What food to take and what food to buy in France?

[Gafferbill]

loadsadogs ……just to clarify my son knew perfectly well what he was eating, unlike the rest of us he was not phased by pigs tongues at all.
We were going to throw them away but he would not let us.

 

[ValA.]

They have long-life milk because it keeps better in the heat - and there are still a lot of rural French houses where milk is kept under a cold cloth rather than in a fridge.
Can't agree about the chickens, though - we've found them to taste better than they do here - even the supermarket cheapy smaller jobs! We had the most delicious chicken I've ever eaten in a LeClerc supermarket cafteria one year, too. A lot of supermarkets offer the same 'range' of chickens you get here - bog-standard, free-range, corn-fed, and sometimes really expensive ones like Poulet de Bresse - but we just buy the cheapest ones and have always thought them lovely. Perhaps you may have been buying the ones which are only suitable for long slow cooking in a pot, which most supermarkets sell - I can't remember what they're labelled, though, sorry!
Most people can take a few jars of curry sauce, spice mixes, and so on - and run up a 'World Cuisine' meal if they want (we do - I take all my hot spices and you can buy fresh coriander generally) - and then stick to buying the things the French do best.

 

[MartinLeFour]

SuperU and Aldi are best for chickens, €3.49, usually €11 from the bigger places. Milk is pretty good for longlife milk, intermanche, Auchan and the big LeClercs sell more fresh milk in the cheese section, don't forget though the coulours are different to the UK, red is full fat, blue is semi, green is skimmed.

 

[MichaelE]

I noticed in France last year that food prices had shot up , with the exchange rate at nearly 1 to 1 im thinking of taking as much as i can and only buy fresh when im out there.

 

[chocohen]

Steve
When we travelled to France this year I packed a few staples to take with us. Here are the ones that were useful and which I would take again next year

• Juice/Cordial - I thought it expensive over there - we mostly drank bottled water TBH.
• Rice, pasta, and a few jars or packets to enable me to rustle up the odd curry, chilli or pasta dish.
• Amoy packets of noodles and little sachets of stir fry sauce made tasty stir fry when combined with some fresh veg and mushrooms.
• Tortilla wraps were handy for travelling when you maybe did not have fresh bread available
• Kelloggs cornflakes and your favourite brand of other breakfast cereals and Baked Beans - all difficult to find in France and when you do they seem to be very expensive.
• Your favourite brand of Tea or coffee - although the water in France seems to make a very Strong Builders Tea so you won't need as many teabags as usual. I have a theory that this is why the French are coffee drinkers

The French bread was tasty although I think we have a better selection of varities. I bought fresh croissants and baguettes in the supermarket as the on site shops are expensive. At one point I bought a white sliced loaf described as an American Sandwich loaf. It was very sweet so the next day we were back on the tasty crusty bread.
Hope that helps. Bon Voyage.

 

[smiley]

Hi Chocohen

Don't they charge you for drinking bottled water? if you have tap water it's just as good and it's FREE,

I just take robinson squash and use tap water just throw the jug in the fridge and its cold..

 

[MartinLeFour]

Steve
When we travelled to France this year I packed a few staples to take with us. Here are the ones that were useful and which I would take again next year

• Juice/Cordial - I thought it expensive over there - we mostly drank bottled water TBH.
• Rice, pasta, and a few jars or packets to enable me to rustle up the odd curry, chilli or pasta dish.
• Amoy packets of noodles and little sachets of stir fry sauce made tasty stir fry when combined with some fresh veg and mushrooms.
• Tortilla wraps were handy for travelling when you maybe did not have fresh bread available
• Kelloggs cornflakes and your favourite brand of other breakfast cereals and Baked Beans - all difficult to find in France and when you do they seem to be very expensive.
• Your favourite brand of Tea or coffee - although the water in France seems to make a very Strong Builders Tea so you won't need as many teabags as usual. I have a theory that this is why the French are coffee drinkers

The French bread was tasty although I think we have a better selection of varities. I bought fresh croissants and baguettes in the supermarket as the on site shops are expensive. At one point I bought a white sliced loaf described as an American Sandwich loaf. It was very sweet so the next day we were back on the tasty crusty bread.
Hope that helps. Bon Voyage.

All of the above is readily available over here and at the same price you'll pay in the uk.

 

[chocohen]

Smiley - I agree Yes tap water is free but I bought the Bottled water because we preferred the taste. Probably the water in that area as it made really strong Tea.

Martin - I like to take basic non perishable store cupboard items such as Rice and a few sauces etc when I am travelling as it means that I always have something to hand to make a meal for the kids when I arrive on site and don't have to worry about finding a shop/supermarket quickly. Obviously the first chance available I went and bought fresh local produce in the local shops, town markets and supermarkets.
I also like to take a few of those branded items which the family specifically prefer the taste of. Eg Kelloggs cornflakes and when I did restock these in a hypermarket they were definitely dearer than the UK price paid.

 

[stephena]

We are home after a fantastic two week break... cannot say enough superlatives about the campsite Caravanning Des 4 Vents you have never seen such large pitches and a fantastic base from which to get to disneyland and Paris.

Shopping wise I think Val A. was about spot on in everything she said in her original reply I only hope we get some supermarkets the size of Auchan in Val d'europe there was nothing you could not buy in that place and the fresh produce was fantastic.

Bit of advise for anyone thinking of taking there kids to Disneyland its costs 69 euros each + 15 parking for one day we bought annual passes for 130 euros each which included free parking and access to the park 330 days a year we managed to visit on 12 seperate occasions (not all full days I should add) but I can confirm that no stone was left unturned in Disneyland Parc, Disney Studios or Disney Village and one 5 year old girl had many a dream come true.

Already planning next years trip, thinking of heading to the coast next time! Thanks all for your help and advice.

Steve

 

[ValA.]

I'm so glad that you found my advice useful, and that you had a great holiday too!
Enjoy every year - if you're like us you may still be going back to France thirty years later!

 

[MartinLeFour]

if you're like us you may still be going back to France thirty years later!

Liked it that much Val we moved here.