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The best ice cream in the world is made in Paris. Of course.
And it can be found at Berthillon. Parisians of all social classes know about Berthillon. Parisians of all social classes have tasted Berthillon.
Berthillon is one of the rare forms of luxury all Parisians can afford.
The beauty of Berthillon lies in the outstanding quality of its glaces et sorbets. But the Berthillon experience goes beyond the tasty delights they offer.
The Berthillon experience starts with a line. There is no touching a Berthillon cône glacé without standing in line for at least a few seconds or a few minutes. The line gives the Parisian the occasion to choose the flavours and the number of boules. One is usual. Two is for les gourmands.
Anything beyond two is for les Américains.
Once served, it is usual for the Parisian to go for a little stroll on L’Ile Saint Louis with his glace. The Parisian will systematically ask his co-Berthilloner ‘C’est bon?’ His is always ‘super bon’.
The Berthillon experience is vastly enhanced by the localization of Berthillon shops and resellers – exclusively on the Ile Saint Louis. Tasting a glace Berthillon is the only occurrence where the Parisian is happy to behave exactly like a tourist. Outside of that occurrence, it is a disgrace.
There is a form of pride in having Berthillon. Buying une glace Berthillon makes you all at once very gourmet, very distinguished, very in the know, very old school and very rich. Everytime he stops at Berthillon for ice cream, the Parisian will say it to all of the people he meets for the rest of the week. On s’est arrêtés chez Berthillon. Perfect namedropping.
The other Parisians will be jealous: Berthillon is the gift that keeps giving.
With the surge over the past decades of American and more recently Italian (yet French-based) ice-cream chains, Berthillon has a lot of competition.
By opting for a small family owned business which has never branched out or started selling ice cream in supermarkets, Parisians unconsciously know that, buying des glaces Berthillon, they do more than just treating themselves with a petit plaisir: they support a certain form of civilization. A certain idea of the world. A certain idea of Paris.
Useful tip: Come at night: Berthillon, Notre Dame and l’Isle Saint Louis under the Parisian skies is an irresistible combination
Sound like a Parisian: « Berthillon?! Eh bah ça, va, tu te fais plaisir…»
Tags: Berthillon, Cuisine, food, gelato, ice cream, luxury, Paris, Parisian
You picked a picture of my friend to illustrate it! I’m glad, I love your blog, it’s endless source of parisian fun!
Have a coconut flavoured cone at Berthillon for me!
Tomie… you friend looked just too happy!! Hope she doesn’t mind. If she does obvioiusly, I’ll use another picture! And thank you very much for your kind words!
Jessica… ah!! Will do… Love the coconut! Did you know they use coconut in some Australian wines?!! I saw this stuff: it’s (coco)nuts!!!
Oh God, Berthillon, one of my favorite places in the world! Poire avec chocolat glace….mmmmmm….made my knees shake, right there in the middle of the street! Thankfully, it was a Sunday at noon and very little traffic. Was able to make my way back to the sidewalk without a car hitting me, just a few strange looks from other tourists. Oh, they just don’t know……..
Oh, no, I’m sure she won’t, she has a great sense of humor! ;D
Andrea… Good Lord! And you get that from eating an ice cream…
Tomie… cool cool!!
Joyeux Noel a tous!
Of course another Berthillon dilemma is choosing between the caramel avec ou sans beurre sale’. (Sorry can’t do the accents — salted or unsalted butter.)
When I can’t decide between those two, I bail and go for the ultimate — the cassis. Ecstasy!
Will you be my Christmas present because I find you utterly charming.
Polly… let me guess: you like sweet!!
Patricia… woh! Well, you made me laugh!! Not too sure what being someone’s Christmas present entails but I sure do appreciate the offer!! What do I get now?!
oh so true! one of my favorite flavour experiences of paris was the double dark chocolate and amaretto Berthillion scoops i got at the little window. sheer heaven. i *love* ice cream but that was the best.
Hee, hee, well …..single women have got to take advantage of every “little pleasure” in life that they can get!! Thank you to everyone for their favorite flavor suggestions. My next visit to Paris is going to include Berthillon everyday, maybe even for breakfast?
Bonnie Ann… Just realized I never replied to your email. I’m well thx. Book and TV Show projects are on hold for the Holidays but still under way. Hopefully things will unroll positively in the new year. as per flavours… I never had amaretto, I’ll give that one a try!
Andrea… single women, married women: same thing – life is all about little pleasures!!
That’s one of the nice things about Paris. You can buy a signature brand ice cream cone or a Laduree macaron and feel on top of the world.
Almost as good as a Chloe bag or Laboutin shoes…almost
I could cross all Paris to have a Berthillon ice cream!
ParisBreakfast… very simple tastes you have
Anne… Well, just half of it maybe?!! O – being a smartass!
Very funny! I still think it’s wonderful though that you have to walk to a beautiful place — Ile St Louis to get an incredible ice cream… how French is that! I tried the salted butter caramel — to die for! When I cam home (NY) I found a recipe on David Lebovitz’s blog and promptly made it. It was wonderful, but only when I closed my eyes and imagined Ile St Louis!
Minette… Yeah, things do get wonderful when you close your eyes!!
caramel beurre sale and prune d’agen – little scoops of heaven…
Lil… Pruneaux d’Agen that would be
Oh yes, the caramel beurre sale over pomme sorbet!
Perfection!
Je ne peux pas attendre y aller le mois prochain!
I think they’ve started selling it at one place outside of paris, that’s what friends told me, they live in marne la vallée, 92 terminus of RER. They had litterally 5 different flavours, oh it was heaven.
In fact, my dear I can pick you for a visit of the really best ice-cream of Paris… and it’s not Bertillon… in fact it’s not french… it’s an italian shop… so amazing, isnt it?
bises gaelle
Gosh! Saw the photo of that much people queueing for Berthillon’s Ice cream, I think Paris should be the next holiday of mine!
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