Ice Cream Decadence
You alight the métro at Cité station your way to visit Notre-Dame de Paris. You stand on the small island of Ile de la Cité, mesmerised by the grandeur of the cathedral and the neighbouring Sainte-Chapelle. Your eyes are ablaze with picturesque sights you’ve seen in postcard so you capture a few memories of your own for your enjoyment later.
Instinctively, your steps propel you forward. You realise that you have already crossed a small bridge and you now stand on the smaller island of Ile Saint-Louis. You’re drawn towards the length of a street that traverses it and you amble on the narrow footpaths of rue Saint-Louis en l’Ile.
And there it is.
The queue that spills onto the trottoir is the clue that you have arrived. Behind the wood panelled façade of number 31 stands Berthillon, what is rightfully considered to be the best ice cream and sorbet maker in Paris, and one of the best in the world.
My introduction to Berthillon came from Gault Millau’s The Best of Paris, a guide that prides itself on separating the “superlative from the merely overrated”. Naturally, on the first trip to Paris, I had to try it.
Berthillon was founded in 1954 and they still use all natural ingredients in their products, with no preservatives or additives. Referred to as parfums, a term that somewhat evokes sensuality and femininity in an ice cream, the list of flavours is extensive and sure to tempt and delight. Being partial to sorbets, I cannot resist their fraise des bois (wild strawberry) or cerise (cherry).
If you love ice creams or sorbets, Berthillon is a must-have on your trip to Paris. If you’re a gourmand, you’ll put it on your return itinerary, summer or winter.
Berthillon Glacier
31, rue Saint-Louis en l’Ile
75004 PARIS
http://www.berthillon.fr/
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
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I love the way that you write. I enjoyed the lead up to finally discovering the ice cream maker. The best thing about travel is finding great food and specialty shops. If I make it back to Paris, I will go there for sure. We have that exact same photo of Notre Dame even in the Sepia tone. I know that a lot of people have taken this exact shot from this angle, but it is still cool to see that same photo that I have framed in my house. So beautiful
Dave and Deb – Welcome, and thank you for your kind words about the writing. I know what you mean about seeing that same photo elsewhere yet personalising it to make it ‘ours’ in the home.
Hi, I’m so glad to have found your blog through my blog and others’ blog :) Hoping to get to know you more. Ahhh, Berthillon…I’m actually having ice cream now, but it feels very inadequate. My Canadian ice cream lacks the Berthillon parfum and sensuality.
Jen - Hello and welcome :) I’m looking forward to getting acquainted with you and your archives as well. Your Canadian ice cream sounds like my Australian ice cream, good gelato excepted!
My wife and I are recently back from a trip to Paris and we had the ice cream on Ile de la Cite. Loved it.
Ian – I’m envious, on both counts!
[...] Pont de la Tournelle, cross over the Seine into the delightful Ile-St-Louis. Treat yourself to the best ice cream in Paris at Berthillon. The tiny shop is synonymous with the best glaces. Don’t dawdle too long choosing [...]