Wander down an alley in Paris and you'll make new friends

Parisians are not rude. At least, not to me and Alex so far. Every encounter we've had with the locals has been pleasant - from the wine shop proprietor who wanted to know if we were drinking the champagne soon so she could give us a cold bottle, to the happy cafe owner who prepared delicious Nutella crepes for us on his break, to the smiling old ladies who asked us for directions in French and laughed pleasantly when they realized we only spoke English. 

By far, the friendliness we have encounter is best exemplified by the chance encounter yesterday afternoon. While wandering the streets of the 6th arrondissement, I noticed a sign that said simply "Tomat's Epicurie fine" with an arrow pointing down an alley. I pulled Alex down the narrow sunny lane to investigate. We stumbled upon a small specialty food shop where the owner was hosting two friends for a late afternoon glass of champagne. The store was like a jewel-box of flavors - local jams, foie gras, mustards, and honeys all decorated the walls in tiny glistening glass jars. 

Alex selected two treats to take home and brought them to the register, where we were immediately offered cheese pastries and quizzed about who we were and where we came from. We chatted with the owner, Belina, and her friend named Chris, an American who lives in Paris and owns the photography gallery next door. Belina produced two more glasses from under the counter and poured us the last few sips of her champagne, urging us to come back in a few days for the foie gras tasting she is hosting. 

We left feeling warm from the simple gestures of sharing a bit of food and drink with good conversation. Parisians have so far proven themselves to be different from the rumors that circulate about their attitude. Or maybe, as New Yorkers used to putting up with rudeness, everyone else seems lovely in comparison. This I know for sure - we definitely will accept the invitation to the tasting in a few days to see our new friends again and will stock up on treats from Tomat's before we leave the city of lights. 

And, should you ever find yourself in Paris looking for the perfect foodie gift shop please visit our new friend Belina at:

Tomat's Epicurie fine: 12, rue Jacob 75006 (dans la cour) 01 44 07 36 58