My guess is that the saffron for sale in Paris is grown in Spain or Iran and therefore, might not be as good a value (as compared with US prices) as some of the other items mentioned here..

For gastronomic dummies like me, who didn't know what Argan Oil was:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil

Must be spendy, seeing how rare it is.

:-)

Re Argan oil. Here is a US mail order price; I probably paid in the neighborhood of 17 Euro for a bottle twice as large at Leblanc last year.

http://tinyurl.com/adaem7




Maribel: Hurok girls think alike! I want to come for dinner at your house when you are making something with Piment d'Espelette.

That reminds me: Mustards with interesting flavors including mustard with Piment d'Espelette and Violet mustard, which comes from Brive in the SW (and from Burgundy) but is available in Paris.


http://www.zingermans.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=P-VIO

I stock up on saffron at the markets in the Dordogne every year. It comes from Spain and sometimes Morocco and it costs a fraction of what it costs in the USA.

I've brought Argan oil back from Morocco, where it's incredibly cheap. It has a distinctive nutty taste and is wonderful to use in tagines and cous cous dishes and Moroccan salads.

One of the most incredible sights I ever saw was in the middle of the desert on the road between Marrakesh and Agadir: two argan trees by the side of the road with goats ALL OVER them, up in the branches. They munch on the argan nuts and drop the shells to the ground. I'd never seen a goat 30 feet up in the air before.

I was about to order some Argan Oil on the internet, but I went back to read the rest of the Wikipedia article I had referenced in an earlier post. The bit about the nuts being harvested by digging through goat poop after it has passed through their digestive system put me right off.

What does it taste like?

:-(

wondering,
All the wonderful gastronomic delights of the French Basque Country, Pays Basque, can be found in Paris at the two delightful Pierre Oteiza shops-

Right Bank, near Place Madeleine
at 13 rue Vignon (near Fauchon) in the 8th

Left Bank
18 boulevard St. Michel
which is open Mon-Sat 10-8 and Sun from 1:30-7

www.pierreoteiza.com

It tastes a bit like peanut oil, but really has a distinctive, unique, fairly strong flavor (not reminiscent of goat poop).

Speaking of violet - I am a total violet freak - I found some violet jelly last year (not in Paris, though), brought it home and made a layered terrine with it and very mild goat cheese and crushed pistachios and mint leaves. It was tasty and absolutely gorgeous!

I also love violet sorbet and violet ice cream.

Wow!! StCirq: That terrine sounds amazing! It must have been gorgeous to look at, too!

I noticed a lot of violet products in the Albi area...I am also a big fan..

Big colorful vinyl grocery bags with french cartoons that you can buy for about 6 eu at La Vaissellerie. Totally practical, completely silly cartoons. Love them.

I always stock up on Roche Posay make-up when in Paris. While some of the skin care products are available in the USA, it is much harder to find their makeup. Likewise, Pylones products are less expensive in Paris, and they are so much fun to bring back as gifts. Unusual small kitchen accessories at Dehillerain. Wax topped cotton tablecloths. Longchamps products. Forgive all mispellings.

Esteban in the Marais sells scented car fresheners. They're really pretty and smell great and they're inexpensive. My friends here beg me for them when I go.
I also go to the Fragonard store and stock on up beautiful smelling soaps. Fragonard also sells mini scents in beutiful boxes for men, women and children. They often have a box of 6 different solid perfumes. I split up the box and give one perfume out at a time as small gift.

WOW! This is exactly what I was hoping for! Keep the suggestions coming! One question: Are we (US) allowed to bring in foie gras in jars? At one time I know cans only were the rule....

ekscrunchy: it was probably the most beautiful food thing I've ever made in my life, and we served it to three different groups of people and they all just went drop-jawed over it. Seriously. It was to die for. The flavor of the violet jam was so ineffable, so sweet, so subtle....it was incredible!

I still have some...maybe I'll serve some for the May GTG in DC and see what Fodorites think.

Hi,

A friend who moved here from Europe had told me that the Nivea lotions sold there are much better than here. When I was in Paris a few years ago I bougt some body lotion and the difference is amazing! It was much creamier and left a nice glow that the Nivea products here will not do. I'll be picking up some more when I go back to Paris in April.

I agree about the Nivea; I buy the cream in France (and in Italy) and it seems much better than the Nivea in the US.

About that violet jam; I would put THIS on my shopping list!!! (available at Pierre Herme) In fact, it is already on my list, as of two minutes ago!




http://www.pierreherme.com/e-gourman...94316ph6518649

Closer look tells me that the product I posted above is pear with violet. So, in addition, you might want to seek out the pure violet that St.Cirq mentions. I know I will, next time in Paris!

St. Cirq,

When we were talking about Argan Oil, you said: <It tastes a bit like peanut oil, but really has a distinctive, unique, fairly strong flavor (not reminiscent of goat poop).>

Er, ah, um, how do you know?

:-)

Well, nukesafe, I think my taste buds are sophisticated enough to pick up even a hint of excrement.

ekscrunchy: Look, you can make your own...

http://sdbytracy.com/flowerviolet.htm

Ooooo, and look:

http://www.bienmanger.com/2F2689_Violet_Jam.html

I just remembered, I've bought violet mustard as well - delicious!