| Any list of food shops in Paris has to have at its head the two palaces: Fauchon 24–30 pl de la Madeleine, 8e. An amazing range of extravagantly beautiful groceries, fruit and veg, charcuterie, wines both French and foreign – almost anything you can think of, all at exorbitant prices. The quality is assured by blind testing, which all suppliers have to submit to. Just the place for presents of tea, jam, truffles, chocolates, exotic vinegars, mustards and so forth. A self-service counter for pâtisseries and plats du jour, and a traiteur which stays open a little later, until 8.30pm. M° Madeleine. Mon–Sat 9.30am–7pm. Hédiard 21 pl de la Madeleine, 8e. Since the 1850s, the aristocrat's grocer, with sales staff as deferential as servants, as long as you don't try to reach for items for yourself. Superlative quality. Among the other branches are those at 126 rue du Bac, 7e; 106 bd de Courcelles, 17e; and Forum des Halles, level-1, 1er. M° Madeleine. Mon–Sat 8am–10pm.
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