Every time I pass by La Cure Gourmande on l’Avenue de l’Opera, it is always full of customers and it’s not hard to see why. When you walk through their bright mustard yellow doors you can’t help but be taken aback by the interior bursting with colour from all the candies and their kaleidoscopic packaging! Started in a town in the South of France named Balaruc-les-Bains in 1989, La Cure Gourmande now has locations all over the country and has even sprinkled itself into Belgium and Spain. There are six stores in Paris, the newest one having just recently opened on the quaint streets of Ile Saint Louis. They specialize in traditional French sweets and biscuits and entering one of these stores is any child’s (or sugar loving adult’s) dream.
Usually you are greeted by one of the friendly staff who will offer you a sample of one of their biscuits, getting you hooked from the start. The biscuits are arranged in mountainous piles that you can select from with the provided plastic gloves. Picking them off the neatly arranged hills is a treat in itself as you can choose from those filled with chocolate, fig and coconut to others with a sandy texture that crumble in your mouth when you bite into them.
The rest of the store is overflowing with candies and chocolates for you to drool over and eventually place in your constantly expanding bag of treats. There are the rainbow of ‘Choupettes’ or lollipops (I grabbed a peach one), a variety of individually wrapped caramels (in my bag goes a mocha one), nougats (must try one for research…) and ‘Berlandises’ that are hard candies with a fruity gooey centre.
Then there are the ‘Olives au Chocolat’ which only closely resemble their name and are actually the most addictive chocolate covered almonds ever. Their well known ‘Calissons” are little chewy white almond treats that stand out against the rest of the rainbow around you. Finally you realize that if you don’t get over to the cashier and leave, you will end up buying the whole store. The little blond girl featured on all their gift-ready tins, pails and boxes smiles in agreement with her caramelized grin.
Don’t resist the temptation of walking into La Cure Gourmande, as it will result in you leaving with a cheerful yellow bag of treats that will spread joy to your friends and family in Paris or back home. That is if you can fight the urge to eat them yourself.
For locations: http://www.la-cure-gourmande.fr/francais/magasins.asp
9 Comments
I love this delightful shop. i took many photos there on my last trip in January! So colorful and the packaging is adorable!
V
This is an amazing sweets/chocolate shop with a very unique presentation. I came across it in Montmartre on my last visit to Paris and I could not resist buying a variety of products to bring home as gifts to the States. Everything I tried was delicious and I will definitely be going back in for more treats next time I’m in Paris.
I was in your store last week while I was on a cruise down the Rhine. It was by far one of my most favorite experiences of the trip. I brought home the chocolate olives ( almonds ) for gifts, wish I had gotten more.
Do you ship? I will order from you all year long if you do. Love the wonderful service you provided for me and your packaging is so beautiful
Fondly,
Barbara Baugh
Very bad quality products! Besides i’ve detected a trace of mice!!! Ugh, how disgusting!
Visited Paris last week. Drawn to the store near Notre Dame. So colorful and bright. What a delight. Chocolates made for wonderful, packable gifts.
Visited the shop on my last trip to Paris and had to try some of the goodies since the place was packed. The prices were quite steep for just fudge and nougat but it seemed to be of good quality. Ended up spending 22 euros for some cookies, a few pieces of fudge and nougat. Price would be fine if the cookies weren’t just heavy (not old just poorly baked) and the fudge and nougat ranged from old to good but not worth the price.
Never bought the pralines since they seemed to be mass made with little knowledge.
Can’t recommend this place except that the staff was friendly.
I purchased an array of caramels in the Ile de France store and loved every morsel of them. Was excited this year to find a store in Toledo, Spain. Bought twice as many. Am sad I don’t have a store near me in the US.
While on holiday in Belgum with friends a few years ago, my friends introduced me to this very addictive chocolate with almonds which resembles olives. Simply fantastic!! Last week I was in Paris where I stumbled upon one of the shops. I could not resist purchasing the nougat and the “Olives du Chocolat”. Still simply fantastic!! And the packaging is beautiful!
Visited this shop last Fall while on vacation. I would love to buy something now but I live in the United States. These products are only sold online to people in Europe. Is there any solution for me? Let me know. Thanks!
Pat Bouvat