Just FYI- I read that turkey in France is expensive...a whole turkey is a specialty item and one must order from the butcher in advance.
You could save yourself the work and bother next year and go to the Embassy..they have a Dinner/Dance for Thanksgiving

I was surprised and delighted to find the fruit so reasonably priced from the street traders, I am a fruit fanatic and fruit in Dublin can sometimes be expensive.!

missypie - You can get Orangina at Central Market. They have one on Hulen St. in Fort Worth and also one in Dallas (I forget where - check their website).

mom

Monoprix (throughout the country, not just Paris) sell plastic jars of dried "wild" mushrooms - cepes, porcini, etc. - that go for something like €3 or 4. They're fabulous bargains, plus they're so light that you can stick them in nooks and crannies in your suitcase and they don't add any weight. Classy lable, too (doesn't say Monoprix.) Wonderful gifts.

lucielou,

it's all a matter of perspective. From our California point of view, fruit and vegetables are expensive in France. It has been a matter of discussion withr us for a long time: given the relative high cost of food in France, how can restaurants be so cheap (again from an SF perspective)?

I would love to know if there is a supermarket in the 7th as we will be there next year.

Last year I did find an organic market in the 7th and bought hubby peanut butter and jelly to make him a sandwich. We had been out of the country for 2 weeks and craving something American. I know...how silly...but they were DELICIOUS!

I awfully miss the yogurt in glass bottles and Danao, a yogurt/milk drink that I really liked. My favourite supermarket was the Monoprix at Saint Germain des Prés.

I like Monoprix, just because it's easy and cheap. Like just about everyone else on this list, I like to bring back Amora mustard, especially since you can't get it here any more. And I bring back a bag of sel de mer and some tisanes, like verveine and poire vanille.
Last time I came back, I did a very touristy think, but it did buy a LOT of affection. I brought back the macaroons from Laduree. It is possible to buy friends.

Supermarket in the 7th? There is a large one at the Ecole Militaire Metro stop. There is Franprix or Leader on rue Cler (that is open Sunday until about noon). The dried mushrooms available at the above are also the treasured morels!! You can buy canned confit de canard.

Carefully packed in the carryon I return with honey, and jam (cherry and fig. Also love the Roger and Gallet soap and bath gel even though it's available in the states it is so expensive here.

I love flagelot verts. I can't find them in the US. A cross between a kidney bean and a lima bean, but much yummier. In cans, jars, at just about everywhere, including my beloved Monoprix.

Sea salt is supposed to be a great buy. There has been a thread on this before, but I have to second the dried mushrooms (do not remember the types-may have had morels in the mix,,,but they were nothing like I have ever purchased in the US. they were heavenly...Have also purchased spices(poivre and herbes de Provence), mustards, beaujolis wine, soap, chocolate, canned pate...I don't know why it all tastes better than here, but it does! !

I don't have much to add except that a good friend of mine schleps home great huge jars of cornichons in her luggage.

You can get dried flageolets at many bulk food stores. Also Whole Foods or World Market/Cost Plus. They are SO wonderful--creamy. Just cooked a pot the other day to go with lamb shanks.

Gretchen-thanks for the tip. Are dried flagelots as good as jarred/canned? I know that sounds dumb, they probably are better, but how do you cook them so they get nice and creamy? Of course no Whole Foods or World Markets here, but my mom has both where she lives so I am thinking Christmas gift..?

You cook them just like other dried beans. I have recently gotten a wonderful pressure cooker and they took about 10 minutes to cook. They are not as "hard" as say, black beans. It is what I use for cassoulet. I've never had canned so can't comment.

At Au Bon Marche's supermarket next to the Au Bon Marche Department Store,in the 7th, I buy the nice, vinyl-looking grocery shopping bags that have the name of the supermarket printed on them. I've been taking my own supermarket bags to the grocery store with me, here in L.A., for about two decades so I like to collect different ones while on vacation around the world. Happy Travels!

I am staying in the Etoile area, the 16th by the Arc, we are just off Livingston between the Arc and Trocedaro. Any ideas where I can find a good upermarket?

Yes, go to www.pagesjaunes.fr
(change it to English if you like).

Key in your street address and postcode and Search.

Click on "proximitie" then enter what you are looking for.
In French, a grocer is
- alimentaire
- supermarche

The site will show you a map with the nearest merchants pinned and listed.

We found a lovely little supermarket on Rue Saint Dominique, cant remember the name of it, but its about half way down the street a few doors from the Irish Bar.