French supermarket must buys!

[STST]

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….

[daytriptovulcan]

Gateaux Aux Riz. Comes in a foil bowl.
A baked rice pudding in a light caramel sauce. So good😋

[GonnaGetGoingReturns]

I always used to like soups in a carton (can’t think of brands), any Baby Bel which was different, eg Emmental, cold rice puddings from chiller cabinet, most large packets of crisps (olive flavour), and Intermarche did a good makeup range. Plus all the Le Petit Marseillais shower gels and shampoos.

[Kerrrmieee]

Mum just brought me back some Mayo, Cassis and Madeleines. She knows what we like!

[Igloo71]

@Sunshineandrainbow

Thanks @stringbean
Is the route walkable? I am thinking of going as a foot passenger now! With a pull along trolley!

Try and drive it, you won’t regret it. First time I did it, just me and the kids, we stayed the night before at a premier inn near the terminal and had a shopping day at the outlet mall nearby in ashford. Next day, up early and we had a late breakfast in cite Europe. As @stringbean says, when you leave the train, keep in the right hand lane. There’s a cite Europe exit not long after that. The mall isn’t as good as it used to be imo but the supermarket is fine. There is (or was last year) a small wine shop in the mall too. We tend to do all the shops, then the supermarket and go for dinner with the trolley next to us. Reason we do this is because we don’t want to leave booze on view in the car as we’ve witnessed break ins. We can get home in just over 2 hours from ashford so it’s a long day but doable. From being like you, im happy to drive without my husband now and go further afield for more wine and cheese choices.

[stringbean]

@Sunshineandrainbow -
You can't travel on the Eurotunnel as a foot passenger, you would need to go on the ferry. Unfortunately my knowledge of supermarkets near the ferry only extends to Caen - you could Google for supermarkets close to the Calais terminal - but you wouldn't be able to bring much back in a trolley. I'd bite the bullet and take the car

[Sunshineandrainbow]

Thanks @stringbean
Is the route walkable? I am thinking of going as a foot passenger now! With a pull along trolley!

[stringbean]

If you get off the Eurotunnel at Calais, cite Europe is the first turn-off you come to - very easy to miss! - can't be more than 5 mins drive; there is a Carrefour there. The wine selection is pretty rubbish but you should be able to get most food items. At Caen there js a large LeClerc 3 or 4 miles down the main road from the ferry terminal, heading in the direction of Caen. Not sure about the other ports though.

[Sunshineandrainbow]

How close is the supermarket to the port? I am not sure about driving on the other side of the road. Love a French supermarket.

[stringbean]

In addition to all the items below, these are fab - always bring some home. Chocolate mousse with a swirl of chocolate crisp through it

[Breakingpoint1961]

Will be going to Calais shortly..any recent suggestions please?

[newtb]

Confit de canard is cheap in Lidl, 5 legs in a tin.
Leclerc has just been voted best supermarket.
Carrefour is expensive, as is Géant Casino.
Intermarché/SuperU are on a par.

From pharmacies I used to buy boxes of mucomyst brilliant for sinusitis or to stop dd getting ear infections after a cold.

You could always do a click&collect at a superU or Inter.

The kitchen shop Bovida is worth a browse, you can still buy 1kg bags of saltpetre if you fancy trying home curing. The EU outlawed its sale, but still available if you know where to go. Many French people make their own saucisse

[bornonvalentines]

@babyjellyfish If anything, Auchan Dieppe was like Christmas overload. They even had a section called Kingdom of Christmas set up like a grotto with tablescapes and all the glitz!

Lots of Christmas food offers: seafoods for the freezer, foie gras and their toasts, big chocolate boxes, huge prepared cheeseboards, chestnuts etc

[Brigante9]

The other week, I stocked up on Kiri cheese (in the kids’ section, spreadable and astonishing on baguettes. Also amazing in sauces.

I also loaded my trolley with Garbit tabouleh. I only like the tomates fraîches et menthe. Perfect for lunch.

Pastis, obviously, as it’s so much cheaper than Pernod over here.

[babyjellyfish]

I'm not sure whether the French supermarkets have their Christmas stuff out yet actually. It tends to start a bit closer to, er, Christmas, than in the UK!

My local home decor shop has all its Christmas decorations out though.

[CorporateBull]

Hate to say it but I found French supermarkets most disappointing in Christmas offerings. I hope your experience differs!

[bornonvalentines]

Am currently on a ferry to Dieppe. Dying to see what Christmassy things they have in Monoprix and Auchan.

[LadyHelenaJustina]

Bonne Maman in every flavour that you can't get over here.
Saucisson
Blackberry liqueur
Cheese

[ItsnotaHenryMoore]

@ItsnotaHenryMoore

We're off on Friday to the Lot Valley and I'm on the hunt for this:

www.carrefour.fr/p/creme-visage-anti-age-a-l-huile-d-argan-jour-nuit-le-petit-olivier-3549620033144

I ordered online and had a lovely parcel delivered to the gite!

[basilmint]

I think you need this thread @MsFogi !

www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4521982-What-should-I-buy-from-a-French-pharmacy

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

@Haus1234

@Nachitoches

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.

This is available in big supermarkets (Sainsburys/ Waitrose) in the UK now too!

But not in the wide range of flavours... My vote goes to fleur de sel, piment d'espelette and fond de veau stock powder. And tons of cacahuétes enrobées.

[ItsnotaHenryMoore]

We're off on Friday to the Lot Valley and I'm on the hunt for this:

www.carrefour.fr/p/creme-visage-anti-age-a-l-huile-d-argan-jour-nuit-le-petit-olivier-3549620033144

[MerryMarigold]

@Kerrrmieee

Apologies - what would you be looking for from your local French pharmacy?

Oh yes, pharmacies are fantastic. Their large plasters particularly tend to be the types only available on the NHS. You can even get them in supermarkets. You can also get la Roche Posay cheaper than here I think.

[prettyteapotsplease]

In the homeware department they might have storage jars with fleur, sel, poivre, fines herbes and the like.

We used to like tinned Mont Blanc and scallops with a wrapper attached with their shells.

[Kerrrmieee]

@MsFogi

Can anyone point me in the direction of the equivalent thread (it must exist) for French pharmacies?

Apologies - what would you be looking for from your local French pharmacy?

[Kerrrmieee]

Aren't they all the same? One in every village... Although I did lose 2 stone in one night with the laxative they gave me 🤣 massive exaggeration it was just 7lbs.