A perfect French souvenir
 

Hello,
Any recommendations for shopping in Paris - French tablecloths?

I actually love French linens.. I bought a table cloth in Nice for my dad and step mom.. and I am kicking myself everytime I see it at their house.. because I didn't buy one for myself.. ( too much to pack.. was in middle of 4 week vacation and didn't want the extra weight to haul around)

I have beautiful cloth napkins I got like 10 years ago in Paris.. and they are in excellent condition because the fabric was such good quality... and I use them ALOT!

Sorry can't recall where exactly I got them.

Scarves are easy souvenirs for others.. easy to put 5 or 6 in your suitcase they take up no room or weight .. and most of my friends love recievcing them .

I bought throw pillows on different trips to France years ago, in Paris from Galeries Lafayette, just the covers so go flat on the bottom of the suitcase. They're like small kilim rugs, the best things I ever got there.

Dehillerin
18-20 Rue Coquillière, 75001 Paris, France

Are you a cook? I bring back a copper pan every time I go to Paris but they have every imaginable gadget for the kitchen. Julia Child's favorite place to shop.

A quality scarf, for both men and women, useful three seasons a year in Paris and back home. http://www.scarves.net/how-to-tie-a-scarf/

A free souvenir: last time I was in Paris in autumn, I brought back a handful of chestnuts picked up from the parks and avenues. They have a rich, dark color, wonderful patina and are very tactile. I keep them on my desk in a Daum glass bowl, but any bowl will do. When I'm working on something and feel like reminiscing for a few minutes about Paris, I pick one up and think fondly of the places where I found them.

Another vote for Dehellerin. The no scratch spatulas we purchased from there in 1990 lasted through our relocation to France in 2013 and are still in pristine condition.

The house Champagne or a tin of coffee from Hediard near the Madeleine Church.

You can find lots of things at a Monoprix.

Thin

Thanks Ralstonlan and Jeff801 , Dehillerin is on top of my list . Both hubby and I are avid cooks . Last time I looked and looked for table linens from proven but found only a very limited selection in Galeries Lafayette Wonder if they are available elsewhere in Paris . Weiser Tee I love your idea. Will pick up some for sure if I see them ! Southam scarves are a great idea. European women wear scarves beautifully ! Thanks for the ideas !

Sorry ....Provence .

If you are looking for top quality table linen, check Linvosges stores. They have several in Paris, one is located 33 rue St Placide.

I love Beauvillé table linens, They can be found here http://www.reveblancgroup.com/beauville/ and in the major department stores.

On our last trip I bought some fleur de sel in a really pretty hinged tin -- whenever I want to sprinkle a little on I just flip the lid and take a pinch. A nice reminder of the lovely time we had. And you can refill the tin.
At Oliviers & Co. (81, rue St. Louis en l'Ile; 60, rue Vielle de Temple; 28, rue de Buci and other locations) they have some small jars of Italian tomato powder, which are great sprinkled on some French bread with olive oil, pasta, eggs,whatever you like. They sell olive oils too, along with spices, etc.
I like decorative trays and they're easy to pack.
I also buy inexpensive earrings, bracelets and necklaces, which are also easy to pack.
On our upcoming trip I'm going to look for decorative kitchen towels.
I think it's fun to bring home things that you'll use every day.

I brought back an abiding affection for Pernod.

I have bought tablecloths at BHV, the big department store across the street from the Hotel de Ville.

There are also Provencal style linens at Les Olivades and Souleiado on rue de Seine in the 6th arrondissement.

If you're a tea drinker, a trip to Mariage Freres, the location at the top of this list will be a treat:

http://www.mariagefreres.com/boutiqu...addresses.html

This isn't a souvenir, but I recently checked to see if the Colissimo boxes are still available at French post offices, and they are. I used one a few years ago and it was super easy. One buys the box at the p.o. for a set price, fills it, seals it, addresses it and drops it off to send home. This was for the US, and I don't know where you live, but I plan to do this again in a few weeks. Pretty great for any heavy purchases or even just dumping stuff mid trip.

http://www.connexionfrance.com/Sendi...s-article.html

I must agree about the scarf thing---easy to transport and everyone loves them. Diwalli (many locations) has choices from 20 to several hundred Euros.

I got a good laugh from my friends when I brought them each a bottle of wine from France. Haha---a 3 in. refrigerator magnet that has a liquid that looks like red wine with a cute label. Usually 3 for 10 Euros in all the "junk" shops.

Dehillerin---OMG, what an experience. It was our daughter's copper anniversary coming up so we went there to purchase a small copper item ( trransportation problems, you know.) When I inquired about a small item from a gentleman clerk he kicked me out of the store. "if you want decorative, go to Williams-Sonoma he said. we are a serious chefs store and I don't have time for you!"

TPAYT: that is hilarious.

I was going to go there, as it was about 15 years since my last visit, and your post reminded me of why I haven't been back. There wasn't much that I could afford or carry back with me.

Fleur de sel is about my favorite thing to bring home. I will probably also get tea; my brother just became a tea drinker and it would be a good Christmas gift.

I love to buy things for my grandkids and I've found some great old fashioned toys in Paris.

I love the tablecloths and napkins I had made from Les Olivades fabric years ago; they are still in fine condition, being such lovely cotton.

Latest love is my ceramic pintade from Lusssan. She is beautiful!