Christmas trip to Calais

[craige]

I'm taking the family to Disneyland for a couple of days next week and am planning on stopping off in Auchan on the way home. Apart from the obligatory stock up on random wines and beer can anyone think of anything else that's worth picking up?

[kiteless]

Just make sure you double-seal the bag you're carrying it in.

[Mobile Chicane]

Pure Savon de Marseille.

Available in any French supermarket and far more effective than anything sold in the UK for hand-washing delicates.

[escargot]

When we do our stock up, inevitably we will get:

- Wine
- Snacks (the french do some cracking nibbles for with drinks, 3D's, those little baked mini pizza doodaahs etc)
- Cheese
- Charcuterie (saucisson, magret de canard fume, foie gras etc)
- Harissa paste
- Ridiculously expensive stuff for washing babies that is apparently far superior to anything sold elsewhere in the world. But isn't.

[MSport Calendar]

Carambars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carambar

[escargot]

MSport Calendar said:

Carambars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carambar

Good call. Hope you don't have any fillings though

[Melman Giraffe]

Lots and Lots of this......



I'm going on the 21st

[craige]

what do you do with that stuff then? presumably it's off the bone?

[Mobile Chicane]

craige said:

what do you do with that stuff then? presumably it's off the bone?

It's whole legs, preserved in fat.

You roast it with potatoes underneath to catch the juices.

[Melman Giraffe]

Mobile Chicane said:

craige said:

what do you do with that stuff then? presumably it's off the bone?

It's whole legs, preserved in fat.

You roast it with potatoes underneath to catch the juices.

Quality fast food nom

[craige]

Thanks, that sounds good. Might have this Christmas eve and keep some of the fat to use on the spuds the following day!

[jaybirduk]

I'm off for grocery shopping too on the 21st, personally I prefer the Auchan in Bethune

I find French fresh veg far superior, it appears to stay fresher for longer too

I'll be getting

Bread
A fresh cake or two
Cheese
Yogurts/chilled pot desserts
Fresh vegetables
Sausage
Pâté

And tons of cordial (we get through loads of this in our house)

Edited by jaybirduk on Saturday 17th December 16:32

[kiteless]

jaybirduk said:

Sausage

Sorry?

You're really stocking up on sausages from France?!?!

That's like the French stocking up on English sparkling wine in lieu of Champagne.

[craig_emp]

Merguez maybe?

[jaybirduk]

kiteless said:

Sorry?

You're really stocking up on sausages from France?!?!

That's like the French stocking up on English sparkling wine in lieu of Champagne.

I quite enjoy some Saucisson

[Mobile Chicane]

These days the exchange rate of the £ against the sprout doesn't make shopping any cheaper, however there are certain things which are either unavailable in the UK, or their French equivalents are so much nicer.

If I get the chance I pick up:

Fresh stuff:
Merguez
Andouillettes
Horse meat
Rose veal
Onglet steak
Rillettes
Saucisson sec
Crabsticks (the Coraya brand)
Vacuum-packed salted herrings
Crevettes roses
Celeriac remoulade
Pink garlic
Globe artichokes

For the cupboard:
Persil laundry liquid (far superior to what we have here)
Savon de Marseille
Confit de canard
Ready-made cassoulet
Foie gras
Cornichons
Harissa paste
Flavoured Dijon mustard
Thomy mayonnaise
Carte Noir coffee

Drinks:
Volvic water flavoured with mint tea
Orangina
Banyuls wine
Marc de Bourgogne
Pineau de Charentes
Various eau de vie
Decent quality creme de cassis / framboise

I soooo need another trip

[craige]

Mobile Chicane said:

These days the exchange rate of the £ against the sprout doesn't make shopping any cheaper, however there are certain things which are either unavailable in the UK, or their French equivalents are so much nicer.

If I get the chance I pick up:

Fresh stuff:
Merguez
Andouillettes
Horse meat
Rose veal
Onglet steak
Rillettes
Saucisson sec
Crabsticks (the Coraya brand)
Vacuum-packed salted herrings
Crevettes roses
Celeriac remoulade
Pink garlic
Globe artichokes

For the cupboard:
Persil laundry liquid (far superior to what we have here)
Savon de Marseille
Confit de canard
Ready-made cassoulet
Foie gras
Cornichons
Harissa paste
Flavoured Dijon mustard
Thomy mayonnaise
Carte Noir coffee

Drinks:
Volvic water flavoured with mint tea
Orangina
Banyuls wine
Marc de Bourgogne
Pineau de Charentes
Various eau de vie
Decent quality creme de cassis / framboise

I soooo need another trip

thanks, all noted!

[Chicharito]

Mobile Chicane said:

craige said:

what do you do with that stuff then? presumably it's off the bone?

It's whole legs, preserved in fat.

You roast it with potatoes underneath to catch the juices.

Canned duck, then.

Just a 'posh' version of this:

[kiteless]

jaybirduk said:

kiteless said:

Sorry?

You're really stocking up on sausages from France?!?!

That's like the French stocking up on English sparkling wine in lieu of Champagne.

I quite enjoy some Saucisson

Wash your mouth out, and get some of these:

http://www.wenlockedgefarm.co.uk/sausages.html

Don't piss arse about with the flowery stuff, either. Just get the "traditional" ones. A more "porky" sausage I've yet to try

[Chicharito]

You do know that saucission aren't pork bangers, don't you?