The best sandwich in Paris
Jambon-beurre: They are just two apparently humble ingredients, yet choose them carefully, tuck them into a crackly-crusted baguette, add a swipe of Dijon mustard and you have one of the world’s most extraordinary sandwiches. No-one understands this better than the staff at Le Petit Vendôme in Paris, a boisterous Auvergnat café around the corner from the Hotel Ritz.
Every day, office workers from the area cheerfully line up in front of its takeout window for the best sandwiches in town, made with baguette à l’ancienne from the bakery Julien (one-time supplier to the Elysée Palace) and products brought in directly from the Auvergne. Famed for its cured hams, sausages and Cantal, this once-volcanic region in central France has little time for vegetables: its year-round accompaniment to any meat is aligot, a stringy purée of potato, crème fraîche and fresh tomme cheese. Thus, the only nod to this food group you will find here is the occasional gherkin.
Bite into its jambon-beurre or jambon-cantal*, though, and you will probably agree that in this case a lettuce leaf, or heaven forbid a slice of tomato, would only get in the way of the star ingredients. Men in suits cluster around the bar, savoring every perfectly balanced bite, while those with heartier appetites squeeze into the dining room and order a hefty steak or pungent andouillette with piping-hot frites that taste reassuringly of animal fat (be warned that sandwiches are not served at the tables). Even the rough house Gamay goes down easily in this no-nonsense setting, at least after the first mouth-puckering sip.
* How picture-worthy is this sandwich? Very, but you’ll have to take my word for it since my camera’s battery ran out at the most inconvenient time.
Le Petit Vendôme, 8 rue des Capucines, 1st, 01.42.61.05.88.
Sandy, I believe the sandwich is available with cured ham or cooked ham, cooked ham being the most classic version of the traditional jambon-beurre.
Is the ham in Petit Vendome’s sandwiches cooked? I have the feeling that it’s not so don’t think I’d let my granddaughter eat one. Hopefully, I’m wrong…..
Phil, you’re torturing me! I need to get back to Le Petit Vend√¥me soon.
lunch ce midi au ” Petit Vend√¥me” !
Delicious : saucisson sec d ‘Auvergne as appetizer, baguette, butter …
After, as entré : a ” double pied de cochon grilled ” with French fries perfectly cooked AND to drink, the simple house wine : the Saint Pour√ßain ( Gamay ) √† la ficelle …
Perfect meal : 20 euros !
I will be visiting Paris in March ’09; this sounds great; thanks for sharing
Kate, I often think the French are not as creative as they could be with sandwiches, but the perfection of this one makes up for it!
Ron, I know what you mean, and sometimes when I’m not in the mood for something so crunchy I ask for the “pain au lait” sandwich instead, which is much softer. But, since most Parisians eat baguette just about every day, I would think that the mouth adapts!
Perhaps you can explain something for me. Every time I have had a baguette sandwich in Paris, the density and sharp edges of the crust have left my mouth in pain for a couple of days. Am I the only one with this problem? Am I frequenting the wrong boulangeries?
I’m thrilled to find someone else who loves this sandwich! My first one was 18 years ago on my first trip to Paris, and I STILL remember it. Simple ingredients, simply prepared. Magnifique!
Merci.
Ah, a fellow sandwich groupie. Nice to hear from you!
I couldn’t agree more. There is alchemy in that “san-weech.”
Let’s just say, Eileen, that it’s the best thing in the world – at least when you’re in a certain mood.
I can only imagine how good that baguette sandwich must be!
You’re so right, Teryll! I love the way that Parisians are willing to stand in line for good food.
Any place you fnid with folks lined up outside is a GOOD sign. No matter what they are waiting in line for. I’m imagining the sandwich right now……of course just to eat a truly fabulous baguette would make my heart flutter.
Cheers.