Question for Canadians

[PastryChef 0]

Hello all. I have a question for the Canadian expats that read this forum.

The backstory is that I married a Canadian, and we are almost at the point in the immigration where she can move in with me(finally!). I had the idea that I'd make her a gift basket, and have it waiting for her when she first walks through the door of our place. I want to fill the basket with Canadian things that aren't available in the states, and put in a card containing some lovey-dovey "this is to help with homesickness" type of message.

So, my question to you is what sort of food/candy/gift/misc items do you miss that are available in Canada but not in the states? I've got a few basic ideas, but I'm sure there are a million things I'm forgetting about. So please, remind me! Tell me all about Canadian stuff you'd love to have!

[pocheros 101]

Dad's Cookies (I don't think they're available in the States.)

Edit: Oh and Tim Hortons coffee if she likes that.

Edited July 17, 2011 by pocheros

[Inky 1,110]

Tim Hortons hot chocolate

smarties, terrys chocolate orange, ketchup chips, real Montreal bagels.

British tv shows and BBC channel.

Also it varys by state, some states have a lot of the same stuff Canada has where as others have nothing.

[stronger 43]

You can get many of these things from Amazon.com or Canadaonly.ca ....www.canadianfavourites.com/

I LOVE Kraft Peanut Butter, Ketchup chips, Aero Bars, Mirage Bars and Smarties chocolate. OH...and OH HENRY! lol And a Tragically Hip mix CD

Poutine is of course VERY Canadian. Just make her this for dinner one night. Easy enough. Need beef gravy, cheese curds (mozerella type) and french fries. Look up the recipe online. easy enough.

You're SO sweet to want to do this for her. CHEERS!

Edited July 17, 2011 by tolsab

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Shreddies, I'm going to miss those! Smarties, (the chocolate ones) Coffee Crisp, brown gravy for french fries, (throw in a can of poutine if you can find one!) Ask her parents what kind of Canadian beer she likes and see if you can get your hands on some. Maynards wine gums, red rose tea, or tetley, CARAMILK, everyone loves those! In fact, anything Cadbury! Ketchup flavoured chips, Miss Vickies if you can get it! Dill pickle chips, wow, there's a lot here that I'd like when I've been down there for a while, I'm going to make a list for Christmas!

Oh, yeah, she'll hate it, but try to stick some Buckleys in there..... gotta have the Buckleys when you get a cold, it tastes horrible, but she'll laugh after making a face!

[stronger 43]

Oh yeah...Buckley's YES! And Neocitrin!

Shreddies, I'm going to miss those! Smarties, (the chocolate ones) Coffee Crisp, brown gravy for french fries, (throw in a can of poutine if you can find one!) Ask her parents what kind of Canadian beer she likes and see if you can get your hands on some. Maynards wine gums, red rose tea, or tetley, CARAMILK, everyone loves those! In fact, anything Cadbury! Ketchup flavoured chips, Miss Vickies if you can get it! Dill pickle chips, wow, there's a lot here that I'd like when I've been down there for a while, I'm going to make a list for Christmas!

Oh, yeah, she'll hate it, but try to stick some Buckleys in there..... gotta have the Buckleys when you get a cold, it tastes horrible, but she'll laugh after making a face!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Buckleys tastes terrible but it works,lol Some Rite Aids in the USA carry out! Some Wegmans grocery stores carry Tim Hortons ground coffee

[Colleens 40]

What a sweet idea...gold star for you!! Here are some of the things that I try to bring back with me when I visit Canada. A lot of it will depend on what your wife likes...I am a bit of a candyaholic so a lot of mine is based on the 'comfort' foods. And like Inky said it depends on the area you will be moving to what may or may not be available

Ketchup Chips (I am partial to Lays)

Smarties (unlike the american smarties these are candy covered chocolate similar to M&M's)

Mars Bars

Any form of Cadbury chocolate (The Cadbury chocolate you get here is not the same)

Swedish Berries

Wine Gums

Glossette Raisins or peanuts

Shreddies Cereal

Kraft Dinner (it is called Mac and Cheese here but they taste quite different)

Heinz Ketchup (again same name but very different taste)

Licorice Allsorts

Peek Freans Lifestyle cookies ( I like the blueberry, brown sugar and flax)

[Shawna and James 4]

Ive noticed that they do not carry the vachon brand of snack cakes down here. So no Ah! Caramel's for me

Coffe crisp is definitely one Ill miss, as well as caramilk... um... peach drink mix I cant find anywhere..

I think its sweet that you are doing this for her

[la2011 5]

I miss Cherry Blossoms and Humpty Dumpty Ketchup Chips, I'm French Canadian and I also missed my Vachons Cakes, Ah Caramels I'll have those shipped in once in a while and I share them with my Southern coworkers and they all love them.

Maybe I should consider an import-export business

[Udella&Wiz 325]

There are subtle things that she won't realize she misses....I think your idea is wonderful and sweet. A loving note can go along way - telling her that you know it will be different and you know she'll be homesick.

I won't recommend anything in particular, but take note of what she likes back in Canada and see if you can pick it up when you're up there next - Canadaonly website (IMO)is a rip off unless you're desparate - the prices are high and the shipping is ridiculous

Read the threads where we talk about homesickness in the Cdn forum and be ready to comfort her when she tells you she hates the US - it will happen eventually and you can't take it personally. Regular visits back home are the best remedy we know of....you get to a breaking point sometimes and then you know it's time for a visit back home. Keeping busy here also helps a person feel useful and happy.

Food wise - it's subtle, things just don;t taste the same despite being the same brand supposedly.

Good luck and be patient! You're ahead of the game if you already are planning to help her adjust.

[PastryChef 0]

Thank you all so much for the ideas, and the feedback! It is immensely helpful to me. Also for the pointers that some of the things can be bought here in the states. That is going to save me a lot on shipping.

I've found a few of the things you mentioned in stores around here. For some reason the thai section of the international aisle of my local grocer has aero bars and smarties. A lot of the other stuff I will probably be forced to order online, but it's all good. She is worth it!

[PastryChef 0]

Once I get everything together I'll post a picture of it so you call can see my awesome(ly bad) decorating skills.

[Stuart and Thea 95]

See if her parents are willing to purchase and send along the items you can't get locally. If they can, tell them to get it at a neighbourhood grocery store, not sure where she's from, but she'll recognise the bag if it's something from her area. Then you can use the store's bag as wrapping paper!

Found this site for you too, it's super cute! I forgot about Canadian Tire money, she'll miss that too. An American's guide to Canada I wish there was a site like that for Canadians to learn all about our southerly cousins!

Edited July 18, 2011 by Stuart and Thea

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Thank you all so much for the ideas, and the feedback! It is immensely helpful to me. Also for the pointers that some of the things can be bought here in the states. That is going to save me a lot on shipping.

I've found a few of the things you mentioned in stores around here. For some reason the thai section of the international aisle of my local grocer has aero bars and smarties. A lot of the other stuff I will probably be forced to order online, but it's all good. She is worth it!

Likely it's right next to the British section? I wouldn't bother buying them - they don't taste the same as Cdn ones and generally they're really old

Edited July 18, 2011 by Udella&Wiz