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 💙🤍♥️

Can I ask how the tinned Confit du Canard works?
Am I right that it's a tin of precooked duck legs, packed in duck fat?
So you put the legs on a baking tray in a hot oven to heat through and crisp up, and roast potatoes in the duck fat in a separate tray? Or same tray?

I've seen it in french supermarkets before, but never tried it. I've always been a bit put off by the fact it's tinned!

another vote for the Cassegrain ratatouille
cheese
confit du canard
bonne maman jams - especially the lemon marmalade one but it is rare
schweppes agrumes
chestnut everything
fresh octopus/squid
brets crisps - especially the honey and mustard ones which DD will kill for
proper pate
the tiny gherkins in the jar with the basket for lifting them out
proper butter

Another vote for Ghost crisps. They are a bit like pom-bears but more grown up and SO addictive.

This is what I usually come home with:

• Belin Minizza (in the snack section, little crackers that look like pizzas).
• mayo
• half bottles of wine (you get way more selection in France)
• Cafe eclairs
• almond or hazelnut dark chocolate
• crepes
• cherry sirop
• plain bugles
• mini cheese portions
• Breton Biscuits - St Michel Galettes beurre are one of the best.

Auchon's own brand strawberry syrup. Add a drop to sparkling water with ice and it's better than any of the sweetener laden juices over here.

Oh my goodness- it's amazing!!

I lift the individual pieces out of the tin and cook in a shallow frying pan. I do drain the excess fat as they heat up.
I use a bit of the extra fat to roast potatoes to have alongside, and also fried mushrooms and green beans.

You definitely don't need all the fat that's in the tin.

The meat literally falls off the bones- it is to die for!

It's quite a rich meal- you wouldn't want to eat it every day but we usually bring back a few tins and have it every couple of months for Sunday lunch.

Duck confit and sel de guèrande used to be available at Ocado. Alas no more.
Reading this thread and pining for France and all things French.

You can buy most things online from French Click who'll deliver. Not the cheapest (and much less satisfying than actually being in a French supermarket) but handy if you have a desperate craving and no impending visits to France.

https://www.frenchclick.co.uk/default.aspx

By the way the ghost crisps are called monster munch. They are nothing like the UK monster munch (if they still exist)

Thank you @HundredMilesAnHour ! I recall googling that once but had forgotten the name of it

Breton gateau - although best eaten warm from the bakers 😋

Creme de menthe… impossible to get in supermarkets over here!

Oh yes!

I was just coming on to say this - we were in Normandy this month and I was amazed at how cheap it was.

Cremant (Champagne made in areas that are outside of the Champagne region) is usually fabulous and lots cheaper than here in the UK.

Samurai sauce is amazing with chips (in the squeezy bottles with the ketchup and other sauces.)

Duck de confit is so expensive in a tin, I've seen it for about 20€ is it really that good? I want to try it as love duck but worried I will hate it tinned. I live in France and haven't looked for half these things mentioned 😳

I live 10 minutes from the euro tunnel and am planning a trip to cite Europe on the back of this thread, I haven't been since lockdown! Thank you to everyone who has reminded me of French supermarkets

I'm in France at the moment and my top tip for something to buy at the supermarket is Heinz ketchup. I was amazed to see a 910g bottle costs €2.96 (£2.54) whilst in Uk the same size is £4.50!!

Yes it's worth it. Well I think so. Shove in oven or pan and fry until skin is crispy and inside hot. Serve with dauphinois potatoes and green beans.
If you love dick this is the best duck!

@meatbaseddessert
Lmao at your last sentence.

Lesbians need not apply

This stuff with the pamplemousse rosé sirop. Am waiting for hot weather again to have it with tonic. Don't know how I've missed this before in France but it's delicious.

This is a lovely recipe using the tinned confit duck. Mind you, I've only done it with ready made gnocchi - never made my own, which might make it even nicer!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/gnocchiwithduckragu_84330

Ooh thanks 😊 don't mind both actually although not together 🤣

Supermarket had sold out of Le Petit Marsellais liquid soap in the scent I wanted😭😭😭

The Lidl one is generally cheaper and just as good.