The Ultimate Guide to Paris Cookware Shops
The Best Spots for Quality French Cookware - Tips from David Lebovitz
If you’re searching for high-quality French cookware in Paris, David Lebovitz’s guide is a must-read. With years of reliable insights, he covers the best spots, like the iconic E. Dehillerin, a favorite among chefs and food lovers alike. Before you splurge, take his advice to compare prices, factor in VAT and shipping, and ensure the cookware will fit your appliances—French sizes can be unique!
Lebovitz has been someone I’ve looked to for years for great renditions of French dishes. He’s writes in many mediums, producing quality writing and recipes with humor and insight. Wonderful stuff.
In this entry, he provides one of the most complete guides to places to buy quality cookware in Paris. It’s a great list and even though it’s over 10 years old, it’s still very accurate. A personal favorite is E. Dehillerin, which is a kind of cluttered playground of fantastic cookware. It’s my favorite of these I’ve been to, it’s also where Anthony Boudain went to get his beautifully brutal duck press in the “Why the French Don’t Suck” episode.
This is likely my favorite episode of No Reservations – and the French don’t suck, IMO. They’re quite misunderstood about a lot of things, however. That duck press sells for over €2,000 as of this writing. A lot of money to drop for a pretty single purpose tool.
If you find yourself in the area, follow Lebovitz’s advice:
Check prices back home since VAT and shipping can add up - or luggage fees. A personal favorite of mine has been to look for things I find in these places on ebay and then have them shipped from the US to home after we get back. If you really must have that duck press, you’ll save a lot of money if you buy used in any case.
Try to have some clear ideas about what you want. Not everything is on display and the display can be almost overwhelming.
The selection is fantastic, but be ready for a mix of customer service styles. You might need to search for someone to help you, even if you want to spend a lot of money. The French are known for many things. Customer service is not one of those many things.
Make sure cookware fits your appliances, - French sizes can be a bit different. If you’re really thinking ahead, measure your stuff back home (in cm, of course) before your trip.
