 Poster: A snowHead
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Food shopping in the UK is a chore, in France it is a pleasure. - LOL, no its not.....
who wants to waste holiday time in the supermarket, instead of skiing or socialising....when you can get exactly what you want and know where to find it Tesco' before you go.
a big food shop is hardly going to make such a difference to your fuel consumption to be worthy of any consideration.......
each to their own of course, but not for me
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Timc wrote: |
| Food shopping in the UK is a chore, in France it is a pleasure. |
You can't please more a french guy living in UK !!! 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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My car was pulled in for a search at Dover in October on the way to France. They even looked in the engine compartment, so searches do occur, took about 15 minutes, but was curtailed when the dog, a young puppy escaped and caused mayhem!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| Take EVERYTHING you need for babies in terms of nappies, Ellas pouches, calpol etc - the choices are crap in France in comparison. |
Really ? This is not my memories having a baby in France...... Just go to any Hypermarket in France and you will immediately see the difference with even the larger Tesco in UK (just to name one).......
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| stefoy4me wrote: |
Food shopping in the UK is a chore, in France it is a pleasure. - LOL, no its not.....
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But yes it is
| stefoy4me wrote: |
who wants to waste holiday time in the supermarket, instead of skiing or socialising....when you can get exactly what you want and know where to find it Tesco' before you go.
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Who wants to waste time in Tesco when you can get it delivered. Can't get anything like the range of cheese, cold meats, fish or wine in Tesco.
| stefoy4me wrote: |
a big food shop is hardly going to make such a difference to your fuel consumption to be worthy of any consideration.......
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agreed but that was just a small part of someone else's post
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LOL - Timc......supermarket shopping in any country when on holiday is not a pleasure...IMHO
but each to their own............
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| Quote: |
Why would you not travel empty saving fuel and then get all or the bulk of the food in a supermarket in France?
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Nobody who has had to drag tired kids round a strange supermarket, which is huge, and where they've hidden the eggs and fresh milk, would ask that. I'm a Francophile and spent many a happy hour shopping in French supermarkets. But it's like any other aspect of travel - there's First Class, and there's With Kids.
Taking food with you makes good sense - but it also takes a lot of planning to get it right. And careful coordination if there are several households. I'd probably risk a frozen casserole for instant consumption on arrival, but be prepared to risk having it confiscated.
I'm going to France for Christmas - flying alone - and plan to take a suitcase full of Christmas goodies, including a Christmas cake, stuffed dates, Florentines and smoked salmon. If it gets confiscated, tant pis.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@thierryd, well when I gave birth to one (baby) in France and raised them in a french ski resort it was mine and still is as the youngest is under 2.
Tesco/ Sainsburys/ Asda basically anywhere have much better quality kids food and better range than French supermarkets.
Adult food is good - kids stuff is meh.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@thierryd, as sweet as it is to see you defend french supermarkets its a little predictable. Well done for conceding on some notables.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| @thierryd, as sweet as it is to see you defend french supermarkets its a little predictable. Well done for conceding on some notables. |
Be my guest
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| Quote: |
hidden the eggs and fresh milk,
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Don't spend too long hunting for fresh milk in a French supermarket - at best there'll be a couple of bottles. If it's UHT you're after then the world is your lobster, there'll be a whole aisle of it. More convenient than fresh but revolting.
Cream as well. Not a sniff of fresh stuff in French supermarkets. A fair amount of UHT but in tiny tetrapaks. Strange given that French cuisine has a reputation for using lots of cream.
Anyway, now I no longer live in France, for trips there I do one fairly quick hit of the supermarket on the way then just buy locally throughout the week. After a few days you'll probably find there are plenty of volunteers for a quick walk to the shop to avoid cabin fever.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
After a few days you'll probably find there are plenty of volunteers for a quick walk to the shop to avoid cabin fever.
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 I never found I suffered from cabin fever when it was cold and dark and windy outside, especially if I'd been out skiing during the day. I also absolutely detest icy paths and pavements - SO much scarier than a piste! I always had a supply of UK UHT milk in my apartment - I find it perfectly acceptable - much better than it used to be. Not so sure about French versions.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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There's loads of fresh cream in French supermarkets, and lots of fresh milk these days too, even in our little village one. Get the Grandlait or Casino own brand one (blue top semi skimmed, red top whole, forget the skimmed). Don't buy Marguerite brand it's vile microfiltered stuff and tastes off.
Creme entiere, Creme Liquide 35 or Creme de Fleurette Normande is in 500ml bottles or cartons (Elle et Vivre) in the fridges with the butter and milk. If you want to whip it, chill it really well first, I've been known to stick it in the freezer for half an hour or so.
Eggs in my local place are in the same aisle as the bottles of water for some reason.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Interesting how this thread has drifted.
I'm with thierryd and Timc. French supermarkets are wonderful, especially SuperU at Bourg St Maurice. Superb quality. Superb selection. Even Humus (in the fish fridge!).
And never had a problem finding fresh milk.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@CV, @CV,
"Cream as well. Not a sniff of fresh stuff in French supermarkets. A fair amount of UHT but in tiny tetrapaks. Strange given that French cuisine has a reputation for using lots of cream."
Couldn't believe it in my first season in 2015. Me and the present Mrs Hammondr normally consume large quantities of double cream every day as well as the fullest full fat Greek yogurt. Can't find anything remotely the same in Chamonix.
We always stop off at the same accommodation on the way down (Clamanges). Our hostess is delighted to receive the biggest tubs of UK double cream as a real treat. Clotted cream coming in January.
I also take a 4 month supply of M&S leaf tea.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Jonpim, sometimes things are not quite where you would expect them to be.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Jonpim wrote: |
Interesting how this thread has drifted.
I'm with thierryd and Timc. French supermarkets are wonderful, especially SuperU at Bourg St Maurice. Superb quality. Superb selection. Even Humus (in the fish fridge!).
And never had a problem finding fresh milk. |
+1
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'm wondering who is going to be the first to report having their Christmas spoils confiscated and forced to pay a large fine for illegally importing meat and dairy products into the EU. I believe, but can't find the link, we will soon not be able to bring them back the other way either, which is much more concerning.
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@HammondR, I just want to know what your diet is - sounds bloody marvelous! Copious amounts of double cream every day. Yes please
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18 or 20 years ago we did struggle to buy fresh milk in Les Gets but that got much easier. I recall one Christmas being overloaded with fresh full fat milk once the eldest grandchild had returned to the States. As it was so hard to find, the entire family were on a mission to pick it up in Avoriaz, Morzine or Les Gets - and they did!
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Fresh milk -- it is not only France ; Belgium is the same - Fresh milk, 5 or 6 ; UHT, half an isle full....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Hells Bells, absolutely, there almost no point in going if you can’t bring cheese and saussicon back! (Well, apart from the skiing that is I guess)
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In Saisies I used to buy fresh unpasteurised cream by the litre from the Cremerie. Perfect for Dauphinoise potatoes. If you took your own container you could buy unpasteurised milk, too. And lots of other delicious things I couldn't give to pregnant visitors, of which I had a few.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Stamfordhatter, We came over 2 weeks ago with the entire contents of our home fridge and half the freezer in our motorhome, plus tins and dogfood. No interest; and as far as I've heard no motorhomes have had anythi g confiscated and they would be easy targets.
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| Quote: |
| I'm wondering who is going to be the first to report having their Christmas spoils confiscated and forced to pay a large fine for illegally importing meat and dairy products into the EU |
Not me. I once saw a British tourist being led away in Canada for having an apple in their hand luggage (sniffed out by a dog) and have no real fancy for assisting with customs enquiries to start a holiday. Not worth the hassle and worry of being a smuggler. Happy enough to just pop to Geant etc.
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You know it makes sense.
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@BoardieK, Interesting - we are off in the Campervan later this week, and were wondering whether to risk taking the contents of the fridge with us 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I came over at the weekend with a car packed to the roof with stuff. we did the same in the summer. I wasnt checked at the tunnel but others were pulled out, mainly for swab tests on the steering wheel and door handles
I have been stopped once in ski season but they just asked if the stuff was all mine
As the checks are post the french passport check, and from the language, they are french checks
it seems random how they pull vehicles out
the only food items I bring out are things you dont get here easily such as decent bacon and some spices for an indian. Everything else is Super U. The one in Bourg has bacon but it isnt the best but is good for everything else.
It may not sound good but the confit duck in a tin is great
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Poster: A snowHead
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We took a coolbox full of food (sat on the front seat of the van) for us and the kids over last Christmas, and again in the Summer and we weren't challenged. We did get pulled out of the queue and swab tested, nothing was mentioned or asked about any food in the van.
We'll be doing the same this Christmas too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
the confit duck in a tin is great
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Certainly is. I buy it in Waitrose in Havant, for meals on the boat in the summer!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@ipken, @pam w, and you can use the duck fat for your roast spuds 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
the confit duck in a tin is great
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Certainly is. I buy it in Waitrose in Havant, for meals on the boat in the summer! |
DFDS is providing free meals between Dover and Calais...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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and I can recommend the boulangerie at the Total garage at the exit from the tunnel for a quick snack, baguette, quiche or pastry.
Confit de Canard is one of our most requested take home foods. My Mum-in-law loves it. There are usually several tins in our roofbox.
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@under a new name, @ipken, @pam w
The jelly makes good dripping toast as well!
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@LaForet,
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| favourite breakfast cereal |
So difficult to get any cereal which hasn't got chocolate[quote]
Not difficult at all  - plenty of options out there including porridge - which is allowed to be taken in, is very affordable, easy to cook and gives an excellent slow release of energy through the morning
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oldsnowy, Exactly! Porridge is the answer.
Preferably with honey and cream 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Jonpim wrote: |
oldsnowy, Exactly! Porridge is the answer.
Preferably with honey and cream |
and whisky if my late Father in Law is to be believed.
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We take enough porridge, pasta, marmalade and beans to last for however long we are there and just buy everything else in a non mountain supermarket, only time we've been stopped was between france and Switzerland going from chatel when the swiss custom guy wanted to know if we had any meat products
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FAQ
