Its hallowed ground and a shrine for cooks, after all, Julia Child made it her go to place when she needed kitchen items. Her picture is prominently displayed and I couldn’t help but have a moment of silence for this legendary person. E. Dehillerin, near the Louvre Museum, has specialized in cookware and every imaginable tool one could use since 1820. I was greeted by Franck who has enjoyed working 32 years in the same shop and posed for his picture holding a huge pan and paddle. Creaky and worn wooden floors with make shift hand rails of swaying ropes, run throughout both floors and shelves are lined with knives, copper pots, tart pans and even a duck press.
I became distracted with the rows of stainless steel whisks and held each one for the feel, dreaming of using it rather than an electric mixer for whipping cream. But next, I considered buying a knife which I was told would make wavy cut cucumbers and potatoes. Settling on something practical, I bought the famous dough scraper with their name on it for my bread making.
Franck told me in years past, he would see Chuck Williams from Williams-Sonoma shopping there and we know French cookware gave Chuck the inspiration for his stores. I was happy to tell Franck that Chuck Williams just celebrated his 99th birthday and he was so pleased.
I’d much rather have fun in this store than stare at that strange looking Mona Lisa in the Louvre!
