Yes, it’s definitely worth the schlep to this welcoming 19th-century boulangerie.  Christophe Vasseur’s breads and pastries are everything you dream of when you dream of the breads and pastries of Paris.  It’s hard not to finish his famous pain des amis (friendship bread) before you leave the shop and for a little snack, he offers small breads filled with cheese and spinach or ham or other enticing offerings.  If you are there in the fall and the counter is lined with his incredible not too sweet fig tarts, we dare you to resist.

Expensive handmade bags crafted with beads and embroidery distinguish this brand founded by Isabelle Puech and Benoît Jamin. This shop also carries bags from previous collections discounted about 30%.

In an offbeat neighborhood in the 10th arrondissement is this small, informal restaurant serving elegant, subtle and complexly flavored cuisine.  The restaurant sits on the corner of a quiet street and on the main level, one can watch the chef and his assistants working in the small open kitchen.  The dishes they produce are a marvel.  At dinner, there is a 42 Euro set menu (which they will adjust for allergies and specific food preferences) and each of the dishes is a work of art – beautiful to the eye and very flavorful, light and sublime.  The menu typically includes vegetable dishes, a fish and meat or fowl course; it changes daily according to the freshest ingredients available.   The street often looks a bit narrow for a car to pass through but you can arrive by cab, and they will call a cab for you when dinner is over.  It’s also an easy walk from the metro.

Near the Garde du Nord, this informal restaurant with an old-fashioned ambiance serves traditional French Bistro cooking.  It’s a convenient stop for a meal before taking the Eurostar. Be sure to reserve a table on the main floor and not downstairs.  Favorites: the bread; potted sardines with tomato tartare; pot au feu; the cheese platter