pavot

Let's update those shopping lists. Out of respect for the uber-practical responses to loveyblue's "Shopping in the UK" thread, here is the chance to share your ideas on what to bring back from France.

(avalon, this means you....)

I always like to bring back nice kitchen towels and that liquid hand soap for the kitchen that removes the scent of onions or garlic.

Another staple is violet mustard.

Yours?

djsteach

I buy the reusable bags from the Monoprix. They're about a euro & great for presents!

pavot

Shopping bags are indeed a great and practical idea. I have a really big one from the (defunct?) Champion chain; it's very useful for Costco runs.

Viajero2

I am mega-practical when it comes to shopping; none of that Eiffel Tower statues, etc....soooo, I mainly get food (cookies, chocolates, condiments) from the SUPERMARKETS!! I also go to a local hardware store and get (metric) tools for me and colleagues (Engineers!) for those metric projects!. I do collect Christmas ornaments (on sale year around), so I also get one or two. My husband gets me perfume

TPAYT

A scarf (or 5) from Dwallii on Ile St. Louis. They have such a nice selection, they are easy to pack, and everyone loves them.

YankyGal

It varies. This past trip, I brought back caramels from Jacques Genin's store, olive oil, dried rosemary (used in cooking one night), wine and Calvados, which was a bargain compared to what it costs here. I always bring back wine and olive oil, though.

Underhill

That depends on where in France I might be. In recent years it's been the south, primarily in and around Nice, where I buy assorted lavender products (soap, wands, sachets), olive oil, olive-oil soap and shower gel, Nivea facial moisturizer and cashmere hair rinse, Uriages lip moistener (a new and great find), Euro-size pillowcases, Provençal fabric items (especially placemats)...I could go on and on.

kerouac

Keep your own plastic bags tucked away in a pocket. Free bags are rapidly disappearing from certain supermarkets and even place like Virgin Megastore which stopped giving them for free in January.

Frankly, most supermarkets will charge only 0.03€ for a basic bag, but it is much better to start adapting to the future immediately.

Italyagain

Last trip I was in a french garden center and they were selling those great reuseable handle shopping bags we are just seeing here in US-2 euros each. I bought two and they are the envy of everyone. I baby them! This summer I am buying a whole pile to bring home.