Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland and Germany: where food shopping is an art form.
When it comes to buying treats on holiday, Belgians love their Meli honey waffles and cake, which they can stock up on in local supermarkets like Ghent's Tierenteyn-Verlent mustard shop. The shop's 19th-century interior is "like an old-fashioned apothecary" filled with the soothing aromas of spices and herbs used to make fresh mustards daily.
In contrast, the French are more interested in artfully arranged shelves. A shopper raves about Lidl, saying its middle aisle has nothing on French supermarket booty. They love buying six big saucissons because each comes with a free Laguiole-style steak knife. The Bonne Maman jam section is also a favorite, with flavors like mirabelle intense and quince.
Italy has another approach: sugared jellies and lemony beer are the treats that fly under the radar for many shoppers. They fall in love with Italian sweets as children but end up stocking up on huge bags of Dufour's Big Frut range fruit jellies, each individually wrapped. Then there's Baci chocolates - those "little kisses" encased in dark chocolate with a whole hazelnut popped on top.
In Ireland, the scene is more about artisanal producers and supermarket hidden gems. Shopper Kilian Fox would skip the Taytos and head for Blanco Niño tortilla chips made in Tipperary instead. The chips are spicily delicious and should be tried by anyone who likes a good Mexican snack.
Germany has its own take on food shopping - bakeries, deli counters, and confectionery aisles filled with treats like Ritter Sport chocolate and Katjes liquorice. Anna Ehlebracht misses the deposit system for recycling plastic bottles and cans in German supermarkets when abroad.
When it comes to buying treats on holiday, Belgians love their Meli honey waffles and cake, which they can stock up on in local supermarkets like Ghent's Tierenteyn-Verlent mustard shop. The shop's 19th-century interior is "like an old-fashioned apothecary" filled with the soothing aromas of spices and herbs used to make fresh mustards daily.
In contrast, the French are more interested in artfully arranged shelves. A shopper raves about Lidl, saying its middle aisle has nothing on French supermarket booty. They love buying six big saucissons because each comes with a free Laguiole-style steak knife. The Bonne Maman jam section is also a favorite, with flavors like mirabelle intense and quince.
Italy has another approach: sugared jellies and lemony beer are the treats that fly under the radar for many shoppers. They fall in love with Italian sweets as children but end up stocking up on huge bags of Dufour's Big Frut range fruit jellies, each individually wrapped. Then there's Baci chocolates - those "little kisses" encased in dark chocolate with a whole hazelnut popped on top.
In Ireland, the scene is more about artisanal producers and supermarket hidden gems. Shopper Kilian Fox would skip the Taytos and head for Blanco Niño tortilla chips made in Tipperary instead. The chips are spicily delicious and should be tried by anyone who likes a good Mexican snack.
Germany has its own take on food shopping - bakeries, deli counters, and confectionery aisles filled with treats like Ritter Sport chocolate and Katjes liquorice. Anna Ehlebracht misses the deposit system for recycling plastic bottles and cans in German supermarkets when abroad.
Belgium's Meli honey waffles are defo on my bucket list, I mean who wouldn't want to try a sweet treat that's been perfected over the centuries? And those French supermarkets though... their artful arrangements have got me swooning 
. Like what's not to love about buying saucissons and getting a free knife with it? 
I do wish they'd bring some of that French magic back to the UK supermarkets, but for now I'll just stick to Tesco 
oh man i went to ireland last year and tried those Blanco Niño tortilla chips Kilian Fox is right they are so spicy but delicious 
️ i also fell in love with the dutch supermarket chain jumbo their chocolate selection is insane and affordable 
gotta try that Ritter Sport chocolate too 
I'm dying over here! Who knew shopping for food could be so much fun?! I mean, what's next? Foodie travel guides to Disneyland?! 
I love how each country has its own unique twist on grocery shopping - the French with their fancy knives and jams, the Italians with their sugared jellies... it's like a big ol' food fest! 
. I'm kinda jealous of Anna Ehlebracht's experience with those deposit systems, btw - who doesn't love saving money while shopping?! 
just read about these countries and their love for food shopping 
it's all about the experience 
not just buying stuff 
Belgians have that adorable waffle shop, French have artfully arranged shelves 
and Italians have sugared jellies 
so many delicious treats to discover 
and Irish are all about artisanal producers 
super interesting read 
but honestly, shopping for food is all about what u want not some fancy display. and france being all artsy about it just makes me think its a marketing gimmick 