Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do you love foreign supermarkets?

181 replies

SentToTheSynByn · 02/09/2018 18:14

I never shop at home, just get a delivery. However I love browsing supermarkets abroad. I love the huge jars of chickpeas and lentils in France and Spain. I also love that you can buy remoulade in France. And picnic wine Smile

I bought some lovely bottles of rose in holland with stopper, like a grolsch bottle. And the cheese . Everything in holland looks so effortlessly fresh and healthy.

I bought the most gorgeous oregano in Zante last year which is about to run out so thinking about booking a holiday only half joking and olive oil.

Can't think of anything else, so do you love a foreign supermarket, and what have been your best buys?

Ps I sometimes go to Lidl and pretend to be on holiday 😎

OP posts:
TeddyIsaHe · 02/09/2018 18:18

I LOVE Piggly Wiggly. The name makes me endlessly happy and the highly processed and weird American food keeps me entertained for hours. They do actually have some decent food in there, but the stuff that is canned is just mind boggling. I would move to the US just so I could live next to a Piggly Wiggly.

Flapjackninja · 02/09/2018 18:19

Grin it's so good to hear this I love browsing supermarkets when abroad I would even say it's part of the holiday. Love looking at all the different brand which I've never heard of. The problem is when you like something from the supermarket but can never get it again when I'm home such as Bimbo beard in Spain love that stuff!

Chottie · 02/09/2018 18:21

I love it too. I look at all the make-up and the homeware and the clothes too.

Original poster
SentToTheSynByn · 02/09/2018 18:22

I was last in a Piggly Wiggly in 1981. I remember loving the bread.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 02/09/2018 18:23

My last foreign supermarket was in the USA - just to offer a little balance on this thread ;)

Flapjackninja · 02/09/2018 18:24

Just realised I have put beard not bread Blush

CarolDanvers · 02/09/2018 18:26

Love a foreign supermarket. It's one of the very best things about holidays. Favourite are in America; I always bring back Grape Jelly, various peanut butters, blue cheese and ranch dressing. Last time I went I managed to bring back an entire crate of wild cherry Diet Pepsi. Ds loves Peeps - marshmallow chicks and rabbits in various unhealthy but beautiful colours.

Maelstrop · 02/09/2018 18:26

Piggly Wiggly is amazing. I was destroyed that I couldn’t find another last time I went.

I stayed in Kissimmee with family one year, went and found the most amazing supermarket, all the displays of fruit were amazing, I overbought because it was all so great.

My best bit of school trips is the stop at the supermarket en route home. Omg, I filled a trolley last time! I used to live in France so I love the opportunity to fill my boots.

Original poster
SentToTheSynByn · 02/09/2018 19:01

@Flapjackninja definitely part of the holiday, although dh is usually a bit Hmm

OP posts:
LongSummerDays · 02/09/2018 19:09

Oh do I! I go everyday when we're in Spain (well you got to have fresh bread with breakfast! Wink ) just love it!

FrancesFryer · 02/09/2018 19:12

We have Eastern European shops near us. I love going in to have a look. It makes me feel like I'm on holiday

chequeplease · 02/09/2018 19:13

Oh yes, I also love a 'Lidl holiday'.

Flightywoman · 02/09/2018 19:26

Oh I ADORE foreign shopping! Supermarkets, markets, bakeries...they make me very happy!

I've just got back from Italy and brought home 7 types of pasta I can't get in the UK.

someoneneededyoubree · 02/09/2018 19:33

Isn't there a bread in Spain called bellend bread? Or nob bread? Something like that

I remember it having a little mouse on it

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 02/09/2018 19:36

Oh yes, the raspberry 'jaffa' cakes...

BarbaraofSevillle · 02/09/2018 20:02

Don't know about knob/bellend bread, must look out for that.

It would go well with Tetilla aka tit cheese. I was most disappointed that I couldn't get a couple of them during Lidl's recent Spanish week.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 02/09/2018 20:07

god yes, one of the highlights of my holiday is checking out the local supermarket and bringing half of it home. I am currently eating a bar of 39% cocoa milk chocolate exported from Esselunga in Italy. Like Green and Blacks but half the price. I hate that they've banned liquids in hand luggage so now I have to wrap wine and olive oil in the deflated pool inflatables in case of breakage and pray that the baggage handlers are gentle.

treaclesoda · 02/09/2018 20:09

Yes, I adore them. And also yes to going to Lidl and pretending to be on holidays Blush

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 02/09/2018 20:13

Love foreign supermarkets. We’re off to Italy in 5 weeks and said to dh I was looking forward to going to the supermarket. He was Hmm it’s most definitely NOT his favourite part of the holiday. We are self catering and although we will probably only have breakfast at ‘home’ it means I have to go to the supermarket yay

EssentialHummus · 02/09/2018 20:16

Lord yes. There's a particular branch of Lidl on Crete that is my go-to happy place.

Original poster
SentToTheSynByn · 02/09/2018 21:24

@treaclesoda glad it's not just me Grin

OP posts:
GladysKnight · 02/09/2018 21:30

Barbara loved the tit cheese, it's delicious!

agedknees · 02/09/2018 21:37

The supermarkets near our apartment in Spain look/seem so much cleaner than the ones at home. Love mercadona.

treaclesoda · 02/09/2018 22:50

Is there anything in life that matches the sheer joy of the dairy section in a French supermarket? If there is, I have never yet found it. Smile

savagebaggagemaster · 02/09/2018 22:53

Dh has to drag me away from stationery section in a French supermarket - but then I am a teacher - and a French one at that! Grin