… The tour lasted 3 hours and we left with full tummies and smile on our faces. I would do this again in a heartbeat. A wonderful way to spend a morning/lunch in Paris!”

The wine is always flowing on our food tours! And we’ll help you understand how to pair them with the many cheeses we’ll be tasting.

“Wonderful, memorable way to taste the best of Paris. It was truly a highlight of our four days in Paris… Isabelle is a charming teacher, a trained pastry cook and a wonderfully knowledgeable guide to the world of French food… I would most highly recommend the Paris by Mouth tours to anyone who loves food and French culture — and was a little sorry we hadn’t scheduled yet another while we were here!”

Many of our guides are trained pastry chefs, so they can really help you understand what makes French desserts so special.

“Highly Recommend!!! I missed out on this tour last year because it books up quickly due to the small group sizes. Once I knew I’d be returning to Paris at the end of March I asked PBM to notify me once their Spring 2018 schedule was available. They remembered me and they did follow up which was greatly appreciated. I did the Marais tour with Andres which was fantastic. Such a friendly guy and fun to chat with. I think this is a must do on your list if you’re visiting Paris.”

What makes for a prize-winning baguette? Two of our guides have judged this annual competition and can help you understand.

“Book this event! Wife and I joined 2 other couples for a tour of The Left Bank with Stephen. He is outstanding… My wife was not looking forward to this part of our trip but right afterwards she said “we should try to book another one of these before we fly home.”

Chocolates from a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF). There’s a reason we go for the pricey stuff.

“A culinary feast for the senses. This was a great activity to not only walk around to get used to the local time, but also obtain knowledgeable recommendations on what to look for in good quality breads, meats, cheeses, chocolates, and wine for the rest of my trip… Lizzie was an extremely knowledgeable and engaging guide… I had arrived hungry but was completely full by the end… This tour is on the pricier side, but you definitely get what you pay for.”

We hope that you can join us for a food and wine tour soon! Click here for more details, or book directly online using the calendar below.

Email us at tasteparisbymouth@gmail.com if you have trouble booking or have any questions!

Oysters in Paris

Wild Game Glossary

Truffles – Black Diamond Basics