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Favorite buys at food markets to bring home from Paris

Favorite buys at food markets to bring home from Paris

Old Sep 1st, 2012, 05:01 AM
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To get a real grasp on the do's and don'ts, go directly to the source, US Customs https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...late/related/1 It's pretty complicated. With cheese, for instance, the answer is "maybe", depending on whether it is hard or soft, country of origin, and the mood of the Customs officer. While one might print out the regulations to assist in a discussion at the Customs gate, it is my experience that US security services do not take kindly to any sort of negotiation.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 07:07 AM
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The outdoor markets have wonderful things... I have found beautiful scarves and neat little household items...and wonderful market baskets.We like the Saxe Breteuil market, and the President Wilson market.Little groceries have many neat little candies, Jams, teas,all in French. La mere de Famille has wonderful jams, candies,etc packaged nicely. All the big department stores have teas, but there are tea stores all over .We also love Porte de Vanves flea market on Saturday or Sunday for little non food items..Maille for mustard, but the little groceries have little things like that, also.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 07:22 AM
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Also..and this is not exactly from the markets...honey. next year when we go I want honey from the top of the Opera house...their gift shop has it. What a neat gift...for me.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 07:24 AM
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I also love the nylon bags from Monoprix-sometimes hard to find! Last time I finally found them by the checkout registers in Monoprix.I bought 10 as gifts under 1 euro each!
I also love the pretty containers of the Camargue salt w/cork lids.
I discovered Monoprix has the best selection/prices for Valrhona chocolate,especially the small square tin box!
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 08:09 AM
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I second the packaged soups, which take up absolutely no space or weight but many of which are really good, my favorite being the soupe de poissons.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 09:50 AM
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I have heard plenty of stories where food items were confiscated, primarily because the customs officials often seem to not understand the rules or enforce them differently than others do. Much like TSA officers, consistency seems to be lacking, in my opinion. So, I don't try to bring back cheese and other questionable food items because I don't want the hassle of arguing with customs or ag officials...if they want to take it, they will. Not worth losing the money over, for me personally. Some are lucky to make it through and others are not. I don't want to gamble on being unlucky.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 10:09 AM
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You can bring back any kind of cheese for personal use--raw milk or not. SO I like to bring back cheeses I can't get here. Also foie gras. Agree with Stu about Fleur de Sel. Dried mushrooms--such as morels are very nice and weigh "nothing"!! You can get them at a Franprix or Carrefour, rather than a specialty shop. Spices such as Spanish saffron are very reasonable.
YOu can't bring cured meat products or fruit--or bread, not that it would be good the next day. I have never been stopped from bringing cheese--and I put it on the form. Why hide it.
And lots of different mustards, in little bottles.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 10:28 AM
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My favorite place to shop for the unusual is G Detou.
They open at 8:30 and close at 6:30 and closed on Sunday.
Their ddried mushrooms are very good and I like their lavender honey.
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/11/g-detou/
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 11:02 AM
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Gretchen: Why do you say that bread is not allowed to be brought into the US?
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 11:31 AM
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I have about 5 or 6 tins of foie gras right now, brought back by various members of my family this year, so I'm sure they will make it through customs.

Also, one year I brought back almost half a suitcase full of dried mushrooms of different sorts, each in an individual container, so those will make it through too.

So, those two foods will make it through. I've never tried to bring back cheese...

There are also other ethnic foods that somehow don't seem to make it to the States. I once brought back a jar of a wonderful rose jam from Turkey that I had gotten in the Naschmarkt in Vienna.

As denisea has said, what is allowed in really varies with the individual official you meet. However, if things are packaged air tight and with a seal, I've generally found that there's not much trouble in bringing it in...as long as it's legal!
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 01:38 PM
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Because I read on probably this board that someone tried and had to eat it before they landed!! And I think I may recall something like that from one of our trips--FA saying no bread. have NO idea why!
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 02:16 PM
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They don't take kindly to negoitiaon, but if any of the security guys try to play "make up new rules", I ask for thier supervisor and provide him/her with my printed rules and suggest training. LOL.

And in all cases FAs are not a good souce for rules regarding customs
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 03:45 PM
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I'm another who stocks up on Fleur de Sel because it costs much less in Paris. But, I don't bother with much else.

Though, I may collect some Maille mustard next trip because they've changed it significantly (what's available at our supermarkets actually "product of Canada" now).
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 04:14 PM
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When bringing back souvenirs for children, I go to Carrefours (because it's close to my hotel) and buy candy, gum, etc. that they can't find in the US. My boys love M&M cookie bars from France!
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 05:04 PM
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Carol, have you enjoyed your day old baguette? LOL
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 05:26 PM
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Cafegoddess -

Where do you buy the Prunier salmon ? on ave. Victor hugo or at the Madeleine store ? Surely you don't bring it back to the States ?? but rather gobble it sur place, no ? Thanks.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 05:52 PM
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djkbooks ..... In 2010, Canada exported 168,584,405 kg of mustard seed. Most of the mustard seeds used in Dijon, France are actually grown in Canada.

Canada is the world’s largest mustard exporter.

That is probably why you see it on your grocery store shelves. I buy here in Ontario from a small producer and the taste I found is somewhat similar to some I have bought at the markets in Paris and in the south of France.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 07:14 PM
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wendie, if you are buying for kids, La Cure Gourmande has these choupettes (lollipops) that are an unusual shape and very tasty. Also chocolate olives that make a good gift. Any chocolate from anywhere pretty much is worth bringing back. And I always buy reusable shopping bags (not the little nylon ones but the bigger grocery bags the same shape as a paper bag) from European stores. Ever since they outlawed plastic bags here and everyone has to bring their bags to the store it's kind of a game to get the most unusual ones, and what a great memory of a vacation. Casino actually had the best ones (most durable, best design) when we were there last month.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 07:28 PM
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I am not bothering to import bread, but If I wanted to I would not consider the word of a Flight Attendant as "gospel". Pretty sure 99% of them don't moonlight as customs agents.
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Old Sep 1st, 2012, 09:35 PM
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Bedar,

Yes, I bring about six packages home, you can freeze it for 3 months. If I am leaving from Paris, I buy it at Place de Madeleine the day before, if I am leaving from London, then I buy it at the airport.

And yes we have it too while in Paris or London. It is great for breakfast with scrambled eggs, make sandwiches or add to our salad. It is really out of this world!
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