Gigi On Earth

Shopping for food in Paris was a totally different experience compared to what I was used to. In my neighbourhood, there were grocery stores, but they were quite small—perfect for grabbing essentials like rice or your favourite snacks. But most of the fun came from visiting the local shops that lined the sidewalks, each specializing in something delicious.

I stayed on a vibrant pedestrian street in the 14th arrondissement, and it was alive with activity from the crack of dawn. Around 6 a.m., the boulangeries and pâtisseries would start filling the air with the smell of fresh-baked bread, and the buzz continued well into the evening as the bistros served up dinners and drinks.

Grocery shopping here wasn’t about one big trip to a giant supermarket. Instead, you’d pop into a few different specialty stores to gather ingredients for your meal. The shopkeepers knew each other well, so if one didn’t have what you were looking for, they’d point you to the neighbour who might. What surprised me most was how the street could support multiple shops offering the same thing. On one block alone, there were two cheese mongers, one butcher, one fish monger, three fruit and vegetable shops, and several pâtisseries and chocolateries.

And if you didn’t feel like cooking from scratch, no problem! There were plenty of caterers (traiteurs) offering freshly prepared dishes—everything from Asian to Greek to French cuisine. It was easy to create a quick, healthy meal by picking up meat from the butcher and a ready-made salad from one of the traiteurs. Forget relying on frozen dinners or fast food—this neighbourhood made it simple to eat well without sacrificing flavour or nutrition.