Bookmark for your next trip...

not not a gift-guide, but items you may want to pick up on your next trip to France for yourself or anyone else

I’ve been on a bit of a Substack hiatus after spending the month of November in the US with my family. We decided to make the visit long enough to see both sides of the family and squeeze in the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s been two years since were back in the States and it was a rich time with family and friends but also a realization of how many things I’ve become accustomed to and unattached to since living in France. More on that soon!

I know gift guides have been inundating inboxes lately with the holidays around the corner, and I admit I do like to take a quick glance at what is being poffered around the internets. However, I watched the Netflix documentary, Buy Now, while I was at my parent’s house and it definitely struck a nauseating chord with me and even made me consider do we need Christmas gifts at all?! But I’m not that much of a frugal Scrooge to cancel Christmas. There is a joyfulness in giving and receiving gifts and we are trying to emphasis the giving part to our 3 year old during the holiday season. Although his idea of giving is to give a gift to a friend and then this friend will share that gift with him. We are still working on it.

I’ve been slowly making a short list of some of my favorites items that for the most part you can only find in France. To me, receiving a gift from a friend that is not easily found on the aisles of Target or virtual halls of Amazon feels exceptionally thoughtful. And if you are traveling to France and looking to bring home a few souvenirs that you will have to ration because you can only find it in that quaint little shop down the cobblestone street next to the Notre Dame de Paris, well here you go. My gift to you…(and most are easily under €100). I give you my “oui” list.

Persillade

This is a gift that keeps on giving. This seasoning blend originates from France and although you can make it yourself, you can find it in any grocery store here. It’s a truly magicial seasoning that transforms fish and any meat into a tantalizing dish with just a few shakes of the bottle.

Christophe Robin Hydrating Mask

A small dollop of this mask goes a long way and leaves your hair smooth and shiny. I use this about once a week, and I can successfully air dry my hair after using the mask. It’s a cure-all for unruly hair.

Duvelleroy Fan

My hand-fan has become a life-saver during the sweltering, A/C-absent months in Europe. I always have it in my Mary Poppins bag that I tote around the city and have pulled it out during crammed, stuffy rides on public transportation, airports, waiting in line inside or outside - it’s a godsend. It’s your own personal A/C that I find even more useful (and environmentally friendly) than the frigid, circulated air method. Duvelleroy has been around since 1827 and became not just a utilitarian item but a fashion staple. It may have been the Stanley cup equivalent in the mid-late 19th century, but in my humble opinion it’s an accessory that has proven to have more lasting trending power.

Egiategia Wine

Every Christmas, we enjoy a bottle (or two!) of this Basque-country wine with oysters. We discovered this wine while living in our first apartment on rue Jacob. Our landlord who ran a small specialty food shop in our courtyard introduced us to this wine and it’s been a mainstay for every Christmas dinner since then. It’s produced on the west-coast of France in the Basque region and partially fermented in crates under the sea. It has just the right amount of zip and zang to pair with seafood. You can purchase it at Tomat’s inside the courtyard off of rue Jacob 75006.