There's nothing too unusual in our cupboards. They look like the Seinfeld kitchen. Rows of cold cereal and cracker boxes. Although I love gourmet food, I hate the tyranny of the kitchen. In my junk drawer, amid the odd bits of string, keys to who knows what, and a few fuzzy looking lifesavers, there is a small jar of Marmite. I'm not sure where we picked it up and it's never been opened. I don't know if this is a condiment or a corn plaster. Please, Fodorites, enlighten me. <BR>P.S. Do you serve a red or white wine with Haggis in a Tube(tm)?

Beth, glad to know I'm not the only one who eats the souvenirs. Do you also eat the gifts for the family/friends back home? "Mom, you REALLY would have liked that mango drink, but, well...." I am guilty of this. Hope others are, too. <BR> <BR>The sausage thing is a grey area (not the sausage, the THING). The real hard, dried shrivelled up sausages are supposed to be doable (since there's no meat left, just salt) and I have seen it go through customs at JFK with no problem, but, personally, I wouldn't try it...mostly 'cause I hate the stuff. <BR>I think a lovely Champagne is the only thing that would do justice to Haggis in a Tube(tm). Or a 12-pak of Hamms....

Elvira- <BR> <BR>What are you talking about??? <BR> <BR>Haggis-in-a-Tube(tm) should be spread on year old shortbread, served up with a year of 12 year old whisky. My first choice would be Oban, but Laphroaig, Talisker or Lagavulin would also go nicely. (tartan tablecloth optional.)

Oh yeah, Dewar's 'll get you by in a pinch... <BR> <BR>

Oh yes, Elvira, I've definitely eaten the gifts. There were the Ghiradelli chocolates from San Fran, and the praline cookies from New Orleans that never made it out of my house. <BR> <BR>I don't think I'll risk the sausages, if only because I probably won't want to draw attention to my suitcases. <BR> <BR>I think HiaT (TM) should be enjoyed with a nice tall Old Peculiar. Somehow seems appropriate. <BR> <BR>--Beth

Thai Sausage!! I just returned from a trip to Chiangmai...I live in Malaysia..and brought back a bunch of this Thai treat! Frozen..in my carryon..by the end of the trip, the entire cabin of the plane smelled of Garlic and Thai Basil. I wonder why people gave me wide berth while walking throught the airport!!!! Ah, but I am certainly enjoying it!!! It's sorta like Haggis in a Tube!!!!

Woo Hoo! <BR>Guess what I found in my cupboard last night while searching for coffee filters??? <BR>Yup, one last tub of Polvo chocolate a la espanola. Okay, so thats not really what they call it, but it is what I was missing. <BR>Thanks everybody for filling me in on how cocoa is made in other parts of Europe. That's what I really wanted to know.

CP, what one drinks with HiaT (TM) depends on how it is eaten. See, if it's a meal, then either Champagne or Hamm's (or an Old Peculiar, as Beth has suggested) is the drink of choice. On the other hand, if you are serving HiaT(TM) as an hors d'oeuvre, as suggested by spreading it on old shortbread, then definitely a fine whiskey or single malt is in order. I'm partial to Bushmill's 25 year old single malt (apologies to Tony and Sheila as well, but I'm the OTHER Gaelic) but in deference to keeping culturally correct, I would have a Scotch whiskey as recommended (and I **DO** have a tartain plain tablerunner, shows you what sort I am, doesn't it?)

CP: I think I might have something close to the Spanish chocolate drink. There's something called Maizena, put out by Bestfoods Specialty Products, that's a powdered drink made of corn starch and cocoa (with some chemicals thrown in) which is made with hot milk and sugar, cooked on the stove. It's a product of Mexico, and my neighbor kids swear it's the best thing in the world.

My son went to visit some e-friends in Norway and took with him a can of Spam, a can of pork brains in milk (a North Carolina specialty), and -- most prized by his hosts -- Pop-Tarts, which his e-friends had heard of (for feeding basselopes) but did not believe to exist. <BR> <BR>He brought back their gifts: some canned reindeer milk and something called "Sunda -- Det gylne pulleget" (add diacritical marks at will) -- which he was told was good and sweet but which we have never dared open 'til we knew for sure what it was. There is reference on the label to "Vitanimisert" and there's a picture of a young boy flexing a miniscule muscle, so one infers it is supposed to be fortifying. <BR> <BR>Anyone familiar with this product? It is packed in exactly the same kind of container as spackle is.

cassandra ! <BR> <BR>Is spackle our name for Polyfilla? <BR> <BR>anyone know? <BR> <BR>regards

In my kitchen I have my herbs de Provence, my small bottle of saffron from Spain, and some delicious cholocates from Paris. <BR> <BR>Isn't it wonderful to have these?! Makes me want to pack and get on a plane and fly to Europe! <BR> <BR>Next trip: Germany! What goodies to bring back from there?!

Hon. Tony/Redstar -- <BR> <BR>In the states, spackle is the maleable plaster substance used to pack and smooth-over nail holes and other imperfections in a wall surface before painting. (It is not usually considered edible.)

I think the objection to importing foie gras is an animal rights thing. The idea is that since we wouldn't like to be fed by having stuff poked down our throats, birds shouldn't either. So if you see your local constables carting off mama robins in little teeny, tiny handcuffs, you'll know why. An excellent, politically-correct substitute is Avon and Ragobert brand "Mousse de Foie de Volaille au Porto" which is available in French supermarkets at a fraction of the cost of foie gras. You'll find it right next to the terrine de lapin, pate de campagne, and other goodies. So, Elvira, while you're filling up the car (supermarket gasoline is by far the cheapest in France) send the Loons into the supermarket to do their souvenir shopping.

oldiebutgoodie

Oh my gosh - - this IS great vintage stuff. No wonder you were legendary already when I came here in Nov 99, Elvira! I thought that I read (in your words, I though) that you first came here in October 99 - - so how far back IS your FIRST post?<BR><BR>But yes - - this thread is a nice compliment to the recent "foodie" thread - - and I guess I qualify on the basis of both red AND black currant jams, roasted red AND yellow peppers in glass jars, figs on a cord, a bag of orecchietti...<BR><BR>Anyhow, based solely on the "antiquity" (in Internet time) of this wonderful old thread - - may I award you, Elvira, with a totally free lifetime emerita pass, granting you unlimited free admission to the Columbus, Ohio European grocery tours - - if I ever actually conduct one!<BR><BR>Best wishes... and salut!<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I have sugar-cane sugar (a big, hard, brown lump that I have in double ziplocks to make sure the ants don't get to it, don't know why I'm saving it) that I bought in Panama . . . a box of apple tea from Turkey . . . a tube of mustard and one of tomato paste (I LOVE those tubes) . . . some hot pasta (I love hot/spicy foods and am doling this out to myself) . . . 12 jars of blackberry perserves (w/seeds) that I lugged home from Panama only to find out it has hardly any sugar and is terrible . . sea salt from Greece . . . basil pesto from Costa Ligure . . . a wonderful olive oil bottle (long since used the oil but can't bear to toss out the bottle) . . . safron from Spain . . . coffee from Costa Rica and Panama (Panamanian coffee is the BEST), lots of herbs from the Provence, and lots of liquor and wines!<BR><BR>Going to the grocery store in foreign places is one of my very most favorite things to do!<BR><BR>Sandy

I *had* canned haggis in my cupboard, but I ate it. Still have a few wild boar pates from Fauchon, but that will soon be gone, too!

Yay! Supermarket sociologists unite !<BR><BR>Comestable makes the best tinned fish in the world: Breton mackerel in mustard sauce, and their mackerel in muscadet is *heaven*.<BR><BR>Vichy does all sorts of candy with minerals (their pastilles are yummy). Haven't yet dared foist my bunny pate (pate de lapin) on guests yet. It's also French.<BR><BR>Oh, and all the Droste cocoa products from the Netherlands!!! Great old-fashioned looking packaging, cheap gifts for fellow chocoholics = )