any groceries you'd bring from home??!

Old Mar 1st, 2001, 04:59 AM
  #41  
Judy
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Hello all, I must confess to bringing plastic cups(for our al fresco lunches) and sweet and low. I am sure most countries may have these products, but I don't really want to spend time looking for these items. However, I do love to peruse local grocery stores for "good stuff" not cups and sweetener.
Judy
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 05:14 AM
  #42  
kate
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Let's clear this up once and for all. Marmite and Vegemite are both yeast extracts that taste sort of similar, although no doubt people will strongly disagree with me. They are savoury spreads that come in a jar, are dark brown, and you put them on toast, bread etc. You can also use them for stock.

Marmite is British and Vegemite is Australian. Marmite is darker, smoother and stronger than vegemite. Most kids in Britain and Australia will have grown up with these (like americans growing up with peanut butter, although of course we have that as well), which is why people have such fond memories of it, and feel so passionately about it.

Marmite (I'm British, I'll leave the aussies to extole the virtues of vegemite) is one of those things that you either love or hate. In fact, there is an ad campaign running in the UK at the moment on this theme, showing people wretching after snogging someone who has just eaten marmite.

I love it, by the way. I think vegemite is bland in comparison, but I know the aussies will hate me for saying it.
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 05:42 AM
  #43  
clairobscur
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I'm curious about this vegemite/marmite thing, now...

I think I'll search for it where I'll have the best chance to find it : amongst the "luxury" products, along with the peanut butter (I'd avoid at all cost) and the lemon curd (yumm!)
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 05:55 AM
  #44  
Elaine
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These messages have all been very interesting nd since my daughter and son-in-law are going to Rome in 2 weeks and staying in an apartment for a few days before visiting aunts, uncles and cousins in the Genoa area, I was curious about the replies. When I read the instant coffee suggestion, I agreed whole-heartedly. I love espresso, especially the real thing. But in the morning over there they add A LOT of hot milk to their coffee to make their morning version. It's good and I enjoy it but I don't know what this apartment will have on hand and so I think some instant and equal would be great to have on hand! Otherwise, when in Rome.............
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 10:02 AM
  #45  
carla
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okay, I admit it...I'm a popcorn-aholic..when we rented a condo at Disney last fall, I tucked away several pkgs. of my favorite microwave popcorn. Also to add to your list I took an almost empty roll of saran wrap to wrap leftovers etc. Also put in one laundray load worth of detergent in separate ziplocs...
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 10:27 AM
  #46  
Mags
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Ok, I live in Europe and here is my two cents. Food NO!!! but there are some occasions when 'vital supplies ' do come in handy. Some packs of crackers. the single serving size. Pouches of 'instant' soup, granola bars,. tea bags, and yes, instant coffee... even though I am a 'real coffee' person.
A sharp knife, bottle/can opener with a corkscrew. Plastic cups for that picnic.
Extra ziploc bags... VERY USEFUL!!! I have a special portable plastic cutting board which is like a hard piece of plastic and can roll or be placed in a suitcase. It is really like a plastic placemat. This has been SO very useful as it makes an instant kitchen counter even in hotels where there is no kitchen. Great as an instant mini table for that picnic again.
As for washing clothes. I found a bar of Sunlight soap and bought a plastic soap dish/box in which to place it. Ok it is a bit more trouble than liquid or powder soap but so much easier to carry around. We(family of 3) went on a tour for one month and by handwashing our shirts and underwear were able to make out very well with the one bar of soap. actually I still have the same bar(much smaller now) I also walk with wire clothes hangers and clothes pins. The wire hangers can be twisted to hang just about anywhere and are usually disposed of before the home trip.
These may sound like camping tips but I must confess that I was a Girl Guide for many years. Enjoy your vacation!!!
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 12:46 PM
  #47  
xxxxx
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ok I'll buy into a lot of these things but aren't plastic cups/wineglasses available in most grocery stores in Italy? seems very bulky to carry these over??
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 01:27 PM
  #48  
Joanna
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Kate, I'm an Aussie but I won't argue the merits of Vegemite versus Marmite. I ate both growing up, but prefer the Vege. My sister who lives in London loves Vegemite and can buy it in her local Sainsburys. My other sister who lives here in Sydney loves Marmite and can buy that in her local Woollies.

Al, you are correct, it is a yeast extract. It may seem an acquired taste to some, but if you've grown up with it, it seems normal. I, for one, can't imagine eating peanut butter and jelly (does that mean jam?) sandwiches!
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 01:37 PM
  #49  
Judy
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XXXX: First time in Paris, we bought some wine and wanted to walk down to the Seine and drink a glass of wine... watch the bateaux mouches sail by.... could not bring the room's glasses,,,,wish we had some, and were not sure where to buy the plastic glasses. They did not have them in the little mom & pop stores. I was a little(a lot actually) intimidated by French, and French grocers. So I now bring a few in our carry on...just out of habit. Judy
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 01:52 PM
  #50  
whynot
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When we rented an apartment for our last trip to Paris, we were amazed at the price of bathroom tissue in the stores - more expensive than a bottle of wine and, of course, something you would never buy if you're staying in a hotel. A bit of culture shock, and our friends in the paper business in Georgia were thinking about a new marketing approach. NOT that I would take that with me, however!

Other things I don't travel without: plastic coffee mugs (most places we've traveled don't have styrofoam/cardboard takeaway cups, and we like a cup of coffee as we drive); ziploc bags, and clothes pins - extremely useful for clippping curtains shut if you want to sleep late in the morning! Thanks to the post above, I will add a thin, flexible cutting board to my 'indispensable' list - what a useful idea.
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 01:58 PM
  #51  
ger
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Joanna, Kate et all:

Thanks so much for the Marmite/Vegemite debate ... I printed it out for the english person I mentioned and we had a good giggle at the passion HE, and obviously others, feel about it (he maintains that Marmite rules supreme and I really can't comment!).

I agree, Joanna, the thought of peanut butter and jelly (jam, but more pectin than fruit) on bread makes my toes curl, but I can assure you that Americans and some Canadians feel very passionate about it (I have never tasted it and I have been living here for 15 years).

I always pick up Stilton when I am in the UK and for those that love Blue cheese, this is apparently the classic. Last time I was in London on business, my friend asked me to pick up Harrod's Gentleman's Relish ... an anchovey paste (that carries a warning lable about not using too much at one time) for the outrageous price of twelve pounds. For you fans of Marmite and Vegimite, you may want to consider it!
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 03:59 PM
  #52  
Caitlin
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I guess it really is what you grow up with; I imagine I'd have as hard a time explaining the appeal of peanut butter to Joanna or Kate as you would have convincing me that marmite and vegemite aren't gross (an English houseguest brought us a jar of marmite once--let's just say it stayed in the cupboard for a long time).

But lest Joanna think (from Ger's message) we don't have decent jam here...we have jelly (made from fruit juice, no fruit pieces), jam, and preserves (chunks of fruit). I prefer quality preserves with my peanut butter, on toast! What you call jelly goes by jello here (from the brand name Jell-O).
 
Old Mar 1st, 2001, 04:31 PM
  #53  
Joanna
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Caitlin/Ger,

Don't get me wrong, I love peanut butter (esp. crunchy), but not with jam!

I once read that English Stilton was banned from the US due to the mould in it - obviously that is no longer the case. We can get it here - I love all the mouldy cheeses.
 

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