A day in CALAIS - what shall we buy?!

[Shortysoso]

We are off to CALAIS for an overnight. We’ll get wine for Christmas but what else is worth buying in Carrefour? Or nice shops in Calais itself?

It’s a bit early to buy Christmas cheese, although we’ll get some to eat now obvs.
What should we look out for? Kids are teens, girls, anything to float their boat?

Christmas pressie inspiration?

And if anyone can recommend somewhere for dinner (we’re thinking steak frites, mussels, maybe a fish soup, oh, a proper French fish soup )
All reconditions gratefully received.

My dp's aunt done a booze cruise to France for us yesterday and we're now on our second litre bottle of wine. Would recommend

I need those Xmas cool chocs. OP could you add those to my list? Mint chocs with mint liqeur! 😂

drivingtofrance
I bulk buy Savon de Marseilles laundry liquid too.

To the poster who recommended the Maroilles cheese, you must have no sense of smell or taste.

If you like the smell of vomit then it's the cheese for you! 🤢🤮

Reading this thread, I want to go shopping in Calais. It's quite a long way from the north of Scotland though!

@Shortysoso They are owned by Lindt now... But they are still only available at Christmas and only in France. I believe Lindt still use the original secret recipe:

parisisinvisible.blogspot.com/2011/12/ghost-sign-of-christmas-past.html

The smellier the better icepinkeskimo, for that ‘what is that awful smell, oh, it’s fine, someone just opened the fridge’ feeling.

The chocolates are on the list

Whole Bries. We used to go end of October and stock up for Xmas. Cut the big brie wheels into quarters when you get home and stack them up the corners of your freezer.

Oh... and there used to be amazing chocolate truffles in red boxes but I can't remember the name. They were only around one Euro a box.

And we always found Auchen better than Carrefour.

You can freeze Brie?! What now?!

Yes Shorty. We used to bring back enough to last year! We have a massive chest freezer however.

E.leclerc is my supermarket of choice in France. They do alcohol free cocktail syrups which are great for non-drinker and kids.

My DDs always get loads of pens, paper etc from there, great stocking fillers!

I can’t get past freezing Brie

Can I eat the contents of the freezer before morning to make space?!

Can I freeze any cheese then? I have frozen Stilton in the past but then only used it for soup.

Yes to Auchan. Brie and Camambert.

Although, this can be bought in Lidl’s for similar prices, but I’d say the sizes are larger.

I freeze any cheese. If parmesan is a good price I buy loads to freeze. Cut into manageable sized lumps first, obviously.

Go to Cite Europe, loads of shops and restaurants.

Socks, hats, gloves, deodorant, baby wipes if you want to help the refugees there.
A list of most needed items and who to contact: care4calais.org/get-involved/collect-donate/become-a-collection-point/

If you are going to do shopping then go to Cite Europe. Much more choice than Calais itself.

@Icepinkeskimo

Maroilles' bark (smell) is worse than its bite. Doesn't taste of much at room temperature but it is transformed when melted.

We know Calais very well and it's a hidden gem. Apart from Carrefour and Auchan which are in big complexes, the town centre is awash with shops and restaurants. There's a free hop on hop off little bus which is well worth taking as you will get your bearings. You need to find the main railway station and head down from there to main shopping area, or the market square near the old docks and wall away from the docks. The little bus does all of those. Enjoy

As I posted up thread, I went to France recently and thought I would report back in my purchases in Carrefour;

Les Pyrenees Christmas chocolates - 30 chocolates for €7 but were on offer for €5. The 'coolness' is more subtle than I thought, but they are a nice treat. Lidl in France had a similar looking box, so they may have a dupe, which would be cheaper.

Fossier rose biscuits - €5 for 30. They are light but crispy and they don't look like anything you can get in the U.K. would be amazing with afternoon tea.

Cassoulet - grabbed a couple of tins for €1.50, but I haven't tried them yet.

This next one wasn't on the list:

Le Fermiere yogurts - €2 for 2. They are really dense but creamy yogurts and are amazing. They come in cute little glass or terracotta jars that can be reused (I'm planning on using mine for Xmas day starters).