French Souvenirs
Ideas for gifts and mementos

There are hundreds of kitch and cheap French souvenirs you can buy, but for more authentic, memorable and lasting ideas, read on...


Let's start with food and drink...

FOOD INSPIRED IDEAS

France is the culinary capitol of the world. Here, food is taken very seriously. So, if you're a bit of a foodie (gastronome), or culinary whiz, what better place is there to shop for those kitchen gadgets, and delicacies than in France? When in Paris, check out these places for French souvenir ideas...

For would be chefs:

Head for E. Dehillerin in the 1st Arrondisement (18 - 20 rue Coquillière, Paris) for all manner of kitchen accessories. You'll find yourself amongst a vast array of shiny copper pots, moulds and utensils. There are hundreds of gadgets to find here. If you're looking for something more interesting and transportable, why not pick up a small tin containing tiny cutter shapes for garnish slices of the famous black truffle. Team it up with a small jar of preserved black truffle and you have an authentic French item to take back home.


For the foodies: Take a trip to the famous Fauchon delicatessen (even if you don't buy anything, it's worth going just for a look). Located in the 8th Arrondisement in Place de la Madeleine, it comprises of a patisserie and goods section, a boulangerie and a separate store for épicerie, confiserie and cave. Be warned: the prices are not cheap here.




The Galleries Lafayette Food Hall

Less expensive for French souvenirs is the food hall in the Galleries Lafayette. Located on the 1st floor in the Men's Department of this beautiful store.





There are plenty of options for food souvenirs that originate from all corners of France, such as:
hand harvested salt from salt marshes-Fleur de Sel or Sel de Guerlande; Callisons d'Aix (ground almond based sweets with icing, from Provence); Nougats (from Montelimar); French chocolates (such as Maxim's of Paris); Mariage frères aromatic teas; butter caramels dur or fondant (soft or hard, from Normandy); Foie gras (duck or goose liver from Perigord); the list just goes on and on...

DRINKS ANYONE?

For alcoholic beverages that are distinctly French, head for the adjoining bottle shop (cave), where you can pick up wines from all regions of France. There are also selections of aperitifs/digestifs (pre-dinner/post-dinner drinks) such as Calvados (from Normandy), Pastis, Pernod, Pineau des Charente, etc., liqueurs such as Bénédictine, Chartreuse (from Voiron), Génépi (from the Alps) and brandies such as Armagnac and Cognac. Cheers! Santé!


... other souvenir ideas

QUALITY GENERIC SOUVENIRS


For good quality typical souvenirs items such as t-shirts, mugs, tea towels, books, magnets, etc., head to level 6 of the main section (dome and womens department) in Galeries Lafayette. Otherwise, drop into the shops that adjoin all Museums and Monuments of Paris where you can pick up associated posters, books and other paraphernalia.


FRENCH MUSIC

fnac is a popular French store that specialises in books, dvds, music cds and electronic equipment (though some stores are product specific - only music, only books, etc.). It's a great place to go to if you want to buy some French music cds. The selection is huge, and includes French classics, jazz and latest releases. The best part is that you can "try before you buy", simply by swiping the cd bar code at one of the listening posts with your own set of headphones. You can spend hours here and it's a great place to go to when the weather's too miserable for sight-seeing.

There's a fnac store in nearly all the major cities of France.
In Paris you can find several: Bastille (4, place de la Bastille - music only), Champs-Elysées (74, avenue des Champs-Elysées), Châtelet les Halles (1-7 rue Pierre Lescot), Montparnasse (136, rue de Rennes), Saint-Lazare (109, rue Saint-Lazare).


UNUSUAL ITEMS

You can pick up the quirky and one-off items at antique shops and flea markets in Paris. Also, amongst the mini book and magazine stalls along the Seine, you can also find French postcards from yesteryear, covering quintessential subjects (advertising French brand name products), cute subjects (cats) and the naughty (sepia nudes). You'll also find these antique shops (brocantes) in towns all over France.


FAMOUS FRENCH POCKETKNIVES

Laguiole (pronounced: lay-yol) from Aveyron
The top of the line - With a history dating back to 1829, the Laguiole pocketknives, originally from the small town of Laguiole, are famous throughout France and beyond. The Laguiole brand of pocket knives, corkscrews and cutlery are often identified by a forged bee (or fly - depending on who you talk to) at the base of the handle, above the spring. The bee is meant to symbolise courage and legend has its origins linked with Napoleon the 1st. It was originally a peasant's or farmers tool. With the art of fabrication almost lost towards the end of the 1970s, the knives regained popularity and interest in the 1990s. Traditionally, the handles were made from cattle horn, although other materials are now also used.


You can find authentic Laguiole knives (not cheap!) and cutlery in 3 display stores in Paris: Laguiole Galerie at 1, Place Ste Opportune, Laguiole du Marais at 6, Rue Pas de la Mule and 3, Rue Frédéric Sauton, Paris.





Opinel from the Savoie
For a cheaper pocketknife, but just as French and authentic, opt for the Opinel from the Savoie.
Originating in the 1890s, in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, it was invented by Joseph Opinel. Traditionally, Opinels are sold by size, 1 being the smallest to 12 the largest. The beauty with Opinels, is that they have a safety catch that "locks" the knife in place in its folded position. Unlike Laguiole knives, Opinel handles are made from timbers.



How to Save Money on French Souvenirs!!!

For cheaper souvenirs: alcohol, lingerie, music, beauty products, head to a large supermarket (hypermarché) such as Géant Casino, Carrefour or E. Leclerc. You'll be able to pick up French wines, champagne, aperitifs at good prices. Here you'll also find more affordable versions of tinned foie gras, goose and duck fat, tinned gezziers, dried french forest mushrooms such as morels (Morilles) and cepes (Boletus edulis, as much revered in France as the porcini in Italy).

The advantage of going to a supermarket is not only cost-effective... you also get to shop and mingle with the locals, without the pressure of having to communicate in French (unlike French local markets where basic French helps).

While you are at the supermarket, stop by the cheese counter where there may be tastings. Check out the seafood stall too. It's interesting to see the local varieties of fish and crustacea!

Supermarkets are also a great place for the girls...

Here you can pick up French beauty products you might not see back home. Some supermarkets/hypermarkets even have a beauty section with an attendant dressed "officially" in lab coat assisting shoppers. Also, the supermarket range of affordable but lovely lingerie and hosiery is sufficiently big to pick out something nice.

French souvenirs TIP: For authentic French products, just check the label for info on where it was made: Made in France = Fabriqué en France.

Happy Shopping!!!


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