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Posted this over on a travel forum and thought I'd do it here. We're going on vacation and I'm going to the local grocery store and see if there's any food I want to bring back home because we can't get it in our area. When we visit WV we bring home Oliverio Italian Peppers and Krogers pepperoni rolls from the bakery. I've heard alot about Duke's mayo so I may be on the lookout for it. What food do you tote home?

Homemade baked goods usually, esp. around the holidays. My mother is in her early 90s so baking is no longer her thing yet she appreciates the Italian recipes she taught me years ago. Other than that, I might pick up local delicacies from wineries or independant specialty stores in my area. We're also noted for mushrooms, but I only bought those when dad was alive. Since I'm heading to NC soon to visit some family, I usually pick up one or two Trader Joe's items because they don't have that chain near them.

American cut pork chops!!! Every time we go to Iowa, we fill a cooler with frozen, vacuum sealed pork chops to bring home. Simply cannot get anything near as good here.

We will soon have a Fresh Market nearby, but I've not been impressed with the one that I have visited before. I hope that was just a fluke. I'd love to have a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods nearby.

FFG I agree about Trader Joe's. I've been hoping they'll sweep the nation!

I know Trader Joes is a grocery store but what exactly is their deal? Do they specialize in natural foods? international? I have one 35 miles from where we live. TIA

quote:

Originally posted by mountainbeach:
I know Trader Joes is a grocery store but what exactly is their deal? Do they specialize in natural foods? international? I have one 35 miles from where we live. TIA

We miss Trader Joe's so much! When we were in DC, we traveled to their No. Va. store regularly to stock up on some of their awesome specialty items: coffee, wine, olive oil,fancy frozen foods, etc.

They are less expensive and not as trendy as Whole Foods, although WF has far more products and much better fresh produce, meats and fish than Trader Joe's.

TJ's is a fun, no frills shopping experience. Try it, I think you'll like it very much. http://www.traderjoes.com/

Check them out at www.traderjoes.com I mostly by my nuts there as they seem to be a bit more reasonable then other chains. I have also bought some of their breads, veggie chips, frozen foods, fresh herbs, flowers, etc. They also routinely offer food and beverage samples.

We have several nearby and they are very popular. We also have Whole Foods and Fresh Market but they're too pricy for me. I do appreciate that they are nearby should I need a specialty ingredient tho.

Tonight a friend is stopping by for a quick supper (she is a very fussy eater) I had a bag of Trader Joes, think its called winter grains or something like that. I cooked some of it the other day to add to a soup and couldn't stop eating it out of the pan!

I'll serve that. TJ is a favorite of ours and is only a couple of miles away.

Have you tried Trader Joe's Inner Peas snack yet? Addictive!

The one thing I bring back from Texas is Corn-Kits corn bread mix. All the ones I can find in California are too sweet. I probably should just make my own from scratch.

When we go to N.Carolina we always stop in at a little restaurant in Sylva called Lulu's. They make a homemade salad dressing called Szechuan salad dressing that they use on their grilled shrimp and salad. I always bring a large container to bring at least a quart home with me. It's spicy and addictive!

We ALWAYS shop at grocery stores when we travel. And if we go to another country, it's the best place to buy food gifts -- so much cheaper than gift shops and "real"! When we returned form England last year, we brought Heinz beans, mustard, LOTS of PG Tips tea, a steak sauce, and orange maramalade.

Martha

I didn't like Duke's mayo...Hellman's rules at my house

I'm a transplanted Yankee into the south...can't STAND Duke's mayo!

There was an article earlier today about Trader Joe's having more recalls this past year than other stores. Might want to check out the recall list. One item was one of their brand frozen dinners/entrees...not sure which.

I stop at Amish stores. I LOVE their cheeses! And the Amish white popcorn is the BEST! I still pop mine the oldfashioned way...I don't like microwave popcorn! Besides, I want more than just that one little bag anyway!

When we go to Asheville, NC we always stop in at the Moose Cafe for some of their cat's head biscuits (eaten on site) and a few jars of their apple butter. It is like a super spicy and thick applesauce.

When We go to Kentucky I get real sorgham.

When I go to Charleston I stop at Jack's Cosmic Hotdogs (consumed on site also).

Back in the day when we'd fly out to California we would bring back about 1/2 dozen or more Marie Callendar's pies from the restaurant. This was before all the limits on what you could carry on board the airplane.

ga.karen, I also pop my own corn. Never cared much for M.W. brands. I have one of those pots with the crank handle--I love it. I've been a popcorn-aholic since I started going to the movies when I was about 10 or 11, I guess. Can't enjoy a movie without popcorn!

As for TJ peanuts, a one-lb bag of shelled walnuts cost me $7.49 the other day. I was shocked because I usually buy them at Winco for much less. I also like their frozen onion soup (2 in a pkg and they cook 40 mins. in the oven).

I like their $9.99 pkg of precooked BBQ ribs and especially like their haricots verts green beans (although one time I did get a bad batch).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CA Lori,

I'm always looking for interesting liqueurs and liquor we can't buy here, or ones I like in smaller bottles.
Decent olive oils, vinegars and regional preserves are usually in my basket on the way home from a vacation.

Years ago I used to bring home chow mein noodles from the East coast that were wide like egg noodles.

I used to bring home special bottles of wine from various regions BUT the "new" Homeland Security regulations brought a quick halt to that!

Then I tried to bring home some condiments from foreign countries but. alas, Homeland Security didn't allow those either. I gave up ~ so glad that our taxes are making our country safer... ?

I used to bring home some fixings from Europe for fondue until the price went from $6 to $17.99 ~ it was good but NOT that good....

So, sadly, there is nothing now that I bring home ~ guess the luggage is that much lighter.

PS. Agreed - Best Foods here, Hellmans there - it is the only mayonaise worth having!

I used to bring home unbleached flour from northwest Wisconsin because I couldn't find it in the Ohio area I lived in.

Thankfully, it's everywhere now.

Not sure we haul anything home now, as the shopping choices has greatly improved where I now live.

That includes now having a Trader Joes. That was an interesting experience. I didn't realize that (most) everything in the store is their own brand! I was expecting a huge store, with lots of brand choices. Quickly learned.

Everyone has their own price point for feeding their family. In our situation, if we had children, we couldn't afford TJs. Since it's just the two of us, we view it fast food cost to buy their premade foods. They seem to be healthier than regular fast food restaurant foods, but less expensive.

So it fills a need for us, but may not for everyone.

Idaho...if you really, really want to "bring something home" but regs won't allow it in your luggage...mail it to yourself!
I did that with a whole bunch of plant seeds I collected in Hawaii. ALL luggage has to go through an agricultural inspection prior to leaving there...and it's a $1000 fine if caught with stuff. Mail worked fine...and I used a flat rate box too!

When our DS2 studied in Spain and we were going over to visit I took the ingredients in my checked luggage for making a double batch of Scotcharoos. He also asked for 2 of the biggest jars of peanut butter.
Of course my bag got pulled for inspection by TSA before we departed because of the Karo syrup.
All my underwear, clothes, etc. had to be opened and unfolded right there for G-d & everybody to see. I stood beyond the rope and watched the fellow go through my suitcase. "I've never seen big jars of peanut butter like this (they were 1/2 gallon ea.) When he came to the box of Rice Krispies and Butterscotch chips he figured it out, looked up and smiled at me saying "all the fixins' for Scotcharoos!" He then quit the search and closed up my bag and sent it on it's merry way.

We also shop for souvenirs at grocery stores. Spice mixes, sauces, cheeses, booze, etc.
If there's a local dish you enjoy when you're traveling, look for the mix, sauce, whatever, at the grocery store. You'll probably find a reasonable facsimile to get you started when you return home.

quote:

Originally posted by Charming:
When we go to Asheville, NC we always stop in at the Moose Cafe for some of their cat's head biscuits (eaten on site) and a few jars of their apple butter. It is like a super spicy and thick applesauce.

When We go to Kentucky I get real sorgham.

When I go to Charleston I stop at Jack's Cosmic Hotdogs (consumed on site also).

Back in the day when we'd fly out to California we would bring back about 1/2 dozen or more Marie Callendar's pies from the restaurant. This was before all the limits on what you could carry on board the airplane.

OOOOMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGG!!!!! We just were there a week ago as we were traveling through! That applesauce and biscuits; MMMMMmmmmm veryyyy good! DH didn't like his meatloaf dinner, but he liked the biscuits/a.sauce! I had fried chicken a bit overcooked (I think they cook it then drop back in the deepfryer to warm it up), real mashed taters w/white gravy, and green beans. I was pleased, although the food wasn't hot enough. It was late in the day so maybe that's why.

quote:

Originally posted by Charming:
When we go to Asheville, NC we always stop in at the Moose Cafe for some of their cat's head biscuits (eaten on site) and a few jars of their apple butter.

I'm thinking I've heard of cat's head biscuits on tv before.

My Brookshires finally stocks Duke's. It's okay, but Hellman's is better.

I know that it's better allergy-wise to purchase local honey, but when I'm in Mt. View Arkansa I buy "Bee Barf" honey for myself and gifts. Not only does it give everyone a laugh - it's good honey!

quote:

Originally posted by KeepYouInStitches:
My Brookshires finally stocks Duke's. It's okay, but Hellman's is better.

I know that it's better allergy-wise to purchase local honey, but when I'm in Mt. View Arkansa I buy "Bee Barf" honey for myself and gifts. Not only does it give everyone a laugh - it's good honey!

Oh my, that makes me laugh. What a name!!!

OH! While in Mt. View I also purchase coarse stone ground corn meal when the old mill has it. AND there's a fudge shop where you can see them making their candies! So I load up there too. (I also make stops at the local antique malls AND the local quilt shops. GREAT little town for my get-a-ways!)

quote:

Originally posted by mountainbeach:

quote:

Originally posted by Charming:
When we go to Asheville, NC we always stop in at the Moose Cafe for some of their cat's head biscuits (eaten on site) and a few jars of their apple butter.

I'm thinking I've heard of cat's head biscuits on tv before.

They are the big fluffy biscuits that rise very high and are nubby on top.