sandralist

If you are going to a museum shop, check out if they have attractive, unusual portable umbrellas. And don't restrict yourself to just the fine arts museums, which often have generic "art" stuff. Sometimes the science museums and natural history museums or historic libraries have wonderful shops with unique items. Their websites sometimes have their items online so you can do a lot of browsing. I really like this giraffe sling bag from the Field museum of natural history

http://store.fieldmuseum.org/field-f...-3-colors.html

There are a great many chocolates I've tasted in Switzerland and Belgium that I didn't care for. Food gifts often do get tossed, even when they are high-end or tourist favorites. People just have very different tastes

IMDonehere

In Spain, chocolate making is not widespread artisanal pursuit.

BTW, I cannot stand Hershey's, it is awfully chalky. To me the best value chocolate in the States is Trader Joe's.

cigalechanta

dream catchers or any decorative is not good most peole have their own taste what they want in their house. A picture book on America went over big too friends, Maple syrop was a disaster. If you know them well enough ask what they might like. One friend asked for Stim-U-Dents.

GinnyJo

What about a scarf with some Illinois significance? If you are able to shop in downtown Chicago, check out the shop at the Architecture Foundation for unique gifts, as well as the Illinois Artisans' shop.

http://www.architecture.org//
http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsit...ndex.html?IAS=

Nelson

At the end of the day, one hopes it was the thought that counts.

happytourist

If you still want to take chocolate, consider Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips. It's more like European chocolate, and the chips are a novelty. You could even add a toll house cookie recipe to the gift.

PalenQ

French friends seem to love Ghiradelli when they come here.

One of my in-laws (ex) just loves marshmallow cream - hard to find or used to be in Europe.

Younger folk seem to love beef jerky!

BritishCaicos

I love the US dearly.

But your cars are poop, chocolate tastes like cabbage and beer isn't as strong as French mineral water.

One brand that shines out to the world is still Hinckley and most of you have never heard of it.

I'm sure your friend would appreciate a $1m yacht.

PalenQ

How about ('aboot') some Maple Syrup - from Michigan not Canada?

Kathie

If you want to take chocolate, choose one of the wonderful artisan chocolates. I love Christopher Elbow's filled chocolates, but for "plain" chocolate bars, it's hard to beat Xocolatl - I love the Brown Butter bars. You must have a fine chocolate shop nearby that carries artisan chocolates.

I will admit to being a chocolate snob. Even as a child, I wouldn't eat Hersheys. And it's dark chocolate only for me - even "gourmet" milk chocolate is not for me.

The maple syrup idea is a good one.

sandralist

I think some of you don't realize how often gifts of food items get tossed or given away to other people.

Although it might seem like everybody likes sugary things, not everyone does. And people who call themselves "chocolate snobs" often eat expensive chocolates that I don't like. I'm not saying they're bad. I'm saying I don't like them. A bit like coffee, there are only a few chocolates that I enjoy. Every box of chocolates I've ever received that have fillings of some sort in them, no matter how "snob" the label, I've given away.

Maple syrup? I don't eat pancakes.

sandralist

Scarves are too personal, I think. Sort of like ties that live forever in drawers.

BritishCaicos

Whole Foods is always a good bet.

I think they sell Milano e Baratti.

tuscanlifeedit

I would like a small notebook from the AIC or the Architecture Foundation. Something very American/Chicago in design. Thank you.

northie

agree with most comments about Hersheys -its awful. What about something from the Frank Lloyd Wright shop? lots of ideas there -brooches, bookmarks, and other gifts.
The problem with taking sweets is that most US stuff is available everywhere now unless its "artisan" type.

IMDonehere

We once brought maple syrup to Spain as a gift and they were befuddled as to how to use it.

Kathie

sandralist, no wonder you gave away the maple syrup if you think it is only for pancakes. I don't eat pancakes either, but I use maple syrup in cooking.

I will remember, if I ever visit you, not to waste my money on expensive chocolates for you.

cynthia_booker

While it is difficult to know what another person would like, something as mass produced as Hershey chocolates shows no imagination. If they wanted it, they could get it themselves. And I agree that it is too waxy.
Something from a museum shop sounds more thoughtful, maybe a paperweight or snow globe with the Chicago skyline, or a picture book featuring Chicago.

swandav2000

Hi tominrm,

Don't want to get into the discussion about good vs. bad chocolate --

But I have to add one funny note. When I moved into my apartment in Garmisch, my elderly widow neighbor adored Hershey's syrup, the kind you pour over ice cream. Every month, I would have to buy her 4 bottles of the stuff from the US Army commissary. I'm not sure exactly what she did with the stuff since no one can eat that much ice cream.

It seems even stranger since you can buy wonderful chocolate syrup in grocery stores.

Any other Europeans have any idea why someone would love that stuff?

s

bvlenci

Maple syrup is available all over Europe, but it's not very popular in the parts of Europe that I know. I'll repeat that, unless you know the recipients well, it's best to stay away from food.

People use Hershey's syrup to make chocolate milk. I didn't like it even as a kid, but my little brother wouldn't drink milk without it.