Épicerie fine

The lure of the designer label, the guarantee of new taste discoveries and the anticipated Laura Ingalls Wilder satisfaction of hoarding little tins, jars, packets and boxes of delicacies turn the épicerie fine into every food lover’s treasure trove. You feel a great rush of excited expectation as you enter, greeted by a dozen mingled unfamiliar smells. The épicerie fine is one French food shop where browsing and indecision are considered normal, where it seems to be OK not to know this or that spice or pulse or dish. It is where French cooks top up their knowledge and their pantries. All épicerie fine owners worth their fleur de sel are helpful, patient and passionate about their goods.