Pica

Can i bring my collection of herbs and pastes into Italy either on a Pickfords truck or in our own car? I can't imagine how long it would take me quickly to source these in Abruzzo and I NEED them

Pica

Also what about an emergency supply of beans & ketchup & hellmans mayo etc etc?

TestaRossa

All fine! I was told I couldn't bring my precious house plants and tubs with me by Pickfords but I have known loads who have. You can get Heinz ketchup easily here in Flo - I think you can most places - but the Calve isn't bad anyway, in fact I like their hot ketchup a lot. Bring Hellman's by the bucket if you use it a lot. I can get it here in small jars but it's not readily available everywhere I'm told. The other Mayo's here are just vile.....Best of the bunch is the McD's own brand which you should be able to get easily too. Beans are also normally easy to find in little stores, mainly Asian, again this seems to be universal, but only Heinz. You will need Marmite if you like it. If you drink any concentrates like barley water or Ribena you won't get them here - Fabbri is the Italian brand, really good but no sugar free varieties yet!!

Bring your spices but with a few exceptions you shouldn't have too much trouble with herbs. Better idea with them is to stock up on seeds as you will probably be able to grow them year round. The basil, sage and rosemary are going strong outside here in tubs.

37100

If you use coriander, bring it. And some seeds too. It is soooo hard to get here.

Pica

Brilliant-have been homing my house plants but there are 2 I'd like to bring with me,I do intend to grow normal herbs but so many I can't and therefore need my own supply x

Pica

Thank you for the advice, I love coriander. Will be off buying seeds tomorrow. Do you germinate indoors and if so when do you start them off?
X

giodafa

paste.. now that brings back some memories, as a kid I used to get crab paste sandwiches for my packed lunchI must remember to get some next time I'm home and make my son taste it as he will only eat san daniele prosciutto sandwiches and he takes off every bit of fat.

duffer

If you're bringing some herb over make sure to stash it in your washbag and then into your suitcase and then check it in.

2fab

I brought all sorts of herbs over and seeds and bulbs in my suitcase...no probs at all...

2fab

Just read duffer's reply....i mean for cooking..

TestaRossa

Don't worry, you aren't the first and won't be the last to get caught out by him! We just ignore him.....he doesn't go away, but we try not to encourage...

Pica

I meant thai and Indian curry pastes x

indiebird

defo bring those with you. Don't think you can buy here. I have found most of the spices I use for indian cooking here at my local market and I roast and grind myself in a coffee grinder but never seen Thai green/ red curry paste here for example....

TestaRossa

I wouldn't know where to start with these things! OH is allergic to some spice in curry and it makes his lips and tongue swell! He can do normal chilli but not too hot so I've never got into curries at home even though I like them! We had take aways back in the UK but he'd only have tikka without the masala sauce!! Alex is slowly getting into them so there is hope yet! Oh, and Indie, remember the rice discussion? I don't think you can have curry without basmati rice! I just like Thai as a general rice (it's not as scented as the one you buy in the UK)

indiebird

I haven't bought the Thai rice yet to try. I am a great big lover of Basmati but then Indian food is my food of choice... I only used to buy Basmati in the UK... my fave was brown basmati but there's no hope here of that and I realise not everyone is into brown rice.... Even if you found you couldn't get what you wanted where you are Connie I would be happy to send you down packets of spices. My man at the market even has that smoked paprika that you buy in a little red square metal pot in the UK. I even brought Aniseeds the other week for use in a lentil dish that I still haven't got round to trying out on my kids yet....