When I've been in Nice before, I've always shopped at a Casino grocery store about a block from my hotel. Last time I was there (prior to just recently, that is), in 1999, it was closed for remodeling. On our recent trip, I returned there and noticed they had gotten rid of their fresh meat, seafood, and cheese counter in the back so I wonder if this is a trend in grocery stores in France and elsewhere?

Nolife - Thank you for starting this thread. I too was worried there would people making their snide remarks but no one has. <BR><BR>I am going to Italy and Paris in October and will make a point of it to visit a couple of the markets. Thanks for the tip.

Me too! I find it fascinating to stroll thru grocery aisles in other countries. AND I'm with Mel --- those UK Milky Way bars are great. I don't know why Mars Company hasn't marketed them over here.<BR>

We love to go into the grocery stores anywhere in France, especially the smaller towns, and stock up on cheese and wine. The great selection of wines in these little stores, and the LOW LOW prices are wonderful. We always had a few bottles of wine in the trunk, along with some cheese and bread. Voila, instant picnic anywhere we wanted to pull over.

I want to know where Pris lives that she can buy canned pork brains in milk? I'm finding it odd I can't imagine what the family you sent it too thought. Hope they didn't make a sandwich of it with the pop tarts!!!

God I'm glad I'm not alone in always visiting grocery stores in every place I go to. I always buy loads of chocolate in America. I know English chocolate is better but it is different and we can't get peanut butter M&M's here! My favourite.<BR>PS anybody know where I can get Blackened Chicken/Fish seasoning in England? I got some in New Orleans and loved it but I can't now get anymore.

Typhoo tea in England, cheap, very good, easy to pack, light to ship, plus it comes in cool, round, flat tea "disks" instead of bags.<BR><BR>I too have tried to find the ginger root chunks in heavy syrup with no luck. In England they are in Indian shops but, yes, the jars always say, "MADE IN CHINA"...

Oh yeah, I'm a grocery addict when I travel to Europe. But here's the pathetic thing....I absolutely HATE American television commercials and will hit the "mute" button on the remote whenever they come on. But I will sit and watch every European commercial when the T.V. is on in my hotel room. They actually seem interesting there, I guess because the products are so different and often times you will see major American movie stars pitching mundane products, something they don't normally do in the U.S.

I love the "commercials" they play in the cinema in London!<BR>

Sometimes the everyday mundane things can be the most interesting. It gives you a different angle on the local likes and culture. I think it is a fabulous idea. In Paris I like to go to BHV and look at home items. Also La Samaritaine has great home items as well. Great thread.

How about those of you who live outside of the US? Do you, like me, get 'supermarket frenzy' when confronted with the endless aisles in the US? If I survive it, here's what I take back to Europe:<BR><BR>corn tortillas (preferably blue corn)<BR>hot wing sauce<BR>vanilla (liquid)<BR>food coloring<BR>Jane's Crazy Mixed-Up Salt<BR>Bisquick<BR>light corn syrup (for making fudge)<BR>Grape-Nuts<BR>clam juice<BR>tomatillos, jalapenos & jimaca (yes, I know this is agriculturally incorrect)<BR><BR>What else?<BR>

Hey jenviolin -<BR><BR>I always bring back Junior Mints from the US. Movies just aren't the same without a box of Junior Mints!

I love to visit supermarkets and food markets when I travel abroad...<BR><BR>I've always thought the quality of fresh fruit and vegetables was better in the US and Canada than here in the UK!! Its better in europe too.<BR><BR>I agree with the other posters that its fascinating to look at what other people get to choose - and I love seeing familiar things in different packages! <BR><BR>Picking up another point, we now have Walmart's in the UK (they're called ASDA Walmart) The biggest one has just opened here in Swindon (Wiltshire, the west country) - not too impressed!<BR><BR>I have fond memories of spending ages walking around the market on Granville Island (Vancouver) - wow - what choice!<BR>Wish we had something that good in teh UK (if we have I haven't founf it yet!)<BR><BR>If anyone visiting gets the chance to visit a "farmers market" then so it - its the best way to get fresh (and often unusual) produce.<BR><BR><BR>

Peppermint Patties and Fierce Lime Gatorade.

(I just love this thread -- it's the best side of Fodors, after some truly awful other stuff.)<BR><BR>I live in North Carolina, and don't ask me who actually buys and eats the pork brains in milk. It blew me away when I saw it on the shelf next to the Spam and Underwood Deviled Ham. The Norwegians were grossed out by it, understandably, esp. in context of scrapie and mad-cow. But they laughed hysterically about the Pop-Tarts, didn't want to eat it because it was such a trophy in their Univ. group! I think at least one of our sports teams should be called the Basselopes!<BR><BR>Re: produce. Even though I live in an area where in-season produce can be abundant and good, I really don't think the flavor in the US and Canada is as intense as what one can get in Europe. The variety, number, and size of fruits and veges may be greater, and sometimes the color is alarmingly more intense, but flavors are washed out, comparatively speaking. <BR><BR>The only explanation is that perhaps the produce for Europe isn't bred for sturdiness in shipping as much as it is for flavor. And there's always the possibility that I'm more aware of the sensuality of food when I'm on vacation.<BR><BR>I watch the commercials too -- some are much more imaginative that ours, some are good language practice, and some are much more explicit than we'll ever see in the US! ;-D

Bisquick? Junior Mints? Who woulda thunk it? The next time that an American posts question asking for ideas on what gifts to bring to Europe, maybe a stroll thru your hometown grocery store is the trick. <BR>

Who knew? I will definitely take a walk through a local market the next time I'm traveling and have an hour to kill. I’d never even thought about what a cultural window of insight this could be. Thanks.<BR><BR>So, any idea what countries have the "best supermarket sight-seeing?" England/Scotland would have to be good, probably Scandinavian countries would be good as far as finding "alien" foodstuffs.<BR><BR>

If you go supermarket cruising, be sure to bring your translation equipment (phrase book, electronic thing, whatever). We had enough trouble even in England figuring out what we were looking at!

i love this thread...to the top...

A recipe for S:<BR>Blackened Spice Blend<BR>1/2 tablespoon salt<BR>1 teaspoon sugar<BR>1 teaspoon paprika<BR>1 teaspoon onion powder<BR>1 teaspoon black pepper<BR>1/2 teaspoon garlic powder<BR>1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper<BR>1/2 teaspoon white pepper<BR>