Monday, August 13, 2012

Fauchon ou Hédiard ?


Hédiard ou Fauchon ? If you never came to Paris, these two names won't ring any bell, but if you did you probably know that they are two famous "épiceries fines" (gourmet food store) located at Place de la Madeleine. One was founded in 1886 (Fauchon) and the other one in 1854 and both sell the finest food (a lot of French products of course, but not only) you can find in Paris (well, there are other places, like La grande épicerie du Bon Marché on the rive gauche, but there aren't that many). All these places are slightly expensive, of course, but the quality is there; try the croissants from Fauchon, for instance, they are to die for and not that more expensive than in an average patisserie. At night, like you can see, they have a cool lighting of their facade - which obviously inspired the... parking garage next to it!

19 comments:

  1. La prochain fois, peut etre.

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  2. This is a tough choice, but I have to go with Hediard, only because I am crazy for their Caviar D'Aubergines. The last time I was in Paris, I carted home 15 jars of it because they did not "faire le shipping" :-). Fauchon, on the other hand, has not only many yummy treats, but everything is displayed so beautifully. Hard to choose.

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  3. In younger days, we used to call Fauchon "the killer inside me"...

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  4. @ Keats : I never heard this sentence before but that's excellent and pretty TRUE ... Regarding to my money, I guess...!! But personally, I am definetely Fauchon...
    @ Eric : Hediard ou Fauchon ? you know what that question sounds to me ?? To the French expression : alors c'est du Lard (Hediard) ou du Cochon (Fauchon)?!! Which is silly from me but funny... :D



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  5. It also makes me think of the French expression "bonnet blanc, blanc bonnet"! Which fits very well here as 'Hediard et Fauchon' are quite equally.

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  6. Sorry - I've not been to either. But I do love the cool lighting. :)

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  7. So good that I discovered your blog here. Very good content and love the story as if i was living there!

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  8. I was invited for lunch at Hediard once (meaning I didn't pay!) and I had no idea that there was a restaurant there. Frankly, nothing extraordinary, but nice to do once.

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  9. i have placed fauchon croissants on my list of things to do next month in Paris.

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  10. Yesterday I found a jar of Fauchon curry mustard here in a little shop. I've never seen it anywhere. What serendipity!

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  11. If I ever get back to Paris, I will certainly try the croissants at Fauchon. :) They sound delicious!

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  12. Funny you should post this—I had some very ordinary paté at a local French restaurant yesterday, and it just made me long for the country paté with hazelnuts that I've had from Fauchon! Miam.

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  13. @Grier and Louis. "Both!" LOOOOOOOOOL

    @Jeff "La prochain fois, peut etre." Sûrement ;-) We'll go together and have a croissant!

    @Nadege "Fauchon" Interesting, because that is where I would naturally go to too. I've always thought that Hédiard was just a copycat of Fauchon and that the original was better. By reading the stories of both, I discovered Hédard was created before...

    @Keats "In younger days, we used to call Fauchon "the killer inside me"..." I can relate!

    @Greg "@ Eric : Hediard ou Fauchon ? you know what that question sounds to me ?? To the French expression : alors c'est du Lard (Hediard) ou du Cochon (Fauchon)?!! Which is silly from me but funny... :D" LOOOOL Nor very nice for Hédiard ;-))

    @Anonymous "It also makes me think of the French expression "bonnet blanc, blanc bonnet"! " Well apparently for several people here, it's not the case ;-)

    @Debs "Sorry - I've not been to either. But I do love the cool lighting. :)" Exactly! And it's free...

    @James "So good that I discovered your blog here. Very good content and love the story as if i was living there!" Welcome to PDP James ;-)

    @Brattcat "i have placed fauchon croissants on my list of things to do next month in Paris." Yep. We'll go with Jeff!

    @Carrie "Yesterday I found a jar of Fauchon curry mustard here in a little shop. I've never seen it anywhere. What serendipity!" I love this word "Serendipity", it does not exist in French - well, I don't think it does!

    @Kristie "f I ever get back to Paris, I will certainly try the croissants at Fauchon. :) They sound delicious!" You too can take part in the trip to Fauchon LOL! Actually they are extremely light, which is very rare (I mean not in terms of calories, but it terms of quality of the "crust".

    @Alexa. "Funny you should post this—I had some very ordinary paté at a local French restaurant yesterday, and it just made me long for the country paté with hazelnuts that I've had from Fauchon! Miam." See, more serendipity!

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  14. Croissants at Fauchon. (I promise, I did not drool on the keyboard. I missed the keyboard.) They sound delightful. Oh, the trip to Paris is being saved for!! :)

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  15. @Greg + Eric,

    Thanks for the nice comments! When I say we, it meant the spoiled brats on campus who were searching for delectable, ntoriously expensive eateries to gratify their stomach.

    Well, that's pretty pricey for students, I must say.

    Ah...du cochon...that's another nice joke that we shared. You know what I mean...lol...

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  16. Love the colors, Magnifique Mise en Scene!

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