best food souveniers to bring back?
 

What great food items have you found and purchased in Europe to bring home? Last time I got Parmigiano,stozzapetti?,dried fruit and wine --of course.Need to be on the look out for other food stuffs--lastest English thread mentioned the digestibles which I will be sure to try!!!! Food lover

In Paris for me it's mustards and spices, either from the little shop on Ile St. Louis or Fauchon. In Budapest it's paprika, purchased at the grocery stores. There are many kinds both in terms of "heat", texture and color. I buy LOTS of little packets -- they make great presents.

if you're in Spain during the holidays, bring back some turron - it's kind of like peanut brittle but with almonds. Yummm. <BR>Don't forget tea and jam from England. <BR> <BR>And, of course, haggis-in-a-tube from Scotland.

London: teas, lemon curd, coffee (somehow, Harrod's always seems to have a supply of Blue Mountain), hard mint candies, jams and jellies.<BR>France: cookies, wine, pastilles, flavored vinegars (like one with rose petals), mustards and spices as s.fowler mentioned, coffee, chocolate (cooking and eating), pate de foie gras, goose grease, salad oils (like walnut and roasted pumpkin seed), olives and cornichons, sea salt.<BR>Spain: olives, olive oil, spices, coffee<BR>Italy: olive oil, candy, coffee, wine, liqueurs, chocolate<BR>Greece: olive oil, olives, liqueurs (like kitron), oregano, grape leaves<BR>Malta: capers (THE sweetest I have ever eaten)

Limoncello from Italy.

To elvira's list add: <BR>France: roclette - if you can get it vacuum packed. Also available in French side of CH. And I "third" mustard, especially "Amora" brand Moutarde de Dijon - comes in a plastic 1000g tub that's easy to pack. <BR> <BR>FR,CH,DE: Baking chocolate. Ganache made w/this chocolate is too die for. <BR>--

From anywhere: cookbooks, recipes clipped from newpapers, spices, sauces, dried herbs, seeds from fruits, herbs and vegetables that tasted good, that you can grow on your return (or have it grown in a friend's garden).

We brought home wine, olive oil, black & green olive pate and tartufella pate. The pate is extremely garlicy and has lot of olive oil in it...oooh the flavor. We picked those up in Assisi.

To all of you who have brought foodstuffs back, <BR>Are there certain regulations on bringing foods back into the States? <BR>(i.e. does food have to be wrapped in a specific manner to get through cusoms?) <BR>Thanks!

No fresh produce, live plants, raw meat, or most cheeses. Just about anything in a jar or can is ok; dried herbs and spices, coffee, and tea are fine. Chocolate, candy - anything that has been cooked, including bread and pastries - is all right to bring in. There are quantity limitations on alcohol.

HMMMM-Limoncello, both regular and cream

Kids & adults alike really seem to enjoy Kindersuprise (or Kindersopreza in Italy), the hollow chocolate eggs with toys in them. I tell you, I can't bring enough of those home! <BR> <BR>I also get good reviews from Fauchon's canned pate. Vahine brand vanilla beans and almond powder, bought cheaply at French grocery stores, is also a hit. <BR> <BR>For high falutin' cheeses, go to Neal's Yard Dairy in London. They pack your cheese for your flight home, with the assurances the box will clear customs (and it does). Mmmmm. heavenly. <BR> <BR>The strawberry jams bought all over Europe seem better than American jams, too, for some reason.

Here are my choices-- <BR> <BR>Netherlands - Gouda Cheese and Stroopenwafels <BR> <BR>London - Candy Bars, Tea and Biscuits <BR> <BR>France - ANYTHING! Especially, Wine, Sea Salt, Mustards and Herbs de Provence <BR> <BR>Italy - Wine, Jam and Coffee <BR> <BR>Spain - Wine, Marzipan and Saffron <BR> <BR>I'm gettin' hungry!

Anecdotal experience(s): <BR> <BR>I have been abroad about 25 times, and twice had to stop to see "the man" when coming back into the US. Once was from Mexico in 1989 (a business trip, and I was responsible for conference planning support) - - I had a Compaq computer, and a laser printer, and the customs guy lectured me BIG TIME for not having a carnet for my computer equipment - - nearly screaming at me - - "this computer is probably more than powerful enough to run a nuclear arms plant in Libya"! - - Yeah, well, duh, mister - - I wsa bringing it back INTO the United states! Where is customs when you take technology OUT OF the US? <BR> <BR>I realize that this anecdote has nothing to do with food souvenirs, but this next one does: <BR> <BR>I had several different cheeses, loosely in a paper sack - - and they were blatantly obvious by their wonderful fragrance (ah, zee feet of zee angels - - as they say in Rick Steves book!) - - I also had a tiny bit of leftover snack lunch from the final food offering on my transatlantic flight (back home) - - and a dozen or so bottles of wine in a rollaboard. I was sent over to see the Dept of Agriculture inspectors; she rummaged all over the cheeses, found an apple (provided to me by the airline) and told me - - "I'm gonna have to confiscate this fruit from you" and then motioned me on. <BR> <BR>So who knows what are the enforcememnt policies of the US government towards its returning citizens...

TY to all who have enlightened me on customs, etc. for bringing back food products.

What is Limoncello?

Lemoncello; a lemon liquor. <BR>I think it is *yummy* <BR>If I am correct, it is a liquor made in the sorrento area of italy, but maybe people make it wherever they have good lemons. <BR>I have not tried the cteam style though, that someone mentioned above. <BR>

Re packaged food products: <BR>If you want it beautifully packaged and/or gift-wrapped, by all means buy the items in gourmet shops (like <BR>Hediard and Fauchon in Paris, or Fortnum's in London). However, if <BR>you are willing to forego the fancy packaging (either the items are for yourself, or you can wrap the items yourself when you get home, even put together a nice gift basket) then you can buy <BR>very good mustards, cookies, vinegars, jams, etc at much lower prices <BR>in any supermarket or in discount stores (for example,in Paris,Monoprix, which has several locations). The items will still be "foreign", and interesting looking, and usually very good. <BR>

Thanks, Nancy! :)

I second Elaine's recommendation, especially for paprika in Hungary. Unless you want glitzy tourist wrappings buy it in the grocery stores. There is a wide variety and it is probably fresher than something sitting around in a tourist shop. It is amazing the variety of paprikas that *are* available.