Exceptional Things to Do in Paris: La Fromagerie 31

La Fromagerie 31 is famous, in Paris’s sixth arrondissement, for its camembert. Unpasteurized, the cheese is creamy and intense without being sharp. It is perfectly delicious.

Alongside standard fare, the shop sells a range of the stinkiest cheeses. These include the Normand au Calvados, the Munster au Cumin, and the Trou du Cru (whose name is a vulgar pun). If you are looking for something less likely to be ambulatory, the knowledgeable staff can help you choose according to your taste. They may ask you when you plan to eat, in order to select a wedge or wheel at the ideal temperature.

If you have more time, have a cheese-tasting lunch on the outdoor terrace. The meal includes salad, bread, and a selection of five, seven, or nine cheeses, served in order of increasing pungency. At such a tasting I discovered the Selles sur Cher, an excellent mild goat cheese.

La Fromagerie 31 is located in Paris’s Saint Germain de Prés quarter (Metro Mabillon), known for its phenomenal shopping. The shop is closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays, and daily from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The staff speaks English.  (Click the business card for a larger version.)