La Grande Epicerie sandwiches

[Anne]

I have hesitated to post this in the "Paris on a budget" section ... Yes, something from La Grande Epicerie which could enter the Budget section, who would have guessed ?

La Grande Epicerie has a stall of custom-made sandwiches, which according to my daughter are enormous and the best sandwiches she has ever eaten. They cost 4.75 euros, which is excellent value in a neighborhood where any ready-made sandwich a little more sophisticated than plain ham or cheese is in the 4+ euros range. A sure sign is that a growing number of students now come and get their lunch from this stall.

So you make your pick in each category :
- grilled chicken, special ham (like Bayonne), fresh salmon, tuna fish, ...
- a selection of cheeses
- green salad, tomato slices, grilled zucchini, grilled aubergines, ...
- sauce : tzatziki, tapenade, mayonnaise ...
And the attendant puts all this in a huge, delicious, "perfumed" (?) piece of bread.

Heaven, according to daughter ...

[GitteK]

You can trust this !! Anne's wee daughter is a sophisticated eater who would not recommend these sandwiches unless they were top-of-the-pops !

[jo]

Yum, sounds like my daughter and I will have to partake in these when we visit the left bank.

Jo

[phread]

The basics are often cheaper at the Grand Ep'. Sounds crazy, I know, but when I lived nearby it was the cheapest place to get plain yogurt. Only a savings of five cents, but worth it if I was already there and it added up because that was also true for butter and sliced meats. Of course, you then have to resist the temptation to purchase the artisanal yogurts, Bordier butter and English bacon sitting next to the basics and shouting, "BUY me, I'm YUMMIER"

[Sandy M]

I agree with Helene - I have had a sandwich from here and it was delicious - wish I had taken another one along to eat later. Went there to buy some jams and jellies to bring home and was hungry so bought a sandwich - really delicious!

[PariS]

I will remember this one--thanks Anne!

[Happygoin]

Yup, it's true. They're delish! I usually get a sandwich from there when I'm doing my big haul shopping at LGE. I eat it in the small park next door if it's a nice day.

[sistereurope]

I concur 100%. They are wonderful, and inexpensive. And like Happy says, best eaten in the little park next door. Heaven!

[framboiseetrose]

I am with Happy and Sistereurope - I like eating those sandwiches at that little park especially on a sunny day. Seems like a lot of Parisiens agree with us!!

[phread]

There are three parks near there.
The one in front of the store (Boucicaut) is favoured by nannies and local employees on a lunch break.
The one up the rue du Bac (Missions Etrangeres) is favoured by locall Moms and senior citizens with fair amount of students enjoying their sandwiches.
My favorite though, is on the rue de Babylone. It has a smattering of all these groups and is one of the loveliest gardens in the city because it is so removed from the street and has a potager and you can play on the lawn.