A trip to the supermarket while vacationing in a foreign country can be a frustrating ordeal. How to choose the best seafood (what is the deal with the tiny packages of fish?) proper farmers' market etiquette (is it okay to touch the veggies?) and choosing the right checkout line (there are different kinds?) can all lead to moments of confusion, and asking for help is not so easy with a language barrier.

When author Lynne Martin tried living as locals do in France, she found making her own meals nearly impossible. Unfamiliar with cuts of meat and unable to decipher labels or cooking instructions, she was surrounded by delicious produce but lost when it came to utilising it in French cooking. Chef Deborah Scarborough came to her rescue, and now, in Shop Like a Local in France, both share their tips for other travellers looking to rock their vacation cooking or explore French cuisine at home. In addition to 50 recipes, there are guides to wine and cheese, tips for stocking a rental home and information about French kitchen basics.