Off to france for a day tomorrow .. Tell me what to buy?

[TwigTwoolett]

I have so far on my list

wine
cheese
dishwasher tablets

(and is petrol cheaper over there or should I fill up first)

Biscuits.

Pronounced "biskwee" obv)

Benco instant hot chocolate/milkshake granules. Very handy, quick dissolving and no sweeteners.

Was in France in July with car, petrol definitely less expensive. Children's clothes can be less expensive, too and different from the usual high street stuff here.

Clothes, shoes, dark choc

Petrol definitely cheaper there (we go as empty as we dare!). Coffee is much cheaper, I have a weakness for "extra fin" tinned green beans which are yum even though I would never buy tinned veg in the UK, chocolate, pots and pans much cheaper and better quality, soupe de poissons, beer. Am jealous.

olives
green tea with mint
those boxes of little stick pretzels with salt on
paul newman microwave popcorn
real coffee
high fruit jam
french butter
creme fraiche
choc croissants
prawns/seafood generally
bottled water-esp little bottles
petrol def cheaper esp diesel
Have a lovely day

Olive oil
Mustard
Couscous
Camargue rice
Sea salt
Dried herbs (persillade)
Teisseire fruit syrups
Tinned fish is cheaper and with good brands like Connetable and Petit Navire, very good quality
Monegasque anchovies in jars
Coffee
Stock cubes if you use these, the French formulation is subtler and less chemically IMO

Ready sliced brioche for luxe toast
Flamiche from the deli counter
Vrai organic yogurts and desserts
Comte/Tomme instead of gruyere for a change

Why would you need to buy lots of bottled water?

Tinned dauphinoise potatoes and duck confit - instant dinner party

Biscuits and crepes. (Wine is a given)

bobdinos-because if you like bottled water-eg fizzy stuff, its loads cheaper

Marina has beaten me to it on most of her shopping list but I would add:

Amora Dijon and A L'Ancienne (whole grain) mustard
capers - nice small ones
coffee for cafetiere (much cheaper)
stationery - love the paper & the pens
fly swotter - une tapette
decent camembert - am sure they don't export the best stuff

oh & fig jam....

pain de compagne
banania hot chocolate drink
fresh carrot salad
goats cheese
check out the price of fresh chestnuts, it is the season for them.
Pine cone filled with nuts if you see one.
Ridiculously cheap checked cotton napkins
Nice but cheap creamed soup in cartons (aldi)

If you have got any DIY needs, then note the UK prices, and it is worth comparing. Some things are cheaper, others are more expensive.

Petit Bateau baby clothes - way cheaper than here and sold in most supermarkets

Funny! I'm coming back to England next week to buy clothes for the children!

Agree about Petit Bateau though.

Diesel NOT very much cheaper, only petrol.
Definitely jam.
Chocolate
Coffee
Flour

Cassis and bubbly - kir royale hurrah!!

Champagne

you could order some flowers for moondog?

Eau du Rochas

duck pate from a small charcuterie?

hoegaarden/belgian beer is about 1/10th the price over there.

olive oil

Oooh, yes, biere de garde from Jenlain. The area round Calais has lots of micro-breweries so look for the little shelf of local beers...
Pistachios
Eau de cologne for adding to laundry - just the whiff of Eau de Bienfait takes me back to my teen exchange trips
Your ds might enjoy some BN Gouter biscuits for his school snack (treat) Twig
And chocolateshoes is right - the capers are a fraction of the price, and so is both soft and rinded goats' cheese
If you still have cash to spend, Twiglett, almost anything in the supermarket with the golden yellow Reflets de la France range is going to be reliable quality. They do exceptionally nice galettes for example.

This thread is making me envious...won't be going for a while!