Gourmet Shopping Like the Celebs

Our recent three-city escapade started out in the most expensive city on the list- London. At about 2.4 to 1, our Canadian dollar was hurting on this excursion- but no matter, “laiche vitrine” (literally, window licking or window shopping as the French call it) is gratis, so I laiched away until we hit the lavish offerings of Harrods Food Halls.

Despite losing its Royal Warrants, Harrods is still a stately place housing just about everything you could possibly want, or didn’t know you wanted. London’s most popular shopping mecca was started by a certain Charles Henry Harrods- a merchant who opened a family grocery in 1849. Today, the shop is owned by Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed and houses 300 departments selling everything from fine food to fur coats and real estate! Would madam like a manor with her smoked salmon perhaps? Quite!

Celebrity Sighting

We passed the high-end cosmetics and perfume counters and made a B-line for the hallowed food halls. Amidst abundant showcases of gorgeously prepared and fresh foods, I spotted with my little eye a woman clad in black. A black skull and cross bone bandana worn over long raven tresses, black sunglasses, a black leather jacket and yep, black velour track pants proclaiming “Juicy Couture” across her backside. I took one look at the chiselled face and knew I had seen that face before. It wasn’t until we were waiting to be served at the deli counter (my husband spotted game Biltong- a dried, jerky type of meat from South Africa) that I realized I was standing next to Cher! So much for being incognito- everyone and their butler knew it was her- no one said boo about it though- at least not while in her presence. That would be gauche. Once Cher’s 500 grams of green peppercorn German salami had been thinly sliced, packed and handed off to her, she made her way to the check out counter and into the next food hall, never to be seen by this humble food writer again!

Post-Cher, we admired the aromas of freshly ground coffee coming from the coffee counter. At just under £3, we purchased some Rare Estate-Grown Monsooned Malabar Coffee Beans for family and for ourselves. I know this is going to be one smooth brew. Exotic fruit, every kind of preserve under the sun, oils, vinegars, specialty spices, salts, viennoiserie, chocolate, liquor and cured meat was available for refined palates of every stripe. The place I might also add, was packed and due to close in less than an hour!

We picked up some mini bottles of aged Scotch with a corresponding flask for friends and drooled over the Ladurée Tea Room (which we patiently waited to try until we reached Paris) - a picture-perfect room with pastel hued macaroons promising sweet surprises.

Here’s some news you can use:

IF you’re in London or planning to head over there and want to create a customized food basket or “Hamper” as the Brits call them, the food halls also offer on-site staff to help you do just that - starting from £15, and going up to whatever your generosity will accommodate (how does £5000 grab you?).

We were quite happy to pick up some savoury rosemary cheese biscuits, our coffee, a few snacks to go and a few other goodies for friends. This is THE place if you have a gourmand in your life who likes the finer things and has most everything. Chances are, you’ll find something unique, unusual or just plain fabulous at some of the most attractive and well stocked food halls I’ve ever walked through. And best of all, if you don’t live in London, you can order online! Merry gift-giving indeed!

Want to travel like a celeb too? Check out Jen Miner's luxurious posts at the Luxury & Resort Travel section and be swept away...

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