A wonderful US host gift for a Paris Foodie - heading there next week.

[lexpatti]

Without being tooo nosey about what they might be missing from the states - I thought I would ask my CH buddies. I'm coming from New England and want to bring them foodie gifts that they might be missing while they've been in Paris. It's usually the opposite, they bring us wonderful Paris items - but there has to be something wonderful here in the states they can't get readily in Paris.

Help???

thanks in advance

[Parigi]

- Dried cranberries
- Maple syrup. It can be found rather easily now in all the supermarkets. But if you can find a good local brand, that would be another "exotic" item that the French like.
- Mugs. I mean coffee mugs. They are not something that the French use, and at least my French friends find them nice and "exotic", especially if the mugs bear some corny Americana motif or Obama's or Elvis's face.

[lagatta]

I'm from Québec, not the US, but I second the idea of maple syrup - yes it can be found now in supermarkets, but we have top quality (even organic) varieties, as do Vermont and New York State. Idem cranberries, but you'll have to tell your friends how to use them.

I disagree about the coffee mugs, as anyone who doesn't drink weak milky coffee would find them useless - there are mugs in France, but they are smaller. I only have very small mugs as I don't drunk weak milky coffee.

Agree with good artesanal cheese or any other local artesanal product that isn't foo foreign to their foodways. Jam.

Do you come from a place that produces things like smoked fish? You are from the States, but you are also from not far from where I live, so I am thinking of things I'd bring from here, not goodies from the South or Southwest.

Definitely Wild Rice, though once again you have to tell people how it is prepared. A plus if it is harvested by Indigenous Amerindian people. Everyone I have given it to in Europe loves it.

[beaulieu]

We bring top quality wild rice from the US. When we entertain in France, we impress people with it. It is hard to get in France and, even then, they do not have a clue how to prepare it.

[Oakglen]

Hand picked wild rice, from the Ojibway or Chippewa tribal areas in Minnesota or Wisconsin, makes a great gift. Not to be confused with the cultivated wild rice that requires extensive cooking time.

[Delucacheesemonger]

If they are wine drinkers, a jammy zinfandel like a Turley or a Ridge; if not a Grafton or Cabot cheddar.

[PhilD]

After having lived away from home in a number of countries I find that it is the mundane and boring that you miss most. Premium foods like artisan cheese, smoked fish, or interesting wine are readily substituted by local products, especially in France. For us, as Australians in Paris, we craved Tim Tam biscuits, Twisties and Violet Crumbles. All things we had grown up with rather than exotic delights.

It is the little reminders of everyday life at home that delight.

[Beach Chick]

Yum...Tim Tams..
Maybe some kitchen related items from the Boston Red Sox...Coffee Mugs, Aprons or Boston Red Sox Ceramic Cheese Board Set..they need to be representing while in Paris.
Costco size box of Boston Baked beans candy sounds good too.

www.footballfanatics.com/MLB_Boston_R...

[Busk]

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.

I think it's the only US food you still can't find in Paris.

[CJT]

I definitely support the idea of maple syrup and think wild rice is also a great idea. If you go with the maple syrup, look for sampler packs that have 3-5 different grades/colors/flavor notes so they can see what a variety of tastes the syrup can offer. Our French friends like to put the maple syrup on vanilla ice cream. A good bottle of Kentucky bourbon will also go over big with the male members of the family -- 9 year old stuff is usually very good.

[RandyB]

I'm in agreement with many suggestions above, and here's how I've played it out:

Last week I invited French friends in Paris to an American brunch at my apt. To start, we had bagels and smoked salmon. The French version of smoked salmon is farmed fish, cold smoked like our lox. What I brought was wild Alaskan smoked salmon, which is completely different. It has much more flavor and a flaky (not oily) texture, like a regular fish fillet. I got some reasonable approximations of bagels from a bakery in the rue des Rosiers in the Marais. Instead of cream cheese, I used a very mild, creamy chêvre. You can also get real cream cheese at Thanksgiving on the rue St. Paul. My friends were wild about the smoked salmon.

Then I made real French toast (not pain perdu). I used a challah (braided egg bread) from another bakery in the rue des Rosiers. I served dark maple syrup, that is, Grade B, because it has a stronger flavor and isn`t available in Europe. I got it at my local coop in bulk. My friends loved that, too.

Finally, my best Parisien friend loves big mugs for his morning tea but couldn't find large enough ones there. I brought him a giant mug from Seattle, with umbrellas on it, naturally. A perfect gift for him.

[PhilD]

I thought the OP was asking about expat Americans living in Paris as the OP said: "foodie gifts that they might be missing while they've been in Paris"

Isn't this answer (and others) more of an answer to the question: 'What North American foods will impress French residents of Paris?"

Me thinks they are two different questions, with two very different answers.

[RandyB]

Looking back, you are right. Most of the answers, including mine, were to the latter interpretation of the question.

As to the first interpretation, anyone who cooks a lot and has been long in France will surely be missing . . . Saran Wrap. Not a food per se, but essential to cooking and food preservation. The French plastic wraps are not in the same league.

[lexpatti]

oh oh oh, good one, thanks.

[Delucacheesemonger]

In the same vein and one of my presents to bring anywhere to cooks is the extra long extra heavy duty aluminum wrap, a must, thanks for reminding me.

[Parigi]

I read the OP several times and can't say I understand 100%. The OP did not reveal the nationality of the foodie friend or friends. (The title indicates singular. The post uses plural throughout.) Also the word "miss" is ambiguous. It probably means what Phil thinks it means but it is now all guess work.
In conclusion, Phil raises a good point. What did the OP mean?
If the OP means what expats miss in Paris, well, not mugs. I'd say ziplock, barbecue potato chips, good bagel.

[Dodo]

Parigi,
I am with you re the nationality of the foodie friend. I must confess that if I received maple syrup, peanut butter, oreos, etc. I wouldn't be pleased at all. I hate to use mugs as well, but love very fine china, esp. for tea or then the real small espresso cups.
IMO, unless you know the personal taste of the friends, just be careful. Better a nice bottle of whatsoever or if you should happen to know what perfume/eau de toilette the person uses, get a bottle at the duty free at your airport.
If everything fails, invite him/her/them to a resto of their choice one evening.

[kikisakura]

It sounds like Phil read it right and if that is the case then, it's probably better to simply ask. I really don't miss anything from US while in Paris except grits! If anyone would bring me white organic grits, then they'll be invited to a full southern breakfast with eggs, cheese grits, biscuits with gravy, potatoes, etc.

[rswatkins]

Yes, stone ground grits are a great gift. Also, top quality jumbo Virginia peanuts (Hubs and Belmont Farm are two good sources). Cans of Mrs. Ferneyhough's Brunswick stew.

[lexpatti]

Thank you all very much and to clarify - they are from the states but been living in Paris for the past 2+ years. On my sister's visit to Paris - she confirmed that Maple Syrup is sooo appreciated. I did pick up some fresh and dried cranberries, box of Boston Baked Beans, Vermont Maple Syrup and i think I'll bring a box of saran wrap too.

I've asked if they need anything, but I really wanted to surprise them with a few things.

Of course they could be reading this too. :-)