Le Bon Marche's Christmas theme celebrates the architecture of Paris with tres cute back lit minature buildings scattered throughout the store. The main void has a rather minimalist take on bells. Contemporary, simple and dramatic, I think you needed to be there to appreciate just how effective it was.
Bon Marche in Black & Gold
Le Bon basket
This story should have followed directly after TRES BON so now you are reading it in the wrong order (The lead story can be found below if you click the links or scroll down a bit further). Whilst I was sniffing out the good stuff in Le Grande Epicerie the lovely Solenn Gubri kindly selected a small basket of products a Parisian might take home for dinner and some special items a tourist might take home and give as a gift. Olive oil packaged like perfume, a delicate peppermint Kusmi tea, handmade Financiers, berry jam packaged like your Grandmere had just made it, French sea salt, a selection of local speciality cheeses, divine pesto, the best spanish jamon and a gift box of Daniel Mercier's delicious chocolate. Special thanks to Solenn and LBM's PR team who were so helpful during my visit to Le Bon Marche. Merci beaucoup!
Tres Bon
Le Grande Epicerie is the fabulous and tres delicious food hall of the department store Le Bon Marche. I remember being wowed when it first re-opened about 8 years ago and it remains a serious foodie destination in Paris.
The lovely Solenn Gubri looks after the PR and she kindly gave me a guided tour and some quick stats on this Parisian icon. Here is the express summary: 8000 people visit the food hall daily and around 1/3 of these visitors do most of their weekly food shop here. Another 1/3 come in for specific products and exclusive lines or are tourists (approx. 12%) and the remainder come in daily for a ready to eat lunch. The hall covers some 3000m2 with another 3000m2 in the back of house which includes 4 production kitchens or 'laboratories' which include the largest bakery in Paris, a full butchery that breaks down the entire carcass under the paddock to plate philosophy, a highly skilled pastisserie and a prepared meals kitchen.
Like the best food halls around the world LGE has exclusive lines and works in partnership with artisan producers to develop new product for Le Bon Marche. Can A Suc were commissioned some years ago now to make specials sugars and invented the sugar heart for LBM, they are now a global brand and make the most stunning formed sugar "decorations" as a result of this partnership. Daniel Mercier is their star chocolatier of the moment producing exclusive treats just in time for Christmas. If you're planning a trip to Paris then this foodie heaven should be on your 'must do' list.
