geckosarah

We are visiting friends in Elche. We live in Washington DC. We would like to bring them some gifts. It is a husband, wife and two boys (12-years). Any suggestions?

IMDonehere

We go through all the time when we visit relatives in Spain. And this question always starts a debate.

Boys always liked watches, the women jewelry. Sometimes we bring well done NYC plates or mugs or in your case DC. And they do not have the quality maple syrup that we have in the States and Canada.

amer_can

We took maple syrup as a thank you..Seemed appreciated..

Rubicund

Foodstuffs are a problem in that they can be a bit "local" to the US and Canada. What do they eat that they'd put it on? It may well seem to be appreciated, but they're hardly going to tell you it isn't.

I'd take the 12 year olds a baseball cap each of the Redskins and the parents a good local wine from your area.

Robert2533

There is plenty of good wine available in Alicante, so unless you select something especially nice, it will not be that impressive. We sometimes take a couple packages of good smoked Pacific Northwest salmon to share with our friends, but other than that I'm at a loss when it comes to taking food items. Most of what is available in Spain is of much higher quality (Jamón ibérico, olive oil, etc.) then what I can find at home.

If you where passing through France, then I suggest some good Pyrenees cheese.

Bedar

Don't take maple syrup unless your friends are Americans.

Robert2533

Or Canadians!

Jean

I like to give truly American stuff, so the smoked salmon and the Redskins ballcap would work for me.

I like these bracelets for girls/women:

http://www.shakerworkshops.com/catal...racelets/14H36

The same website has beautiful baskets (including miniatures), a smallish hand-made broom and, if you can manage the weight in your luggage, lots of wooden things for kitchen and entertaining.

http://www.shakerworkshops.com/catalog/index

danon

Our Spanish friends could not get enough maple syrup once they tasted it in Canada.
They took several bottles back to Spain ....we keep sending them new " supplies".
But, I would not take it to someone who is not familiar with the taste.

ribeirasacra

I really think we can find a lot of things in Spain, especially if you use the internet.
Is the trinkets idea a bit out dated these days?

IMDonehere

I really think we can find a lot of things in Spain, especially if you use the internet.
Is the trinkets idea a bit out dated these days?

___

You better tell that to all those stores in Spain that sell them.

sparkchaser

For the kids, hats or shirts of the local sport teams.

For the adults, maybe a bottle or two of Virginia wine or a few bottles of a good microbrew beer. Or one bottle of Virginia wine and two bottles of beer (Dogfish Head would be a good choice).

sparkchaser

Robert253 has a good point regarding wine.

I just had a thought: make them dinner, but not just any dinner. Make some Maryland crabcakes. Bring some canned lump bluecrab meat plus whatever ingredients you need for crabcakes (like Old Bay) and make crabcakes, french fries (or hushpuppies), and corn on the cob. My mouth is watering as I type this.

Oh, and bring the kids something from the Redskins or Capitals.

MissPrism

The trouble with corn on the cob is that it has to be absolutely fresh or it goes starchy. Would there be a handy farmers' market where you could get it.
There does seem to be a thing about maple syrup on this forum. It's quite nice, but it might end up in the back of the larder.
Also, I'm not at all sure that I'd want somebody commandeering my kitchen. If I could bring myself to leave the room, I'd be fretting about breakages and misuse of appliances.

If your friends have visited the US, why not ask them what they'd like?

sparkchaser

Your reservation about letting someone cook in my kitchen is the same one I would have.

Good point on the corn. Oh well.

flanneruk

Why aren't you just taking whatever you'd take to friends on the other side of America?

lincasanova

...."Why aren't you just taking whatever you'd take to friends on the other side of America?"

I don´t think this needs an answer.. really, but here goes

PERHAPS the poster was hoping there might be something ORIGINAL from the USA that would especially please a foreigner. Therefore hoping to get expert advice from the nice Fodorite travel group.

sparkchaser

Dukes mayo.

mama_mia

How about nicely packaged jars of honey and jam produced locally from wherever you live? My understanding is that honey flavors reflect local conditions/plants, so you would be bringing a taste of your home.

sparkchaser

Honey and jam are both excellent suggestions since both of those are eaten by most Spaniards.