I'm in Tuscany now and I know you can't bring cheese back to the states on the plane. But does anyone know if you can bring pasta back in your carry on? I'm thinking about getting a couple small bags of pici pasta from the salamiere shop but I'm not sure if you can take those back.
Posted by
Watertown, MA
118 posts
Pasta is fine to bring back, pici is a good choice, hard to find sometimes.
re:cheese, can bring back vacuum packed parmesan cheese. I do mentioned on my forms coming home if I have any food products.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
Cheese can be brought back if vacuum packed. The salumieri at the Mercato Centrale in Florence know what to do (the Mercato Centrale of San Lorenzo is a good place to load up on products).
Bring back products that are hard to find or very expensive in the US, to maximize your Return on Investment (where the investment is the luggage space). Pasta is not something that falls in that category, as nowadays most types of pasta are available in specialty stores in the US. Also pasta takes quite a bit of luggage room and weighs more.
I suggest:
Dried porcini
saffron
truffle oil
truffle salt
truffle in jars
anything with truffle
bags of pasta condiments to add to sauce (usually spices)
and anything you really like and know you can't find at home.
Posted by
OP
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
Grazie Roberto
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1898 posts
I have brought back packages of pasta, as well as 00 flour and other items. Some of it I put in my carry on, other items I put in my tote bag/backpack and carry on the plane.
If you find a shape of pasta that you know you won't find in the US, it's worth bringing home. Weighs next to nothing, and it's so much fun to cook with it in your own kitchen.
I've had fun shopping for shapes from different regions in Italy, as each has their specialty.
Do it.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
I forgot to list BOTTARGA (also available in small jars or vacuum packed).
I wish I knew where to find some nice bottarga di tonno in California. Any clues? I don't think the 20 jars I brought back will last me till next year.
I'm a bottargholic in need of a cure!
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Pici pasta is not something you can find easily, if at all. I've looked in a number of specialty stores in Chicagoland and never have seen it. If you lived closer I'd have you bring me back some!