Monoprix and Picard

Over the past week or so, I've been slowly discovering the other side of Parisian gastronomy, far away from the pricey brasseries and restaurants dotting every street in Paris. These are the food shops, everything from Ed and Franprix on the lower end, to Monoprix, Picard, and Le Bon Marche at the top. Most of my shopping has taken place at Monoprix, which is ubiquitous in Paris, in addition to stops at Picard and Franprix.

Chris Rock has this bit where he talks about the joys of white supermarkets, and how heaven is the frozen foods section in a white supermarket. Chris Rock was wrong, heaven is Monoprix. Specifically the cheese and sausage/pate sections. Thanks to Monoprix, which also sells everything one would expect at a Target back in the states, I've gotten back into french food, after a few harrowing tourist trap restaurant experiences.

For example, yesterday, I met up with my friend Kitty down by St. Michel, and we went to the Museum of the Middle Ages (lots of Christ. Lots and lots of dead Christ.). After, we wandered around, got some ridiculously cheap chinese food for lunch, and then saw the movie "The King" with Gael Garcia Bernal (great movie, but not for the faint of heart... very disturbing). After that, plus a stop at "le smoothie shop," we decided to head back uptown towards my area and make dinner ourselves. After an obligatory stop at Indiana for their happy hour specials (3.40 Euro for a pint of Stella Artois!), we finally made it, bladders full, to our first stop, Picard.

Picard is the newest thing in french food stores, it only sells frozen food. Lame, you say? On the other hand, Picard, with its rows of freezers, actually sells amazing food, everything from amazing Salmon to desserts, produce, and even bread. Kitty and I picked up a thing of truffle mashed potatoes and then headed on over to Monoprix. There, we got a loaf of fresh bread, a block of goat cheese, 2 "bifsteaks," a 2.50E bottle of wine, and some Chocolate Mousse, all for 11E.

Suffice to say, it all made for a killer dinner. Luckily, I had some leftover pork pate, so we tore up the bread and I went through all of my pork pate (a little too fast...) and the chevre. After, we cooked the steaks and tossed the mashed potatoes in the microwave. Fortunately for me, she didn't like the wine, so there was more than enough (once again, I have to learn moderation here) for me. The dessert was ridiculous. Although it was just little chocolate mousses in plastic cups, they were unbelievable. Afterwards, totally full, and with Euros left to spare, I hit the sack early, a belly full of wine and steak.

Another time, I'll tell some of my stories from my first trips into Monoprix, where I definitely made myself stand out more than once.