quimbymoy I wonder if your store was Comtesse du Barry? I purchased the exact same pate from them while in Annecy. Absolute heaven! Little blue and white tins. mmmmmmmmm!!

Does lettuce soap look and/or smell like lettuce?

Meanwhile, as gifts go, they have the most lovely dishtowels in France. Makes a nice, inexpensive gifts for friends -- especially when wrapped around a kitchen treat of some sort.

I also can always find fun, french-looking inexpensive scarves and hats at Monoprix, which I'm likely to give to a non-cuisiney friend with soaps or sachets. While they aren't exactly like bringing back Hermes, most of my friends like the fact that they have a cute little accessory from France.

I don't really have an answer to post--sorry. But I was getting confused about the pear drink discussion. Is this drink cider or something other than cider, and spelled "poiret" or "poiré"? So I just did a quick Google search for the words "poiret" and "cider" and was going to do the same for other combinations. I was surprised by what I found: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...q=poiret+cider I'm pointing it out to you because the first result startled me. It is a piece of a post from this thread! I didn't know that the Google data included material from Fodors boards, but now I know. It's apparently very hit-or-miss, though. I don't have time now to do other sample searches to see how much of this message board's content is catalogued by Google and accessible via searches on www.google.com (or to finish searching to determine whether the spelling is "poiret" or "poiré). I always knew that Fodors is a very very public board and not some little private club, but I thought people had to at least go to the Fodors site to read our messages. Guess not.

Babette,

The Lettuce Soap does not look like lettuce and the smell is better than real lettuce? It?s just a very light and clean smell.

I know Roger & Gallet have a carrot and tomato soap as well but I prefer lettuce the best. They are big bars of white soap with a bright wrapper and last a long time. If you go to google & type in Roger & Gallet you can take a peak.

It is a wonderful soap but I also like the cucumber.

I would bring my prescriptions and get them filled, i ended up buying 1 years worth and saved oner $200, which covered 1/2 of my plane ticket!!

Cigalechanta, I will not be at the Boston event. I live in Northern Virginia outside Washington, DC.

I did, however, do a wonderful 3 year stint in the Boston area in grad school.

Why did I think you lived in Frammingham? Sorry, but sorry you won't be coming. You are a southern Belle?

hi stormygirl,
i bought my tin of lafitte foie gras from a lady at the grenelle sunday market in paris. it's got a black label (i actually saved the label!) on a gold tin. i don't remember seeing blue & white tins though, are those different?

Cigalechanta, I don't know why you thought I lived in Framingham. No, I am not a southern belle. I am a Connecticut Yankee. I was born and raised in Stamford, CT. After grad school, however, I moved to the DC area (I was--ha!--going to change the world). I have been there ever since.

I actually live not far away from your buddy (and mine), StCirq.

I second scarves. I bought a beautiful black cut velvet scarf in Paris and everytime I wear it, it brings back wonderful memories of my trip. Bringing back a Frenchman sounds nice too:))

Hi,
I searched for annick goutal perfume and this is what I've found:
Eau d'Hadrien, Grand Amour and Petite Cherie

All 3 is the same collection of annick goutal. Which one is everyone raving about ? Thanks

Hermes scarves from the big hermes shop in Paris. Exquisite selection of the most beautiful silk screened scarves anywhere. They are expensive. I have been collecting them since my first Paris trip and I have 40 or so now. Much better selection there. Hermes started as a bridle and saddlemaker and their leather goods are fabulous and very expensive. I have a belt that is over 22 years old and it is still in top condition even though I wear it with jeans.

on perfume: L/Hadrien from Goutal is their best seller. It has a citrus base. The Annick Goutal fragrances have no fixative so are short lived. Buy the smallest size. You can buy Goutal at any Saks so I'd try for something else.

Banyuls is a unique fortified sweet wine for after dinner. Think of it as French Port.

I'd bring back Champagne from one of the small houses that does not export.

LMF