USA Mommies....

[tigermeow]

In a few weeks we are heading off for a holiday in the USA. It will be DD's b'day whilst we are away and a friend of a friend has offered to host a b'day party for us. I know she has gone to a huge amount of expense and trouble (and she doesn't even know us). I would love to take her something 'very British' as a thank you present. Any ideas as to what to take? What do Americans see as 'very English/British'? My present(s) have to be unbreakable as they will be going in my suitcase and not too huge and take up loads of space.
Many thanks.

If it were me, I would enjoy anything food-related. I think chocolate from over there would be my favorite thing to get, as it is pretty different from the crap chocolate we have here.

There are several shops that sell British food where I'm at, and even the supermarkets are starting to have small sections that have imported British food (PG tips, clotted cream [yum!], Heinz spotted dick, treacle pudding, odd curry things in squeeze bottles), etc. But it is all really expensive. If I could choose, I'd love some tea, and maybe some cookies, clotted cream, and definitely some European chocolates thrown in. But that is just me.

I'm in a hurry, so can't think this through much, but HTH.

Things people over here seem to appreciate are:

British clothing - everyone comments on DS's clothes (from Next or Tescos)

Chocolate (Cadbury's) or even something like Roses or Thorntons

Maybe some British biscuits (but my friends never like shortbread) like Custard Creams or Bourbons?

Perhaps even a book?

Maybe you could do a little gift basket.

crumpets? old fashioned british sweets, eg black jacks, bon bons, lemon sherbets?

What about something from Harrods (chocs, tea, cookies etc)? If you're not in London they are in most duty free's... admittedly a slightly expensive option but very British

Not sure if you've gone yet, but I know what I bring back to the USA when I visit.

They love the chocolate, especially Galaxy and Cadburys. No offense, but i'd not bring biscuits because bourbons and custard creams are....uh, not really that outstanding for them - if you consider what a cookie oriented world it is over there.

And anything from the shop Past Times or the National Trust shops goes down a storm! My sister still adores her Lady of the Manor tea mug...

My sister also loves the fashion magazines from over here, because it lets her know what's going on in the European scene..I always bring Vogue.

You can buy the UK, French and other European editions of Vogue in the US...check out Barnes and Noble or Borders. If you're in an area where they usually don't carry a specific edition, have them order it for you. We have (mostly) great customer svc. in the US. (no need to bring mags over).

Second the cream crap...my DH and everybody who has visited us hate cream filled crap, and esp. the Easter stuff. We do not eat easter filled eggs here because they are groce. Also hate those mince pies at Christmas...like fruit cake...yuck. Sorry, as I know we eat stuff that you don't like like grits, or greens or some spicy food.

Yes, National Trust gifts would be nice and good English teas. Also, second the comment about cookies...I think english biscuits are plain and don't waste my calories on them, but give me a Pepperridge Farm cookie in the US....I love all the types..and there are hundreds. Also, lots of Americans like to make cookies (biscuits) from scratch so they will always be better than the store bought.

As Americans, here's what we bring to our friends and relatives back home in the US...English teas, jams/jellies, anything Harrods, Jo Malone, Neal's Yard anything...oh yea, and some 'over-the-counter' stuff in the UK that you need a prescription in the US for...amazing how people always want these things....takes precedece over food even

My sister keeps asking for UK Glamour so maybe that's not readily available? (She has more money than anyone to spend on overpriced imports and is a magazine fanatic...)

I agree with what you said about biscuits - just didnt want to come off too rude about it. I think OREOS cancels out any bourbon creams.

A big Easter egg - a nice one like Thorntons might be a good novelty though - change from the chocolate bunny..