Continental Supermarkets

[bornonvalentines]

Hi Gang

We're taking the car to Carcassonne this year, which opens up a lot of possibilities for hyper market shopping.

The accomodation is self catering, and I'll be cooking for 4 adults including a pescatarian.

My question is in two parts:

1. what do you love buying/cooking/eating from the hyper markets which you don't really get in the UK? I think Western Europe hyper markets are quite similar in Spain, Italy, France etc so doesn't have to be "French"

2. what do you LOVE bringing back, in terms of home wear, products, cooking products from the hyper markets? I'll start with Salad Dressings in a bottle. And French mayo

Merci a toutes x

Thanks Squadron I'll look out this xmas for it.

Tins of cassoulet and confit. We got a jar of rabbit paté once that I still dream about. All the wine.

This. Although swap rabbit paté for wild boar.

Also, more prosaically, condoms are a fraction of the price as is Carrefour own brand eye make up remover which is easily as good as anything you can buy over here.

I always get so overwhelmed by all Spanish supermarkets, carefour, dia consum, mercadona, eroski plus Lidl and Aldi, I never know which to use

If you want a real Spanish supermarket you want Mercadona. Carrefour and Eroski are OK but massive. Dia is cheap and nasty. Lidl and aldi are similar to others across Europe.

You don't mention Spar, Dinos or Supersol but Spar and Dinos are OK, if a little expensive and limited but on holiday faced with a choice of one of those within walking distance or having to drive to one of the others, I'd just stick with what's on the doorstep. Even these and small independents usually have a fresh bread counter.

Don't bother with Supersol unless you have no other choice or want to buy UK brands at high prices, eg Heinz beans or Country life butter at 3 euros a time.

Mmm, fig and walnut Boursin. And quince jelly. My mother used to make quince jelly.

barbara I love Mercadona, I can’t get the jingle out of my head!

Live in France. non perishable stuff I buy regularly.
Lime sirop - so refreshing with chilled sparkling water.
Foie gras (sorry)
Duck canned in the fat. ( save the fat for amazing roast potatoes)
Saucisson, French prosciutto ( jambon cru)

Aperitifs to serve over ice ( like pineau de Charente) peach, nut, etc
Monbazillac dessert wine serve chilled.
Decent bottle of red from about 2.80 euros.

Cheese: gruyere, Brie de meaux, tomme. Individual goat cheeses (cabecou)

Viennoisseries (croissants etc)
Oreos milka chocolate !

I came on to say about the sirop - tessiere type) but lots of you have beaten me to it! I do buy from asda occasionally but the flavours are limited and the price extortionate!
I'm loving this list
Carrefour supermarket is my favourite