When I had decided to return to Paris after a 16 year absence, I wanted it to be fun, relaxing and immerse myself in French Culture. I searched for opportunities to achieve this goal and came across Secret Food Tours. The company describes itself as “We are truly passionate about showcasing mouthwatering and irresistible secret foods from all corners of the globe. Every year, our experienced, local, foodie guides show thousands of people the best and most delicious foods a city has to offer. Each tour is fun, highly rated, and completely unique to its destination — no two tours are the same. We take great pride in highlighting the best secret bites loved by locals and overlooked by tourists. Our tours have over 5,000 5-star reviews, so we know you’ll love them too. Learn about each city’s history, how locals buy food, and how food has shaped the area’s culture. All our tours feature a special Secret Dish selected by our guides that you can only find out about on the tour, with drink upgrades available as well. Perfect for all ages and all occasions, we can’t wait to share with you all of our in-the-know secrets. An authentic, unforgettable experience that will leave you full and happy.”
When I discovered this on Google, I was so excited and knew this was exactly the kind of tour I was looking for. Secret Food Tours has created tours that explore the best of local cuisine along with traditional parings of beverages. They have carefully curated experiences to indulge in local specialities that are not always advertised to the general public. Their websites boast tours in 26 countries around the world. In Paris, the tours cover three districts, Le Marais(SoMa), Montmartre and Saint Germain. I liked the idea that they were well established and obviously were making every effort to make this a memorable experience. I decided to go for it. Booking was a smooth process via their lovely website filled with beautiful pics and helpful information.
Google describes Le Marais as ” The fashionable Marais district in the 4th arrondissement, also known as SoMa(South Marais), is filled with hip boutiques, galleries and gay bars. Once the city’s Jewish quarter, the area still hosts numerous kosher restaurants. The grassy Place des Vosges is home to elegant arcades and the Musee Victor Hugo, where the writer lived.”
I decided to go for the Le Marais tour. I was fascinated by the Marais and 35 years ago, had actually lived in an artist’s garret. When I had decided to leave the tiny studio, it had torn at my heart to have to leave. That’s the way the Marais was, it permeated you soul and your very being.
Le Marais held all the mysteries of the world within it’s walls. It was over 1000 years old and a site embedded with spiritualism. It housed the Jewish quarter; where 80 years ago tragedy struck during the occupation, but the Marais survived. The streets wound, twisted and turned sometimes ending up nowhere in a dead end. The buildings were constructed of stone from the Roman Era and massive doorways of petrified, thick slabs of wood which shuttered secreted, grassy courtyards. The courtyards were filled with trees, and grass and birds chirped and danced among the foliage.
So the day had arrived and there I was waiting where our tour was about to launch. I noticed a young woman standing in my vicinity. She appeared to be searching for someone and it turned out she was there for the tour as well. We had a nice chat and soon a very chic, Parisienne woman arrived and introduced herself as our guide. Her name was Capucine. I immediately could tell form her genuine and engaging smile and her command of the English language, this this was going to be a very fun and interesting tour. So, I’m not allowed to say where we went or what we ate, because then it wouldn’t be a secret anymore and it would defeat the purpose of taking a Secret Food Tour, but I can tell you why I loved this tour, so let’s begin!
First, our guide, Capucine was amazing! She was so friendly and I felt comfortable immediately. Her manners were impeccable and she took a genuine interest in all of her guests and answered all of questions fully. (There were actually just two of us since this was in the middle of the week, in the afternoon: myself and Anne; and lovely young woman who was amazingly accomplished and humble.) Capucine made us feel completely comfortable and we were soon chatting, laughing and have an awesome time as we toured various award winning establishments that specialized in traditional French dishes in Le Marais.
Capucine’s breadth of knowledge of the Marais was in depth and layered. She knew the history from ancient times to the the present. Her enthusiasm for the subject was evident by her smile and all of the small interesting details she provided. No matter what questions I asked her, she answered all my questions fully with interesting information that satisfied my curiosity. I was fascinated by the rich history and how this influenced the dietary choices of the French. How history had impacted the evolution of French food.
The next important thing I can tell you about this tour is the food. It’s delicious! We had a broad range of food that represented traditional French cuisine from across France as well as Le Marais. The tasting ranged from sweet to savory; appetizers, wine and full dishes. There was street food and staples of every French person’s diet. It was incredibly fresh and well prepared and the presentation beautiful. I invested the extra 10 euros for beverages and it didn’t disappoint. We were served carefully chosen wines that were paired perfectly with the dishes.
Most important, was the ambiance. We ate in picturesque, comfortable settings, while Capucine explained the history of the dishes, the ingredients and how they were prepared. She shared several secrets and mysteries of the Marais, that I can’t divulge here, but she definitely captured the essence of the district and why it is so well loved and one of the most popular districts to visit in Paris. Her stories transported us from ancient times to the present and were so well thought out and presented that I didn’t realize how quickly the three hour tour passed and how far we had walked.
The tour was three hours and it’s just enough time to experience several stops with various types of dishes and have a good leisurely stroll through Le Marais. The experience captures the very famous way of living; joie de vivre, that the French are known and loved for. An enjoyment of all good things that life has to offer and an exultation of spirit. So, If you are in Paris and want a fun and fascinating afternoon, this is your tour. Le Marais is beautiful and magical and will spirit you away to another time. You will be surrounded by beauty, enjoy excellent cuisine and be entertained by the best company. And if you are very lucky, Capucine will be your guide.
DURATION – THREE HOURS
WALKING: SLOW, EASY, UNEVEN SURFACES
EATING: MAKE SURE YOU DON’T EAT BEFORE THIS TOUR. YOU WILL NEED ROOM!
BATHROOM STOPS: MANY IF YOU NEED THEM.
