TXgalinGA

I have seen many posts regarding the high quality of German and Austrian items. It seems kitchen items are especially favorable. What have you bought and brought back from there that you have found useful or have enjoyed?
Anything specific we shouild keep our eye out for?
Many thanks from a shopaholic!!!

Sher

I brought back two sets of salt and pepper mills.
They are stainless and glass with ceramic grinders. I use them everyday.
Also, my Austrian friend gave me two very unusual things.
She gave me a beautiful china soap dish encased in a clear bar of soap. Also a small bouquet of flowers was actually made containing cloves. It is very decorative and delicate. They are dried flowers, of course.
She says these are typical old world Austrian keepsakes.

hardwater

I always buy clothes, men's modernized trachten, the traditional dress. I do not buy the old Bavarian stuff that looks like a costume. Everything I have brought back, shirts, sweaters and vests, is of very high quality, wears and washes well and I always receive compliments on how stylish they are and about where I bought them. They know this clothing is not from S.E. Asia! The fabric is very comfortable to wear.

tcreath

I know its quite cliche, but we bought a cuckoo clock in Bavaria that we just love. DH picked out a beer stein from both Germany and Austria, as well as a huge beer mug that was sold at the beerhall we ate at. We also brought home several bottles of wine from both countries, and some Apricot Schnapps that we purchased after we sampled it in Durnstein, Austria. And of course chocolate!

Tracy

weasel

wine, clothes, chocolate, smoked beer, and possibly kitchen/cooking items but find now we can get most things in Canada for less money. Everything is very global now and only those unique regional things that aren't unavailable in North america or over the internet are worth bringing back

rex

Ooohhh, oohh, ooohh... Austrian red wines - - very hard to find (at least in my part of the US) - - almost any Blaufrankisch or Zweigelt (or various blends).

Best wishes,

Rex

TXgalinGA

Hmmmm- so no cool kitchen gagets? I guess most everything can be found at William Sonoma, huh? And probably a bit cheaper with the dollar vs. the Euro... bummer
Anyway, thanks!! Wine and chocolate are musts!!! And Rex, Austrian red sounds interesting, thanks for the heads up! I would love to pick up some clothing.. I'm sure that won't be hard to find

SaozinhaP

Clothes - everything hot (pulls, coats, etc) from Austria are of the best quality we have here in Europe. Also very expensive, but if you can find anything that really pleased you (I mean style and colours), they will last for a live. Their shoes are also of high quality, but the forms are very different from the usual. And enjoy the cakes shops... beautifull cakes in beatifull shops, the whole very asseptic, and very short in sugar!!!

RufusTFirefly

Mostly photographs and memories. Though Mrs. Fly is into crafts, so she will sometimes buy hand crafted items if they are particularly interesting, and not available in Maryland.

Budman

Swarovski Crystal is probably the least expensive in Austria.

dorkforcemom

LGB trains

rex

You're welcome, Txg...

missypie

We brought home cool painted wooden toys for our kids when they were little.

No one has mentioned Christmas ornaments. Given the weak US dollar, I have no idea how much they would cost (and there would be the risk of breakage.)

TXgalinGA

Oh!! Christmas ornaments- those are "musts" for us! When we were there last summer, I didn't seem to find any. (Though I was with DH and he's not the shopper my mom and I are going to be)
Any specific types to keep our eyes out for?
I've heard of smokers.....

tcreath

Outside of the Christmas store in Rothenburg, we didn't really see many Christmas ornaments. I am usually on the look-out for ornaments for friends and family members (and myself, of course!) but didn't have much luck.

Tracy

tcreath

Oops...meant to add that if you do find some ornaments, I would love to know where you found them so I can be prepared for our next trip!

Tracy

lvk

Although the best ornaments we found were at the Christkindlmarkt, we also bought some fun stuff at the Käthe Wohlfahrt stores in Garmisch and Rothenburg. They are open all year round. They also stores in other locations:

http://tinyurl.com/7al9o

I'm not sure where you are going, but in Munich, we enjoy the Rosenthal Studio Haus for interesting Rosenthal Porcelain pieces. We also like the Henckels shop and the WMF shop for knives and kitchen gadgets. However, as has been stated above, much of this stuff (but not all) is available at better prices at Williams Sonoma or Chefs Catalog.

lvk

Of course that sentence should have read, "They also have stores..."

To get an idea about store locations and product lines:

www.studio-haus.rosenthal.de/
www.zwilling.com
www.wmf.de

The Rosenthal Studio Haus also has cool gadgets from other European companies, such as Alessi of Italy.