I am moving to France: should I take my BGE? Can I get charcoal, parts in France?

A guy from the UK said he was able to get lump but couldn't find a dealer/distributor in the UK.

There is a dealer/disbributor in Ireland and or Netherlands, remember those countryes are smaller than many of our western states.

I would think lump would be the only real concern and of course getting your egg there in one piece.

GG

quick check of google.fr for charbon de bois indicates plenty of webers for sale in france, must be lump, too.

Sorry to have to tell you this, but American style barbeque cookers have just been banned in France, to include the Gig Green Egg, no matter it's oriental heritage. Such cookers are being rounded up and destroyed as we speak, people having been forced to register them several years ago when Jacques Chirac came to power. His little known deal wth Jean-Marie Le Pen during the 2002 elections (a rabid hater of anything non-French) ended with Chirac becoming president but promising to end the scourge of barbeque cookers on French soil. This is a logical extension of the Académie Française program to rid the French language of such terms as "le weekend" , walkman, and software. I understand that anyone seen with an individually wrapped proccessed cheese slice may now be shot on sight! (Don't try to look this up on the web, it's all being keep super secret by the French gooverment, I just know because my ex-wife lives in France) Anyway here is what I propose - since you obviously can't take your BGE to froggy-land, why not ship it down here to me for safekeeping in sunny Florida? I would be certain to use it often enough to maintain the protective grease layer and keep mold out of it. As an additional service, since a ban on American style barbequed/grilled food is sure to follow (I hear the french government won't allow the sale of "le pork butt" or "les babyback ribs") , I can smuggle in egged foods of your choosing. Since it would be such a risky venture for myself, I do ask that you provide roundtrip airfare. I would also suggest changing up the areas of France that we meet in to prevent the authorities from becoming suspicious. Probably Paris first, then the Champagne region, then maybe Provence or Normandy, etc. Let me know!

By the way, natural lump charcoal (charbon de bois) is widely available in France, there are also briquettes de charbon de bois available. Here's a link or two:

http://www.forestiere-du-nord.com/anglais/rubrique/gamme_ete.htm

http://www.je-chauffe-au-bois.com/?referrer=LeGuide
This one has bags of lump for 8 EUR or about $11.79

Lucky dog - you're gonna love it!

Feels like I have a fish hook in my cheek and am being drug to the boat.

GG

I lived in central France for a short while a number of years ago. I remember seeing a couple of charcoal operations while driving the back roads. There was one really close to the big chateau Chambord. But I can't say I ever saw lump for sale.

Paul

Hopefully it was a joke (Jet).

I emailed some friends in France and your comment is very kind compaired what was sent to me...

About the only thing I can repeat is 'besides France is not a dictatorship'.

GG

Just remember to get a big assortment of grill pans, dutch ovens, etc. I think it's illegal to cook an entree' larger than 3 oz in France. :ermm:

Eggspat2B,
I dont know about getting parts in France, but you can certainly get them in the Uk and Ireland.
A company called Luxury Living import eggs into Ireland and UK and carry a full range of parts and accessories.
Their web site in UK is www.luxurylivingproducts.com and in Ireland www.luxurylivingireland.com.
You can email ray@luxurylivingproducts.com and he will look after you just as well as the mother ship do in America