Bonjour !
Today’s episode of Comme une Française TV come from a question from Mickey. How to buy fish the Sunday Morning market in France. And mostly how to avoid having to take the scales, bones and guts YOURSELF in the kitchen. pouah.
Why? Because you didn’t know what to ask, to have it cleaned. Next time, you might not want to try again, and you’d end up buying frozen fish at the supermarket.
It’s ok to be scared to waste the fish merchant’s time trying to communicate and in the bargain annoying the customers standing in line behind you.
We’ve ALL been there.
Breathe.
Today, in Comme une Française TV, you’ll learn the exact phrase you need to buy fish for a delicious bouillabaisse. A Mexican cevice. Or barbecue.
Click to watch « How to buy fish at the market in France »:
What about you?
Have you ever bought fresh fish at the market?
Did the fish merchant prepare it for you? How did you ask for it? Or are you afraid to do it?
Tell me in the comments how it went. Share your story so we can discuss in the comment area below the video.
Géraldine
PS: Do you have burning questions you can’t solve in France? You can now hire me for private consulting by going here.
I got my fishes head removed I’m been trying to do this for years and after this video I finally got the courage, thank you!
Bravo lard!!!
My husband has successfully bought fish twice, but I once bought a whole chicken that still possessed a head and feet! How to does one politely ask the butcher to decapitate the chicken before you buy it?
Bonjour Crystal,
You can say “Vous pouvez enlever la tête s’il vous plaît ?”
Thank you for this great site, especially the videos. I’ve lived in Rouen for almost 3 years and I wished that I had seen your videos earlier! My assignment in France is nearly over and I will be returning to the USA … but this has been an experience of a life time, I’ve grown so much as a person, and I will continue learning the beautiful french langauge. And thanks to all the French people who have been so kind and welcoming during my stay !
Steve
It’s great to read that, Steve!
Hi Geraldine
Thanks for the ( as usual) informative video re fish.
There is one thing I miss about British coastal resorts is the prepared crab you can buy. I haven’t noticed this at any seaside resorts here in France, do they exist ? Perhaps it is just a lazy Anglo Saxon thing but it is convenient when you are on holiday to have it prepared like that.
Best wishes
Yvonne
Bonjour Yvonnebird!
Yes, crab is so good! I’m sorry, I don’t know…
Maybe someone in the community reading this will know?
We had been visiting our local market and buying fish for several weeks when Mme Josie asked me one day if I were English or German.
I replied that not only was I English but that my father had fought across France during the war. Thereafter my fish was always beautifully cleaned and prepared without me having to ask….
🙂
this is such bs lmao you shouldn’t have to guilt trip someone into cleaning your fish for you
It is easy to buy fish in the market and to get it cleaned. However the French do things differently as to be expected. A sole will have the head left on and the side fins stay, in South Africa these are taken off. We live 6 months in Roquefort Les Pins and 6 months Cape Town. Just wish it would get warmer.
Regards Geoff
Hi Geoff, thanks for sharing this difference! I’d heard of differences in cutting meat but I had no idea it applied to fish too! Please say hello to South Africa from us.