We are staying at someone's house whom I know through work. She lives in Florence. We are coming from Montreal, Canada and cannot think of the best thing to bring her - something that's easy to pack and that she would appreciate!
Price is not an object - I want your auggestions!
Thanks, Susan
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Foodwise: Butter tarts, Banbury cakes (fond memory of these from many years ago: the love affair didn't pan out but I was introduced to Banbury cakes), Timbits, Oka cheese; less imaginatively, maple syrup.
If you work friend has never visited Canada, you may want to think about a really beautiful 'coffee table' picture book of Canada's breathtaking scenery. And, ABSOLUTELY, maple syrup or maple syrup products. I also really like the carved soapstone idea.
Deborah Horn In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I want to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- www.petsburg.com My blog: Old Shoes - New Trip
Posts: 5000 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
Funny you should ask this question...I just had this conversation with a friend of mine last week.I asked him what would be a really good 'Canadian' gift to take for several people who have been so good to me and helped me with my trip planning and accommodations. He laughed for a very long time....and then said, "Simple, Brenda...toques! Find ones with maple leaves on them...it's perfect!" So, I'm asking..."Is it?"
I like the suggestion of a gorgeous book of photographs...as in "A Day in the Life of Canada'...I love that book! A huge number of photographers chose one day, and took photographs throughout the country during that day, then submitted them to a selection group, and they published this huge and very attractive book of their photographs.
As well, a coffee table book of Ken Danby, Robert Bateman, Group of Seven or other artists' work. I have note cards with images of some of my work, and I'm taking a dozen or so packages of these as thank you gifts. I also just bought 6 boxes of gorgeous notecards from the Art Gallery of Ontario gift shop as well...all with either Group of Seven artists or Emily Carr images on them.
Another idea might be a handmade quilt, if you have a quilting guild close-by. We have a local guild and they create some of the most fabulous designs in quilts and wall hangings as well as many other items...if a quilt is too much to pack, perhaps a table runner/placemats/napkins set. Our guild makes such a wide variety of items, and all are gorgeous...their wall hangings look like a piece of art...amazing! ...and trust me, they ain't cheap!
Hope this helps...
"Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." ~ Pablo Picasso Brenda
Oh, the quilt is a lovely idea... I was just going to say that my italian family goes NUTS for that freeze dried smoked salmon, also available in maple flavour. I think it is awful, but with the way it goes down here, i have been wondering if i could open an import business.
Unfortunately they just don't know what to do with the maple syrup. My inlaws use it in tea, but the last bottle went rancid before they finished it. Pancake breakfast not in vocabulary.
Angie..the gold maple leaves are gorgeous..they make them in pendants, earrings, pins...all kinds of things...is yours solid or does it have millions of tiny holes in the leaf? Those leaves are old and full of holes, with only the veins left. When they dip 'em, you get this lacey look...beautiful!
Smoked salmon? Yeeeeech ! ...but if they like it, why not?
's funny, the stuff sold in our area that people love to buy when they are tourists is usually stuff that no self-respecting Canuck would have in their home, never mind eat! Friends in Hawaii always want the smoked salmon in the wooden boxes with Haida totem poles etched on the box, as well as a gi-normous bag of beef jerky (and of course, I hate beef jerky)...they love it because they love it...and also because it is a novelty and they can't get it in Hawaii.
So, there you are, who knows? Maple syrup is my sugar of choice, as it is the only sweetener that I can eat without having a not-too-pleasant reaction...so I'm wondering what I'll use for sugar when I'm in Florence, as maple syrup in the bottles is really heavy, and I'm not sure I want to pack a jug of it with me.
New words for 2005: Blamestorming: Sitting around the workplace, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed...and who was responsible. Brenda
It's not a simple question I'd have to know something more about your Florence friend to give a really good opinion. However... maple syrup is okay, since we don't have that stuff here (or better, we have it in supermarkets, but we usually never try it unless someone tells us about it). I don't know much about typical american products, but I'll tell you what my american relatives did for us as a gift. They took hold of our kitchen, and started making tacos. I had never, ever eaten tacos before. The tortilla wrapped in a cone around cooked minced meat, with slices of fresh tomato, fresh lettuce, bits of cheese, sauce too... It was wonderful. Delicious. And something completely new for me and my family. You could want to try it... after all, this way they gave us as a present not only a bit of their food and culture, but their time also, and we really respected that.
quote:
Friends in Hawaii always want the smoked salmon in the wooden boxes with Haida totem poles etched on the box, as well as a gi-normous bag of beef jerky (and of course, I hate beef jerky).
We do have smoked salmon here. It's not in wooden boxes, but we have it, can buy it even in small grocery shops. Not so great a gift if you ask me About beef jerky... I've seen it mentioned a lot of times, and have no idea what that is.
Bye!
Posts: 12 | Location: Italy | Registered: 18 March 2005
I like the Inuit soapstone carving, but I would also suggest scarves from the Bay (white, yellow, red stripped traditional ones) or one of their gorgeous wool blankets. Italians love their scarves and bundle up at the slightest breeze. A beautiful blanket will always be welcomed on a chilly evening. The Bay is Canada's oldest store (the Hudson's Bay Company was incorporated in 1670, three full years after my French ancestors arrived in Canada). There is a rumour going that The Bay may shortly be sold and replaced by the hot new American store Target (or as Oprah says with a French accent, Tar-je). How sad...
I'd skip the maple syrup, but I would buy maple sugar in the powder (slightly granular) format. It's delicious in coffee. Another maple alternative might be that fabulous maple syrup liqueur that they sell exclusively at Quebec liquor stores. I don't like sweet things in general, but this is much more like a subtle Italian vin santo than a sticky sweet thing.
And as a really off-beat choice, although I'm not sure I would do this myself, you might consider bringing the fixings with you to make a unique Canadian drink: the Caesar. It's vodka with Clamato juice (you can choose spicy or not), with a celery to stir, and the rimming spices. (You only need to take the Clamato juice and shaker of rim spices with you.)
The blanket may appear to be something that would be difficult to pack, but then you would have all that room to fill with the goodies that you will buy in Italy!!
I was wondering the same thing...well, almost. I would like to bring a gift to the family who's villa we are renting an apartment at. Thay have already been helpful to provide us with bus directions and time tabled from the airport and gave us home & cell phone numbers to contact them when we reach Sorrento. They are going to pick us up in their own car and drive us the rest of the way to the villa. Since I've never been to Italy, I don't know what would be a nice gift that is not available there.
This thread was unique because the question had never been asked about Canadian items; which is why I didn't mention that over the years there have been several long threads on the more general question. The one I find quickest is this one . . . which, notice, links to yet a previous one.
MarionP, Perfect! ...after my last post, I also thought of the Bay blankets, 'cause they are gorgeous, 100% pure wool, warm, authentically Canadian, useful and expensive! All the things that make a great gift ...and they are soooo warm! ...hmmmm, why then do I not have one? Maybe it's time to treat myself...
Friends in Australia have 2 teenagers and they love anything Roots makes...poor boy caps, scarves, and any Roots clothing for all of the family.
"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings." ~ Hodding Carter Brenda
Ice wine!! Best ice wine in the world - would suggest riesling as opposed to vidal for the grape. Some of the cabernet sauvignon is interesting too. My personal choice would be Cave Springs if you get the riesling.
Brenda, Roots is an excellent idea. The whole Olympic connection and the fact that the winter Olympics will be in Italy.
Deborah Horn In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I want to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- www.petsburg.com My blog: Old Shoes - New Trip
Posts: 5000 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
I know that our friends in Astralia were totally besotted with the poor boy caps, for one thing...the Olympics were just over then and there was a huge buzz about the Canadian teams' clothing, so their 2 teens were pleading for the red and white wool melton/leather jackets that were out then...at over $500 a pop, they were whistling in the dark, tho'! Their parents just laughed at their beggings
Actually, since we have mentioned Roots and HBC Bay blankets here, I've posted a photo of the poorboy caps and those yummy jackets...our Sandra Schmirler and her team winning their gold medal... Roots no longer is the official clothing supplier for our Olympic teams...the Bay (maker of our Bay blankets) just inked an 8 year contract to provide clothing for the athletes! They'll have to go some to outdo the Roots collections, I think!
"Here's a good trick: Get a job as a judge at the Olympics. Then, if some guy sets a world record, pretend that you didn't see it and go, "Okay, is everybody ready to start now?" ~ Jack Handy, Saturday Night Live Brenda
Just to let everyone know, we brought Ice Wine and Candian whisky, and they seemed to LOVE it. I will also (now that we're home) send them some Roots stuff, including a t-shirt for her 5 year old son.
I realize from your last post that this comes a bit late, but if there's a next time, maybe you could take ice cider from Quebec! I just read about this product in Via Rail's magazine and apparently the product just won an award in Italy for best new product respecting agricultural traditions.
I would have had a long list of things... and actually, Marcel, my boyfriend is now in ottawa and I have sent him a long list of things I want.
I love Decadent cookies, maple syrup and President's Choice Pancake Mix, anything by Roots, which is really nice stuff. I have a little bag which I love!
Some nice locally brewed beer, or a guidebook/photobook of Québec might also be cool.
I also love Hershey Skor Bar.
And I always buy shoes at Transit!
I have never tried Ice Wine, though... I should probably add it to the list!
Topic Closed
! ...but if they like it, why not?
I'd have to know something more about your Florence friend to give a really good opinion. However... maple syrup is okay, since we don't have that stuff here (or better, we have it in supermarkets, but we usually never try it unless someone tells us about it). I don't know much about typical american products, but I'll tell you what my american relatives did for us as a gift.
