I will be traveling from the U.S.A. to meet many French relatives, found through a geneological website. I am looking for gift suggestions. I do plan to mail parcels ahead to each town in order to avoid hauling things. Ideally, I would like to give both handmade and purchased items, appropriate for every age group. Music from local musicians is obvious, any other suggestions?
We had an almost identical question a few weeks ago and here are the 19 replies to that with many suggestions: clickMost agreed that giving American wine has the potential of backfiring and creating the opposite impression you intended.
It would seem to be a faux pas to take American wine to France; however, since Europeans generally see only Gallo mega-vinter products on their shelves, a nice Oregon Yamhill wine is entirely appropriate - but not via mail. That's not only quite impersonal but costly (and spirits can't be mailed overseas anyway).
As much as I like Bandon or Tillamook cheese, I would not bring those as gifts either.
There are a number of local products that Europeans do enjoy. Today I just bought some smoked salmon in a cedar box at Sam's Club ($13). Not only will it ship for under 2#, but it has an Oregon connection. Some unique ceramics found at the Saturday Market may fit that bill also. Music (bluegrass, cajun!) always is good.
Shipping has become quite expensive these days; I plan on taking one empty suitcase to Europe, because that's the only way to cart bulky or heavy gifts back.
A bottle of zinfandel will open doors and discussions.
I am sorry to take your time in reading my response , but everyone did not agree that California wine was inappropriate. My post reported my experience with a number of french moviemakers that would love to receive a gift of California wine from visitors. In almost every case, "everyone" or "noone" is not accurate.
To make this assumption, one reinforces the general understanding that the french are too sensative to suposed slights.
Smoked salmon is a good idea.
My German grandfather loves salsa and other things from the southwest. (He has about 3 or 4 English words and Cowboy is one of them.) Native American items tend to go over well, too. In the past, my mom has given Mt. Saint Helens ash glass ornaments. Almond Roca is a bit unique to our area.
Check out The Pacific Northwest Shop for ideas:
Once while standing in the supermarket check out line, the man in front of me was buying 50 packets of Taco seasoning mix!!!!! Everyone started asking him if he was having a huge party or what. He said he was visiting from Germany on business and whenever he was in the USA, he bought lots of this to take home!!! A French friend living in Avignon says that French Tex-Mex restaurants are awful but of course he is from Texas so I guess he would know!!!! Anyway, it's an idea.
Well, my dad is French, and I too was born there, but we returned to live in Canada when I was just a baby( mom was Canadain)so of course we have relatives and friends in France.
In the over 40 years my dad has gone back and forth visiting his mom, and my own fewer visits, I would never take wine. I would not even presume to buy wine and show up for dinner at some of my relatives as I would be likely to buy the wrong one. They have years of wine knowledge, they take it pretty serious , I have an uncle who loves to pull out Wine Bibles, and maps of all wine growing country, and he KNOWS many of the wines by not only by the obvious, but by the SOIL in which they grow, and he and other relatives will sit and dinner and get into big discussions about it,years of experience. No way in h*ll would I appear with a wine,especially not a non french wine,, LOL . Sorry, while they will sometimes grudgingly agree a certain wine from Chile,or Australia, or California " c'est pas mal" thats it.
This July I am taking some smoked salmon, and I am stopping in Paris first and bringing some macaroons from Ladurees.
I also pick up alot of flowers and that is always an appropriate gift to take when you go to someones house .
Children under 10 may like baseball caps . Personally do NOT go overboard, you will embarass them if you show up with a personal gift for everyone in the family. I tend to bring a generic gift for whole family like salmon for instance , and some flowers , or chocolates I do not buy individual gifts for people unless I am very close to them. I think you need to take it easy. A gift should be just a token of thoughtfulness, not enough to make them feel bad that they didn't rush out and buy you a bunch of stuff , which they are unlikely to do. I have been given a few gifts, like my godmother who took me to a lovely store and all it sold was perfume, and she let me pick whatever I wanted, but gift giving is just a more low key in France.