cb how much do those knives go for?

Thanks everyone for these great ideas it is helping me too.

WOW thank you so much everyone for your input! i feel inspired... it looks like i'm going to have to def pay a pre-christmas departure visit to at LEAST fauchon, the music box store, and mariage freres...as well as maison du chocolat.
now, one more request... where to find a unique, less tacky (if possible) eiffel tower souvenir? non plastic

On the rue de Rivoli there are lots of souivenir shops that sell metal Arcs de T.

For sure it is getting more challenging to not be able to find things elsewhere, especially with the www (which amazed me over and over again).

,,We found a great mustard shop, Maille,..in addition to flavors of mustard not available in your local grocery store, there is an amazing selection of gorgeous porcelain mustard jars!

Another thing I've never seen stateside or elsewhere is saffron packaged in individual capsules (so it lasts a lot, lot, longer - as once opened, it really needs to be used quickly). You can get these in nearly any grocery store (no need to go to the pricey places) in the herb/spice department. I found them, among other places, at Grand Epicurie at Bon Marche in the 7th.

There's a huge array of small home decor and kitchen and table items at Genevieve Lethu. There are shops all over Paris (do a search at www.pagesjaunes.fr for locations).

For kitchenware (amazing tools, gadgets, etc.) head for A. Simon, Dehillerin, La Corpo, Mora Kitchenware, and others, all within several blocks (you can map these on pagesjaunes).

And, there are some really NICE things at the bookinistes along the Seine. My favorite stalls are along the quai in front of Musee d'Orsay, where you can also find inexpensive, but beautiful and high quality, art (paintings, watercolors, etc.). On our last trip, I wish I'd saved more time, but I did have the presence of mind to return to one vendor and pick up three water colors and was so glad I did this. To my recollection, they were 15 euros each, two for 25. They are numbered, signed, and gorgeous. Whether they are authentic, I have no idea, but they are absolutely fabulous (and not any of the usual ones you see all over).

Th Fleur de Sel whether in those colorful cardboard tubs or the rough sacs make wonderful inexpensive gifts, but please tell them, you do not cook with it. Just before the dish is served, you sprinkle it on and it brings out the flavor.

There's a terrific selection of Fleur de Sel (and lots of other fabulous stuff - trays, cappuccino cups, specialty serving dishes/containers, small and large, etc.) in the kichenware department at BHV where the prices are quite favorable.

And, don't forget about the passages. Fabulous boutiques of interesting and unusual items (though tend to be pricey).

It's been a few years, but when I was in Paris for Thanksgiving, holiday decorations were going up all over. Outside one of the department stores (I think it was Semaritaine, not sure, but in the general area of the Louvre) there were outdoor stalls selling all kinds of great Xmas gifts. I bought several colorful "polarfleece"-type scarves, made to look like sort of Medieval court colors, etc. Also variations on the theme of jester's hats, etc. In any case, all the stalls had fun things, mostly in the $5-10 range, as I remember. I'd definitely suggest looking for them.

For those who only wish they could Christmas shop in France, can someone recommend an on-line source for some of these wonderful things? J.

I second the Mariage Frères products. I do love their tea! Lune Rouge and Abricot are my present favorites. They have a huge reference book describing the teas or you can simply sniff till you drop! There are many tea related gifts too. I didn't buy it there, but I highly recommend an alternative to a tea ball. The item I purchased is similar to what you see on this link. I think it is a superior product to be used with superb tea! http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...en&show=dd


Also, when thinking of "tasteful" Eiffel Tower souvenirs, how about a Limoges box? You will find authentic boxes ranging from around 100 - 300 euros. I'm not an expert, but the prices vary greatly based on how much handwork has been done. You can also find knock offs for MUCH less!

I think for Eiffel Tower I'd be tempted to treat myself to lunch at Jules Verne and see what they have ... matches, menu ... ? Tchotchkes are such a personal thing - one man's Eiffel Tower figurine is another man's hideous dust-catcher.

I just remembered that I killed two birds by sending the best Paris postcards I could find to everyone on my Xmas card list. It's not so tough - did all the writing during cafe down-time and other breaks, and there's not that much room anyway. And that job was done when I returned home. (You can easily find suitable postcards - I discovered a little stationery shop somewhere on Isle St. Louis with great pics of Paris in the snow, and also a few "enveloped" Christmas cards to send to close friends.)

Yes- the Jules Verne does have some cool Eiffel tower related souvenirs that are more high end. I'm assuming you can get up there without having dinner reservations.

Just remebered another thing I bought(for myself this time!).
If you are going to Sacre Coeur - exit the Abessess Metro and walk along rue Yvonne Le Tac for a short while until you pass a souvenier store that has miniture cups & saucers, little teapots and jugs displayed in blue satin-lined boxes.
These are all hand painted by Charlotte di Vita with scenes from famous paintings & artists.
I choose a Monet & Van Gogh. Each one has an edition number. Wish I could remember the store name -
I've looked at my credit card slips for that day and see one for a shop called Anna Joliet but I also bought a sweater along the same road so that may not be it. Just loook in the windows.

ttt

We bought our teenage son (at that time) a bicycle racer's shirt at a Paris bike shop on Boulevard Richard Lenoire not far from Place de Republique. It was really cool and he's kept it now for 10 years.

Someone asked for websites: here's one for the Esteban fragrance products

http://www.japanese-incense-esteban-...eban-main.html

Roger et Gallet soaps and, especially, bath gel--my favorite scent is Extra Vielle. Olive oil from the south...olive tapenade...scarves for the ladies. And certainly some of the delicate teas from Mariage Frères, mentioned above; try the French Breakfast, my husband's faborite--it smells like chocolate but has a smoky taste and is wonderful.

On the Ile St. Louis go to a shop called Pylons. Fantastic one of kind whimsical kitchenware and toys. Also Dehillerin has fantastic eggbeaters and small copper butter warmers are great gifts too.

what area is best for the tacky replica eiffel tower and such souvenirs? I want to bring back a few fun gifts for friends. Eiffel tower soap, Eiffel tower wine bottle stoppers, night lights something small to attach to the outside of the actual Christmas gift.

We had a hard time finding Eifel tower souvienirs in Paris. (The kids wanted them.) I'd seen more at Steinmart and other US discount stores than we saw in Paris.

I don't know who is on your gift list, but we found cool, inexpensive costume jewelry at Monoprix. Similar items hit the US shelves, but about a year later. Our girls also found cool Paris shirts from the street stalls...they aren't just "t-shirts" but are a little nicer and are way cool. If you have any "tweens" or young teens on your list, they would like those.

I also bought one of the "fake pashminas" for about 6 euro. It is very soft...I have worn it as a scarf and a shawl and now it is being used as a "dresser scarf." I wish I had bought more.

The first time I went to Paris (1985) I read in "Europe on $25 a day" (of whatever the $ amount was back then) about the lithograph shop that was hidden away in the Louvre. I brought back several lovely lithographs for very little money. Now, I guess the shop is connected to the gift shop (no longer hidden) and is very difficult to shop in...no more just leafing through a bunch of lithographs.