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French supermarket must buys!
STST · 06/11/2021 10:25
Just that really; looking for some great suggestions of things to bring back from a french trip. Ideally non refrigerated things, there is only so much we can eat of fresh stuff before it all goes off.
So far I’ve got confit tins, chestnut puree, tins of french beans, fleur du sel….
Wanted also to bring some fresh fruit/veggies back, what is in season at the moment? Heard about Bertranne apples. Going to try to fit in a market as well.
Cashmere and stationery suggested by a Friend In The Know.
Any cookware/tableware things to look out for?
Also - does anyone know the ‘rankings’ of french supermarkets, quality/price wise? Is Auchan better than E.leclerc for example? Or Carrefour….
Nachitoches · 06/11/2021 11:18
Teisseire sirop - add a tiny bit to water a bit like squash but much nicer and available in a range of flavours like grenadine and mint.
Haus1234 · 06/11/2021 11:33
@Nachitoches
This is available in big supermarkets (Sainsburys/ Waitrose) in the UK now too!
GrimDamnFanjo · 06/11/2021 12:13
There's a supermarket shower gel brand which is great. Petit something?
Homeoplasmine is my go to skin stuff.
Lovely soaps.
Rillete
BodgertheJogger · 06/11/2021 12:16
@GrimDamnFanjo
Homeoplasmine is my go to skin stuff.
Lovely soaps.
Rillete
Petit Marseille.
The lait scented one is the best imo
crosshatching · 06/11/2021 12:18
Le petit marseillais soaps, love them. There's a whole world of Bonne Maman we're denied here too. Mustards are also worth stocking up on.
Well jel, a big Leclerc is basically daddy day care for my DH when we're on holiday!
Fifilafrog · 06/11/2021 12:37
Half French here and spent all my school holidays with my grandparents in bordeaux as a child. Shopping for goodies to bring home was always my favourite thing. Whilst you can now get a lot of stuff here that you couldn't back then (cheeses etc) here are some of the things I still like to stock up on:
Petit Marseillais shower gels/shampoos
Tahiti douche shower gels
Body sprays and deodorants
Savon de Marseille
Washing powder/liquid
Cleaning products
Soups
Tins of cassoulet
Tins of saucisses au lentilles
Tins of veg
Tins of EVERYTHING! 😂
Saucissons
Condiments (stock cubes, mustards, salad dressings etc)
Biscuits/cakes
Teas and coffees
Tesseir sirops (like squash)
Crisps and nibbles
Stationary
I could spend an absolute fortune and fill a van every time I go! 🤣
Have fun!
MsFogi · 06/11/2021 12:41
French stain removers are way better than the ones in the UK!!!
As are French stock cubes.
Fifilafrog · 06/11/2021 12:45
Also
Instant mash is lovely, especially the one with nutmeg in
Coquillettes pasta (like macaroni)
Tinned pate
Pots of compote - so many varieties!
turnthebiglightoff · 06/11/2021 12:46
Aligot. I could live on the stuff! Also as much Cremant as you are allowed!!
Melassa · 06/11/2021 12:53
If you’re in the U.K. due to Brexit I don’t think you can bring back fresh foods, so no dairy, charcuterie etc. That might include fruit and veg. Tinned stuff should be ok. You might want to look into that (although apparently no one really checks U.K. side so you might get away with it). However worthwhile checking as it would be a shame spending €€€ only to have half of it confiscated.
OliveHenry · 06/11/2021 13:00
Benedicta mayonnaise.
Fig & nut Boursin.
Peanut puffs.
Bonne Maman everything!
crosshatching · 06/11/2021 13:00
Anyone desperate for a Le Petit Marseillais fix I find //www.sanareva.co.uk have a good selection.
BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 06/11/2021 13:10
@crosshatching
Second vote for Sanareva. Shipping takes a bloody age, but the selection of stuff like toiletries and parapharmacie is great.
For food (at inflated prices), www.frenchclick.co.uk
STST · 06/11/2021 13:12
You are all amazing, thank you so much! Had forgotten about the boxes of soup, always so delicious.
STST · 06/11/2021 13:16
Checked gov.uk. Everything is fine to bring in - meat/fish/cheese/veg/fruit etc. Yay!
aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cugov.ukL2JyaW5naW5nLWZvb2QtaW50by1ncmVhdC1icml0YWlu
offyougotwantychops · 06/11/2021 13:16
Jars of grated celeriac
Jars of grated carrots
Jars of squared beetroot!
I also love the tins of couscous which mix with veg. Admittedly my list is more summer foods but it lasts (we also bring back a huge bag of croissants and freeze them)
really want to go to France now
STST · 06/11/2021 13:17
@Fifilafrog - how do you rate clothing from the supermarkets? A vair trendy friend swears by cashmere jumpers from one of them, Carrefour I think?
Fifilafrog · 06/11/2021 13:21
[quote STST]@Fifilafrog - how do you rate clothing from the supermarkets? A vair trendy friend swears by cashmere jumpers from one of them, Carrefour I think?[/quote]
Yep, clothes (particularly men's socks for some reason 🤷🏻♀️) seem to be well made and last forever.
Fifilafrog · 06/11/2021 14:06
@crosshatching
Thanks for this link! 👍🏻
Melassa · 06/11/2021 15:00
[quote STST]Checked gov.uk. Everything is fine to bring in - meat/fish/cheese/veg/fruit etc. Yay!
[[aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cugov.ukL2JyaW5naW5nLWZvb2QtaW50by1ncmVhdC1icml0YWluXV1bL3F1b3Rl]
Goodness! So it is true they’re letting everything through! I can resume my care parcels for relatives in the U.K., I’d been limiting myself to dry goods as per local rules, but now I can add cheeses back in. Good news for them.
From France I buy cider (not really available where I am), cheeses of course and those lovely thick farmhouse yogurts that come in the blue ceramic pots. Also aioli. For shower gels there is another brand that sells cake and pudding flavours. The Madeleine one really smells of cake.
Found it! DOP childhood aromas
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