gruezi

We're in Switzerland, not Italy, but Duncan Hines cake mix here is like pure gold.

My husband fills his golf bag with it on the way back from business trips to the US.

Wherever we bring a cake, people swarm to it. Then they ask how I made it. At a coffee I attended once, a British woman was so excited over "my" Bundt cake I let her take the 1/4 that was left home with her to her husband. You would have thought I gave her the winning lotter ticket.

My Swiss neighbor hates American showers and a lot of other things American, but he raves about 2 things: Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake and Pancakes with real Maple Syrup. My daughter makes DH about once every month. We always give 1/4 to M. We always get a personal thank you note...

Not saying these make the best gifts but just defending this boxed cake. (I love a great from scratch cake as well, but sorry, DH ain't so bad in a pinch. In fact, I'm going to have the last slice right now

gruezi

italiannotebook

Hi Bellalinda,

I've lived in Italy for 28 years and shudder to think of the reaction of a host family to marshmallows, maple syrup, etc. These things are probably available in the specialty stores, but the Italians don't use them. If you are looking at expenditures, what about Tee-shirts with some writing or US flags on them for the kids? If you are paying guests at your host family, then maybe some gadgets for kitchen use. These are usually one step in front of Italian production. If you are not paying for your stay, you are going to have to come up with some gifts equal to accommodation costs,i.e. liquor, silver, jewelry for the hostess, etc. The whole notion of "bella figura" gets into play here.

bratsandbeer

The old saying "its not the gift but the thought that counts" is one I use when I am in doubt as to what to take someone.

zwho

how about webkidz? Do those translate to foreign language. I know they are very popular with kids in the US.

Luisah

<<If you are paying guests at your host family, then maybe some gadgets for kitchen use. ... liquor, silver, jewelry for the hostess, etc. The whole notion of "bella figura" gets into play here.>>

How did this evolve to liquor, kitchen gadgets and silver jewelry?
Bellalinda wrote that she wants to bring something for the CHILDREN.

traveller1959

This is a European view:

In a globalized world, almost everything from every other country is available in Europe. Brownies and brownie mix is available in EVERY supermarkt in Europe. 30 years ago, maple syrup was something special and hard to get in Europe. Now, you can buy in in every health food store.

And if something is not available, it is just because they do not like it.

Bring T-shirts with (tasteful) symbols of your region (e.g. your local university). Everybody wears T-shirts and everybody will be proud to have a T-shirt from the USA.

gruezi

Actually, there are lots of things not found here in Zurich that are available at any Stop and Shop in the US.

I once went to about 20 stores just to find canned black beans for a simple recipe I make. Finally my housekeeper who is Portuguese found me some dried black beans in a little grocery in her neighborhood.

This week we can find medium and hot taco sauce but no mild.

Last Halloween a friend who moved back to Canada sent us all Candy Corns as you cannot get them here.

Schuler says there are chocolate chips here, but you can't get them at my local markets. And there is no brown sugar.

I could go on and on.

And have you ever tried some of these cake mixes? They are not all the quality of Duncan Hines believe me. You can find Duncan Hines some places, but you will pay about 5 times the price.

Don't get me started on European brownies...

My British friends don't even bake because they get too frustrated finding their proper ingredients.

And if you can find me Ben and Jerry's NY Super Fudge Chunk in Switzerland, you will be my new hero And I just know the Swiss would like this ice cream... Why should they be deprived? It almost seems cruel!

gruezi

Vttraveler

We had friends visiting from Belgium about 10 days ago and their 13 year old twins and 17 year old enjoyed making s'mores (the process as much as the product) and eating pancakes and waffles with maple syrup

They also had a great time touring the Ben and Jerry's factory and would support gruezi in her efforts to make that ice cream available in Europe. The French fries at various diners didn't get such great reviews

Our friends brought me Belgian chocolates and even though I can find these in the US I was very happy with the gift.

bellalinda

thank you Luisah ~ for paying attention, and all the rest of you for the great feedback

it's about time to give this thread a rest, however I can't help but comment on 2 of the funnier posts -

Even though I have mentioned I am from Canada, 'Italian notebook' would like me to bring tee shirts with US flags and traveller 1959 also says
<everybody will be proud to have a T-shirt from the USA>

I also really liked this comment from traveller1959
<Brownies and brownie mix is available in EVERY supermarkt in Europe.>

Wow - need I say more?

Padraig

bellalinda wrote: "Even though I have mentioned I am from Canada, 'Italian notebook' would like me to bring tee shirts with US flags"

Seems fair enough to me. We have had Americans here discussing travelling under the Canadian flag, so the people of Canada are entitled to some reciprocity.

Do Canadians do irony?

Back2Sabi

I hate to jump in so late, and with such a negative message: Don't bring food. Please. Yes, jiffy mix and maple syrup might be more difficult to find in some parts of the world. But not impossible. (I've found both in Thailand) And certainly not the best things we have to export!

But why give someone something that a) forces them to put in addition labor to complete
b) will be forgotten the moment after its eaten?

For the children, bring American board or card games. We recently brought "Sorry" to some friends in Africa and their children LOVED it. (We also brought Mickey Mouse playing cards as they are obsessed with the Disney Channel).

My family traveled abroad extensively when I was young, we always loved learning local games and brought home several board games that didn't require too much knowledge in the local language.

For the adults, how about a photo book from your part of the country? Someone gave me that advice on this board, I ignored it and have been kicking myself ever since. Our hosts would have loved to have seen where we lived. (the mountains, much different from their geography!)\

Both items are a little bulky, but will you'll be rid of them shortly after hitting the ground.

Sorry to be the food party-pooper. If you must bring sweets, bring some small bites and give them something else that will last. Something they'll always look at fondly and say "Remember when the Americans gave us that?"

p.s. And if you must share pancakes with the world, translate your favorite recipe into European measurements. My favorite pancake recipe has only five ingredients -- just two more than pancake mix! Offer to make them for your hosts and then turn the recipe over as an addition gift.

bellalinda

heh heh

we could have a lot of fun with that one

but, the presumption that I can just go out and buy a tshirt with an american flag on it- there's your irony

it may be surprizing to some of you, but that is something you would really have to search for in vancouver

bellalinda

responding to Padraig of course

tuscanlifeedit

My head is spinning.

Bellalinda: I swear to you that my friend in Trieste loves American desserts and would love Duncan Hines Brownie Mix. American style brownies are a particular favorite of his.

And please: we aren't talking about cake mix here, but something rather good and unique. Duncan Hines Brownies. To. Die. For.

If Duncan Hines Brownie Mix is available in most grocery stores in Italy, then I will eat a box of it. In Italy, I sometimes have to go to multiple stores to get the Milanese variety of Star brand Risotto, and that's made in Italy!

If I can make things from Italian boxes and packets, back here in the US, surely my Italian friends can figure out the directions on a brownie mix. What a challenge.

As far as Canadian maple syrup goes, it is a delicacy. A wonderful gift. We give it all the time.

bellalinda

thanks tuscanlifeedit

and padraig you asked for it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRf8m3plrM

mariebut

I find it very unusual that you would think Europeans would like cake mixes and marshmallows as gifts. Why not instead cook the family a traditional American dinner or brownies or marshmallows as a treat or thankyou. I think the compression in a plane would make a mess of marshmallows!!

Padraig

And I got it! But that's Quebec, where even the laws of nature have difficulty in functioning as they do elsewhere.

Would you not prefer this gentler approach http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29g57XTYgLE ?

bellalinda

well like the original - good but I thought we were doing irony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg&NR=1

bozama

Bellalinda, fellow west coaster here, and if you feel you must bring food gifts.. I have a great idea, but of course preferred by adults.

Go to Thriftys grocery store, and you will find beautiful wooden boxes ,, painted with the First Nations symbols, and filled with fine smoked salmon.. its a lovely gft.

For kids,, forget candy, as a parent I am not impressed with candy as a gift , especially since its not Christmas or Halloween ,, I would bring two little stuffys, or some funny socks, or a cool key chain ,, toys are always fun , and they don't rot teeth, stick to furniture, or mess up dinner. LOL

kleeblatt

Bellalinda,

Everyone has a different answer to your question.

- The gift depends on your receiver. If they are American, they will appreciate American food and ingredients. If not, T-shirts, key chains and things to hang from their backpacks are always fun. The disadvantage to T-shirts is finding the right size.

- And if you still don't know, my kids love getting US money. It's a novelty item that can always be exchanged at the local bank.

- I still think marshmallows aren't a bad idea because it's a novelty item that most kids enjoy trying at least once.

- Duncan Hines brownie mix: If the receiver isn't American or doesn't necessary eat brownies, I personally think mixes are inappropriate.