Did anyone buy any in France? If so, what did you buy? (Le Creuset or other enamel covered cast iron? Copper cookware?) Where did you buy it? And how did you get it home? I love Le Creuset, but wondering if it is worth it with the VAT. I don't have any copper cookware, yet, but heard this is worth buying. We will mostly be renting an intermediate car (smallish trunk) and driving once we leave Paris, but we will be relying on the train (and lugging bags) a couple of times after that (like once we transition to Germany and the whole day before we fly out of Frankfurt). I am trying to balance packing light with four females traveling to France at Christmastime (=some shopping.)
Posted by
Huntington, WV
160 posts
Cate,
Try E. DeHillerin in Paris. It's located at 18 rue Coquillere just a couple of blocks west of Les Halles. My wife usually buys one copper pan each trip, times thirty some trips...well, you do the math. It is a fantastic place for quality kitchen ware. Enjoy!
Posted by
Fox Island, USA
88 posts
Yes, definitely go to E.Dehillerin. It's been around for ages and it's where Julia Child shopped for kitchen items when she lived in Paris.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
313 posts
I'm not an expert on the copper cookware being a good deal to buy in France, but that's what I'd be inclined to get.
Not only is the Le Creuset extremely heavy, but I've been told it is not manufactured in France any longer (bought by a foreign company) and so there's no real value in buying it there. That's heresay, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd still go with it being a whole lot to lug around! :>)
Posted by
OP
Tacoma, WA, USA
671 posts
Hmmm, if that applies to Le Creuset at the Exchange stateside, I'll just have my mom get some for me for Christmas or birthday from here (if they have it). Copper cookware is looking like the thing to buy!
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Le Creuset in avail in CAlif so it must be in Wash also. Why not the incredible beautiful Jacquard kitchen tea towels. they weigh little, not bulky and they are extraordinary. they can be pricey up to 13-15 euros ea. but special imo.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10216 posts
In addition to copper lined with nickel, the steel pans are good to get and difficult to find in the States. You can get the VAT reimbursed over a certain amount spent, but you have to fill out official papers and show the object to a customs officer in order to get the VAT reimbursed--all after check in at the airport--which means the objects need to be in your carry on.
Posted by
Springfield, VA, USA
283 posts
Dehillerans is a fantastic place. Don't miss it. I have bought knives, pastry equipment, silpats, creme brulee pots, etc. there. It is a fantastic experience.
Le Creuset is just too heavy, and not a bargain.
Here is a link to David Lebovitz's blog about the sweet life in Paris. His current main blog is on cookware sites in Paris and has some really good information:
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/
Also, at Dehilleran's I buy the plasic pastry scrapers he mentions, They make a good inexpensive gift that is easy to carry home.
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
Well, E.Dehillerin's looks wonderful, and I'll look for it next time. http://www.e-dehillerin.fr/en/index.php
Before you go, look at your local kitchen shops, like Williams Sonoma. And look in the yellow pages for restaurant supply shops. They often have items you won't find at retail stores. You don't want to lug home something you could find easily in Tacoma.
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
I have seen LeCreuset in TJ Maxx and Williams Sonoma Outlet Stores here--for way less $$$$.
Posted by
York, PA
300 posts
Not far from Dehillerin was another store named a.simon. We went with a friend to both - I forget just what she was looking for but she managed to find several options at a.simon.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5542 posts
I visited Dehillerin, La Bovida, Mora, and A Simon on my last trip (they are all within a couple blocks of each other). Unfortunately, I found that the prices were not particularly competitive with U.S. prices. In many of these shops, the price is listed without VAT; keep in mind that when you pay, the price will be about 20% more than what is on the sticker. The only thing I bought was a silicon madeleine pan as I thought this might be something difficult to find in the States. I did enjoy looking at what was available in the shops even though I did not buy much.
If you are interested in Le Creuset, I'd suggest you price this at home first and bring the prices with you so that you can compare.
Posted by
NYC
30 posts
I suppose you can purchase a "French" copper pan back home in the states at, let's say, Marshall's or even Big & Small Lots, but that's not the point. You want something that you'll always cherish from "over there." When you see it hanging off a rack, on your wall or on the burner, it will bring back those memories. Besides, how many copper pans sold in the states are stamped with that famous "E. DeHillerin, Paris" next to the stem of the hand-forged cast iron handle?
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
Or a duck press. I have no need to press a duck, but that looked cool.
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
719 posts
Good point, Karen! I'm still smiling...
Posted by
XXX
1170 posts
I have many pieces of Le Creuset cookware and they're all made in France, but bought in the US for a lot less!
I would never dream of buying anything like that overseas because of the weight for one, and honestly, if you look around and wait for sales, we can really get European goods on this side of the pond for much less.