Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex

Posted By : Anita_M
from reading other reviews and experiencing this tasting, I believe Chef Alex does accept constructive criticism. With that said, this should be renamed Cheese tasting with wine; not because we only had 3 types of wines, but because Chef Alex provided little information about the wines. From the meeting point to his restaurant was a few block walk that took almost 45-50 min to traverse due to his long winded explanations about the area. These were interesting but just took too long. Stopping at a local bakery, he asked for volunteers to conduct the transaction of purchasing the baguette. He made it clear that if he didn't have enough volunteers, he would select members from the group. This was a bit harsh and made several of us uncomfortable. Eventually, we made it to his restaurant where a section was prepared for us; however, rather than simply allowing attendees to sit with their respective groups which would have required the use of 1 additional table, he began splitting up groups to fit the pre-arranged tables; one group was a wife/ husband and toddler! As he walked away, group members set the table for the family, so they could remain together. As the demonstration began, it became evident that this was a cheese tasting with wine accompaniment. Each of us felt we did learn a lot about the cheeses, adding toppings to the cheese to enhance flavors, the aging process, the active bacteria that changes the taste and texture of the cheese. This was extremely informative and interesting; however, was not the experience I anticipate. Little information was explained about the wines. There was no comparisons between the wines, nothing about the regions produced, etc. As stated earlier, Chef Alex must read these reviews and alter his presentations because he made no effort to sell the wines or the cheeses. Although our group of four enjoyed eating and learning about the cheeses, it was not the experience we signed up for.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-05-06

Posted By : sooz787
I very much enjoyed the variety of cheeses and wines. I was disappointed, though, that the group was so large, especially since the description indicated that the group max would be 12. (We had 16, I believe.) Adding the background noise, the group size made it very difficult for me to hear. Alex is so delightful that I feel like I missed a lot not being able to hear so much of what he said.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-05-02

Posted By : Debra_P
Chef Alex took the time to share some history of the neighborhood, as well as educate us on wine tasting. We tasted many varieties of cheeses, and enjoyed the “French Table” experience. Highly reccommend.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-22

Posted By : Candace_W
Alex was an informative and engaging guide. We learned about the neighborhood before settling down to a cheese and wine tasting. There was a lot more education provided regarding cheese making than just tasting.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-03-26

Posted By : squack78
Alex helps you appreciate the importance of local sourcing - how to smell and savor French specialties from the difference regions. Because they are locally sourced, they are healthier than what we are used to in the US. We learned how to pair the wines we tried with the cheeses, and general rules for pairing wines. Such a fun evening!
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-02-11

Posted By : phumudzom962
Such an amazing and informative wine and cheese tour I really enjoyed myself and made me want to explore more 😀-Coco all the way from South Africa 🇿🇦
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-01-26

Posted By : bruingirl91
Chef Alex was great. We got a history lesson about Rue Mouffetard and its significance, the history of food and wine in Paris, and the importance of "pure food." Very interesting. Then we sampled amazing cheeses and wines, with fresh, WARM baguettes. Chef Alex's enthusiasm made the whole afternoon an experience. I'd redo in a heartbeat!
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-16

Posted By : Erin_H
We were so happy with this experience! Alex was so knowledgeable and passionate. We learned how to properly taste wine and learned about a lot of different cheeses. It was also so nice to learn more about the French culture. I would highly recommend!
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-14

Posted By : Rosemary_S
Thankyou Alex for your insight into farming, wine and cheese. We enjoyed this experiance very much. It would have been good if Viator gave you my e-mail. We never got our groups photo.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-10-06

Posted By : D H
We had a fantastic time with Chef Alex who is a skilled and knowledgeable guide and sommelier . We met several interesting people in the group who were from all over the world, ranging from New York to the Philippines to Russia to Armenia. There was a couple celebrating their engagement in Paris. We’ve been to many routine, wine tastings, and they all used to follow the same pattern. This was completely different. We really enjoyed the history and the differences between the European and US viniculture and farming. We had the best freshest baguettes that we’ve ever tried, and for the first time, and really enjoyed some of the same grapes that we had at home, but tasted entirely different. We took away a great knowledge that will use in selecting cheeses when we return, and we were given some wonderful recommendations and tips for the city as well as for our future purchases. Chef Alex was kind accommodating and answered everybody’s questions. He took the time needed to really make a connection. We felt warm and welcome. Certainly recommend.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-07-29