France
Celeriac remoulade
This classic French salad is available in every supermarket, consisting quite simply of shredded celery root in a tangy creamy dressing. It is a great addition to any picnic lunch.
Fleur de sel de Camargue
The salt from the Camargue area in Provence is considered amongst the best in France as the crystals are still harvested by hand.
Grand Fermage Beurre aux Cristaux de Sel de Mer de Noirmoutier
This creamy butter is a favourite amongst French shoppers for its rich flavour and natural sea salt crystals.
La Laitière yoghurts
People love these delicious thick set yoghurts, they come in a variety of flavours with vanilla being by far the most popular.
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Mousse de Canard
While foie gras may be the more famous French delicacy internationally, mousse de canard is more commonly found in French fridges. This extremely smooth duck liver pate is delicious served with brioche, salt and cornichons. Best bought from the butcher’s counter in the supermarket.
Italy
Bottarga
Often referred to as the Mediterranean’s caviar, this salted, cured fish roe pouch is a beloved delicacy. It can be grated over pasta or salad, or served in thin slices with olive oil and lemon juice. Available in jars at the supermarket, the best quality bottarga is from Sardinia.
Erika ice cream
In the home of gelato you might find yourself overwhelmed by choice, but Erika’s ice creams will always be a safe choice. Made by a family company with primarily local ingredients, it is a real treat.
Felicetti dried pasta or spaghetti
While Italian pasta brands such as Rummo and Barilla are available in Ireland, Felicetti is only available in Italy and beloved for its artisanal quality.
Le Tre Marie biscuits
Hard biscuits and coffee is a classic Italian breakfast. Le Tre Marie Biscuit is one of the oldest and best-known brands in Italy with many Italian recipes often instructing people to use only this variety.
Prosciutto crudo dolce
Dolce means sweet in Italian, and this variety of prosciutto is not as salty as other varieties. While different brands sell this prosciutto pre-sliced and packaged, you’ll find the best prosciutto at the supermarket butcher’s counter where they slice it paper thin in front of you.
Spain
Albo Calamares en su tinta
Due to the abundance of superb seafood available, Spaniards have high standards for tinned fish and you will find that most of it is delicatessen quality. Albo’s calamari is cooked in its own ink and usually served with white rice or crusty bread to soak up the rich sauce.
Fuet
Similar to salami, fuet is a thin, dry-cured pork sausage. Flavoured with black pepper and garlic it is usually enjoyed thinly sliced with bread and other tapas. Available from the deli counter at any supermarket.
Melindros
These light and fluffy elongated sponge cakes are sometimes referred to as lady fingers. They can be dipped in hot chocolate or used in desserts like tiramisu, or make a great snack on their own. You can find them baked fresh in the bakery counter of any supermarket.
Mercadona gazpacho
Gazpacho is a delicious cold tomato soup eaten in the hotter summer months. This supermarket own-brand version has legions of fans due to the quality of tomatoes used and the clean ingredients list.
Nocilla original hazelnut chocolate cream spread
Some call this spread Spain’s Nutella, its a hazelnut and cocoa spread that is less nutty than its Italian counterpart. It is a staple of any traditional Spanish breakfast.
Portugal
Alheira
A traditional sausage with a story, made out of bread and poultry instead of pork, it was created by Portuguese Jews during the inquisition to avoid suspicion. These smoked sausages have a unique flavour and are available in supermarkets across the country.
Bolo do caco
This Madeiran flatbread, known for its slightly sweet flavour, is usually served warm with garlic butter. You can find it baked fresh at the bakery counter.
Bacalhau
Bacalhau is cod that has been dried and salted. It appears in countless traditional dishes, best bought from the fish counter in a supermarket.
Compal fruit juice
A staple in Portuguese households, this juice brand is much lauded for its incredible variety of flavours and fresh taste as all the fruits used are grown in Portugal.
Continente salame de chocolate
This traditional Portuguese sweet mimics the look of a salami though it is made primarily of chocolate and biscuits. The best salame de chocolates are made by supermarkets, with Continente’s version being particularly well regarded.
