"A wander through an open-air fromagerie. An unknown map of french cheese. This is the true meaning of living in Paris time."
“Each sort of cheese reveals a pasture of a different green, under a different sky.”
—Italo Calvino
Living in “Paris time” it’s not something you know, it’s something you just feel. Paris time is all about the emotion of the moment. It is small minutes of joy and simplicity that give a feeling of abundance. It also generally involves falling in love with French cheese.
It’s true French cheeses can set the Parisian mood no matter the circumstance. Whether you’re enjoying a picnic or sitting on a rainy balcony, a French cheese paired with the perfect wine and a baguette is a meal fit for a king (or queen!).
Setting the Scene
It was a foggy Saturday. The rain had come and gone sporadically, and I was huddled beneath a cafe canopy, waiting for the drizzle to pass. Foolishly, I had forgotten my umbrella and had been caught, less than prepared for the Parisian summer weather.
As soon as I’d settled into a comfortable moment of making peace with the situation, the clouds parted ever so slightly, and the rain slowed to a stop.
I looked down the street to see other creatures, much like myself, coming alive under the ever inconsistent sun. Making the most of the moment while you can is very Parisian!
The streets began to get busy again, and white tents began popping up like mushrooms in the scattered light. I stepped out into the light and strode toward them.
Stumbling on Open Air French Cheese Shops
As I walked up to the tents, I noticed they were lined with white refrigerator boxes. My curiosity was struck. It turns out I had walked into an open-air fromagerie, a true Parisian experience.
The refrigerators held hundreds, maybe thousands, of blocks of french cheese. I wandered the spaces, curious about what I would find but not wanting to disturb the ever-busy cheesemongers. As they ran to and fro, I slowly made my way up and down the aisles.
It’s true that visiting a Paris fromagerie is almost as delightful as eating French cheese itself. The business paired with the simplicity of single-ingredient shopping is simply bliss.
Diving Into the Unknown
When you take a trip to Paris, you must be sure to pack your willingness to try new things. Cheeses, for one, are a completely new realm and seem to each have their own stories to tell.
While wandering in the fromagerie, I found myself learning about French cheese I had never even heard of before: Epoisses, Tomme de Savoie, Valencay, Aisy cendré. The list goes on. The tiny labels beside each wheel were like small maps into a new land I’d never even heard of.
Your best bet for knowledge when diving into the unknown world of French cheese?
The cheesemongers themselves!
I spoke to an expert that day, a short, round-faced fellow from the Pyrenees who introduced me to all sorts of new flavours. He had me try a sliver of Chaource… a nutty, salty cheese that would pair well with champagne (another french delicacy!). He told me that this particular type of cheese dated back to the crusades! Seeing a cheesemonger also gives you insight into the french cheeses in front of you.
After trying a few cheeses that day, I ended up settling on purchasing a Livarot. This French cheese is quite spicy and is washed in salt water and held together by strips of rush leaves.
Paris Time
I took my newfound french cheese to my hotel and enjoyed it on my small balcony with a baguette and wine the cheesemonger had told me would pair well.
A wander through an open-air fromagerie. An unknown map of french cheese. This is the true meaning of living in Paris time.
An appreciation for life at its most beautiful and simple.
If you’re ever in Paris, make sure to visit a French cheese shop (or take a cheese-involved tasting tour!)—it surely won’t disappoint.
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