Sometimes blog stories come right from home.
Vincent had lunch with a friend last week and she took him to her sister’s newly opened cheese shop. Vincent came home with a delicious Brebis/sheep’s cheese, fresh grated Comté (light years better than the commercial kind I get at the supermarket for my daily cheese omelet), and a sugarless fig cake. He extolled on how wonderful the cheese shop was and I should check it out.
Never one to pass up an opportunity to visit something food related, I went to the shop the following day. Located on rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis in the 10th arr., the shop is a beacon of bright and calm on the gritty, bustling street filled with working class cafes, inexpensive food shops and the classic brasserie Julien.
Laure Taka and Matthieu Vermo are business and life partners. Both had jobs in other fields before opening the cheese shop three months ago. They quit their day jobs three years ago in pursuit of a more meaningful career path and chose to study cheese. Laure worked at the award winning Laurent Dubois, one of the most respected cheese shops in Paris, absorbing as much as she could about cheese.
Laure and Matthieu took a four-month road trip throughout Italy and France, covering over 10,000 kilometers researching small, artisanal cheese makers while tasting all along. That’s my kind of road trip!
I asked why they chose this particular street; they said surprisingly there was no fromagerie on the street, considering the wide variety of food shops.
Laure generously kept feeding me cheese samples during my visit as she explained their origins. Laure is half Japanese, so she chose to incorporate Japanese flavors into some of the cheeses. She gave me a slice of a pungent cheese with sansho pepper and then pointed to a Saint Nectare prettily topped with candied Yuzu. Another beautifully decorated cheese was encased with an edible flower rind. One cheese came from an isolated cheese maker located 2,000 meters high in the Pyrenees Mountains.
Taka & Vermo work closely with their cheese makers and also mature their cheese in their own cheese cellar in the shop.
I asked Laure what her personal favorite cheese among the dozens of varieties they carried and she answered “ Roquefort, there’s nothing else really like it”.
The shop also sells a selection wines, strictly bio dynamic, and organic beer in addition to other traditional fromagerie staples such as eggs, butter, and yogurt.
I went home with some Parmesan (for a savory crumble Vincent was preparing that night) and an awesome Gouda.
I wish a bright future for Laure and Matthieu.
Taka & Vermo
61 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010
Metro: Strasbourg-Saint-Denis
Open Tuesday- Friday 9:30AM-1: 30PM, 4PM-8: 30PM
Saturday- 9:30AM-8: 30PM, Sunday 9:30AM-2PM
Laure and Matthieu- Aren't they adorable? I'd buy anything from these guys
Eye Prefer Paris Postcards
I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.
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Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or
$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)
My offer of a 12-month subscription with an extra month free is good until January 31, so remember to order now before the offer ends.
Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store
Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store
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Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 195 euros per person (about $210)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
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