Yocastabarrett

What are some traditional french snacks that are found in local french supermarkets? That are not found in the usa

StCirq

French people I know typically don't snack. That's an American/foreign habit that really doesn't exist here. If they do snack, they have picked up the habit from Americans and eat the same silly things Americans do - powerbars, peanuts. potato chips...you can find these things in any French supermarket, but they are mostly for foreigners, as it is uncommon and considered unhealthy to eat between meals here. In big cities I suppose you might find more people who have adopted the concept of snacking, maybe, but I can't think of a single thing the French would consider a "snack" that is uniquely French. If people invite you over for an apéro, they will usually have things to nibble on, but nothing you couldn't find much of anywhere else in the world.

justineparis

Exactly as st cirq says, soon as i saw your thread title i thought the words " french" and "snacks" do not belong in same sentence. Lol

I have gone to homes where a tiny bowl ( nothing like we would use here ) of chips or snack crackers have been put out to have with before dinner drinks, but thats it. Ever seen a bowl with like 12 potato chips in it, lol

Yocastabarrett

Oh ok my apologies i guess what im looking for are sweets such as cakes,cookies pastries etc.

justineparis

Well they do have lovely pastries, many people love macarons, look at laduree marcarons. Personally i dislike them, too sweet, but most people seem to think they are so great.

I brought some home once for a friend, they come nicely wrapped up..i didnt pack them i carried them in my carry on.

I have seen them for sale at the airport too, so you can get them as fresh as possible.

At the grocery store i do love the Bonne Maman butter biscuits( galettes) they are my favorite commerical made cookie in the world. Very simple. b

kerouac

Frankly, I see French people in Paris snacking all the time, usually on junk food.

kerouac

(Just take a look at the huge vending machines in every metro and train station.)

Whathello

These guys are not French ! Belgians maybe ?
My eldest does snack. The same you would find in the uS I guess. She also goes every week at least once to a McDo. I'm toying with the idea of disinherting her.

Southam

The disciplined French dining habits give a kernel of truth to the legend that all French women are slim. They are not, at least not anymore. Following along with Kerouac, look at the infamous McDonald's on the Champs-Elysee; those crowds are not all tourists by a long shot. Note how many are drinking wine with their Big Mac.
If you must nibble, just be sure to leave enough space for your three-course-+ evening meal.

bilboburgler

But the OP wanted traditional snacks, just not going to happen.

kerouac

McDonald's in France has not served wine in 20 years. They still have beer, though.

I never considered McDonald's to be snacking, though. Aren't they supposed to be meals? Maybe not for people from weighty countries.

justineparis

Wine.. I did not see wine at McDonalds.. that would have to have been worse then the food.. no wonder they discontinued it.. McWine.. yikes..

See Kero is correct.. McDonalds would be more likely to be a meal then a snack.. and folks are more likely to sit down and eat it there.. not wander the street snorfing down a large order of fries..

PatrickLondon

>>Oh ok my apologies i guess what im looking for are sweets such as cakes,cookies pastries etc.<<

Then in that case look at any boulangerie/patisserie that you will see on most streets in Paris. There will be fancy cakes and tarts galore; this is a perfectly ordinary one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick...7604796188694/

There will be packets of biscuits(cookies) in supermarkets, but I don't know what's familiar to you already. Just have a look and see what there is.

kwren

I was wondering where the wine in McDonalds went. I remembered seeing it there once, but not recently. So I'm not going crazy after all!

I have enjoyed seeing their goat cheese salads over the years.

We weren't there to eat, but popped into a McDonalds in Nice a couple of weeks ago just to see what else there was on the menu and was surprised at the large touch screens for ordering by the door. That placed was PACKED and everyone was speaking French. This visit they had something called American Winter - a HUGE oval of breaded and fried mozzarella to be combined with a burger or in a wrap. Yuk. I did like their McCafe, on the other hand, selling tiny pastries and you guessed it, macarons for 1 Euro each.

Going back to the original question - why are you asking? Writing a report? In France now and wishing to buy some to take home? If we had an idea of the reason, maybe we could make some suggestions. For example, we bought some heart-shaped flaky pastry type crackers (like mini palmiers) but which were savory and had a layer of olives in them. I bought some and they were good. Normally I would expect these to be served with an aperitif and have never seen them in the USA.

greg

French children do "snack," but in a different way. We have hosted several French students at home. While they don't eat ready to eat packaged food at random, they do eat mini breakfast like food around 4pm while sitting at a table. It is more like a fourth meal time for children placed between lunch and dinner.

Pvoyageuse

". It is more like a fourth meal time for children placed between lunch and dinner."
It is called "le goûter" and it takes place after school when the kids go home (between 4 and 5 pm). It might be bread with cheese or chocolate or jam, or some cookies but as a rule it is light.

NewbE

American kids have a snack when they get home from school, too, lol. This is not a peculiarly French concept!

Regarding the OP's question, packaged sweets in France will not look anything like those in the US, but they are easy to find, in small convenience stores, vending machines, grocery stores, you name it. Many different styles and brands are available.

jkbritt

My favorite "snack" in Paris is a cafe' and a cream brulle. When walking all over Paris, this a a wonderful pick-me-up.

Pepper_von_snoot

I have noticed that French supermarkets sell bags of pain au chocolat the way American supermarkets sell hamburger buns.

You may get 6 pieces in a bag. That would be a good snack.

I have also noticed odd yoghurt flavours, like coconut, in the Food Halls of Galeries Lafayette.

Thin

ira

Hi Yoc,

> what im looking for are sweets such as cakes,cookies pastries etc.

Got to a Monoprix or other supermarket.

Whatever you see there is what the locals eat.


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