canned foie gras, fresh fois gras should be confiscated just for animal cruelty - can't bring in Cuban cigars but can this delicacy that entails horrible animal suffering.

HOw do you know...are you a goose or a duck?

how do you know those cats they put in boiling water are not suffering in China? or maybe you sanction that as well - or clubbing baby seals - for no valid reason IMO.

Maybe we should get back to the subject...a few legal items from France for an aspiring chef.........

Pastis 51, one of the most popular Pastis is not available here
The Apertif Suze,
Camargue Fleur de sel, attractive packaging and mkes nice inexpensive gift.
Remember: do not put it in the cooking, you sprinkle it after just before serving to bring out the flavors.
Opinal knives. This little folding knife is a popular gift.

CC: Funny that you mention Suze. I considered buying it a few days ago at the CDG duty free but the new bottle, designed by Thierry Mugler, is just so ugly that I could not bring myself to buy. It is wrapped in that kind of plastic sheath and truly hideous. A good buy at 7 Euro, though.

ekscrunchy someone brought me back a bottle a few months ago the bottle is covered in that blue splash design. I keep it and put a red rose in it when dining outside . I'm fond of the friend who bought it for me.

Well, now I feel silly! I hope I did not offend you by my comment on the bottle, CC. Anyway, I am glad it is empty and hope you enjoyed!

Not at all LOL. My friend knew I love Suze, and keeping it is sentimental gesture. My kitchen top shelf is full of empties like my flip top beer bottle from the Ile de Ré's own brew, the Camargue, Camarguise, an herbal digestif, and so on.

In my next life I am going to take all those beautiful cans of French and Italian tuna and sardines and save them after using. Then I am going to mount them on a white-painted board and hang in my kitchen! What do you think?

Whatever rocks your boat!

Several things I brought back have been:
mustards from Maille
dried cepes, porcinis, morels and other dried mushrooms from G Detou-light and inexpensive
amazing almond paste from G Detou
Champagne vinegar from Huilerie J. Leblanc on rue Jacob

iluvmyrott; IMO I would go online, so much easier and effective.

I love LeBlanc! I bring their nuts oils home; I also have a Champagne vinegar I brought from their shop. And she will pack them up in bubble wrap to pack.

Oh Abby, you reminded me that I forgot to stop there. I wanted to buy their pistashio Paste and attempt to make Clotilde's cookies.

I will be going by there in June. Do you want to put in an order?

Yes, if it's not a huge size. They deal in bulk . Have you been to Mora's also?

Abby, Gomiki and I went to meet Clotilde at a book signing and taste a few morsels from her first cookbook.
Here she lists her shopping places:

http://tinyurl.com/yo92mo

I love shopping in grocery stores when traveling and always bring back little cooking-related items, even if I can get them here or on line. From my trip last month, I did bring back fleur de sel, a variety of mustards (even though I hear the commercial for Maille mustard on my way to work every day); several small bottles of pasta sauces; thyme/basil dish detergent from monoprix. My favorite, however, were the macaroons! (a list minute purchase the night before from monoprix). I'm happy to report they were well packaged and made it home safe from all customs people!

>Not Pernod or Ricard...? Ridiculous!

Both are readily available in the US.

Girard, Duval and 51, all equally good if not better, at lower cost are not.