How To Extend The Joy Of Your Holiday Travel

Bring the flavours back home with you.

I was in an impossibly tiny Portuguese grocery store in Lisbon surrounded by people who’d just come off the metro from work. They all carried a small red basket as I did. But I think I was the only one who couldn’t read the signs in the aisles. Everything was in Portuguese of course, but I didn’t care.

My basket carried a frozen octopus as well as local coffee, vegetables, fruit, and jam for my husband and me to cook with in our little rented apartment.

But I was also on the lookout for foods to take home to Canada — edible souvenirs for gifts and more importantly, for my husband and me to enjoy long after we were home from our holiday.

The Magic of Edible Souvenirs

When you’re young or if you haven’t travelled much, you tend to buy a lot of souvenirs that typically were made in China and not in the place you visited. It seems to be a silly and expensive rite of passage all new travellers go through.

And then eventually you tire of wasting time looking for souvenirs on your holiday and spending money on the coconut husk keychain or Vegas magnet that gets a lukewarm reaction.

We all have the desire to share our experiences, and certainly, we take pictures — but let’s get real here — no one else really wants to look at them. We’ve all been tortured by someone who sat and showed us 700 pictures of their holiday.

And what makes my husband and I happy is when we can share some French escargots with garlic and butter with friends who love them. Or on a cold morning, we make a pot of Portuguese coffee and sip and talk about the wonderful time we had there a year ago.

Edible souvenirs are gifts that keep on giving long after your holiday is over.

Shop Where The Locals Are

I found a local grocery store by accident when I was in Mexico on my first international trip after college. I saw the locals buy huge containers of vanilla for a fraction of the price people sold on the street. I wised up. I bought three bottles for my mom, sister and me.

But I was still in my twenties and so I also bought stupid souvenirs that were never looked at once I got home.

But the vanilla? The authentic Mexican vanilla with its sultry burnt caramel undertones? That was a huge hit with my mom and sister who love to bake. They fell in love with it. And it was an epiphany for me because from that moment on, every time I travel to a new locale — international or otherwise — I hit the local grocery stores to find edible souvenirs.

And when we get home we never deal with lukewarm reactions from anyone as we share our holiday experience with them in unique and tasty ways. And most importantly — we get to extend the joyful memories and flavours of our holiday for months afterwards.

Ask The Locals What Are Their Favorites

The beautiful thing about travel is how many warm and friendly people you meet. People from all cultures and nationalities are usually helpful if you make an effort to speak their language and ask politely.

I’ve asked little French grandmothers what kind of escargot and duck confit I should buy and they’ve taken my hand and brought me to their favourite brands. A Scottish gentleman directed me to the best shortbread, which I’m forever grateful for.

My husband makes friends at the local fish shop or butcher and they show him what fish or meat is best and how to cook it. We can’t take the meat or fish home but we can certainly cook it while we’re there.

But these shops always carry bags of spice, tea, coffee, chocolate and so much more that are affordable and easy to pack. And we always ask for a local’s recommendation.

It Has To Be Suitcase Worthy

Most airlines allow you 50 lbs in your suitcase — don’t put any food in your carry on as cans and bottles are forbidden. My husband learned this the hard way in Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris.

The airline agent told him he had to empty his carry on bag filled with escargot and duck confit cans and move them over to his suitcase. I knew there was a black cloud brewing over my husband’s head so I smiled and said,

“Keep thinking about how good they will taste in January!”

My friend Tina and I hit New York annually and one of the first places we go to is Zabar’s deli. We eat a bag of their famous cinnamon rugelach and wouldn’t you know it — they carry French escargot too. And so now both of us haul cans back from New York each year and we bring an extra bag just to carry edible souvenirs.

Remember — if you love it — bring back as much as you can. I hauled 10 lbs of frozen Amish (Amish!) butter back from Hawaii and our friends laughed and didn’t do it. But I knew they secretly wanted to and they expressed regret once they got home. So I took a picture of me eating it on toast and sent it to them.

My husband and I still long for the massive cans of duck confit we didn’t buy in a little market in Bordeaux. We bought only two delicious cans — as if we were going to be back in France like next week or something. Well, hello— eight years later we still haven’t been back and we shake our heads at how stupid we were.

What other kinds of edible souvenirs have I brought back from my travels?

Balsamic vinegar and wine from Italy and coffee from Hawaii. Wine, escargot, and duck confit from France. Lobster from the Canadian Maritimes. Honey butter from Minnesota. Hot sauce and beans from Texas. Tea and jam from England and Scotland. Bars of spiced chocolate, vanilla, and massive pink marshmallows from Mexico. Lavender from Provence. Sardines and coffee from Portugal and a long tube of Portuguese custard tarts.

And let’s not forget about butter and cheese — I will haul that from absolutely any country in the world. No wonder I have one arm longer than the other.

Know What Food Your Home Country Allows Back In

A few months ago I brought so many bourbon beans, jalapeno pickles, and butter from Texas — when I gave the list to the Canadian customs official he lifted his eyebrows at me.

But I know all the rules and carry them with me and he finally laughed and said I was correct. I’m honest and say exactly what and how much I’ve brought back — because really — it isn’t worth going to jail for the Texan smoked brisket you wished you could sneak past the friendly customs dogs with their highly-trained noses.

I know people have tried to sneak in meat, fruits, and vegetables — but don’t do it. You’ll get caught and then the only travel you’ll do is to your lawyer.

Last week a French woman came up to me in our local grocery store and asked me about maple cookies which are only made here in Canada. I guided her to the proper aisle and showed her which brand to buy.

We didn’t know each other’s languages very well — but we figured it out and with big smiles, we went our separate ways.

Because who knows — maybe she was packing her 50-pound suitcase and heading back to France.

And I certainly want her to enjoy her Canadian maple cookies with tea once she is home. Because edible souvenirs really do extend the deliciousness of your travels.

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