Cook Shops in Paris, France

Back from a long weekend in Paris, with an hour or so to explore some cook shops on the way to see how well bread bakers are catered for - I have already booked a return trip to get some more leisurely shopping done, without having to bore others with my passion for kitchenware.

The great news is that possibly the best selection of shops are located within walking distance in the same area: in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements, on the Right Bank of the Seine (ie. north of the river) and close to the Les Halles shopping centre.

Most of the cook shops are on, or close to, Rue Montmartre, which is only a short distance from the well-known foodie street of Rue Montorgueil.

E. Dehillerin

18/20 rue Coquillière, 75001 Paris - http://www.e-dehillerin.fr

A cavernous warren of a place, aimed at the restaurant trade and - based on two visits - undeserving of its reputation for ignorant service. While French chefs may get extra special treatment, at least half the visitors there the other day were speaking English (or at least American English). Not much specifically for bread bakers, this is a general store for the trade, including items that dedicated tourists could only get home by having them shipped. Untidy, dusty, badly lit, somewhat disorganised and all rather charming!

Mora

13 rue Montmartre, 75001 Paris - http://www.mora.fr/fr/index.asp

A nice, well-stocked shop, with tons of equipment for pastry-bakers and a fair selection for bread-bakers. Helpful staff. Better for smaller items of equipment that might just fit in your suitcase on the journey home.

La Bovida

36 rue Montmartre, 75001 Paris - https://www.labovida.com

Nice, roomy ground floor and even larger upstairs area of equipment and catering supplies. Aimed slightly more towards domestic cooks than the trade. Stock includes items of interest to bread bakers. Staff seemed both cheerful and helpful, without being overbearing.

A. Simon

48/52 rue Montmartre, 75002 Paris - no website

If, like me, you love white porcelain tableware, this store is for you (and curiously if you need to be spoiled for choice over pepper and salt mills). Bread bakers aren't forgotten and they have a large selection of banettons, most of which appeared to be of woven man-made materials, rather than natural products. Very pleasant and helpful staff. At a guess, I'd say that this store is primarily aimed at restauranteurs and hoteliers.

Déco’relief

6 rue Montmartre, 75001 Paris - http://www.deco-relief.fr

A small, but well-stocked paradise for those who bake sweet things, but possibly not much for bread-bakers.

I didn't get time to visit:

• G. Detou - 58 rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris - (no website) - Apparently a haven for baking goods and the great pastry chefs shop here for ingredients that can’t be found anywhere else.
• Coin-Cuisine - 110 rue du Théâtre 75015 Paris (15th Arrondissement) - http://www.coin-cuisine.com

What did I come back with?

The results of this (very short) spending spree in the photo:

• A long (and excessively expensive) banetton from Mora;
• An Apilco porcelain draining plate from A. Simon;
• A bottle of the Italian "Alkermes" liqueur, which I need to make "gelato zuppa Inglese" and couldn't bring back from my last trip to Rome (more on cook shops in Rome at http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/42978/specialist-cook-shops-rome-italy).

What I didn't manage to find, and probably the only thing missing from my bread baking equipment, was a transfer peel for getting baguettes from a couche to a peel - I know I could easily improvise, make one, or get one from http://bakerybits.co.uk/baguette-peel.html.

Needless to say, I can't wait to be back in November. If there are places I've missed, or readers would like to contribute recommendations, please do.