Thanksgiving in Paris: Prepare and Shop Like a Chef

As a chef, Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. An entire day centered around food and subsequent left-over sandwiches of tasty turkey, cranberry relish, and roasted vegetables? Yes, please! 

In the States, my family gathers with all our kin, neighbors, and friends on the Chesapeake Bay for Thanksgiving. Our numbers fluctuate but we are typically a flock of twenty to thirty.  Everyone’s got their own way of cooking a certain dish and that’s exactly what we do.  This often results in multiple renditions of the same dish, but hey, who are we to complain? The most famous Thanksgiving multiple at the house is the turkey: one roasted, one fried, and I can say with all sincerity that they are equally delicious.

Living in France, Thanksgiving is the holiday I miss the most. Fortunately the French are always ready to join in any food-related fun and rounding up expats and Frenchies alike is very easy. Finding the ingredients, on the other hand, is a bit more tricky. Here are my professional tips for making your Thanksgiving planning a little easier and less of a headache.

Turkey

Whole turkeys are often tricky to find in Franceso I suggest calling ahead to your local butcher and requesting a special order.  If you’re out of luck and cannot find a turkey, guinea fowl or chicken is a wonderful option and can be found at most butchers, even outside of Paris.

Here are some high-quality butchers in Paris that I greatly respect, who source their award-winning meat responsibly from excellent farmers:

Serge Caillaud

Serge is a champion butcher in all senses of the word. I live for his grand “Hello!” and bisous every time I visit.

Hugo Desnoyer

You can never go wrong at this “Butcher of the Stars”; everything is delicious.

Romain Leboeuf

At 30 years old, Romain became a lauded Meilleur Ouvrier de France. He definitely knows his product!

Boucherie Maison Le Bourdonnec

Impressive quality and the staff often sneaks in a little cooking advice.

Boucherie Gardil

My local. These gentlemen are true pros and have the best lard fumée I’ve ever tried. Wrap that around your bird!

Boucherie Terroirs d’Avenir

100% Guarantee your bird is straight from the farm. Terroirs is also great for vegetables, cheese, and bread.

Vegetables

The best option for vegetables in terms of quality and price will be an outdoor market. You’ll find several types of squash in the market this time of year. My personal favorites are the potimarron (which has a slight chestnut flavor, thus the name, a hokkaido variety), the classic butternut, the courge de Nice (a special variety of pumpkin from the south of France), the green kabocha, or acorn squash.

Below is a list of my favorite markets around Paris. This helpful page from the Paris information office will give you a list of all the markets in Paris and their schedules.

Marché Bastille (Thursday – 7:00 – 13:30 / Sunday – 7:00 – 14:30)

The best bang for your buck.

Marché d’Aligre (Tuesdays to Saturdays)

Open every day, except on Mondays. Great for anytime shopping. Visit the organic bakery, Le Pain au Naturel, around the corner.

Marché Place Monge (Wednesday & Friday – 7:00 – 13:30 / Sunday 7:00 – 14:30 )

So charming and has several farm-direct stands, which is a rarity in Paris.

Specific Ingredients

If you’re really craving that true American flavor and can’t bear to think about swapping out your cranberry relish for a red currant chutney, here’s a list of places that will save you:

La Grande Epicerie

This luxury food store has quite a few American ingredients, as well as excellent vegetable, cheese and butcher counters. It could be your one-stop-shop but you’ll walk out penniless.

The Real McCoy

An all-American grocer in Paris since 1990, serving products and ingredients from the States that you can’t find elsewhere in Paris.

In Good We Trust

This small but mighty American grocery store might make you feel nostalgic, without breaking the bank.

My American Market

All the goodies you miss from home, delivered to your door.

Dining Out

A few alternatives, if you’re not able to cook at your apartment:

Verjus

This American-owned restaurant is famous for their beautiful Thanksgiving dinners.

Red House

Never be alone on Thanksgiving! Owners Jen and Joseph are always up to something fun for the holidays and will make you an excellent well-drink.

Breakfast in America

For a traditional Thanksgiving feast and more American classic meals for the rest of the year, BIA is every American in Paris’ go-to.

Treize au Jardin

Their 65€ Thanksgiving menu guarantees to stuff you, from starters to desserts… and champagne!

Joe Allen

The oldest American restaurant in Paris proposes a New York City themed Thanksgiving, set in a cozy American diner.

La Cuisine Paris

Take a Thanksgiving-themed cooking class!

Addresses

Serge Caillaud / Au Bell Viandier – 4 Rue Lobineau, 75006

Hugo Desnoyer – 45 Rue Boulard, 75014

Romain Leboeuf / Boucherie Leboeuf – 37 Avenue Felix Faure, 75015

Boucherie Maison Le Bourdonnec – multiple locations

Boucherie Gardil – 44 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004

Boucherie Terroirs d’Avenir – multiple locations

Le Grand Epicerie – 38 Rue de Sèvres, 75007

The Real McCoy – 194 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris

In Good We Trust – 67 Rue Quincampoix, 75003 Paris

My American Market – online

Verjus – 52 Rue de Richelieu, 75001

Red House – 1bis Rue de la Forge Royale, 75011

Breakfast in America – multiple locations

Treize au Jardin – 5 Rue de Médicis, 75006 Paris

Joe Allen – 30 Rue Pierre Lescot, 75001 Paris

La Cuisine Paris – 80 Quai de l’Hôtel de ville, 75004

Written by Lise Kvan for HIP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Plum Guide and our Marketplace for fabulous vacation rentals in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long or short term, or buy in France? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates or click here. Looking to bring France home to you or to learn online or in person? Check out our marketplace shop and experiences.

WRITTEN BY

Lise Kvan

Lise Kvan is a Danish – American chef who is passionate about sustainable agriculture and food education. Upon graduation from Ferrandi, she worked at Astrance (*** Michelin, San Pellegrino Top 50 restaurant) and helped open Holybelly. She also taught at La Cuisine Paris. Along with Étic Monteleon she opened the restaurant Le Saint Hubert in the south of France.