Gifts for french family

Carmen

Shortbread seems to be very popular with the french.
Carmen x

itsnever2lateisit?

I have some english friends who live in France, and in the summer we hosted some French friends of theirs. They had a planned trip to London, and winced at the price of hotels, so we put them up.

We introduced them to as many 'typically english' things as we could. The things they both liked (Mr and Mrs) were premium english beers, branston pickle with egg and bacon, and the biggest hits were Lemon Curd and marmalade. Down the pub it was ploughmans. I conclude that while they are very patriotic about their wine, they dont even drink spanish wine, they like different cheeses, particularly as ours are so different

HTH

jollyme

How about some of those posh cordials? Something like elderflower cordial perhaps. An english christmas cake or mince pies? Christmas pudding ? Toffee? Stilton cheese? These are some suggestions anyway, if I think of more then I'll add them later....

ShockingPink

How about damson gin or English mead?
Creamy Lancashire cheese (only made in Lancashire still)
Marmalade
Whisky
Cider, perry or ale
Shortbread. BTW "petticoat tails" (shortbread shape) is actually a corruption of "petits gateaux" from when the Normans were over here:p

kb36

Shortbread always goes down well with the French side of my family and homemade scones are a winner - you could do them out there...!

I think Monopoly is a good idea and have often contemplated this one myself as they do wooden retro looking boxed sets in Woolworths!

I don't know any French people who do not drink tea!!

A good cheddar, stilton or cheese truckle of something traditional is always a big hit too. Don't know many French people who say no to a good bit of cheese.

What not to take...... Marmite and HP sauce;-)

shadej

Wow, lots of great ideas.
I will get some lovely English cheddar, Ill give the wine an miss thanks.
It might be different but I wouldn't buy English wine for myself so I wont for them.
I will however pick up some english cider or perry.
I got some shortbread, mint sauce, cranberry sauce and good ole rhubarb and custards so far. Ill get some mince pies and Marmite too.

Whats English Mead?

ShockingPink

shadej wrote: »

Whats English Mead?

It's a fortified wine sweetened with honey - very popular in Elizabethan times. Lovely served over ice! http://www.pennardorganicwines.co.uk/mead.htm

shadej

Do Tesco or other supermarkets sell it?
Or do I have to buy online?

ShockingPink

Not sure about Tesco - but you can usually buy it in delis or places like that.

kb36

Ill get some mince pies and Marmite too.



Marmite is always a talking point - the smell is usually enough to put off the uninitiated so be prepared for a knock back.....