Missing Paris? 10 Ways to Bring it Back Home
Missing Paris after a trip can be intense. From fresh baguettes to slow café mornings, certain pleasures are hard to replicate.
While nothing fully replaces being there, you can weave small pieces of the experience into daily life. These ideas blend at-home touches with real spots to visit for an authentic taste.
1. Recreate French Bakery Mornings at Home
A baguette pan is easy to find online or even at big-box stores like Target. Baking your own isn’t complicated – flour, yeast, water, and time are all you need.
Many use Bob’s Red Mill active dry yeast for better flavor. If you’re not ready to start from scratch, Costco sells bake-at-home small baguettes imported from France.
Trader Joe’s frozen pain au chocolat, which you egg wash and bake, is surprisingly good, and their French mustard gets positive reviews.
2. Keep a Stock of French Essentials
Look for French butter, which has a richer flavor and higher butterfat content, plus yogurts and cream if you can find them. These are at the base of many French recipes.
Some travelers change their eating habits after Paris, buying fewer groceries but splurging on better cheese, bread, and chocolate to savor slowly.
3. Shop from French Specialty Stores
Online places include My French Grocery, Truly Foodie, Monsieur Marcel, Chefshop (great jams), and Market Hall Foods (Mariage Frères teas), and mypanier.com.
You can also order galette cookies, sirops for flavoring water, Haribo candies, and Lulu Chocolate Bears.
Local cheese shops and bakeries often carry imports, so it’s worth asking.
4. Visit French Food Stores in Your City
In the Bay Area, Gourmet Corner in San Mateo sells cheeses, butter, frozen foods, and pantry items.
In San Diego, Cuisinery Food Market offers French cheeses and caviar. Los Angeles has Epicurus Gourmet, Monsieur Marcel Market in the Farmers Market at The Grove, Milkfarm in Eagle Rock, McCall’s in Atwater, and Lou in Los Feliz for wine.
5. Find French Dining Options
For pastries and desserts, New York has Dominique Ansel, Ladurée, and Maison du Chocolat.
Los Angeles spots include Loupiotte Kitchen, Proof Bakery (cannelés), Bottega Louie (macarons), Artelice Patisserie, Petit Trois, Pitchoun, Lou French on the Block, Republique, Maison Matho, Bar Etoile, and Camphor.
Boston has the Aquitaine Group brasseries, and Maison Villatte in Woods Hole – a standout bakery.
Some travelers head to Montreal or Quebec City for a French-speaking environment and better access to French cuisine, especially with a favorable Canadian dollar exchange rate.
6. Cook French Recipes from Scratch
Many French dishes are straightforward with the right ingredients – crêpes, ratatouille, gratin dauphinois, soufflé au fromage, and hachis Parmentier are all manageable at home. Quality butter and cream make a big difference.
7. Create a Café Corner at Home
Set up a small bistro table and chairs, a French press or stovetop espresso maker, and carve out time for a slow breakfast.
Add a fresh pastry, tartine, or baguette with jam, and play French radio or soft jazz in the background.
8. Bring Back Paris Snacks and Drinks
Some miss the simple pleasures – French Fanta, bottle caps candy, and specific grocery store finds. Stock up during trips or look for them in international food stores.
9. Plan Your Next Trip
Knowing when you’ll return can ease the post-trip blues. Some make Paris an annual tradition or take friends who haven’t been.
Shorter-term, keep the excitement alive by visiting French cultural centers for events or classes, like Coucou Los Angeles.
10. Keep the Paris Mindset
Slow down your meals, walk more without rushing, and take time to enjoy food and conversation. The Paris experience is not just about location, it’s also about pace and attention to detail.