Emily In France Exclusive 🇫🇷 5 Last-Minute Foodie Christmas Gifts You Can Snag in Paris

From the desk of an expat.

I’ve been living in France for over 16 years, typically returning to the U.S. at least every six months, and yet somehow, I still always end up in the exact same last-minute panic just before heading home: Who did I forget to buy for? Luckily, most of the people in my life are as food-motivated as I am, which means that a solution to this last-minute scramble is never far away.

Monoprix, friends. Monoprix.

France is home to a bounty of supermarket chains, from Carrefour, the country’s original hypermarket, to Picard, which only sells frozen goods and has a very questionable understanding of what American food is. Monoprix, meanwhile, is essentially the French equivalent of Target, albeit with two cheese aisles and a host of gift-worthy items perfect for the foodie in your life. (Even if you haven't left your shopping til the last minute.)

I could easily pick twenty items at Monoprix worth bringing home, from the apéro snacks from Michel et Augustin to the chocolate-covered orangettes. But if I had to pick just five, these are the ones I would choose.

1. Le Saunier de Camargue Fleur de Sel

When it comes to foodie gifts, I’m not a huge fan of gadgets. Cooks can be particular about their tools, from brand to color, not to mention how much counter space they're willing to sacrifice. Unless you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that someone is in dire need of a microplane or a zester, in my humble opinion, it's best to err on the side of the consumable. (Unless you're getting someone a le Creuset. You can always get someone a le Creuset.)

Fleur de sel is is flaky sea salt that comes from the very surface of seawater as it evaporates. The perfect finishing salt, it’s the simple sort of luxury I think makes the perfect gift: It doesn’t take up a ton of space, nor does it require immediate consumption or refrigeration. And in France, it’s pretty easy to come by. This one from Le Saunier de Camargue is one of my favorites, not just because of its perfectly flaky texture with just a touch of moisture, but also because I love the container with its pretty cork top.

2. Cheese

Come on, guys… you knew this was coming.

Monoprix is admittedly not my favorite place to buy cheese, but I definitely don't turn my nose up at their selections. While a lot of the offerings are fairly industrial, there are a few good buys here.