In French supermarkets - an experience

Yesterday we went shopping in Agde. It is really fun to go to French supermarkets, which are packed with delicacies and different products than what we are used to in Sweden. However, it is quite expensive, at least compared to Spain and Portugal. Join us for a little tour of the huge Hyper U supermarket!

LidL, Carrefour and Hyper U

We try to buy basic goods at Lidl to keep costs down a bit. Then it will be one of the more well-stocked stores to find fresh fish, meat, spices, sauces and so on. Carrefour is a favourite, but yesterday it was the huge store Hyper U. There are also many fresh and good goods, but you have to be prepared for a long walk through the store because it is gigantic.

Delicious fish dishes

The fish counters are very nice, but fresh fish is much more expensive than in Spain and Portugal. You'll find a lot of unusual seafood, such as sea snails and the murex shell. The cheese counters are great too, of course, but who would have expected anything else?

Fiskdisk — Lots to choose from at the fish counter!

Snäckor — "Murex" on the left and sea slugs on the right

READ MORE: Good fish in Spain and Portugal
READ MORE: Newspaper article about our motorhome trip in Europe

Different meat products

You'll find tiny "young roosters" (think yellow woolly Easter chickens), quail and quail eggs. On the offal shelf you'll also find all sorts of things, such as lamb brains. There are also many kinds of pâtés and terrines.

Kyckling — "Young cock" the size of a slightly yellow chicken

I franska mataffärer — Terrine and pâté, including duck, are often found in French supermarkets.

16 April 2015 9:10

France, Food and drink

exotic food, Facts about food, shopping

Helena

Administrator

18 Comments

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Henny says:

We have the same experience with food shops in France. It's hard not to gorge on the goodies. Makes sense to buy the staples at Lidl and the delicacies in speciality shops.
Allow yourself to enjoy, it can be one of the best memories of the trip. Good luck in the future

16 April 2015 - 12:38

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Mr Steve says:

I love French supermarkets. A sheer pleasure to accompany you on a tour. Enjoy your meal!

16 April 2015 - 13:39

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Anja says:

Oooh! This yummy indulgence!!

16 April 2015 - 14:20

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Stina says:

Probably skip the lamb brain 🙂 Lovely pictures as usual!

16 April 2015 - 16:20

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BP says:

If you think France is expensive, just wait until you get to Italy...

Furthermore, I find that fish counters in Portugal and Spain are much better stocked than the one you show.
But this is also typical of the French - fish is not really their thing, but mussels and oysters are number 1. Then it's often all sorts of meat dishes including brains and lots of fatty foie gras varieties that apply. Except for cheeses then...

16 April 2015 - 16:35

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Henny, absolutely! We like good food and have bought a lot of goodies!
🙂

Steve, always fun to look in supermarkets abroad, and especially fun in France!

Anja, there's such an abundance of delicacies and goodies (although I'm happy to skip things like lamb's heart). But cheeses, pâtés, fish... mmmm!

Stina, we didn't bring home any lamb brains either... promise!
😉

BP, we know it's expensive in Italy too... you just have to get used to it... I can agree that the fish counters in Portugal and Spain are usually well stocked! However, I must say that the fish counter was large - only got a piece of it in the picture ...
😉

16 April 2015 - 17:24

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Lennart says:

There are many good things in France but we like Portugal!

Goodbye!

16 April 2015 - 17:29

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Matts Torebring says:

Cheese and yougurt are literally 50s more long shelves, simply endless. We bought fresh prawns in a multi-shop for 8,90€/ kg. I took a picture of the happy man scooping up the prawns and he cheerfully shouted, "And five € for the photo". It's just funny that he speaks English. Have a good time.

16 April 2015 - 19:33

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Snows says:

What a nice report about you and your trip that was in our local newspaper today 🙂 .

16 April 2015 - 20:44

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Bosse and Gerd says:

We certainly agree with you - browsing in French supermarkets brings happiness, but also an empty wallet... A few bumps in the road!
PS. We passed by you today - we thought you had already left Agde, so we didn't roll in to see you - a pity we think!
Tonight, 16/4-17/4, we're staying at the campsite in Palavas Les Flotes, just south-east of Montpellier (see our blog).
Hugs from us 2

16 April 2015 - 21:27

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Elisabeth says:

It's fun to botanise among all the delicacies and foods you're not used to from home. Keep up the good work!

16 April 2015 - 22:02

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Ditte says:

Isn't it great to have this wide range of lovely and fresh goods and to browse through them is so much fun. I have always liked France's selection and have enjoyed shopping both at local smaller shops as well as at these large hypermarkets. France is higher in price but is still reasonable compared to Italy. Here in Torrevieja we often shop at Carrefour and they have a similar range as in France but cheaper. Lovely
with your pictures and the range is certainly tempting.

16 April 2015 - 22:30

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Lennart, both Portugal and France have their charm we think!
🙂

Matts, there's plenty of cheese and yoghurt! And it was smart of the fish guy to try to do a little extra business...
😉

Znogge, glad it was in your local paper!
🙂

Bosse and Gerd, it would have been nice to meet again!!! On the other hand, we were not "at home" yesterday. We were on an excursion that I will soon write about. Wishing continued pleasant travel!

Elisabeth, we think it's great fun, and almost extra fun here in France!
🙂

Ditte, we also often shopped at Carrefour in Spain, when we found one. It's a bit annoying that it will be even more expensive in Italy...
😉

17 April 2015 - 7:51

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Ama de casa says:

Going food shopping is shopping for me! It's great fun to walk around and look around.
🙂

Clothes and shoes, on the other hand... bleh.
🙂

17 April 2015 - 8:53

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Marina says:

It's always fun with new foods - or at least almost always...I can imagine skipping the lamb brain!!!

17 April 2015 - 9:26

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Inga M says:

It looks like fun to browse among so many fine foods. But I must admit that I am not tempted by lamb's brains and tiny chickens or various pâtés. But the fish and cheeses are. Understand that you need to balance the good eating with more exercise! 😉

18 April 2015 - 9:51

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Marina, there are lots of good and delicious things here! But it was fun to take pictures of the most different things.
😉

No M, there is a lot to be tempted by in the shops! Lamb's brain doesn't tempt me in the slightest, but it was a bit fun to photograph.
😉

18 April 2015 - 17:38

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Annette says:

Going to grocery stores abroad is one of my favourite things to do 🙂 In Sweden everyone picks the fruit they want in bags without protective gloves. When we were last in Italy, in Umbria, a rather angry woman came up to us and told us that we had to wear plastic gloves. We of course apologised and did as she said. In France, we failed to weigh and put a price tag on the fruit bag (we always make a mistake when it comes to fruit...!) We were prepared to just put the fruit back so as not to hold up the queue, but everyone (!) in the queue just smiled and waved dismissively and said that they could wait while my husband ran off to get that price tag 🙂 Meanwhile, I and our girls, who were five and seven years old, had to stand there, smile and try to say something nice in halting French. When we left, everyone waved. I have never experienced a nicer reception than from the French people, and not just on this occasion. In the US, you can stand and just stare at the food. The food there doesn't make me particularly hungry, but I'm as surprised as a five-year-old would probably be 😉 Their pastries... help, so much colouring they have to use. The fridge with pastries has often looked like an explosion of colour!

16 January 2017 - 12:15

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In French supermarkets - an experience

LidL, Carrefour and Hyper U

Delicious fish dishes

Different meat products

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18 Comments

Henny says:

Mr Steve says:

Anja says:

Stina says:

BP says:

admin says:

Lennart says:

Matts Torebring says:

Snows says:

Bosse and Gerd says:

Elisabeth says:

Ditte says:

admin says:

Ama de casa says:

Marina says:

Inga M says:

admin says:

Annette says:

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