If the twinkling lights all over Paris didn’t give it away, we’re happy to declare that it’s officially holiday season. We’ve got holiday shopping on our minds and, lucky us, several fabulous bloggers who are as enamored with France as we are have graciously agreed to share their favorite French-inspired holiday gifts with us here. We’ll publish several irresistible gift posts over the next few weeks, with the goal of helping you bring a little of la vie française to every person on your gift list.
David Lebovitz, food writer, blogger and author of The Sweet Life in Paris, is kicking off our series (thanks, David!) and we hope you’ll stay tuned to the Hip Paris Holiday Gift Guide. We love helping you spend your hard-earned argent… in the right places, bien sûr. -Maggie
Most are familiar with Maille, whose cute little shop in the Place de la Madeleine dispenses mustard from a line-up of spigots into little earthenware pots. Maille is also available in just about every supermarket in town, and for those who don’t care about crockery, you can begin a wine glass collection with every pot you purchase.
But Amora is the brand that locals seem to prefer. Shortly after I arrived in Paris and was stocking my petite cuisine, I got on the bus carrying my bulging bag of groceries, filled with basics. I had picked up a hefty jar of Amora mustard, mostly because the glass had graduated lines on it, noting its future use as not a wine glass, but a more practical measuring cup. (Although sometimes in Paris, I find myself using one more than the other.) The woman next to me on the bus looked into my sack, smiled, and said, “Monsieur, c’est très, très fort, mais très bon.” – “It’s very, very strong, but very good.” And I knew I had made the right choice.
Yet most of the “Dijon” mustard sold in France – and the rest of the world – isn’t necessarily made in Dijon anymore, but produced elsewhere. Edmond Fallot Mustard is made by a company which was founded in 1840 in Burgundy, where the soil conditions are favorable for mustard seed cultivation. Nowadays, most other companies get their seeds from elsewhere in France, or from as far away as Canada.
In Paris, upscale supermarkets carry it as well as épiceries around town, and it doesn’t cost more than a few euros a jar. Specialty stores in America carry it and you can find it online. In Paris, I buy it at my very favorite food shop, G. Detou, that carries just about every flavor they make.
I have a friend, my first editor who lives in New York City, and nothing makes her happier than when I bring her a plain yellow plastic bottle of Amora. (Hey, she was my first editor – I told you she had good taste). For those traveling between here and there, the French have made it easy for you to take a squirt of their mustard home, to give to friends as holiday gifts, although I keep a tube, jar, or measuring cup – or even a stem of it – on hand for myself, too.
Related links:
- Lovely ways to use mustard glasses by David Lebovitz (Wine, anyone?)
- Fashion insider Melissa Skoog Dunagan of On My Plate shares her favorite Parisian food discoveries
- Dark Chocolate Lava Cake with Molten Maille Dijon Mustard and Honey Center recipe by Fig & Cherry in Sydney, Maille celebrated 30 years of retailing there last week
- Roast Pork and Carrots with Mustard Sauce from Girls’ Guide to Paris
Written by David Lebovitz for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.
I couldn’t agree more with David’s love of Amora mustard. I never leave France without a few bottles. I used to be able to buy it at Zabar’s in NY, but they no longer carry it. Unfortunately, it was never as pungent as the bottles I bought in France because they are older. The fresher the mustard is, the better.
M: I don’t think G. Detou carries Maille mustard but they do carry almost all the Edmond Fallot mustard varieties (shown), at reasonable prices.
But yes, the Maille glasses do come in handy : )
I would love to get to this little boutique one day. I was very honoured to receive a ceramic pot of the mustard made with chablis wine recently. Thanks very much for the link to my article David!
But you find maille mustard everywhere in france! Why buy it at G.Detou for more than it costs in a supermarket?!
But i do agree that its very good. And the glasses are simple and handy.
Thanks for the shout out! I’m a huge fan of David’s so I’m honored to be apart of the mix. I can’t wait to check out G. Detou next time I’m in Paris!
Perfect! The man who just left my store bought two jars of Failot for his wife. They recently returned from a trip and miss France already..