I love doing my souvenir shopping at supermarkets, wherever I happen to find myself. I’ve bought olive oil and saffron in the supermarket in Madrid; Lavazza coffee in Rome; and Fat Boy soy sauce in Chiang Mai — and when I’m headed back to Texas for a visit, I still stop by the stinky stinky Franprix (above) for French staples that you can’t get in the U.S.
To accompany my Fort Worth Star-Telegram story about fall in Paris I thought I’d put together my list of favorite supermarket souvenirs — an inexpensive way to bring home a little bit of France, no matter what the exchange rate is up (or down) to.
1. Mousse-worthy chocolate.
Yes, yes, it’s as much of a French cliché as a black beret, but if you want to make chocolate mousse, this is the chocolate to use — so says pastry/baking rockstar Dorie Greenspan, who credits the recipe on the back of this bar as her favorite, and the one that was fabulous enough to make it into her new book, “Around My French Table,” which if you haven’t ordered yet, what are you waiting for?
2. Drinking and baking chocolate.
I don’t know what Dorie thinks about this Van Houten chocolate, a yummy powdered, unsweetened chocolate, but I love it and use it for chocolate cakes, cookies, and for hot chocolate in the winter. It’s far richer and darker than what you’ll find on your grocery store shelves in the U.S., and makes even the simplest of cakes richer more chocolatey.
3. Sea salt.
Buy as much as you can stuff into your suitcase. This is what you’ll want to sprinkle on every single thing that you make, including your chocolate chip cookies. It’s a fraction of the cost than what you’ll pay in the states, and it doesn’t weigh much at all.
4. Piment d’Espelette.
It’s not as hot as cayenne, but this A.O.C.-protected Basque pepper has a lovely subtle heat that’s as wonderful in savory dishes and soups as — I hate to be redundant here, but I’ll just say it — chocolate. Seriously. Try a sprinkle of this on top of your brownies or on your thick, made-on-the-stove hot chocolate. It’s amazing.
5. Nut oils.
Now these aren’t the fancy fancy J. Leblanc oils, but the grocery store walnut and hazlenut oils will do in a pinch, and are great for mixing into salad dressings, drizzled on top of soups or grilled veggies. I’ve managed to fill an entire fridge shelf with different nut oils, and use them all the time — they’re great on sandwiches, too.
6. Tuna in olive oil.
The way to go if you’re making anything tuna-related. No more of that dry packed-in-water business — that you then need to add oil (in the form of lots of mayo, right) to later to make it edible; try this tuna instead. It’s quite wonderful on its own. And so easy to stuff into those new boots that you just bought, to.
7. Sugar, sugar.
For a country that isn’t big on sweety things, the French sure do stock a lot of sugars. Here are some of the fun ones that we don’t find very often in the states.
The uneven cane sugar cubes that (eventually) melt in your espresso, with about 10 minutes’ of stirring.
The rock candy-like sugar, also for coffee and tea – or eating like candy, I suppose.
The sugar “perles” that look more like rock salt than sugar, and are used for one of my favorite patisserie treat, chouquettes, as illustrated on the box.
8. Real French mustard.
A friend of mine from Los Angeles told me that she filled her suitcase with Maille mustard because what you get in the states isn’t as strong as the stuff here. I can’t verify that, but I do know that there are lots and lots of flavors and types of mustards that are really common here and not so much in the U.S. I like the grainy mustards, like this one, the best.
9. Lentilles du Puy.
The best lentils in the whole world. I love love love these babies, and have gotten to be a bit of a lentil snob, I guess, since I started eating these a few years ago. Delicate and earthy, with a sharp, clean flavor, the little French du Puys are nothing like the fat brown ones, which seem to go mushy as soon as they’re cooked.
10. Powdered veal stock.
Terribly un-P.C. to even mention it, I suppose, but for those that want to make sauce Espagnole, but don’t have the time to run to the store for a sack of veal bones, here’s what Gordon Ramsay’s producer stuffed in her suitcase before she took her taxi to Roissy.
11. Speculoos pasta (no, not that kind of pasta)
Pasta, tartiner, paste, spread, whatever. Let’s just call this what it really is — CRACK IN A JAR. If you’ve never had this — a spreadable version of the oh-so-lovely Belgian cinnamony-gingery cookie, the Speculoo — you may want to consider yourself lucky, because once you try it, you’ll be finishing one jar, and then another, eating it by the spoonful, just like that, straight. Dangerous and addictive, this stuff will put you right back into your teal green Wal-Mart jogging suit, but it’s so wonderful, you won’t even care.
Bon shopping, everyone!
{ 1 trackback }
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Great list of ‘edible souvenirs!’. I too am a big fan of grocery shopping and exploring in foreign countries. (I think Japan is the most fun!) Now I know what I will bring my Mom for X-mas! Love the French sugar section. I have yet to try the speculoos from a jar, though every time I’m in the grocery store I’m tempted! (I’m already addicted to Nutella so why not, considering I need to be fair to both France and Italy).
I had to stop buying the jarred speculoos spread because I was attacking it with a spoon and making myself and everyone around me sick
The moutarde à l’ancienne is my favorite too – not as firey as the regular dijon – HOWEVER, I think they use additives which disappoints me
This country is turning into a little America with their 0% fat (but LOADS of sugar) yogurts and breakfast biscuits with an ingredient list that just seems unnatural.
Great, thourough list! I often bring back crème de marrons as well (though the reaction has been mixed!).
Since somehow I have never heard of this speculoos spread, I think I will continue to stay in the dark since I am seriously prone to sweet addictions. I make these trips at least once a month as I live near the french/german border and need to stock up on all the goodies france has to offer, and our lists are mighty similar!
Hey! You get the crunchy version of the Speculoos cream? I’m clearly living in the wrong neighborhood..
OMG! This post totally make me want to plan a trip to Paris!!! This is insane!! And the sugar perles? I have been wandering what the name is ever since I had it on some éclairs in Singapore!! Thank you for such a wonderful post!
It is nice to know that I am not the only one that loves to go to local supermarkets when traveling. I can’t wait to get back to Paris and get some Speculoos!
I buy all my souvenirs at grocery stores too! Loved your list. I usually go straight for the honey and confiture aisles, or vanilla if I’m in Latin America. I’m in Paris for a week, and I’m going for the sugars! And the speculoos paste, which I will have to lock up and keep away from my husband. His teal jogging suit is long gone.
Elise, great list and right on the money. I go back to the US twice a year and in fact, leaving next month for the holidays. My Foodie friends love all the salts, chocolates et.al. that I bring back. Only thing I haven’t tried is the speculoos. I have a friend who freezes sel de mer buerre and flies it all the way back to the West coast in a cooler in her luggage, must try that. Anyway, thanks for the list!
Makes me want to bring home a suitcase PER ITEM home with me! YUM! I am saving this list!
I am lucky that I can go by train to Paris .. always buying things that I know will not take up a lot of space. The sugar we can buy here now .. not speculoos though .. I love speculoos biscuits. I love shopping over there .. so many different foods to try.
I bought the Speculoos and the Maille mustard on my last trip to Paris. I savor both when I use them and now need to make a new list. Thank you!
I second David’s comment – where on earth did you find the crunchy version??
Yep, looooove the speculoos pasta
Love your list.
I have brought back from France almost each one of the items on your list – the only ones I missed are the Piment d’Espelette (but I think I can find it at my local Carrefour here) the sugars and the veal stock (which I don’t think I’d buy).
And, oh – crunchy Speculoos paste. How did I miss that one?
I have always loved getting souvenirs from food shops, I am addicted to grocery stores and other small food shops, I am drawn to the unique packaging and the delicious flavors to be found inside.
Speculoos: That’s new to me and a definite buy next time!
Yes, I always buy the Sea Salt: so easy to pack, containers are pretty, and what a price!
Love this….as a flight attendant regularly traveling to Paris, I agree with your list and bring almost all of it back to the US. I usually shop at the Monoprix. Franprix here I come for the crunchy Speculoos!! Also, I’m addicted to flavored olive oils from Olivier now.
Thanks for the post…glad I found you! I’ll be back.
We are TOTALLY addicted to the sea salt, Carmague, that you brought us here in Dallas when you last visited. When you gave it to us, I thought, “oh, what a cute little box…sure looks like good sea salt.” Well, that was an understatement. We are now down to the bottom of the precious little package and rationing out every grain. In fact, if I see Steve using more than his 5-grain allotment per night, he gets “the look.” You know the one, it says, “Buddy, you’re going to have to fly to Paris and get more of that stuff—NOW–if you don’t stop hogging it!!! We will pay your next stateside air fare for just one more box.
I love the Franprix. It’s not fancy but love to wander around there. We found gaspacho made my Tropicana there last summer that was DIVINE. This past juin, not a drop to be found. I liked these Swedish toasts called Krisprolls I think. Crunchy, whole grain. I”ve found them online and am trying to sweet talk my chi chi grocery store here into stocking them.
Speculoos? No thanks, I’m busy sitting in the closet with a jar of Nutella and a spoon.
V
Great post. I took sea salt and Speculoos spread as hostess gifts when I went home to the U.S. last summer, and was a hero for not a lot of cash. I also like the sugar cubes in the shape of card suits: clubs, spades, diamonds, and hearts. (I guess they are for your bridge club?)
Great post!! I do the same thing — they make great gifts. I’m addicted to that Speculoos spread! You make me laugh…crack in a jar…!! Keep bringing it on, cowgirl.
Great post…putting it in my travel /paris file thanks!
Fabulous list! Didn’t know about Speculoos spread, which I’ll have to check out on my next visit. I also bring back crème de marrons in the little tubes or cans. Tomato concentrate in a tube is also a handy item and fun gift. In the non-edible category, I love French Kleenex and Le Petit Marseillais shower gel.
Love this list. I buy grocery souvenirs too! Even the packages are fun for Francophiles back home. xxx
Two of those items CAN be purchased in the Netherlands
I would pack up everything but the veal bouillon …AND I would definitely pack up many of the cheap hair clips I found at Le Bon Marché, they hold like no other clip I have ever found. Totally not food related — but very appreciated.
Thank you for sharing!!
I am not corecting you, simply informing you since knowledge is power. The Speculoos pasta should be translated into Speculoos paste. Pâte in French is paste or pasta
Great list! I love lentils too ( yes… and a bit of lettuce, goat cheese, beets…some tomatoes….et voilà) I found Bio Black Beluga lentils from Super U. They were absolutely delicious!!!
Lindsey and David: Come over to my snooty Casino on rue des Belles Feuilles for the crunchy stuff! (I’m actually afraid to buy it.)
Thanks, Stephanie — I was just being silly, because in English, all of the translations still sound quite goofy, especially for an irresistible puree of cookies and oil.
How do they do that?!
Ellise,
I always use the excuse that I’m out of salt, So I MUST return to Paris. I buy mine at the Organic market. You know which one. Now I have so many other goodies to add to my list thanks to you. Next visit you can tell me some Texas things I can bring you.
I do that a lot, too. I hope the recipients are as excited about my gifts as I am.The Knorr sauces are usually not for me, since they have MSG.
Great list!! Forget museums…I RUN to the local markets! Going to Italy this summer…can you do a list of the stuff you bring home from there?
Hi again! Did you know that the speculoospasta was invented by a Belgian woman? She won the first prize with it on a tv-show “The Inventors”. It’s a huge succes…
Give me a Monoprix any time! Add to the list French flavorings including excellent vanilla, orange and almond extracts, and vanilla sugar. And I can’t resist Crepes Dentelles cookies and great herbal tea.
Great post. Little gifts are always appreciated when I go back to the States. To add to your list – Amora makes some cute little mustards that are flavored with additions, one with nettles, another nice and spicy one with the piment d’espelette. If you have friends who play bridge, the sugar cubes that come in the shape of the four suits is also a nice gift.
Elise this is a fun article… I’ve been known to fill my suitcase uo with Sucre Roux, moutarde Amora (in tubes) sea salt and local hand made chocolates… BUT have been sucessfully avoiding the Speculous for years… fingers crossed.
This is a wonderful list. I’ve got another one to add to bring it up to a full dozen items. I buy it at Monoprix every time we go to Paris. It’s called “Poivre Saveur” by Ducros. Here is a link to the Ducros site: http://www.ducros.fr/nos-produits/poivre-herbes-epices/poivres-et-sels/poivre-saveur/moulin-poivre-saveur/index.html
It’s got pepper, cardamom and coriander mixed together in its own little self-grinding container. Wonderful stuff. We wrote about it on our blog: http://parisianfields.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/paris-piquant/
Bon appetit!
This is so fun to read after having done a circuit with you thru the Monoprix last Friday! So glad I bought the tuna; wish I’d bought the Speculoo. May have to return for a weekend of grocery shopping … seriously. I’ll do it!
Something to add to this list: creme de marron (sweetened chestnut cream) – in a can, or – even better – in a tube!
I brought back some of the most delicous hazelnut yogurt from the Normandy region. As well as the creamy butter with salt from Brittany. It stays nice and cold in my checked suitcase. I have even brought back clotted cream from England. We have no comparision in the states to the yogurts made in Europe!
I’m not much of a fan of tuna in oil, but for tins that pretty, I’d buy a bunch just so that they could pretty up my cupboard.
Moutarde Edmond Fallot , imported to US and Canada. Better than Maille, and made in the original artisan method.
Why waste luggage space/weight on things readily available back home. Me, I bring back 10 kg fois gras.
cheers,
SEA SALT TIP
saltworks.us ships from small to pallet size shipments of french sea salts and other salts . Another thing not to waste valuable luggage space/weight on.