english food ideas for a gift

[cowoman]

Hello,We have just had a great 2 weeks in our newly bought house.The neighbours were so friendly and have promised to cut our very large garden another 2 times and strim it as well.They wouldnt take any money so we thought we would buy them something to say thankyou.O H said we could buy Whiskey but I thought we could buy some English bits and bobs and make up a basket.I am struggling to think what goodies we can buy for it so any ideas would be appreciated.I have got as far as thorntons toffee or chocolates maybe some shortbread and then I am stuck.Help me please if you can.Or if you have a better idea to say thanks I would love to consider it.

[Russethouse]

Oatcakes, cheddar, Green & Blacks chocolate...

[mint]

My French friends seem to like savoury "biscuits for cheese" as they think it a bit of a change from bread.

They also love my Victoria sponge, especially when I fill it with strawberry jam.

Fudge is also much appreciated.

Will come back with other thoughts if you don't get many answers but I suspect that your thread could produce lots of stories as well as solutions to your problem.

[cowoman]

Thanks for that

I hope you are right and I can get lots of ideas .Then I wont have to get a boring bottle of Whiskey.

[Just Katie]

Try them with cornish pasties.  Now that is a real laugh, they nibble and look at each other slightly confused.  Oh and porridge, that's a laugh too.

[sueyh]

Good morning Cowoman!

When our dutch friend did us a huge favour I made up a basket of:

English Tea, ginger conserve and other nice jams, special mint sauce, luxury biscuits, horseradish sauce, fudge, scottish shortbread and finally luxury bubble bath (just make sure they don't take that the wrong way!!).

She thought it was wonderful.

Suey

[TefkaC]

Hello Cowoman, branston pickle, our french neighbours can't get enough of it!

 

 

Charlie.[:D][:D][:D]

[Lesley1952]

branston pickle , selection of teas, tiger bread (my neighbours go big time for this !!) brown sauce ,jellies (well worth the quizzling looks !!)sandwich spread, custard (ready made) tinned rice ,pork pies,sausage rolls , cheddar cheese (or a selection from your area) parsnips !!! ginger beer,cream soda or any of the flavoured pops which are dificult to get here you could actually make them a trifle (lovely stuff) the above is a small sample of the shopping that I have to do for my neighbours !!!!

[Kitty]

Pot Noodles?  [Www] Talking to a supermarket manager when I was back in the UK last month, I understand that it was his fastest selling line.

P.S. Are Pot Noodles British?

[cowoman]

thanks for all the great suggestions.I reckon it must have been the expats buying the pot noodles though.

[yetagain]

Kendal mint cake and stilton in a little pottery jar. I am drooling as I type.

[nectarine]

Fudge is always a winner, I have a neighbour who thinks it is just divine and guards it jealously from her friends who all want to taste!! 

Separately I once made a gift of some Christmas crackers to a family, who just didn't understand what to do with them as I don't believe they are available in France.  When I explained, they were surprised and dismayed "why do you have to break these pretty things?" and were very reluctant to pull them apart.  The paper hats went down a storm, as did the small plastic toy.  And the jokes, we ended up in stitches trying to translate the "Knock Knock", "Who's There" ... jokes and the riddles.  Now we always buy boxes of crackers and give them as gifts when we are invited for Xmas drinks, and they they are always appreciated as a novel, and very English, gift!

[cowoman]

[quote user="yetagain"]Kendal mint cake and stilton in a little pottery jar. I am drooling as I type.[/quote]

Where do you buy this?Forgive me I have never heard of it.

[Jill<br><br>Jill (99)]

Kendal Mint Cake is from the Lake District but can often be found in areas in England where walking is common, such as places in Derbyshire where people start walks from.  I believe it has a high sugar content for energy giving.  I think I've heard of mountaineers carrying it.  You can get it chocolate covered too.  It isn't a cake by the way, it's very solid, between a peppermint cream and a peppermint.

Other things I've given as gifts to foreigners, although this is not the time of the year for it, but you could consider it for later - Christmas Pudding, Rum/Brandy butter, Christmas cake, mincemeat - although I must admit, I wouldn't give bought mince meat, only home made, but I usually give home made pudding too.  I suppose any fruit cake at any time of year might be appreciated.  I don't recall having seen fruit cakes like English ones.  Sausage Rolls.  Bakewell PUDDING (not tart - completely different) - can be posted from the Bakewell pudding shop.

If your friends are adventurous, they might even appreciate something like Pataks curry pastes or sauces and pickles.

Harvey's Bristol Cream - I know it's Spanish, but it's not the same as French aperitifs - it's sort of English.  I don't know what sherry is like in Spain - or how it compares.

 

[Nicos]

Eccles cakes and Vimto always go down a treat!