The food in France's supermarkets

We have not eaten in a restaurant once since we arrived in France. Mostly we shop at the Carrefour grocery store and eat in the motorhome. The general feeling is that the food is expensive, but the quality is high.

Fish, seafood and cheese

We mostly buy fish. We point to something in the fish counter and then we google when we get home to see what we bought ... we can't ask because no one speaks English!

So far we have had cod, swordfish and mussels. Please let us know if you know any special fish we should look for! We've also tried the ready-made fish and potato dish Brandade that we got tips on - thanks Anna Kari, it was a good lunch! Otherwise, there will be a lot of baguettes, camembert cheese and our new favourite spread: foie gras. We have to say that the food in the French shops is high class.

More to see and do in France

Below you will find even more tips on things to do and places to visit in France. Stay tuned!

07 December 2014 12:08

France, Food and drink

exotic food

Helena

Administrator

23 Comments

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Ditte says:

Food is an important part of travelling. But maybe the prices in France have risen. And if you are going to be out for a long time, you get tired of restaurants too. Can also assume that some restaurants do not stay open this time of year which may be the kite of low season in Normandy.
I know we bought some fish, seafood and meat and grilled it at home.
You'll have to buy a French phrasebook or use Google translate, but that can also be very wrong...
Keep up the good work.

07 December 2014 - 13:11

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BP says:

Yes, France, like Italy, is expensive. But if you do as you do, at least it won't be skinless. Mussels are available in different varieties - I mean recipes you can try. Langoustines (similar to our crayfish) are also a must.
Well, the French are as they are - no good at English... either;-)
Carrefour is also in Spain. A fantastic supermarket where everything is available and in high quality.

07 December 2014 - 14:00

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Ditte, here in Arromanches some restaurants are open, but most are closed. Our budget only allows for occasional restaurant visits so we wait until the right time. I speak a tiny bit of French, but it's very basic. It has helped though! We have a dictionary too...

BP, lingustine we must try! Agree that Carrefour is a good deal - love it!

07 December 2014 - 14:02

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Steve says:

France and food, Mmmmmum!
Fun to try new things. Thanks for the tip about Brandade. I have already ordered from D.

07 December 2014 - 14:43

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Maggan och Ingemar says:

Restaurant visits.... not always good for the wallet...but sometimes it can be nice to not have to think about what to eat. In Spain it is cheaper to eat out. Even here in Greece, many places are closed. Yesterday we ate wonderfully good halted salmon bought at the market. We are usually bad at fish, not knowing what they are called or how to cook them. But when we have bought and eaten, it has been good. At the moment bad weather here hope you have better.

07 December 2014 - 17:03

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Inger says:

I'm glad you're on the move! France is a wonderful food country, but it is expensive. Carrefour is reliable and we sometimes shop there in Spain as well. The cheese counters are fabulous! What good cheeses! Have fun and enjoy!

07 December 2014 - 17:07

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Matts Torebring says:

We asked for sandwich margarine in a camping shop. She could not understand what I was looking for. Instead, she gave me a jar of mayonnaise. The next morning, what I was looking for was in the fridge. They understand but don't want to put it into practice A Christmas hug

07 December 2014 - 18:14

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admin says:

Steve, you can see why France has a good reputation as a food country! So, brandade was a dish you were familiar with? New to us!

Maggan and Ingemar, we don't know how all fish should be cooked, and it's not possible to ask... But most fillets can be thrown into the oven with a little sauce, usually good! Good if it becomes cheaper later on!

Inger, can only agree with the cheeses! Camembert is not so expensive either, I think.

Matts, haha interesting experience with the sandwich margarine!
😉

07 December 2014 - 18:38

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Lennart says:

Look for the red fish whose name is on the blog!

07 December 2014 - 21:23

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Elisabeth says:

Don't know if this particular part of France is more expensive. We spend our holidays in Languedoc, since many years and there the food is cheap. We love French food. We eat 3-courses (outside the touristy areas) from 13 Euro and up. We rent houses privately and also cook many dinners at home. Seafood is our favourite.
Loup de mer = sea bass
Sea bream = sea bream
Bar = bass
These are our absolute favourites. We grill them whole with herbs, lemon or roast them whole in the oven. You can also have them filleted and fried.

There is an app for the iPhone that is absolutely superb, with a food dictionary with most dishes and food words. The app has this in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese. It is absolutely superb! It's called "gourmet guides", in one word.

07 December 2014 - 22:03

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Elisabeth says:

It's fun to try local food. It's especially exciting when you don't know what's coming in. Elisabeth

07 December 2014 - 22:49

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Lennart, oh a riddle...? Have seen a long narrow red fish... that or any other?

Elisabeth, thank you very much for your long informative comment! We haven't looked too much at the prices in the restaurants, but mostly in the grocery stores, where we for example think that meat and chicken look expensive. (Since we are travelling for a short time, we have a limited budget and we have only counted on eating in a restaurant exceptionally.) We might be a bit in the tourist area though, so it's very possible that it's cheaper to eat out in other places! Thanks so much for the translations! Interesting about the app too. We have limited internet right now, so I don't know if we can download apps, but we'll look into it later. Thank you again!

Elisabeth, there's something fun and exciting about food when you're travelling!

07 December 2014 - 23:39

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Marie says:

Oh, duck liver pâté beats my breakfast pâté by far. No, France is expensive, but what is usually affordable are lunch menus, i.e. 3-course set menus.

07 December 2014 - 23:45

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marina says:

Isn't it exciting with food you don't know what it is! I have enjoyed doing the same thing in the shop here. In addition to the fact that there is most of what I know what it is, there is still more that I have no idea what it is!

08 December 2014 - 4:59

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Alexandra says:

We also ate a lot of baguettes, small yoghurts and good cheeses when we were camping in France. Not so nutritious perhaps, but damn good. 😀

08 December 2014 - 10:48

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Ama de casa says:

Tip: Marulk is French for lotte. During our first canal boat trip in France, I ate lotte lengthwise and crosswise in a restaurant. Delicious as ever and cooked in different ways all the time. Mmm...

In Spanish, marulk is called rape. It should NOT be pronounced the English way...
😉

08 December 2014 - 12:11

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Ninni, Henrik och husbilen Hjulius says:

Wonderful and exciting. Have a good journey.

08 December 2014 - 13:29

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Lena i Wales says:

Recognise many of your Normandy pictures! The food is important. Love shopping for food in France, wonderful cheeses, pâtés, bread, wine, moules etc. Enjoy! Now it's time for my lunch consisting of oatmeal!

08 December 2014 - 14:17

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Alexandra, delicious and practical camping food of course!
😉

Ama de casa, please! Marulk is good! Will pronounce properly in Spanish in Spain...!
😉

Ninni, thank you!

Lena, can only agree! Fantastic food!
🙂

08 December 2014 - 14:29

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Rantamor på näthinnan says:

But what coziness to come to France now in the dull November darkness. Hope you have a good time there in your nice motorhome,
nice to join you on your journey.

Tjingelingen from Rantamor.

08 December 2014 - 19:38

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Rantamor, so glad you're following us! France is beautiful! Relatively cold, but much brighter and greener than at home!

08 December 2014 - 22:02

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Boel Sjöberg says:

Dorade royale is good to stuff with lemon, herbs and garlic. Salt, of course. Then you can make an aluminium package or grill it. The white meat is good with a spicy sauce: finely slice the garlic and add plenty of olive oil to the frying pan. Simmer without burning with capers, chopped black olives, chopped dried tomatoes and sliced spring onions. Good luck wishes Boel

14 December 2014 - 22:09

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- Comment by post author
  
  admin says:
  
  Boel, thank you so much for your tip! I get the impression that the fish may be about the same as seabream/goldsparid in Swedish stores...??? We usually like to cook it at home! Thank you so much for the recipe, maybe we'll try it when it's a bit warmer and it's more fun to grill!
  🙂
  
  15 December 2014 - 19:48
  
  Reply

The food in France's supermarkets

Fish, seafood and cheese

More to see and do in France

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23 Comments

Ditte says:

BP says:

admin says:

Steve says:

Maggan och Ingemar says:

Inger says:

Matts Torebring says:

admin says:

Lennart says:

Elisabeth says:

Elisabeth says:

admin says:

Marie says:

marina says:

Alexandra says:

Ama de casa says:

Ninni, Henrik och husbilen Hjulius says:

Lena i Wales says:

admin says:

Rantamor på näthinnan says:

admin says:

Boel Sjöberg says:

admin says:

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