Goodies from France

Since I have yet to transfer my photos from the laptop to my computer, I will entice you with my purchases from France. My rule of thumb is to only purchase things abroad that I cannot get here in the states. Otherwise, what's the purpose of lugging it all the way back and also having to pay the extra amount while the US dollar is so weak?

Our last day in Paris was spent walking about from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe and then down the Champ Elysees back towards our hotel. There were many shops along the way but none enticed me enough to stop. That is until we were just about back when we came upon La Boutique Maille. We all love mustards in our family; and of course, the French make some of the best. As we entered this boutique, I noticed there were taps (similar to beer taps at bars) behind the counter and there were several people standing in line to get fresh mustard poured into jars for them. Now, you don't get any fresher than that!. The three they had "on tap" this particular day were Chablis, Chardonnay and vin Blanc. We taste tested them all and ooooh, how good. They all have quite the bite! Of course I had to have one of each in a medium crock. I just love the clay crocks. I remember being able to buy their mustard in crocks when Sutton Place Gourmet was in business in DC. Oh well. Now I have the real stuff I watched being poured for me personally. They also had these little hand painted mustard pots which I had to have also. There are only two boutiques in the world, this one in Paris and one in Dijon, of course. How fun.


Our last day in Brittany, we drove to Normandie and toured Le Mont Saint Michel--a beautiful monastery built on an island of granite. Breathtaking, to say the least which I will tell you more about when I get all my pictures sorted. Anyhoo, they had a little gift shop and I found these sweet little foie gras pots from the famed local restaurant there, La Mere Poulard.

Sweet.

These pretty scented "rocks" are by Estabon. (The customs man didn't quite know what to think about "scented rocks" on my declaration form. I had to explain that little item! But I was afraid to put "pot pourri" as that is normally more natural items that I thought would cause a red flag and cause my luggage to be searched. Ugh.)


Now that I look at my choice of bowls, I may have to switch these two. Regardless, they both smell divine.

The hub in en route to Paris as we speak. The kid is sleeping in Rennes as we speak. And me? I'm about ready to sleep in Nashville.

Hopefully, tomorrow I can get my act together and transfer my photos. I have so many to sort through I feel a bit overwhelmed. I know that's just the jet lag. I am feeling better in that department though. Always much easier heading West than East.