French supermarket / must have / tips?

[lesoignons]

Bon matin🇫🇷

I’m in Brittany on holiday this week and am off to the ‘big’ supermarket later.

Are there any must have items I should be bringing home that I can’t get in England?

Particularly thinking of things like toiletries, kitchen cupboard staples, amazing chocolate brands or treats..

Already planning to bring home some jambon, cheese and wine in the cool box (we have the car) but would love to hear any top tips for French brands 💙🤍♥️

Brie

Mmm cheese! It’s on the list!

Savora (a mustardy condiment) makes the best French dressing, and I love Ambassadeur, a cheap martini-like wine based drink.

Cling film, more robust and much easier to use.

Le Petit Olivier is a good brand for nice toiletries.

French garlic always tastes nicer. Also love French smoked salmon or crab pate.

Ive literally never been to France 🇫🇷
but I love these threads ..have a lovely time !

Tinned Pâté Hennaff
Fresh savoury galettes - you can freeze them at home
Tinned Cassegrain ratatouille
Bonne maman jam - much cheaper
Grenadine sirop (cordial)
Boxed wine - Roche Mazet Sauvignon

Confit duck in a tin - best thing ever

Some of the butter biscuits are amazing. Although in Brittany you can go to one of the factory tours and they are even better fresh.

They do a rose flavour cordial that we can’t get in uk. many of their other flavours are amazing too, mint, etc.

wont last long - but omg the bread.

Take a close look at the honey section. Varies depending on locality.

there’s a Haribo factory in Gard, so range is wider there, but the factory shop is decadent.

the spices section, look out for their different pepper based ones. Can’t recall the brand, but yellow and green containers.

Basically, we found, best idea, is go slow, try everything that’s interesting, take a few risks, early on in any holiday, then do a second trip and stock up. Every time we go.

I buy all the sirop, because squash is rubbish here since they added sweeteners to everything.

Chestnut puree in a tube.

Nice fancy biscuits.

Tisane/herbal tea

Sel de guerande

Liquid cake mix in the chiller section
All the 'aperitif' snacks
Paprika crisps
CHEESE
Le petit Marseille (sp) for soaps - has a man in blue stripes on the bottle
Confit duck
Cassoulet in a tin

French whitening laundry sheets are so much better than our ones!

Ghost crisps are always a favourite in the Conyo house,

Persil (the one with vanilla extracts). Smells like holiday even when you're home.

Benedicta mayonnaise.
Fig & nut Boursin (more cheese!)
Peanut puffs (like cheesy wotsits but peanut flavoured).

Oh - and stationery! The back to school aisles in French supermarkets are amazing!

Brett's fromage de jura crisps best flavour crips ever! Some of the other flavours are nice too.

Check the price comparison on Heinz tomato sauce. Last year it was only £2 for the massive bottle compared to £4 over here.

Lots of my favourite things mentioned

paprika crisps
Suchard chocolate
Orangina Haribo
lingering in the aisles for wrapping paper, stationary and kitchen tools
the ‘local products’ aisle as it’s good for foodie presents
children’s clothes

And @OliveHenry is right for back to school stationery. I occasionally treat myself to a large bag of the peanut puffs as the local large Sainsbury’s has them.

As you’re in Brittany you must try Kouign- amann. It’s the best cake ever!

Squash (sirop) is so much better in France, next time I go I'm filling my car with pamplemouse rose flavour. Also lots of good jam and honey

Eau de Cologne in the big bottles
taboulé mix
carambars
anything “caramel au beurre salé”
a couple of bottles of Brittany cider

Bourjois shower gel. I hope they still make it. Gorgeous.

Savon de Marsaille Soap

Boulliabaisse in a jar and little jars of rouille to serve with it.

Bonne Maman tartelettes

All. The. Cheese

Snails in a tin with the shells in the tube

Dried mushrooms

Cremant (champagne not from champagne and about 3e)

Tinned confit de canard. Loads of it. Great for a Sunday eve meal. Super easy. Get jars of cassoulet to have with it.

Yes the tinned confit du canard is much better than you think! We are going soon and will defo bring some back
Dijon mustard so much cheaper too.
All the wine!