I will never forget collapsing in a fit of hysterical giggles on a Danish supermarket floor aged 8, with my younger brother, after we found a packet of biscuits called Bums. We had to be dragged out by our embarrassed parents, hyperventilating and with tears rolling down our cheeks.
So when we found ourselves self catering in a mobile home in France, with the amazing folks at Canvas Holidays, taking a trip to the supermarket was very much an excursion not a chore. I must tell you about the site itself of course, which was incredible, I am getting on to that. I thought a supermarket trip would set the flavour nicely and lead me into an epic and informative post on the Canvas site we stayed at La Croix du Vieux Pont aka Berny Riverie.
You will have to make do with quick snaps from my iphone, I’ve learnt from experience in Tanzania and my local supermarket, that photos aren’t always welcomed by staff. Here we all are going off in different directions already, the joy of holiday supermarket shopping is the lack of lists, meal plans or coherent meal ingredients that goes in the trolley. We have at least achieved some of our five a day, by this point.
The fruit and veg is always pretty dazzling in France, we loaded up with juicy nectarines, greengages and apricots, but we also had to have a purple cauliflower. I don’t want to know what they do to them to make it this colour, but we had to have one.
We spent considerable time in the biscuit aisle, me looking for biscuits with rude names (mental note to take kids to Scandinavia for this at some point) and the kids tracking down new snack foods to fuel going on the waterslides from dawn till dusk back at camp.
We all pulled faces at the Escargot, the kids were incredulous they were snails in the freezer. We remembered the time Mr A ate frog’s legs on a cruise (the only time I have actually been unable to eat opposite a meat eater as a vegetarian, we were both nearly sick - there are however lots of things I love about French cuisine).
Mr G was fascinated by the sausages hanging up. We kept having to pass them so he could make sure they were real.
While the kids found the sweets, I stocked up the drinks cabinet and raided the cheese aisle. You can’t go to France and not buy Grenadine too. Although my friend tells me Waitrose sell it now, which kind of ruins the charm of the supermarche mission. But cheap wine and plentiful cheese people, get in!
Brie de Meaux is amazing, Meaux is not far from the camp site and it’s also where my cousin teaches. More on the lovely times we had with family to come too. Comte has a really nice nutty, but mild flavour.
Cheese, wine and fresh baguette from the camp site bakery back at our Moda Plus home, after a day of swimming or exploring, was just the most simple and magical pleasure in holiday life.
L even decided to buy and cook quails’ eggs for us all, after enjoying them in the Crown Hotel in Norfolk. Fancy.
We had some bizarre meals too, like I said, no one really meal planned much, but that’s all the fun of the holiday supermarche!
It was magical when we woke up to find that L had laid the breakfast out for us all too in our Moda Plus home - croissants, crepes and nectarines. Makes me think we should shop together more now we are home, and rely less on internet shops.
Do you have a foreign supermarket tale to tell, or a must have product you always buy in a certain country?
Camping La Croix du Vieux Pont
We were guests of Canvas Holidays at Camping La Croix du Vieux Pont, Berny Riviere and would highly recommend Canvas after a magical week stay. The site has a range of camping accommodation from tent places by the lake, to safari tents, mobile homes, moda plus and wooden lodges. The site has 3 lakes, for fishing, watersports and one is a man made beach and swimming lake. There are 3 different swimming pools, two of which are heated and can be indoor or open air depending on the weather. There are restaurants, shops, a supermarket and bakery. The bar area also has bowling and laser quest and there are playgrounds, go karts, table tennis tables, trampolines, pedalos and kayaks to enjoy. Staff provide daily activities for kids and parents are welcome to stay and join in or drop kids off. This is a great base for Paris and Disneyland Paris, both of which are reachable by coach trip, bookable at the site.
We were guests of Canvas for our stay, editorial and opinions remain my own.
Funny - I just got back from France where I bought some of the biscuits in your photo!
I also just bought the same grenadine - from tesco! But on the plus side you don’t have to go to France to get it anymore
Isn’t the best thing about visiting other countries exploring the supermarkets? I love it!
We love french supermarkets. The boys loved visiting and kept wanting to go back!
Jen recently posted…Liz Earle Superskin⢠Face Serum Review
yep, its a day trip!
Liam used to love the live crabs in French supermarkets, that’s about all I can remember from visiting lol I always love walking round looking at all the different stuff though. Love that purple cauli… have not seen one of those before
Sonia recently posted…Instagram Weekly 14th-20th Sept 2015
Oh yes, remember that from French restaurants as a kid- eek!
Part of the fun of foreign holidays is going round the supermarkets! I love them - trying out all the different things they have. In France they do a particular vanilla yogurt I love that comes in these cute glass jars that make excellent tea light holders when washed out! I ended up bringing a dozen back with me last time I was there!
PS) I wouldn’t cracked up at Bums too! (No pun intended!!!)
JuggleMum, Nadine Hill recently posted…Halloween Events in Yorkshire
So creative Nadine, I know just the ones you mean. Helen’s Bon Maman jars would be great too I reckon!
I love all the hanging sausages! This is one of the reasons I go to Lidl! I also have a bottle of Grendine and no idea what to do with it ….. *awaits next blog post!*
Joanne Dewberry recently posted…3D Box Frame Art with wrap.me
Everyone keeps telling me to get to Lidl - I really must, although not for the sausage, am veggie.
This sounds like a perfect holiday to me! … those purple cauliflowers are amazing and i would have had to have bought one!
I adore fresh baguette, cheese and fresh air
Jaime Oliver recently posted…Five Ways To Speed Up The Selling Process
Sounds perfect to me!
The food shopping is always one of the holiday highlights for me too! You reminded me of times I’ve been creased up with my little brother too, so thanks for that
Stephs Two Girls recently posted…Challenging Behaviour: ODD or PDA?
Best times!
I remember going to a French supermarket when I was younger, it was amazing looking around at the food. x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Quickies Eye Make Up Remover Pads: Review
We’ve loved visiting French Supermarkets when we have been in France. So much more interestinig than our own.
Erica Price recently posted…Heading To River Cottage
I haven’t been in a french supermarket since I was at school, but we are going next year so hopefully have some tales to tell then
Kara recently posted…Revisiting Trevella Park #CornwallAdventure
Took me back to school trips too!
I really want to know what that purple cauliflower tasted like! I didn’t know you can get grenadine here now either.
Rachel In Real Life recently posted…Illness and a Trip to Leigh Woods
Hmmm, I skirted over that didn’t I? I don;t think my half hearted holiday cooking did it justice really, a French chef would have done!
I love this post - those cauliflowers are amazing! We love going food shopping when we’re abroad, it’s always fascinating to see what’s on offer. When we’re in Italy we always buy parmesan (and get it vacuum packed in blocks so that it lasts longer), fresh pasta to cook on the evening that we arrive home and a sprig of dried oregano to last until our next trip.
gretta @ mumsdotravel recently posted…Great places to stay in Emilia-Romagna
I love that idea!
It’s ridiculous, as we could get it here in the UK every week, but I have to buy strawberry Bonne Maman jam whenever we’re in France. It just wouldn’t be breakfast without it!
Helen recently posted…Diabetes: This is WAR
Mr A and I once bought boursin to take to the Jardin de Luxembourg for a picnic - we thought we were SO French
Oh Penny I really a purple cauliflower, you’ve so planted the seed! Sounds like you had a great time and supermarkets abroad are always so much fun however old you are. We have a fleeting visit to France at the weekend, I have to buy cheese! Not sure we’ll find a purple cauliflower though!
Charly Dove recently posted…Taking in our surroundings
I LOVE supermarkets in other countries….I try to visit them every day we’re away!! We’re off to Denmark soon so am totally going to look out for those biscuits!!
Globalmouse recently posted…Staying in the heart of London’s Theatreland with every hotel Piccadilly
What a fantastic experience, I’m yet to take the children abroad yet. One day
Clare aka Emmy’s Mummy recently posted…Post School tiredness - Our Netflix favourites this month #StreamTeam
The supermarkets in France are amazing. Even my girls have huge memories of out trip to France in June and the gorgeous peaches and nectarines that dribbled down their mouths. We get nothing like it over here