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Just Katie
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For a country who proclaims itself to be the culinary leader of the world, I find the food on offer here total and utter shit in comparison to UK.  Yes we have the wonderful markets (no more wonderful that UK though) but these are all sold out and packed away before dinner, when I am still in work.  We also have the wonderful butchers who charge wonderful prices..........lamb at 32 euro per kilo, OK I live in Paris but please enlighten me what you pay locally. 

The times of the markets and prices in the butchers lead me to the supermarkets where I am met by limp lettuce, spongey carrots and pruned up apples.  What a load of crap.  In UK I like occasionally like to use Seeds of Change, Lloyd Grossman and Birds Eye products for a quick evening meal after work but here?  Foget it everything here seems to be full of E's and I would love someone to disagree with me and show me similar products in France. 

I cannot even find a yoghurt without E's.  This had led me to cook in mass production.  I have some lovely curries in the freezer made of chicken. and lamb in gravy from NZ lamb.  Today, I went to the supermarket to get the ingredients for a good old spag bol.  Brought the mince home and discovered it is full of E's [+o(]

Also, there were two dogs fighting in the cheese isle. [:@]

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I could kiss you Katie, at last someone who agrees with me about shopping in France. I hate it and long for Tesco and M&S.

Agree with Puzzled that you have to adapt but it is hard work and OH comments on something new as 'that made a nice change'. Could hit him as he doesn't like pasta or rice or anything too fishy or highly seasoned [8-)]

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Organic lamb here, we can get at 18€ per kilo. But usually, the lamb and mutton I get are from the local Halal butcher - I can't quite remember but think it is about 10€ per kilo, and it is very good. I have read that frozen New-Zealand lamb (those legs you can get frozen from LIDL and other places), is as close to organic as you will get - better than fresh French or European lamb.

If you are working, it is indeed tricky, as you have to end up shopping in supermarkets - it is a pity (I don't know where abouts in Paris you are) that you can't go to the Belleville market, or any or the Arab markets, as they always have good quality fruit and vegetables at prices which are much lower than elsewhere. Aren't there any Saturday morning "marché des producteurs" (mostly organic/bio) near where you live? Perhaps you still have to explore your area more fully. I have always found that one could eat better in Paris, than in some other French cities.

I don't really shop in supermarkets if I can help it, although I have a very low budget, I would always try to avoid them as much as possible (farmers' markets in England, etc.)

What I do miss (and would miss if I lived in Paris again) is the wholefood shops from the UK. The bio co-ops here are not so good, and I believe, more expensive.

 

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[quote user="Puzzled"]

I think you will ( have to) adapt to what is on sale and your taste buds will adapt too. [/quote]

Any ideas?  I am honestly wilting away.  Mind you I adore the bread here but woman cannot live on bread and home made yoghurt alone.

I cannot believe people are prepared to pay for manky old veg.

Yes puzzled, I live in Paris and apart from the supermarkets, plumbers, after sales service and motorists who literally drive around you whilst crossing on a pelicon crossing it is pretty WOW ish [:)]

 

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Poppy, let's get all French about it and start a protest. [:)]

Thank you 5E.  I live in 8em but I will of course get up to belleville on a Saturday.  I have been meaning to get up there but have not done so yet.  However, it is all well and good buying veg on a Saturday but it will only keep for a few days.

A mate of mine went to Barbes market which is more of an African thing but he told me although they were practically giving the produce away, it was only good enough to juice.

12 euro per kilo?  Lucky you[:)]

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Ah yes, well, 8eme, there is nothing to eat there! Barbes market is more likely to provide you with cheap watches, cigarettes and Gucci things. You will have to check what days the Belleville market is on, and I hope you like the experience, and the produce. Better go as early as possible, if you don't like crowds.

When you are out at work all day, it is always so much more difficult to feed yourself well, especially if you don't have an established network of people and systems. It takes a while to find out what is what.

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Good idea [I]  Let's start blockades with our shopping trollies [:D]

 As 5-e says it does take a while to work out what is what [:D] Have you got a local Carrefour, find our local one excellent for meat. They state that their steak is French but cuts and tastes like English to me, the pork and chicken is very good value and exceptional quality. I use the steak hache 5% mg for mince, just checked the pack and no E's. They do a great ready roast chicken for 5 euros which is good with LeaderPrice frozen chips!!!

Leaderprice shop is for frozen chips and roast pots not forgetting McDonald type beefburgers.

Leclerc shop is for veg, Carrefour are not to bad if in a rush but Leclerc are better.

Might be vise versa in your area but hope you get the picture. I'm sure you will sort something out and wherever you buy the wine it tastes the same [:D]  I still hate watching the M&S food adverts though.

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I've not had too much problem finding OK food in supermarkets in France, except for certain cuts of beef and steak.  I eat more bread in France than in UK, (and probably wine!) but other than that I don't find that much is different, but I've always cooked mainly from scratch, simple meals, meat and two veg type, I have my own version of spag bol which goes down well. I tend to do a lot of stews in my slow cooker or oven, and don't follow recipes any more, I make it up as I go along!  Don't buy convenience foods all that much, just enough in tins to keep the stock cupboard happy, and the odd pizza.  Hubby buys some convenience foods for when he's on his own, he just sticks them into the microwave.  I've not shopped at markets much in France as I find our nearest far too busy.  Do go the local farmers market in the UK, but only ever buy veg from one particular stall as I find them the best value, otherwise they are too expensive (they must think its a rich area!).  On the whole they sell the produce I use so the lack of variety doesn't both me too much.  Admit that health food shops are difficult to find, and would appreciate some of those in France!

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Judith, if you are anywhere near Carcassonne there are 2 quite good smallish organic supermarkets. Bio Vivra on the Rue di Verdun and Turnasol at Salvasa directly behind Weldom. We use them a lot.

Our local butcher has some really nice meat there, especially the duck breasts and legs and fritons, little bits of duck!! Twice a week March till Sept there is a local farmer at a local roundabout. He has the most delightful soft fruit and veg and always gives us 'bon kilos'. His rene claud are the sweetest that I have ever had and the nectarines are best eaten in the bath, that way you don't loose so much juice [:D][blink].

As far as ready meals are concerned I can only comment on the odd cassolet or fish soup and they are really good. The others we don't touch at all![+o(]

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I've only found 2 decent food shops. Grand Frais for a wonderful selection of fresh fruit and veg (and the meat is not bad)and Picards for frozen veg, meat ect. Picards even sell such exotic items, like frozen sweetcorn!!!!!

For a nation that loves meat, the meat you find in the supermarket is dire (and often out of date). You have to go to a decent butchers shop and pay the earth. Unless you are near a kosher or halal butcher.

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I have (at least) 2 excellent butchers here in my little town of 6,500. (maybe more, but I am happy with the 2). One is halal, newly opened, and makes the best quality merguez I have ever tasted - hardly any fat, well spiced, just beef and mutton (not like those cheap supermarket ones which have oodles of fat and have pork added to them - pork - can you imagine, when it is supposed to be a food suitable for moslems?).

Those merguez also are the cheapest in town: 6.50€ per kilo, and always very fresh.

The other butcher has been established for yonks, specialises in boeuf charolais, which I never buy as it is too expensive. However, they do steak hachés, mincing the meat in front of you as they are required by law, it is good quality beef, and 10€ per kilo. Usually around the 2.60€ mark for 2 lovely steak hachés which are better than any mincemeat, and you know exactly what is in it.

As for poultry, threre is an old-fashioned, always busy greengrocer-type shop - where you can also get excellent vegetables, and they even have a discounted  1€ bin if you get there early, that is how I get my red peppers to grill, my aubergines, bananas, grapes, etc...anything they have a surplus of, or anything that is slightly bruised. They also sell a limited amount of cheeses and meat - including some top quality poulets fermier label rouge (complete with feet, head and gizzards) for anything between 4€ and 6€ a pound. Also lapins fermiers at about 6 or 7€ per pound, magrets de canard, different types of ham (even had jambon de sanglier once)  

And we also have 3 or 4 different fishmongers with a selection of Mediterranean fish and seafood, as well as Atlantic ones.

And I also subscribe to a scheme called AMAP, which is a weekly vegetable basket from local, organic producers, at prices which reflect the not having to go through any middle-men. That includes some brebis and goat cheese too, and eggs sometimes.

No wonder I hardly ever go to the supermarkets. My weekly shopping bill is usually lower than 50€ per person (it has to be!)

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[quote user="Jonzjob"]

Judith, if you are anywhere near Carcassonne there are 2 quite good smallish organic supermarkets. Bio Vivra on the Rue di Verdun and Turnasol at Salvasa directly behind Weldom. We use them a lot.

[/quote]

We're rather nearer to Narbonne than Carcassonne, but where one starts, the other may follow.  No doubt once I get moved, I'll have more time to explore.  I really don't find much difference in goods or prices these days.  I keep thinking back to when I first holidayed in France back in the 60s / 70s when all the produce seemed much different.   You really knew you were in a different country.  Seems like the EU has brought us closer together in more ways than one!  Along with the fact that all cars look alike these days, in the 60s, boy, you could tell you were abroad!!!

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And the only two Brits in the country flashed their car headlights at each other and stopped for a chat and it turned out one was Carruthers from the Foreign office and the other was Willoughby from the Colonial, and wasnt China a problem? Of course France was great for holidays, everything cost nothing. Hang on though, didnt we have petrol coupons and werent we restricted to £25 per person. And the bullys on the block were the Germans in their big Mercedes who everybody hated because of the way they flashed their dosh?
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[quote user="Richard-R"]I've only found 2 decent food shops. Grand Frais for a wonderful selection of fresh fruit and veg (and the meat is not bad)and Picards for frozen veg, meat ect. Picards even sell such exotic items, like frozen sweetcorn!!!!!
For a nation that loves meat, the meat you find in the supermarket is dire (and often out of date). You have to go to a decent butchers shop and pay the earth. Unless you are near a kosher or halal butcher.
[/quote]

If you are near Palaja  Richard then have a look in the little square with the new shops opposite the Mairie. There is a butcher there that only opens at about 4.30 in the afternoon because that is when the guy on shop duty leaves the farm in Fagac to open up. Their animals are looked after properly and they are proud of that fact! Their Copa is delightful and the meat is very good quality. We will be going there again this week...

Have you ever looked into the way the halal meat is killed? I would not be surprised if you didn't like it??? I have no idea about kosher, but I don't think you will find much in the way of pork products [blink]?

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Yes John Halal meat is cruel.  Why however is it cheaper than ordinary meat?

OK I have an apology to make, I have come to the realisation that getting good products is more difficult in France than the UK but that does not mean it is not there.  The UK is more convenient but in France it is more of a chore to find the right ingredients.  And good for them, why should they work 24/7?  God I hate that phrase.

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Hi All

We have been here since Jan this year and find veggies and fruit in supermarkets either very good or c**p nothing in between also finding little places about selling really good produce at reasonable prices, I give most of the markets around me a miss as I find them expensive and not that good quality mind you I am sure there must be a decent market near me but have not been to them all, pork is good value and when its on special buy in bulk and freeze, have just been told about a farmer selling lamb at €5.50 kg for a whole lamb, need to get another freezer before I go down that route, beef, well that is interesting I find it hard as it seems lots of others do to find a decent bit, thankfully do not eat a lot of beef, chicken and rabbit are reasonable and have taste not like the UK tastless bits of cardboard, for want of a better word, don't do ready meals never have, but each to their own, all our meals are made from scratch and have had some really nice comments from our French friends when they have been to us for a meal, we have a great baker in the village so not making as much bread as I did in UK, I do find biscuits expensive so now making our own, and we have laying chickens so we have plenty of fresh eggs.

Overall I find a better choice of tasty veggies and fruit as they are sold "in season".

 

 

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  • 2 months later...

I to agree that everything has E's in it, even fruit juice!!, low fat biscuits, kids yoghurts! i have a 3 year old son and struggle to find many things here without E's in them, sweets are horrendous, either the UK isnt as bad i first thought or France is to honest on the labelling!!

We find it expensive here, is it that i am to used to Asda, my mother in law thinks its cheaper than in Scotland i certainly dont, roast beef, braising steak and lamb are definately more expensive.

Ive been making Weight Watchers recipes, at least i know its low-ish in fat with the products im using, but i've struggled to find, low fat sausages or turkey mince!!!

Where is all the cheap, good, healthy foods!!

 

 

 

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There are "E"'s and "E"'s...................it might help to look at a list of "E" numbers and reassure yourself a bit (OK, not a LOT, but a bit). Things like Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow colours (E102 and 110) are wholly synthetic, but there is a whole raft of natural colours which also have "E" numbers, likewise for preservatives and things like thickening agents.

Here's a lickle list to be going on with : [url]http://www.ukfoodguide.net/enumeric.htm[/url]

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Hello Just Katie

I Agree Totally - French food is the most awful, awful rubbish.  It's not good quality; can't find nice small ripened on the vine tomatoes; no gammon; cucumbers that are always limp; carrots that are old, tough and go rotten in a few days; mesh bags of potatoes Always Always have a smelly rotting potato in the middle - even though I sniff the potatoes through the mesh there's always one potato rotting away. And before anyone shouts at me to buy pots loose - can't - Not of this particular variety which are lovely for baked jacket pots or chips....Celery is nothing but woody, cotton wool filled rubbish; cauliflower and cabbage to me taste very bitter. It's over-priced rubbish - and I long for the quality and selection of Tescos or Waitrose.....

As for Halal Meat - HOW COULD YOU ?

It is an extremely cruel, painful, agonising death for an animal....how can anyone possibly buy Halal meat....it's only done on religious grounds...in the same way female circumcision is done....

Please everyone - do NOT touch Hala meat...please

Chesie

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[quote user="chessie"]Hello Just Katie

I Agree Totally - French food is the most awful, awful rubbish.  I long for the quality and selection of Tescos or Waitrose.....

Chesie
[/quote]

I can't believe quality and Tesco can exist in the same sentence. I do not by English supermarket meat as it is pumped full of water and is tasteless. I only buy meat from proper butchers.

It does cost more in France no doubt but generally has much more flavour than the bright pink rubbish sold in England.

I wonder if the french, who seem to eat seasonal produce and are not like the UK, everything on sale all of the time have grown up with this and we struggle because we are not used to it?

 

 

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[quote user="chessie"]

I Agree Totally - French food is the most awful, awful rubbish.  It's not good quality; can't find nice small ripened on the vine tomatoes; [/quote]

Gosh, how dreadful ... we have the most wonderful market every Thursday: super fresh vegs, fish of all types and quantities, shellfish, cheeses, sausages, eggs, bio stuff of every description including breads, plus all other market stuff ie clothes, pans, shoes, honey, of every type, bedspreads, underwear etc, etc. All other mornings there is a small 'morning' market with fish, vegs, chicken etc.

[quote user="the wee p"]

Where is all the cheap, good, healthy foods!![/quote]

Do you not have a local market like ours?

Our 2 supermarkets sell splendid stuff too; are we just fortunate as I thought this kind of availability was the norm?

Sue

 

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