What I Bought in Paris

Butter (Obviously), cheese, pharmacy finds, and more

My strategy for packing for Paris is to arrive with my Away carry-on and bring a Longchamp foldable tote, just in case I decide to make a purchase, which is usually always yes. Sometimes it is more than others. My trips to Paris have been frequent lately, which means less bulk buying and more small purchases.

Once you've had a taste of French butter with salt, it's hard not to want to keep some in your fridge at all times. I now have a backstock of butter in the freezer. I recently had a conversation with one of my French colleagues, and she had no idea about the craze America has for French butter.

How to Bring Home French Butter (and which ones to buy)

Bordier butter is fantastic, yes! But it doesn’t last as long because it is so fresh, so you have to plan to gobble it in a short amount of time. If you have a family in your household that will devour French butter, go for it. I remember the first time I took my mom, sister, and kids to Paris; I introduced them to French butter, and we went through a good amount of it in a short amount of time. Now, they get it!

Butter is much easier to transport in the colder months. Think, September to May, depending on your home climate. You can get your butter vacuum-sealed at most cheese shops and Le Grand Épiciere.

I purchased two different types of butter on my last trip. A ziplock bag is always helpful to have in your bag if you want to bring back liquids. I typically store my butter in here if I buy it at a grocery store. Look for demi-sel if you want the butter with the salt crystals. I highly recommend it!

At Barthélemy, a cheese shop located on the Left Bank near my hotel, Le Grand Hôtel Cayré, I was able to have my cheese and butter vacuum-sealed for free. Some places charge a euro. They were super sweet and helpful with picking out cheeses. I always love stopping here.

Once you are up in the air on the plane, the outside temperature should keep your butter at a good chilled temperature. I will store my butter in the hotel/apartment fridge and write myself a friendly reminder not to forget the butter on top of my suitcase.

You want to keep in mind that the warmer months may cause your luggage to be on the tarmac for a bit as they transport bags inside. Butter is considered a liquid through TSA, so you need to keep it in your checked bag to pass through security.

Polaîne

Give it to my friend Jennifer, who owns Paris Pilates Society, she recommended I pick up a miche at Polaîne to freeze for home. A miche is already sliced and ready to go and was available at Bartélemy, making it an easy add-on. I also picked up their famous Punitions that Henri loved!

Pop the miche in the freezer when you land. You can pull out a slice to toast with a bit of French butter with salt to extend your Paris trip a little longer.

Coffee Beans from Paris

I love bringing home coffee beans. It is a running joke that I have an EDP Café at home with my Breville. I prefer, most days, to make coffee at home and enjoy experimenting with different beans. Bringing home coffee beans after a trip and supporting a local coffee shop is a great way to bring back a souvenir.

My friend Magda from Katie Donnelly Photography bought me beans on this trip when we met for coffee. It was such a sweet surprise! We had coffee at Café d’Auteur. They take their coffee very seriously with an extensive bean menu. I highly recommend them if you are looking for a unique experience. Expect to wait a bit while they prepare your coffee, even for takeaway.

For more ideas, you can view my favorite Paris souvenirs in this post.

Marin Montagut

Marin Montagut on Rue Madame has some of the cutest souvenirs. Their glassware is incredible, but it does require bubble wrap and attention. I picked up a beautiful journal for my editor as a gift. It was a small gesture to express gratitude for her magic touch and polish on Paris Every Day. Working with Marie Baxley at Hoffman Media was a joy, and I hope we have the pleasure of doing another book together. I also think the journal is a fun way for her to write her own Parisian chapter.

French Cookware

I enjoy cooking and baking at home. On my last day in Paris, I was walking with my friend Katie, and we stumbled upon A Simon at 48 Rue Montorgueil, filled with baking supplies. We ran around laughing and collecting things in our arms for our kitchens. I picked up a mini Madeleine pan, a glass cheese container that Katie swore I needed, a salt and pepper shaker that was on my wedding registry but I hadn’t received, plus a few more items.

No, this was not E. Dehillerin, a kitchen supply store, but an impromptu visit for which I have no regrets. Next time, I know we will have to spend an afternoon at E. Dehillerin and bring Jane Bertch along.

Chocolate in Paris

I have a sweet tooth and love a good dark chocolate bar. Earlier this year, I bought these incredible nut chocolate clusters at Debauve & Gallais, and I haven’t stopped thinking of them.

The chocolate bars are beautifully packaged and make a great gift, too.

If you ever want to bring a gift home from Paris for me, it would be a dark chocolate bar.

Alain Ducasse is also a favorite, don’t worry, I stopped there too! The Saint-Germain-des-Prés location is convenient to my hotel.

There is a small chocolate stash in a high-up cabinet in our kitchen. Shh!

French Pharmacie Finds

I picked up a few supplements at the French pharmacie, including Magnesium with B6. This is something I used to take a few years ago and wanted to incorporate back into my daily routine before going to bed.

I also picked up a new pair of tweezers and a glass nail file, made in France. These are just essentials to keep in my Cadence bag for travel.

During my visit to Paris, I booked a facial at Biologique Recherche. They offer amazing facials, and their products are significantly cheaper in France than they are in the United States. Bergdorf Goodman does sell their products, allowing you to try them out or restock in between trips.

A Travel Accessory

I have loved traveling with a sleep mask to block out the light on planes and in hotel rooms. It helps me sleep so much better, and I have trained myself over the years to wear one for better sleep. While I do love the Silk Sleep Mask and the Quince one for a fraction of the price, I saw this one, and it made me laugh.

The travel store was similar to AWAY but in France. The sleep mask costs 18 euros, and the different phrases can be swapped out in a snap. What makes me laugh is that this was in English vs French. Our obsession with adding French words to things in the US goes both ways. The mask isn’t available on the site in the US, but I did find it in France.

*This post includes affiliate links. I make a small commission off items purchased from my links, Merci!