Sunday, November 09, 2025

MIF - Le Salon du Made In France 2025

 

Every year, early November the Made In France 🇫🇷 expo 

Gets bigger and more days.

This time I went opening day on Thursday, 
Thinking I would miss the crowds. WRONG!
I tend to gravitate toward Gastronomie first. 
I tried to sample every apricot jam 🙄
In the joint.
But too many. So much jam. 
So little time 🕰️ 
MIF & Salon du Chocolat starts the Christmas 🎄 rush of shopping 🎁 in Paris. People were loaded with bags.The French plan ahead.
My big ambition: get some delicious HUGO Cornichons made in Montrichard.
I forgot. They always hang a giant pickle jar from the ceiling.
You can’t miss it.
Did I say…
Tasting samples are generous? 
No magnifying glass 🔍 required like some shows…
A discerning customer seeks info from a beer 🍺 producteur.
I was intent on finding super warm socks 🧦
I returned yesterday and found 
80% Mérinos d’Arles 🐑 socks (19€) from Laines du Valgaudemar in Saint-Firmin, Hautes-Alpes. I wanted the gloves too. But he said I would have to knit 🧶 them myself! 
Pitooey on that idea 🙀
These stunning silk tassels (originated in France 🇫🇷)
Were next to best-in-show 🐓 bottles of lemonade.
The best-in-show 🥇 dog at MIF in my opinion. 
Friendly too. He didn’t even look around when I petted him. A celebrity dog 🐶 
Who couldn’t use a map of France 🇫🇷 pillow for planning trips etc. Such a good idea 👍 (44€) 
It’s a good to be reminded there are other places besides PARIS!
This lampshade is useful too, 
Though they were selling preserved fruits from Provence.
Vibrant fabrics & trays from Provence.
All the cold weather clothing for sale 
Is well-made and good value. 
These are Al most all small producteurs 
Who take great pride in their craft. 
In my opinion, if you give a French person some nondescript weeds, they will find a way to make an excellent cake, candies, perfume and eau-de-vie out of it. Their ingenuity is impressive.
Today is the last day of MADE IN FRANCE 🇫🇷 at Portes de Versailles, building 3. You have until 18:00/6:00 pm
Go have fun 🥳



32 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:08 AM

    great content as always..

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  2. Anonymous9:28 AM

    I know a certain Greedy Peasant who would love those tassels!

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  3. Anonymous10:00 AM

    This was wonderful. How I would love that pillow for my new apartment!

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    1. Anonymous10:01 AM

      I wish I’d gotten the name 🙄

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    2. Do a Google search. Could find French map pillows to buy.

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    3. Anonymous5:18 AM

      Bonne idée Marilyn…but no map pillows are hexagon-shaped like this one.
      It’s almost a dodo. You could take this on a trip with you!

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    4. Anonymous5:20 AM

      ‘France is shaped like a hexagon, which is a six-sided figure. At its widest points, it is approximately 600 miles wide and 600 miles long. It is about the same size as the state of Texas.‘

      Delete
  4. Dee Ann11:06 AM

    What a neat exhibition. I would go for the apricot jam also. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Anonymous11:34 AM

      Provencal apricots brugnon are very good 👍

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  5. Anonymous11:11 AM

    It must have been exhausting… and exhilarating! Would have loved to go but better you than me. Love J

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    1. Anonymous11:30 AM

      1st visit - yes a bit overwhelming.
      2nd visit - much better. I knew the lay of the land. I went back & got things I spotted 1st round like almonds nature from Aix.

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    2. Anonymous11:34 AM

      There are places to sit down and recoup

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  6. Anonymous11:16 AM

    Which vendor won your apricot jam contest?

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    1. Anonymous11:32 AM

      No idea ☺️ too many other foodie distractions.
      Angelina sells a very good, thick apricot jam believe it or not

      Delete
  7. Bonnie L12:12 PM

    Fabulous post, Carol. I love seeing your pics of MIF. If I hadn’t overindulged at the Chocolat Salon, I would have been there. 🙄 Shoulda gone no matter what!
    I’m so glad you got warm socks…may be an early winter, it snowed in VT today. 🥶

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    1. Anonymous1:23 PM

      Paris is NOT VT merci Deux 🙏

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  8. Anonymous12:26 PM

    This was wonderful! I had never heard of using green walnuts and leaves before until I tasted a home brew of this in a tiny village in France years ago. We went foraging for chestnuts and had local jam. You are so right about using everything to make wearable or make edible..somehow repurpose or create. I miss that so much. Thank you for the pictures.

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  9. Anonymous1:10 PM

    Merci Carol
    for another fabulous post !!love all the photos !
    I was hoping you would find your warm wool 🐏 socks for winter
    as they really are the best 👍😁 and you did get some too bad about wool mittens
    The thick fluffy sheep slippers look really good too!
    I also LOVED the map pillow of France, the lampshade, and the what looks like apricot pyramid in that booth with it I would love to have tried a piece of that pyramid !!

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  10. Anonymous1:38 PM

    I would love to go. Maybe in the next exhibition.

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  11. Sukicart1:41 PM

    Thanksfortaking us to another greatsalon. I would have been right behind you tasting the apricot jam - my favorite. I use Bonne Maman because it’s easy to get here although probably not the very best.

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    1. Anonymous2:11 AM

      Better to buy from your local farmers market 👍

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  12. Anonymous2:06 PM

    Dear Carol, I so fondly remember going to this when you told us about it in 2022! I bought cassis ketchup that is so good! Thanks for the return trip! Cindy

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:11 AM

      Sounds yummy Cindy

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    2. Anonymous2:14 AM

      https://www.fruirouge.fr/nos-produits/condiments/ketchup-au-cassis/

      Delete
  13. Anonymous5:50 PM

    this is heaven to me. I would get. Lost in there. I love the small reducers of clothing too. But they take more pride in what they produce in France. Lynne

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  14. Anonymous9:33 PM

    All that beautiful yarn!!!🧶 😍Thanks for sharing! 😘from🇨🇦

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  15. Anonymous11:16 AM

    Was apple butter on your foodie radar at the expo? Curious if you noticed any! 😂. I’ve been looking around AZ, scouring farmers markets for same! 🍏

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    1. Anonymous12:28 PM

      Impossible to find in France 🇫🇷 🙁 and So easy in the US 🤷🏻‍♀️ I am always looking 👁️

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  16. Hahaha, I love your sense of humor!! Thanks for the good cheer and bringing lots of smiles my way with your witty commentary. The beer producteur counter 😂, it’s all good

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  17. A beautifully written post! The way you describe the Louvre’s masterpieces and the mystery of Ancient Egypt truly captures the spirit of Paris. For visitors who wish to explore more attractions beyond the city, a reliable Paris to Disneyland Taxi Transferoffers a seamless travel experience after a day of art and history.

    ReplyDelete

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