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Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Old May 31st 2015, 4:31 pm
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Default Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

I'd be grateful for some advice for taking some small gifts from UK to Italy - along the lines of edible gifts. This is for Italian friends/neighbours who often invite us around for evenings socialising/coffee/ice cream/cakes etc. Previously I have give the adults Fudge and that went down badly and all said it was similar to something I can't remember the name of. I've also taken a bottle of Pimms and mixed it with American lemonade (added fruit etc). A few loved it but most didn't. .

I'm told that Scottish shortbread might be a winner - any thoughts?

I presume they are used to gingerbread men (ie its not just a UK/USA thing)?

I'm wondering if anything edible I take along will go down as pants.....as no-one does food like Italy.

I certainly don't want to be cooking on my holiday so something small and transportable would be ideal.

Thanks in advance.
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Old May 31st 2015, 6:45 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

chocolate-they all love chocolate! A bulk box of 60 (I think) Jacob's orange club will go down extremely well.
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Old May 31st 2015, 7:41 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Brave soul you are mrs teapot to even think of taking brit food to italians and i'm not too surprised to find that you have already encountered problems.

Of course there is perhaps one way to triumph - give them something undeniably awful that will confirm their fervently held belief that nothing could be as good as italian.


Everyone happy, maybe.

Will get back if i think of anything.
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Old May 31st 2015, 7:46 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Er, how about cheese, if italian customs don't try to grab it.

Some broadminded italians do appreciate british cheese varieties and i don't think they are easy to get in italy.

Wensleydale?

Lancashire?

Frankly if they don't think a bit of quality lancashire is the food of the gods i'd give up on them.
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Old May 31st 2015, 7:48 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

And if that doesn't do it for them a selection box full of bags of pork scratchings.
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Old May 31st 2015, 8:20 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Originally Posted by sunnysider
Er, how about cheese, if italian customs don't try to grab it.

Some broadminded italians do appreciate british cheese varieties and i don't think they are easy to get in italy.

Wensleydale?

Lancashire?

Frankly if they don't think a bit of quality lancashire is the food of the gods i'd give up on them.
Lancashire cheese! It's awful.
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Old May 31st 2015, 11:26 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Originally Posted by Pica
chocolate-they all love chocolate! A bulk box of 60 (I think) Jacob's orange club will go down extremely well.
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Old May 31st 2015, 11:26 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Originally Posted by sunnysider
Brave soul you are mrs teapot to even think of taking brit food to italians and i'm not too surprised to find that you have already encountered problems.

Of course there is perhaps one way to triumph - give them something undeniably awful that will confirm their fervently held belief that nothing could be as good as italian.


Everyone happy, maybe.

Will get back if i think of anything.

haha I did begin to wonder!
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Old May 31st 2015, 11:28 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Originally Posted by sunnysider
Er, how about cheese, if italian customs don't try to grab it.

Some broadminded italians do appreciate british cheese varieties and i don't think they are easy to get in italy.

Wensleydale?

Lancashire?

Frankly if they don't think a bit of quality lancashire is the food of the gods i'd give up on them.
I can just see their faces now heheh
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Old May 31st 2015, 11:29 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Originally Posted by sunnysider
And if that doesn't do it for them a selection box full of bags of pork scratchings.
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Old May 31st 2015, 11:30 pm
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

So Scottish Shortbread a shite suggestion then? Bet the person who suggested it, did for a laugh.
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Old Jun 1st 2015, 4:36 am
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

hi,cheese is a good idea.we brought back our italian neighbours some white stilton with apricots after christmas,they loved it.also boxes of cadburys roses and creme eggs,they loved them also,cheers,brian.
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Old Jun 1st 2015, 4:53 am
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Originally Posted by Pica
chocolate-they all love chocolate! A bulk box of 60 (I think) Jacob's orange club will go down extremely well.
Club biscuits are not made from chocolate, it is flavoured vegetable fat, and very noticeably not chocolate. I would not offer club biscuits as a gift.
Originally Posted by BRIAN 1
Hi, cheese is a good idea. ....
How about some stinking bishop?


Last edited by Pulaski; Jun 1st 2015 at 4:59 am.
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Old Jun 1st 2015, 4:58 am
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Originally Posted by Pica
Lancashire cheese! It's awful.
I think maybe you have been eating the wrong stuff. You need genuine crumbly stuff. Much of the supermarket stuff is the wrong texture for starters.
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Old Jun 1st 2015, 5:05 am
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Default Re: Idea for taking small gifts to Italy

Originally Posted by BRIAN 1
hi,cheese is a good idea.we brought back our italian neighbours some white stilton with apricots after christmas,they loved it.also boxes of cadburys roses and creme eggs,they loved them also,cheers,brian.
Thanks for your support, but I'd stick to traditional stuff to be honest. Especially with the italian craving for "authenticity".

Oh, in case anyone was wondering, the lancashire suggestion (other cheeses are available) was serious, pork scratchings less so.

You know some broadminded italians brian if they went for brit chocolate.
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