Presents for French from America
 

We will be staying with a French family for several days during Christmas in their home. What are some things I can bring from America that they might like? I need some ideas for a host type gift, and simple Christmas gifts.

This looks like a timely gift http://www.cleansweepsupply.com/page...roup15639.html

The French pride themselves on having the best of everything, so it's hard to shop for our French friends sometimes. They seem to love the American specialties that they can't find easily in France. E.g. they love it when we bring them Johnny Walker Black Label or some other similar better quality American liquor. They also relish other American mementos/souvenirs such as the Statue of Liberty ('cause it's French, n'est-ce pas). Culinary specialties from your home area are also considered a treat. Of course, the ol' cashmere scarf went over well too.

Bring breakfast goodies and cook them breakfast one morning. Pancake mix, maple syrup, strawberry preserves, starbucks coffee, Quaker Oats oatmeal, banana/cranberry/corn bread.

Bring a handmade Christmas ornament, a Yankee scented candle(s), a CD with American Christmas music (they may find that interesting...), Orville R. popcorn, regional barbecue sauce, local spices/flavors. For a lady a bracelet/earrings from a local artist. A calendar with your city/state pictures. If they have a cat/dog bring a catnip/chew toy.

Cleansweep.com - cleaning supplies? Are you kidding?

So far, others have offered great ideas. Keep them coming- except Mr. Clean.

Do they read English .... even just a little?? I find friends in Europe love american regional cook books (perhaps a Junior League book). You may find yourseld sitting with them, translatting quantities and perhaps ingredinets....funny how a simple book can bring people together....perhaps make a few recipies for them while visiting.... bring an ameicam measuring cup amd sponns too....create a mini american kitchen for them....

Visiting friends in Paris with children and I'm taking an american board game for the family.

My ideal American gift as a receiving end would be a nice coffee-table book with beautiful photoes of USA. I would also love Caswell-Massey almond soaps, BBQ sauces, sugar-coated pecan (if you're from GA), or genuine locally-crafted handicrafts.

My least ideal gift would be tacky tchochkes--eg miniature statue of liberty (i know, it was a FRENCH gift to USA, and it amounts to returning a gift to the sender), porrige/oatmeal (dunno where this fits into French diet), cashmere scarfs (what are the odds they were not produced in China or Italy?). Most continental Europeans find Starbucks coffee to be lacking in flavour. Also liquor/whiskey really depends on if your host appreciates them over a nice bottle of Bordeaux...

What part of the country are you from?

Food is a great idea. Perhaps a basket of foods from different regions: Salsa, maple syrup, those sugar coated pecans etc.

A basket that represents one area, like the Southwest and would include, some different salsas, a small jar of jalapenos, blue corn chips. Yes, hard to carry but I'm not sure how available they would be in Paris.

Anyone who has visited a French hypermarket will know that there are very few American food products which are not available in France -- either in the normal sections, where all of the pancake and brownie mixes can now be found as well as barbecue sauce, or in the imported food section.
So a gift of food would have to be extremely well planned. Most of the American products which are rare or unavailable in France are that way simply because the French do not like them. About fifteen years ago, the Franprix supermarket chain in Paris was bought by the American company Beatrice Foods, and all sorts of weird American items began appearing on the shelves. Believe me, this did not last long, and Beatrice pulled out very quickly.

Just for a laugh : http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/

"...Johnny Walker Black Label or some other similar better quality American liquor" ... Since when has Johnny Walker Black Label been American, or did I misread that? And why would it be difficult to obtain in France?

Perhaps something characteristic of your part of the US - books or handicrafts?

I agree with all the other posters. Something from your town or geographic area would be welcomed.

When I was visiting friends in France I always brought several boxes of Frango mints (no longer made in Chicago, btw). Everyone always loved the "spécialité de Chicago."

I also brought Bulls championship t-shirts for the kids. Back in the late 90's the Chicago Bulls were all the rage. Go Figure!

For Madame I brought a crystal platter with the Chicago skyline on it (from Field's, I believe.)

If your hosts smoke or drink and you know what they like (Gauloise from the duty free-shop?) a carton of their favorite brand of cigarettes or a bottle of their favorite whiskey would also be welcomed.

Also be sure to bring plenty postcards and/or photographs of your town/house/ neighborhood.

I agree with the other posters that American food is readily available here and one has to be careful since cinnamon and oats are not favorites with the French.

A cherry-wood serving tray, native american wall hangings, coasters, American version of deluxe Monopoly; classic American cookbook with nice glossy photos.

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Most of the American products which are rare or unavailable in France are that way simply because the French do not like them.
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i've seen this said before on this board and it is pure nonsense. being potentially the most profitable market for companies to enter, the US has more consumer choice in international products than just about anywhere so the exact same thing can be said about the US...yet americans still love to shop and receive gifts from overseas.

i had to go over to the US on assignment with a french team and they loved everything texas. on our way back to europe they had armloads of cowboy hats, big belt buckles in the shape of the state, shiner bock beer, etc, etc. they absolutely cherished these things.

i have also travelled all over asia, eastern europe and elsewhere with different french teams. they all love to buy souvenirs for themselves and their children wherever they go.

so what you are saying, kerouac, is that the french generally only like things sold in france. this is total non-sense. i give the french more credit than that...they are very open to appreciating new and different things from all over the world, including the US.

your statement is just another example of american europhile nonsense meant to further your agenda rather than speak any truth. it's amazing that so many read this rubbish and let it slip by without a second thought.

Walkinaround, you have a bug up your butt just about every time you write something. Therefore, I find it wise to ignore everything you say. You should do the same for me.

I don't know about France, but things like music Cds are much cheaper in the US then they are in the UK.

For simple gifts, perhaps something from a local craftsman.
You could think about museums for gifts for example, there is some quite nice stuff at http://shakermuseumandlibrary.org/home.htm

Not generalising the overall french consumer behaviour, but I tend to agree kerouac's observation.

Why would you bring a box of angel food cake mix or whatever while you can get excellent gateaux or tartes from your neighbourhood patisserie?
(Yes, I did have a challenge of convincing Belgo-French friends that carrots CAN go into a cake, and pumpkin pies are not "weird").

Supermarkets are usually savvy enough to know local consumers preference. However this does NOT mean French people like only what's available locally. They do appreciate items from America or other countries (as observed by walkaround).

Unlikely to be a hit if offered as a gift : peanut butter, root beer, cream soda, sweet gherkins, creamed corn, cinnamon rolls, honey glazed ham, Spam, Hostess Twinkies, wild rice, Jell-O, to name a few.
However, the French are very polite when visiting and may compliment you if you serve these items to them when they visit the U.S. Then they will quickly say that they are not very hungry or thirsty. Jet lag, no doubt.

How about a portrait of George Bush?
Sorry, I couldn't resist.

We've had success with the following:
candy from an local artisian chocolatiere, maple syrup, wine from CA and NY

And I have been told on good authority that the French can't stand maple syrup! A chaqun . . . .

Hmmm...where are you coming from? For Christmas, I would bring them some "dressed" beeswax Moravian candles (very pretty and easy to carry) and perhaps a tin of Moravian cookies...they're thin, not too sweet, go very well with espresso.
Or if I were in Phladelphia, perhaps I would hand create a calendar for them of "France in Philadelphia"...there is a lot shared between them...pictures of the Rodin museum, Joesph Bonaparte's House http://www.philaathenaeum.org/bonaparte/page1.html
Le Bec-Fin, La Colombe coffee shop (one of the owners is French) etc. You take the pictures, Kinko would make the calendar.
If you're coming from the Pacific NW, a small piece of Mount St. Helen's art glass...we've given that to Swiss relatives, they really liked it. Small, tactile, attractive, and connected to a major volcano.

Oops, the Bonaparte link didn't give his Philly address, which was 260 S. 9th Street. Last time I looked, it was still standing and was being used as an apartment building.

anything with american flags - baseball caps, t-shirts, fanny packs - will be greatly appreciated

Here is a picture of what the dressed Moravian candles look like. If you swan around the online shop, you may get some other good ideas.
http://shop.moravianbookshop.com/browse.cfm/4,84.htm

I think that when people travel somewhere they often buy unique (and often later regretted) souvenirs to remind them of their time there. French going to Texas may get carried away buying big belts and 10 gallon hats, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'd appreciate someone bringing them those as gifts.

Meanwhile, I'm really surprised not one person has suggested a bar of soap and a can of deodorant! (I'm ducking now)

oh yeah, right. I really don't think the idea of a Christmas gift is to treat other nationalities as if they are in some poverty-stricken place or that they don't have access to certain things. Really, I find the idea of giving cheap drugstore candy, junk food, trinkets, etc. as Christmas gifts to adults to be very odd. The idea of giving someone pancake mix, popcorn, etc. as a Christmas present is just bizarre IMO.

Maybe they like some unusual Texas hats as souvenirs, but that isn't appropriate as a Christmas gift. People have to think about what is good taste and this idea of being some trade ambassador is kind of weird, also, I think. Crystal platters, etc., are getting to be nicer.

As for CDs, again, this isn't some case of distributing bonbons to the poor locals. CDs aren't much different in price in Paris than in the US, and I bought some over there last month because they were cheaper than at home where I live in the US (and not only French CDs, but some current popular US ones, also). Virgin records has good sales, and you can get current CDs for about 10 euro that may cost US$18 at home as list price. Sure, that's a sale price at Virgin, and regular price in US, but it's the same thing in the US, you can wait until something is on sale.