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E. Dehillerin, Paris



Whether you aspire to, or already do cook like Julia Child, you can shop where she did while attending Le Cordon Bleu, the culinary school in Paris.  E. Dehillerin is a store for the sophisticated chef in all of us or a true chef in a world-class kitchen.  It is only fitting that Paris, a city which is home to chefs like Alain Passard, Joel Robuchon, Guy Savoy, Pierre Gagnaire to name just a few, would have a store worthy enough.   One can sense that this is a very special place shortly after entering through its large green doors.  E. Dehillerin has been open since 1820, and every old, creaky, and worn out inch of it shows its age, but in a wonderful, museum like way. 

This iconic institution has everything I would need to outfit my dream kitchen, the one from "Ratatouille", the animated movie about a rat who dreams of being a chef.  Oh, that La Cornue range! Mine would have six burners, French top, one power burner, and it would be brown with gold accents.   So yes, I would need to come to E. Dehillerin to pick up some of their wonderful copper cookware, a nice escargot dish (I don't eat escargot but a real French kitchen is not complete without it), a selection of casseroles, whisks, spoons, some great knives, etc.

In real life, I got a wonderful copper braising pan while visiting the store.




 The nicely decorated windows of the store are a peak into the delights that await inside.













 Each item has a code on it, and laminated pages located at the end of each isle allow for an easy price lookup.  Chosen items are brought to the wrapping counter where a receipt will be given.  The receipt is to be taken to the register desk.  The salespeople speak English and are very helpful.



The narrow isles are filled with bins of knives and kitchen accessories you never even knew existed but suddenly feel your kitchen is incomplete without.  






Standing here I felt "Yes, I will make that duck pate en croute, or a croissant worthy of Pierre Herme!" But in reality, the equipment alone does not make one a great cook; it can serve as a wonderful inspiration to be a tad more adventurous. 






 
The basement is filled with floor to ceiling shelves of pots and pans of every size, molds, terrines, kettles, chafing dishes, etc.


 My husband says that I always make too much soup, so this would be just right for a nice borscht or a mushroom barley soup for five people, right?  Or am I underestimating?








   

E. Dehillerin
18-20 rue Coquilliere
Monday - 9am -12:30pm  4pm-6pm
Tuesday - Saturday - 9am-6pm
Sunday closed
their August hours are different, so check their website
edehillerin.fr

Joanna


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