Hanl, thanks for clarifying. It really is quite nice. And the Monoprix on rue Rennes (I think) is also a sort of "cut above.".

Last December in Paris, my friend and I hit every Monoprix we passed by...among the items we brought back were spices, tapenades, mustards and these enormous boxes of Christmas chocolates by Lindt in these beautiful boxes that had a scene of the Champs Elysee on them. My co-workers were recipients of that enormous box of chocolates and let me tell you, they were suitably impressed!
Also stock up on lots of bars of Lettuce soap (smells sooooo good) by Roger and Gallet at every pharmacy we can find it in! We each bring a seperate bag just to bring back these goodies in. We are leaving in 2 weeks for Provence and Paris and can't wait to shop again!

I buy Orangina...of course, it's not really something I can bring back. I just drink it there. I CRAVE Orangina. Our Tom Thumb use to carry it, but they stopped. Anybody know where I can buy Orangina in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area?

dmkujat -- Do write a trip report when you return. I'm particularly interested in what you find at the markets in Provence as 7 of my girlfriends and I are going next June for 8 nights and then Paris for 8 nights. You ARE going to the market at I'lle sur la Sorgue, aren't you??
Have a great trip!

luvparee - I actually don't have the itinerary with me, my friend I am travelling with is an American Travel Agent, but a "French Travel Specialist" and she is making all the arrangements etc., and I am going along for the ride. This is my 3rd France trip with her and she is excellent at building all everything we are interested in...shopping, museums, churches, etc. I took lousy notes on our last 2 trips, hence no travel report, but I will try to do a better job at it this time so I can actually offer an intelligent opinion for a change! I do know we are spending the last 4 days in Paris for the Travel Show at the Expo...but she is leaving us plenty of time to hit those Monoprix stores!

Luisha,
I had to smile when I read your statement about the park across from Le Grand Epicerie at Bon Marche. My husband and I always take our treats from the marche and eat them in the park. It is a wonderful experience...

missypie.
Do they have Whole Foods in Dallas/Ft Worth? That is where I get mine.

katyaNY look at this:

http://www.bluebunny.com/ProductDeta...;productId=269

Blue Bunny makes pear light yogurt

Monoprix is the best value, but the Le Grande Epicerie at Bon Marche is the Eight Wonder of the World....don't miss going there.

My favorite was drinkable yogurt by Yoplait branded under the name Yop. I loved it! Sure enough, a few months after I got back they were finally selling it here in the U.S., too, but at greatly increaded prices. Looking forward to buying it at a decent amount next February.

I was delighted to find that there are others here who love to shop in supermarkets in Europe. Yes, the little individual shops - boulangeries, boucheries etc. are fun, but I also like to shop the chain stores where the suburban families shop. The last time we were in France, we stopped in several Monoprix stores and brought back lots of chocolates and children's candies for my daughter's friends. And yes, Faina, Blue Bunny has pear yogurt and also "vanilla pear."

<b>Faina- bolshoe spasibo!!</b>

I have to go check out whether my local grocery stores carry Blue Bunny! Thanks again- I know that I can get it in Saint Petersburg, and I'll be there next week! Yay!

%%-

hanl - well, as long as they are not all a subsidiary of Halliburton I'll keep shopping there!

Agree with the posts about house brand toiletry items - some great soaps and shampoos to be had.

Last December we went out to the Val d'Europe designer outlets (worth it to say you've been but otherwise just like every other outlet mall in the world) and found that it is located behind a rather typical mall that included a large Auchan. We stopped by Auchan and picked up a considerable pile of great chocolates in just-for-the-holidays packaging that went over quite well with the folks back home. We also got some CDs that were not available in the US.

I moved to Paris in August of 2005. Because I was missing home I wanted to hold a Thanksgiving dinner with 14 of our new French friends. I ordered a turkey from Monoprix on Rue des Ternes and to my horror it was not there! We were told that we could only have the turkey on the morning of our dinner party so you can only imagine our frustration!


When we filed a complaint I received a rude email from the Director M. Muller that basically stated that they spent 20 mins. on the phone with me (which apparently was too long) and that they never have turkeys before Dec. 10th so it was my fault!


So I am boycotting Monoprix and ask that you ALL do the same. This is not the place to shop if you want to be treated with respect!

only1zarina, lesson learned: cultivate a local butcher.

Michael is absolutely right. What made you choose Monoprix in the first place?

Ha! Ha! I was just in Paris and bought a huige jar of Dijon mustard in the :Franprix&quot; supermarche for less then a Euro! It is delicious!

Just a reply about food shopping in Provence...In my mind I can still smell the spices from the streets of Old Town Nice. In the evening when the breeze from the ocean blows in it is heavenly! Now back to more Paris shopping ideas...Lavaender honey!

With so many independent butchers in France who can do just about anything you ask, why would you order a turkey from a gigantic supermarket chain?

I have heard that in Paris, they don't eat whole turkeys the way we do in the States.
I am sorry to hear of your mix-up , 1zarina..what did you end up cooking?