If anyone visits Paris, a visit to Lafayette Gourmet is a must. It’s an entire two stories dedicated to gourmet foods and pastries.

On a recent 3 day visit to Paris, I spent an entire afternoon browsing all of the aisles and discovering an array of amazing products that one only dreams of.

When you enter on the ground floor, a few pastry shops display their creations at the door. Pierre Herme Macarons is one of those, with macarons in the flavors of the summer season: olive oil and vanilla, licorice and violet, chocolate and coconut, rose and quince, pistachio and raspberry, passion fruit, rhubarb and strawberry, just to name a few.

There is Dalloyau pastries with their different flavored eclairs. Alain Ducasse Chocolates. I can go on and on with the different pastry shops. Then, you come to an area that is sectioned off into many different vendors, from Petrossian Caviar, to Jamon de Bellota, to a chinese dumpling place, to a spice merchant with spices from all over the world like curry, and red peppers, and coriander. Malongo coffee and tea purveyor. Their English Breakfast tea is the best I have ever had. I brought some home with me and every time I open the bag of loose tea, the smell permeates the whole room.

I sat down and enjoyed lunch at the Jamon section, it is called Cinqo Jotas. I ordered their variety of different cold cuts and it was like tasting paradise. The different jams and chorizos melt in your mouth. My mouth is watering as I am writing this section.

After lunch, I went down one level where the produce, meat, cheese and fish departments are, and I could not believe my eyes. Another area where you can sit down and taste the daily fish, or the special cuts of meats that are prepared, or even have some cheese and wine while you shop?

This place is a must. The market section has a variety of products. I counted 16 different varieties of French mustards with different flavors. Jams and honeys that you have never heard of from quince to flower to tomato jams.

Needless to say, a half a day is not enough for this visit. I hope you get a chance to visit this amazing mecca of food. I know I will be back!