fille26

Hello,

Can anyone recommend some items to purchase while on vacation in France? What are the best regional specialties, hand crafted items etc..?

ira

Hi f,

Foie Gras, olive oil, macarons, glow-in-the-dark Eiffel towers.

StCirq

Where are you traveling in France? It would be a bit silly to start listing regional specialties for regions you won't be visiting.
General items include soaps, foie gras, regional liqueurs and specialty wines, sea salt, beauty products, and chocolates.

cigalechanta

Should you go to the markets, buy those wonderful tablecloths that you can wipe clean. Great for summer dining outdoors.
Fleur de sel, less expensive there.
and anything regional.

sheila

Mustard, Salt, Breton biscuits, faience, linen, lavender, cheese.

Got to the market

Underhill

Santons, the little ceramic folk dolls. Placemats in Provençal colors, with matching napkins. Beautiful paper napkins and plates. Just go into a supermarket and look around.

AnselmAdorne

Lentilles du Puy. They have to be the best lentils in the world and, unlike Ira's Eiffel Towers, they don't glow in the dark.

Anselm

zola

fille26:

Let me tell you what I found to be just a wonderful item to buy: ceramic plates, dishes, and dinnerware (yes, spoons as well). There are affordable lines displayed on the 3rd floor of the Bon Marche department store in the 6th ARR, Sevres-Babylone Metro stop. For a posh selection, go to a very exclusive shop called Gien in the St. Honore Faubourg area, just west and a block south of Madeleine.

bardo1

I suggest you bring back a large selection of cheeses unavailable anywhere else. Take the time to talk to your cheese guy (they LOVE talking cheese) and sample as much as you can before you buy. Wine and macarons would be nice too.

richardab

I would avoid the foie gras if you are tyraveling to the states as meat products are severely restricted and when you re-enter the country they may or will x-ray you baggage to look for this demon.

What to buy?

Mini Eiffel Towers, small prints, French Sea Salt, Dijon Mustard and mustard pots (available at the Maille shop in Paris), scarfs, wine, French milled soaps, fancy teas, jams and preserves, gourmet housewares and gadgets.