If I could spend one day in the States, I would start at Dunkin'Donuts with a large coffee and plain glazed donuts, then at 11, have a onion bagel (with crispy bits of onion on top) with cream cheese. Lunch at the 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC: a hot pastrami on rye with russian dressing and cole slaw and a half-sour pickle and a microbrew beer. For dinner: barbeque'd everything, corn on the cob and California wine. Paris is wonderful but does not have any of the above (in decent quality) Don't take it for granted, people!!!!

When I'm home, I miss Schwepps Bitter Lemon - I just can't get it around here, but at the same time - it makes me all that much happier when I get to order one in Europe. <BR> <BR>The first thing I do when I get home, is have a glass of ice cold skim milk.

We go to Germany often, in fact will be leaving Tuesday, and am looking forward to the wonderful varieties of bread and rolls, every family has them fresh on their breakfast table each morning. They have as many varieties as Dunkin Donuts has doughnuts. There is such a bakery on nearly every corner. I have searched high and low where I live and have to drive 15 minutes to Breadsmith, which doesn't begin to compare.

When I am home, I miss the architecture and the ambiance/atmosphere that I sense in the ancient cities of Europe. That is not a food or, technically an object. Foodwise: I miss the Cheese, but what I miss more is the varieties of all food stuffs that are not available here. <BR>

Tayto crisps and Skips (another kind of potato chip) are the first things I turn to when I go home. Also my Mum's homemade brown bread. Yum-can almost taste it right now. <BR> <BR>Other than that it would have to be Marks and Spencer's underwear! I stock up every time I'm home. Only three weeks now 'til my next trip home

The various sausages of Germany. So much better than anything at our fast (food?) places.

Having all the time I want to relax over dinner, without being rushed by the waiter <BR>Cafe au lait -- why do we serve coffee with cold milk in the States? <BR>Pastries with chestnut cream <BR>Foie gras <BR>The cheese course <BR>The whole cafe lifestyle... sidewalk cafes <BR>

Francesca, next you are in the U.S., look for Krispy Kreme doughnuts. They're the best!

Carolyn don't forget that the Krispy Kreme doughnuts have to be Warm and fresh. Ones from the Grocery store aren't even close, got to go to the KK store when the light is on. Yum, NOW I'M HUNGRY and thirsty for an Orange Oasis too. Drat!!

Stacy, don't give up on the Bitter Lemon when at home in the US. I love it too (it was a regular thing during my childhood; my dad would always drink it when he was repairing the car out in the sun...), and I do occasionally find it around. See if your local store that stocks Schweppes can order it for you from their distributor. Buy a cas! Gotta love that quinine.

Big heaping plates of escargot and tete de veau. Man, my mom really knows the way to a man's heart! Now if Charlene would only catch on.

When I'm home I miss the food in Europe in general. For some reason everything tastes better when you're away! <BR> <BR>Like the majority, I miss the chocolate (especially chocolate with hazelnut). I miss the cheese and sausages. I miss British tea and tea biscuits. <BR> <BR>I guess I'm better off. Otherwise I would be enormous!!!:-)

When at home: the big, flat continental pillows (Germany, Austria), REAL Italian food, the small yummy scoops of gelati <BR> <BR>When away: cheap food and drink, fruit & vegies

to the IrnBru poster: <BR> <BR>I live in Ontario and we can get IrnBru and Ambrosia rice pudding at our local IGA (supermarket chain). There is a sweet shop in British Columbia that also sells these and Fryes on the web:http://www.englishsweets.com/. <BR>What I really miss is fresh baked bread, especially olive bread, on every corner. You just can't get that by mail. <BR> <BR>

espresso and cappuccino, from any espresso bar, no matter how teeny, anywhere in italy. i've never had a bad one over there. starbucks does not compare!

I'm shocked that no one has mentioned my favorite, CLOTTED CREAM! And of course, you need to have the real English scones to go with it. My mouth waters as I write... <BR> <BR>My kids would say the really good Orangina. The kind we can get here isn't the same stuff. <BR> <BR>When I'm away, I miss my family, my bed and TV that I can understand. When I'm home, I miss everything about Europe! <BR>I don't know if I can wait another year to go back.

When it Italy, I missed a good American breakfast. I did not miss fried foods at every corner! <BR>When home again, I missed the soft fresh pasta at every meal and the incredible bread.