With the euro now fluctuating between 1.6 to 1.7 CAD, traveling France is extremely pricey. For the most part, everything costs double what it would in Canada. To put it in perspective, the average pint will run you between five and nine euros, which after converting to Canadian dollars is somewhere between eight and 15 bucks. Let me tell you, the average happy hour is pretty painful on the bank account. In order to ensure preservation of an adequate slush fund and a little loose change for train tickets, cutting costs wherever possible is a must. The single best way to conserve dough for said expenses is to cook your own meals. Resist the wafting aroma of the kebab stands and the allure of the frequently changing café menus. Rather, opt for the alimentations, local bakeries, butchers and supermarchés. Plan out your meals for the week, and purchase all required supplies. Then head back to la maison and get your cook on. Here’s a detailed look at a couple essentials that will ensure you never miss afternoon bevies with the boys.

The Baguette

The Baguette is pretty much the corner stone of the French diet and is conveniently available everywhere from the local boulangérie to the petrol stations. Made fresh daily, they’re perfect for sandwiches with cheese and incorporate well into just about any meal. I eat them daily dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar topped with fresh tomatoes and a sprinkling of grated cheese. Be cautious though, they have approximately an 11-hour time span after which they self-destruct. The delicious, crunchy crusts and soft insides transform overnight into an inedible chewy or hard-as-a-rock loaf (though these expired baguettes do make great door stops and perfect projectiles for throwing out the window of your flat at the drunks below who refuse to shut the fuck up in the wee hours of the morning). At 20 – 80 euro cents a pop they’ll keep you full on the cheap.

Produce

Unlike Canadian tomatoes, French tomatoes are a real treat. They’re decent sized, sweet and succulent, a rich red color and sold predominantly on the vine. Thanks to the French government’s decision to prohibit the production and distribution of genetically modified foods, the country’s produce tastes natural and lacks the odd aftertastes we’ve become accustomed to in North America. The lettuce, peppers, onions and other veggies are all delicious and make for the perfect salad. Don’t fancy salad? Simply chop up the veggies of your choice and add them to your pasta sauce, salad, eggs, or eat them on their own. My favorite: slices of tomato dressed with a little bit of olive oil, vinegar, garlic and basil paired with some fresh slices of bocconcini cheese.

Wine

Similar to baguettes, wine is available everywhere in France and is much cheaper than beer or liquor (we’re talking 80 euro cents and up per bottle). As a result, alcoholism is a big problem here and it’s not uncommon for the locals to crack the day’s first bottle as early as 9:00 AM. By mid afternoon winos roam the streets in large numbers and it’s not uncommon to see people sitting in stairwells or on park benches soaked in their own piss or covered in rose-colored vomit. On the sunnier side of things, the wine in France is delicious. French imports that would run you $50 - 100 plus in Canada are available here for €1-5, and enjoying an afternoon glass at a café is usually less than €2.