Maison Plisson Paris

written by robin

Whenever I hear of a new foodie hot spot opening in Paris, it immediately gets bookmarked for my next visit. Right alongside the other 437 places on my ever-growing-list. There was so much buzz around Maison Plisson Paris, I couldn’t help but practically skip directly there when my plane landed. And did I mention it just happens to be located in my favorite neighborhood, the Marais? Even better.

As a food-obsessed traveler, I often love shopping or at least browsing the outdoor food markets, which is often where the locals do their daily shopping.

Maison Plisson, which as far as I can tell must translate to HOUSE OF ALL THE SINFUL FRENCH FOOD, is most definitely not one of those places.

It’s more like Eataly’s more sophisticated, chic-er cousin.

Touristy? Sure, one could say that. But I don’t think they can survive on tourists alone.

It’s popular. And it was busy and bustling during my visit. The place is still flourishing. So, they must be doing something right.

It may be on the expensive side, but the quality, as you can see in the photos, is most definitely there. I know a few of my Parisienne foodie friends won’t travel from their arrondissements to do their everyday shopping here. But, the fact that it’s one-stop-shopping with a quality, wide selection will earn it a spot on my list of places to shop for gourmet food souvenirs in Paris. Another bonus – their philosophy; sourcing everything locally, from France and parts of Europe.

The colors of the fruits and vegetables were vibrant; you could tell they were freshly picked. I was especially excited to see my favorite strawberry varietal – gariguette, which are the sweetest, juiciest red jewels on this planet. It’s everything a strawberry should taste like – a burst of candied sunshine in your mouth. Not those gigantic heavy, flavorless, red, oddly-shaped styrofoam things they pass off in American supermarkets.

The meat counter was an homage to every pork product imaginable; lovely layers of lard, foie gras, terrines and several types of charcuterie – from fresh plump little piggies to cured, dried, spicy saucisson. The selection would make any sausage lover squeal with delight.

And the cheese. How can I even describe the cheese? The funk permeated the entire upstairs floor. Just follow your nose to the counter where you’ll find a whimsical map of France showcasing the different cheeses and where they hail from. And samples!

Perhaps my favorite was the display of Langres, resembling a golden tower of foul-smelling brains on a platter. You could smell those washed-rind wheels of goodness before you could see them. Disgusting and delicious – all at once.

Downstairs you’ll find a wine cave and gourmet packaged foods – all manner of crackers, biscuits, cookies, pastas, jams and chocolate.

If this isn’t enough to encourage you to stay awhile, linger some more over a meal at their cafe, a street-side terrace flanked with greenery.

You could combine a visit to Maison Plisson Paris with a visit to the nearby Bastille Market, include it on a Paris foodie adventures or just grab some picnic provisions and head to the nearest bench or park.

Best to plan enough time for a second visit before you head home though. In my experience, all of those gourmet goodies destined for souvenirs aren’t going to make it on the plane.