What food can I bring back from Italy?
 

Okay, I want to get this right. I CAN bring cheese, but I can't bring meat? Or does it have to do with how it's packaged? Isn't there a link to a govt site that spells it out for you? I'd love to bring back some cured meat, but fear that's a no go. But cheese? No fresh fruits and vegetables, I'm pretty sure. I frequently bring back jams or honey with no problem. What else?

We'll be in southern Italy. What would YOU bring back?

Thanks so much,
Alice

I bring white truffle paste, butter or oil back from Italy.

Hi A,

>I can't bring meat?<
Absolutely, positively a no, no.
Ditto fresh fruits, veggies, flowers, seeds.

I bring back dried porcini.

((I))

Not sure about dairy products. Here's the web site called Know Before You Go. Lots of info here.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/

I also bring back dried porcini. Easy to pack and no worries of them going bad. I have brought back wine and olive oil before. It has turned into too much trouble now that you can't bring liquids on the plane with you though.

Always bring back limoncello from south Italy. It is one of the basic food groups.

I've never had any problem bring cured meats, cheeses, and fruits or veggies home from Italy.

Porcini bouillon cubes, tubes of tomato paste.

>>>ipod_robbie on May 10, 10 at 10:58am
I've never had any problem bring cured meats, cheeses, and fruits or veggies home<<<

You can't bring meats (cured or not) or fresh fruits/veggies.

You can't bring meats, fruits, or veggies to where? You can where I used to call home. I don't know where Alice is from.

Oh, I see from some of the links everybody else assumes she's from the US.

Correct ipod_robbie. Most, but certainly not all posters on Fodors are from the US. "Home" in this case is very likely the US - or at least that's what I would guess.

I'm from the US (Maryland, in fact). So no meat, cured or not. And I love the idea of dried porcini mushrooms, and truffle paste too. Tomato paste too. I generally like to hit a grocery store and buy whatever looks interesting.

Not oil, I don't think, I worry about that in transport. And I know it's heresy, but I'm not a big limoncello fan.

But what about CHEESE? No one has said anything about that.

Thanks for all the good suggestions,
Alice

You can bring back cheese as long as it's not a soft cheese. Most places will vacuum-wrap it for you. If you're going to Rome, Volpetti's is wonderful for a great selection of cheeses. It's on Via Marmorata.

The double concentrated tomato paste in tubes is great, too. Unlike those annoying small cans, you can use a little and just close the tube and put it in the refrigerator.

I always go to the supermarcatos (grocery stores) and find interesting things.

Good sources for truffle paste are

- wine shops,
- gourmet (delicatessen) shops,
- markets.

Usually, they let you taste the stuff. Most of the truffle flavour comes from man-made truffle aroma, but it is identical to nature and good enough. (Real white truffle paste won't be affordable.)

We use truffle paste for risotto, pasta, mashed potatoes and sauces. Truffle butter is even better, since it lasts longer in the refrigerator.

HI Alice. I would look twice at porcini; lots of the product sold in Italy is imported from elsewhere and I am not sure of the savings you will find in the south. Make sure to check prices before you leave home.


I would advise, rather, to take a look at regional specialties in the area in which you will be traveling; for example, garum and anchovies from Cetara and dried or jarred peppers from Basilicata. Vacuum packed olives, too.

Also, some of the best dried pasta comes from Campania, so check out the artisanal varieties.

LImoncello is so easy to find in the US; better to bring home something more interesting and less available here..but I am not a huge fan, so..


Let me see if I can think of a few more ideas. If I do, I will post them here..

Anything that is sealed, processed, canned, or bottled. Any thing raw -- no.

jarred processed comertialy prepared rabbit and wild boar can be brought back. same for hard cheeses but no fresh or soft cheese allowed.

>>>Meats, Livestock and Poultry
The regulations governing meat and meat products are stringent. You may not import fresh, dried or canned meats or meat products from most foreign countries into the United States. Also, you may not import food products that have been prepared with meat.<<<

Sadly, I live in a country where I can't even bring back any wine (Qatar) I usually bring back some Olive Oil, pecorino cheese and some cantucci. If I could find a way to sneak in some Vin Santo and Lemoncello, I would! Instead I send that along with wine back to my parents in the US.

Oh and some Balsamic Vinegar from Modena is another must item for me.