There are three great department store food halls in Europe: KaDaWe in Berlin (never been); Harrod’s in London (HG’s been many times and will visit again in a few weeks) and Bon Marche (HG’s favorite) on the Left Bank in Paris. After some energetic shopping at Agnes. B. (last two days of “soldes”…the annual sales season in Paris when fashion is marked down as much as 70%), HG and BSK entered Bon Marche to provision tonight’s dinner. Everything anyone has ever dreamed of eating is at Bon Marche. Everything is the best of its kind. The prices are astronomically high. Customers are courteous but demanding. They want the very best and are willing to pay for it.
The staff is informed gracious and skilled. Smoked salmon is sliced with surgical precision. Ham is cut beautifully..never too thin or too thick. Chocolates have an other worldly beauty. Charcuterie dazzles. Meat, fish, fruit and vegetable departments contain still life arrangements that deserve a place in the Louvre. So, enough already. What did HG and BSk buy for dinner? Norwegian smoked salmon, Gravlax (and mustard sauce); Parma ham; roasted Spanish piquillo peppers; jambon persille (a ham, parsley and aspic loaf); a duck loaf enclosed in a pastry crust; cornichons; Maille mustard, chutney and some other good things. Wine from Cave des Abbesses and breads from Grenier a Pain are waiting.
Jolly times ahead.
VERY URGENT ALERT TO HG (AND BSK)!!
SLOWLY BUT STEADILY, LAFAYETTE GOURMET, THE FOOD HALL OF GALERIES LAFAYETTE, UP AN EASY-TO-MISS ESCALATOR FROM THE STREET, HAS, I’D VENTURE, SURPASSED BON MARCHE NOT IN AMBIANCE, BUT IN ITS VARIETY OF SIT DOWN PLACES TO DINE. DO GO TOWARD THE REAR RIGHT, AND FIND THE EXTORDINARY SPANISH JAMBON BAR, WHERE THE SLENDER, TENDER, SLIGHTLY FUNKY SLICES OF BLACK FOOTED PIG ARE SERVED ON A “VOLCANO.” AND AT THE VERY REAR, THERE IS NOW A SEAFOOD RESTO ATTACHED TO THE SEAFOOD COUNTER. I SUGGEST INHALING FROM THE MAMY BASKETS OF OYSTERS UNTIL YOU FIND THE ONE THAT SPEAKS MORE INTIMATELY TO YOU. THEN ORDER SIX OR A DOZEN AND THEY WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR BISTRO TABLE ADORNED WITH A CAPE GOOSEBERRY. MANY OTHER SPOTS TO TRY AT LAFGOUR, AND THE COFFEE BAR IS UNEQUALLED IN PAREE…..
O, splendid palate, we will act upon your recommendation immediately..Thanks