Have you been to a fresh food market in Paris? Which one do you like the best? I am fond of the organic offerings at the Raspil market (as well as the great people watching) and revel in the shear size of the Bastille market. But my personal favorite still remains the Marché President Wilson, Avenue Président Wilson, 75016 between Rue de la Manutention and Place d'Iéna.
One of things that I think makes the market special is Joël Thiébault. When I first started going to the market, I always noticed a huge line at one of the fresh produce stands. The long line intimidated me. My French wasn't very good and I was worried that I would upset people waiting behind me in line if I took too much time ordering. Eventually, I got over my fear and just used a lot of sign language to purchase my produce. I surmised the long line must mean the produce was good, and my theory held true. Only later did I realize that the stand belonged to the famous Joël Thiébault. His family has been farming since 1873 with a farm just 7 kilometers from Paris and has quite the reputation among both residents and restauranteurs.
Beyond Thiébault's stand the market has a wide variety of fresh cheeses, breads, spices, fish, and meats. You can even pick up some already prepared food for a quick and easy lunch. There are also usually a few stalls that sell jewelry, leather goods and gadgets.
Although it is in the 16th arrondissement, the market is actually not too far from the Eiffel Tower and worth the trip over the Seine river. The market is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 7am to 2:30pm.
