If you sow good things, you’ll reap the benefits with your fork! After two years spent scouring the various regions of France in search of exceptionally talented small producers, Marie Colombier and Louise Arnal (who used to work in cultural communications) opened up a neighborhood épicerie on Rue Alibert with adorable decor: a pale green facade, cream-colored walls, pine furniture… Carried back home just like on the way back from the farmer’s market, the day we went: some intense salted butter from the Ferme de la Martellerie, near Rouen; sublime flat peaches from the Élysée Palace’s producer Yannick Colombié; an addictive red pork fuet saucisson by Ronan Franque; exceptionally delicious flaky pastry from the nearby Sain bakery; and to help that all slide down, there’s a pet’ nat’ rosé from Les Frères Amiel in the Hérault department. Once your appetite has been stimulated, you can grab a bite to eat with the holy trinity of baked ham, emmental cheese and butter on ciabatta, or a southern sandwich with grilled zucchini and eggplant, pimped out with za’atar and crumbled goat cheese. // John Mason
The hidden gem: The incredible apples from Yannick Colombié (€3.90 a kilogram).
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