Six treasured things we bought in French Supermarkets
We approve of this on-trend shopping trend.
French supermarket shopping has been a secret obsession for many for decades, and recently it’s gone mainstream.
Whether it’s Leclerc, Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché or many of the other brands, French supermarket shopping is as instrumental of Gallic travel as a visit to a restaurant, a museum, a gallery, a beach or a riverside walk. Make it part of your travel experience.
Over the years we’ve treasured certain tiny things we’ve packed in our suitcase from French supermarket and superstore shopping, and the current trend encouraged us to look back and celebrate these purchases. Here are six gems we’ve bought in the aisle that in an Irish supermarket usually holds every conceivable thing that could have been formed out of plastic.
We’ve always used this little cradle for bread, but it also works as a fruit basket. It’s a classic mid-20th century decorative form made from wire spokes that radiate around a rattan woven centre that evokes a sunflower. It was cheap as chips, is about the size of an open hand, and can hold half a baquette, if sliced, or maybe three plums.
While we’re on baskets, don’t you just love this French market bag? These string bags were designed for carrying groceries, and their net construction keeps produce fresh and ventilated. They also can live forever in your handbag. This one is smaller than it looks here. Only about 20cms in height, it could hold about five whole bulbs of garlic, or a three jars of olives or artichoke hearts, maybe half a pain de campagne and a tin of sardines. It is there for you, just when you need it.
How many times have we thought that there must be a utilitarian budget pair of bellows that mix the functionality of the tool without fuss, decoration or expense. Well here they are, bought in Weldom earlier this year. These have a very long nozzle that will blow ash out of crevices, and you can get them near the fire without worry. Two plain wooden boards, hinged with tough leather. Right now ours is out in the elements and covered in ash and we don’t have to fuss about it.
A simple glass citrus juicer – but deep! This is a citrus juicer designed by someone who has squeezed a lemon, or several lemons, as you can do here. This is so much more useful than the little one we already own that can’t handle more than half a piece of fruit.
This one’s somewhat vintage. We were actually looking to buy a Ricard branded carafe, but were happy when we saw this Pastis 51 on a supermarket shelf north of Paris. We bought it probably 25 years ago, when we were fans of the anise-aperitif (that was actually banned in 1915), and we so enjoyed the effect of clouding the drink with a splash of water and an ice cube. To be honest, it doesn’t get used much for drinking that way now, it’s just a fun water jug.
Oh food! You buy food in a supermarket too. We do buy foods in France, but the best olive oils and tins that can be transported home usually come from artisanal markets, and anyway, there’s still a liquid ban. But we do buy flour. Type 55 if possible. Perfect bread flour and nothing here is quite the same.
Do share any purchases you’ve made in French supermarkets, we’d love to see them….
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