Not sure where you are in Wisconsin, but there is a new award winning distiller here in Milwaukee called Great Lakes Distillery. They have been winning awards for their locally distilled Rehorst vodka and gin. They just came out with a pumpkin liquor and citrus and honey vodka that both looked interesting. www.greatlakesdistillery.com

When I was in Ireland a couple of years ago I saw people wearing Green Bay Packers shirts and come to find out they were from Germany. Maybe a Packers hat would be nice for a male member of the fam (no duty either!).

During that trip I gave away some of the new quarters with the states on them. You could acquire several of the Wisconsin ones - although they seemed to like Elvis and the Tenn one the best!

I have given books featuring tales of the Great Lakes - adventure and shipwrecks, etc. It's something so unique to this area and can be very interesting - especially since Norwegians were involved in the early trade and settlement of the upper Great Lakes.

I do not have a good idea for a gift.
But please check before you go to make sure you can bring it in to the country. There are some restirctions for what you can bring in and out of some countries
Have a wonderful and safe trip.
Good luck with finding the correct gift.
Jaye

I have been to Norway many times and tried bringing various things to friends and family. Absolutely food or booze is the way to go, as others have stated here.

In the liquor department, cognac or brandy seem popular. Norwegians aren't great wine drinkers (even though they tell me they are these days...I haven't seen it).

Since Karenmc is from Wisconsin, I vote for cheese or booze.

I like the cheese idea. Although you will find the cheese in Norway to actually be better than Wisconsin cheese. I know hard to believe but the Scandinavian cheeses I have had are on par or better than our NY cheeses. On the other hand they do not use mozzarella or velvetta cheeses so that might be something new.
I have family I visit in Sweden and I usually bring these things with me.

Ice wine- Scandanavians are sure to serve you a delicious desert and the ice wine will accompany it well.

Chocolates- It is always welcomed and our chocolate is on par with theirs and some might even be better. But it is always nice to try new chocloates.

Maple syrup or maple syrup candies.

Goldfish! Everyone loves goldfish.

Hope this helps!

I have found Native American jewelery has been well received by the ladies (note Norwegians have refined taste,and like smaller and simple designs) and high end alcohol for the gentlemen.Levis and jeans along with fishing line are welcomed also. If you can find anything made in the U.S.A. of quality that is also nice.Also makeup kits from large department stores are another hit with ladies.ipods are a hit anywhere along with digital cameras. Hope this helps. God Jule

Hey Apres_Londee, what did you have to go and do that for? As soon as I saw the heading, I thought "oh no, please not brownie mix again"

Another vote for booze.

Importing various foodstuffs could be illegal, unless you can get an official list of what is and is not allowed. The perception outwith the US is that American cheese is not at all good (although I'm sure there are some good small producers) and a lot of Europeans think US chocolate is horrible.

Craft items are a matter of taste and not everyone wants their house cluttered up with trinkets.

Whats wrong with brownie mix? I live in Italy formally from Wisconsin. I planned on giving my landlord this year, a basket with brownies or cupcake, the mix and the pans needed to bake them for the holidays. Should I reconsider?

My international friends have also enjoyed cranberry mustard from Wisconsin and Usinger sausages.

Jean, you go right ahead. There was previously a long debate about (1) whether it would insult the receiver (2) aren't mixes kind of nasty and (3) stuff like that. The worry is that it will all start up again.

Karen--
We also live in Wisconsin and just returned from Paris.
I met up with a childhood friend who's been living in Paris for 15 years.
I took her a little someting from our neck of the woods... a gift bag with wild rice, a small bottle of Wisconsin maple syrup, and a bag of pancake mix.
She was delighted!

Print the Vikings thread for them as a gift

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34790830

"Craft items are a matter of taste and not everyone wants their house cluttered up with trinkets."

And not everybody appreciates brownie or pancake mixes preferring to make theirs from scratch. Especially those of us who don't like thick American pancakes.

I have this image of these fish hooks (often made in Norway), where it is a good sized industry flying to the states, moved to a store, bought by our friend and then flown back to its home village to be given the host.

The only limit to me is should it be spirits or fine wine

There are loads and loads of brownie recipes, but I bet that this is just as quick as using a mix. It's really easy and is free from nasties.

Ingredients :
100g dark chocolate (at least 60% cocoa solids)
100g walnuts (optional)
110g butter
225g sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
50g flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder (or use self-raising flour)

Makes 15 brownies

Recipe :
1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (375F)(Gas 4), chop nuts roughly and break chocolate into small squares.
2. Melt butter and chocolate together over a low heat.
3. Mix melted butter and sugar in a bowl.
4. Beat eggs then add to mixture.
5. Mix flour with salt and baking powder, then add.
6. Stir mixture thoroughly.
7. Put mixture into a greased baking tray.
8. Bake for 30 minutes, check frequently so as not to over cook. The middle should be sticky, while the outside remains crisp.
10. Leave to cool, dust with icing sugar and cut into squares.

I would bring fudge. It doesn't exist in Europe (at least I haven't found any) and I just made some this morning to give to co-workers. You can get brownie mix in all the grocery stores in France and Switzerland.

Do you have any local artisans that create hand made items? Near my home there is a wonderful company called Wendell August Forge that creates beautiful metal items in bronze and aluminum. The designs are very unique and they make great gifts. Best of all, you don't have to worry about breakage!

I grew up in Wisconsin, and never appreciated cheese until I moved to Europe. Right now I have some Norwegian Jarlsberg in my fridge!

Forget the cheese, brownies, and Packers items - <b>bring booze</b>! The tax on alcohol in Norway is astronomical.

What Heimdall says - booze is definitely a good idea if going to Norway... I would go for either a bottle or 2 of nice CA/WA wine or a bottle of good &quot;artisanal&quot; Kentucky bourbon like Van Winkle or Knob Creek.

Hope this helps,
Andre

A bottle of VSOP cognac or single malt scotch wouldn't go amiss either - and you can bring back a bottle of Lutefisk Akvavit to amaze your Wisconsin friends.

Buy the akvavit at the airport duty free.