Visit France for....

Yeah, yeah, bread, wine, cheese, chocolate, pastries, delectable items at cheaper-than-Safeway prices. Of course you should go to France for all that. Here's what we REALLY need though:

What are these crazy little boxes, you ask? They are very yummy cracker-ish snacks that go perfectly with a champagne apértif. (And you know you spend time sitting around wondering what to serve with all the champagne you consume...) We tried these at my friend's parents' house and they went immediately on the list of Things I Like About France. What's not to love?

1) They come in small boxes. No opening a huge box of crackers that becomes stale overnight. They are just big enough for a small dinner party to enjoy with a pre-dinner drink. 

2) They have cool flavors. We had crackers stuffed with tomatoes, goat cheese and herbs when we were in France, and then were sent home with 4 (yes FOUR) boxes of different flavors. The two you see above are Roquefort (blue cheese but better) and Tarama (roe-- which I like much better in a cracker than on an ivory spoon). 

3) They are CHEAP. While these foodie crackers taste like the equivalent of $7.00 crackers available at Andronico's, they are available at Monoprix, a ubiquitous supermarket found all over France for around $2.00. Cheaper than Wheat Thins! (Not to malign this staple of preschool snacks, but I wouldn't serve Wheat Thins with champagne...)

So if you happen to be a buyer at any store I visit frequently, put this on the list of "Things We Should Import." And then make sure the price stays low...