What are some yummy/interesting snacks that I should get hubby to bring home from the US?

[mellowyellowgirl]

Hubby is going on a business trip to the US and I'm looking for yummy/cool things that you guys have at the supermarkets over there that he can bring home.

Australia is pretty nuts when it comes to biohazards so I'm looking for packaged stuff.

Anything weird and wacky that I should try? Any gadgets that might be good (I've asked for lots of portioning scoops because we don't have those in Australia for some reason!)?

 

[kenny]

To me American supermarkets are boring.

Have him google his nearest location of a Trader Joes and just cruise the aisles.
But first make a list of what foods will not be allowed to be brought into your country.

Here is a link to a few of their items which are 'featured' this month.

May 2022 Fearless Flyer

www.traderjoes.com

Do you like huge bars of high-end European chocolate at bargain prices?
500 gram (1 pound 1.6 oz) bricks of Trader Joe Pound Plus chocolate slabs are made in Belgium, but somehow only $5.00 IIRC.
Excellent chocolate and killer deal.

5 types, Milk with or without almonds, Dark, Bittersweet with almonds, and 72% Cacao Dark.

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

There are a zillion flavors of Oreos.. does that interest you?

OREO Flavors | OREO Cookies

www.oreo.com

 

[PreRaphaelite]

Root Beer barrel candies?

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Fabulous idea to browse that page @kenny

Things I'm interested in: Uber cookies, ube pancake mix, jalapeno chips

Lots of fun random stuff!

 

[oceanblue]

Jelly beans I think are very American, but they are not considered wacky here.

Maybe he could go to a big american super market and pick out what he thinks you would enjoy. Supermarkets are prone to carrying regional American goodies.

A lot of foods that I consider different are available at the asian markets two miles from my house.

 

[OdetteOdile]

I’m a big fan of Trader Joe’s and recommend it as well!!

In terms of weird and wacky the very first food that came to mind for me is Marshmallow Fluff. I am not sure you can find it in all parts of the US or if it is more of an East Coast thing. Anyway, a fluffernutter sandwich (fluff and peanut butter) might be fun to try!

 

[LilAlex]

This makes me laugh and almost cry. When I think of the countries I've been and the foods I would tell others they *must* try there -- and then to think of the must-try's here in the US . I guess i would ask which city since even in the (arguable) melting pot that is the US, there are regional specialties (cheese steak, Italian beef -- showing my East Coast bias). But I guess those are hard to travel with! OK, TastyKakes.

 

[telephone89]

I always buy some trader joes speculous cookie butter when I go haha. So yum

 

[dk168]

Peanut brittles - I have tried many and the American ones were the best!

I used to crave for their sweets like candy corn and Jelly Belly, however, I can get them in UK nowadays.

DK

 

[rainbowstarry]

If he is near a trader joes they sometimes carry Ube mochi pancake mix

Ube Mochi Pancake & Waffle Mix

www.traderjoes.com

Fabulous idea to browse that page @kenny

Things I'm interested in: Uber cookies, ube pancake mix, jalapeno chips

Lots of fun random stuff!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Everything is yummy there !

Pringles come in all these different flavours we don't get here

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Not the US, but when i went to Canada to see Bruce Springsteen i had no time for shopping or site seeing
But i did go down the local very big, new and lovelly supermarket and brought the most weird and wonderdul things to bring home and try
not sure if your hubby would know what was weird and wonderful - or what you would like or what would be useful ?
But Gary was really happy with what i brought home

I even threw in a couple of friskies wet cat food tins for Tinky becsuse we never got all the flavours at home


We used to have this kiosk down Porirua mall that specialised in American confectionary
They also had the most amazing hot sauces
I used to spend up at birthdays and Christmas !
Everything was yummy

I think your hubby can't go wrong !

My friend did send me some NJ salt water taffy (i didn't really like it)
Im more a peanut butter kinda girl

 

[lilmosun]

What part of the US will he be traveling to?

As @LilAlex mentioned, there are regional specialties. Even when traveling the US, I often back things I can't get or harder to find or are not as good as where I live.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

What part of the US will he be traveling to?

As @LilAlex mentioned, there are regional specialties. Even when traveling the US, I often back things I can't get or harder to find or are not as good as where I live.

Cupertino!

 

[FL_runner]

Ooo

Not the US, but when i went to Canada to see Bruce Springsteen i had no time for shopping or site seeing
But i did go down the local very big, new and lovelly supermarket and brought the most weird and wonderdul things to bring home and try
not sure if your hubby would know what was weird and wonderful - or what you would like or what would be useful ?
But Gary was really happy with what i brought home

I even threw in a couple of friskies wet cat food tins for Tinky becsuse we never got all the flavours at home


We used to have this kiosk down Porirua mall that specialised in American confectionary
They also had the most amazing hot sauces
I used to spend up at birthdays and Christmas !
Everything was yummy

I think your hubby can't go wrong !

My friend did send me some NJ salt water taffy (i didn't really like it)
Im more a peanut butter kinda girl

Oooo do you have peanut butter filled pretzels by you? I love those- Trader Joe’s makes good ones.

 

[Cerulean]

Cupertino isn’t actually a foodie paradise, and I’m not sure what is or isn’t available but a few things that come to mind I haven’t seen abroad

• Smartfood white cheddar popcorn (the stuff is addictive!)
• fun flavors of pop tarts like s’mores
• Funyuns
• Cool ranch Doritos
• sugary cereals like Reese puffs
• flamin hot Cheetos
• Snyders flavored pretzels pieces (my fave are the honey mustard)
• Laffy taffy
• Cookies and cream hersheys
• Dr Pepper soda

America also has amazing hot sauces and bbq sauces / spice blends, or everything bagel seasoning from Trader Joe’s

 

[lilmosun]

Cupertino!

Nice...too bad you can't go with him. When I visit that part of California, I love going to the various downtown areas for the small owner boutiques and restaurants. One thing I often bring back from California is stuff from See's Candies. In San Francisco, I would stop at GL Alfieri's to pick up nuts/brittle at the terminal building to bring home but I think they closed

 

[oceanblue]

boxed macaroni and cheese could be wacky and very, very American.
How about protein bars?
Another sweet food would be rice crispy treats.

Anything with “old bay”, the seasoning of DELMARVA. (Delaware, Maryland and Cieginia)

 

[kenny]

Cupertino!

Then get a bushel of apples.

 

[LilAlex]

One thing I often bring back from California is stuff from See's Candies.

YES to See's Candies -- the best bargain in American candy! Get a custom-made one-pound box -- half Scotch mallows and half dark-chocolate vanilla creams. There is much "finer" chocolate in the Bay Area -- Recchiutti, TCHO, Dandelion, etc. -- but it's 5X the price.

But now that I am thinking of it, Dandelion single origins are unbelievable. Two ingredients (cocoa beans and cane sugar) and they are all different and nuanced like red wine (or, I guess, cigars or whiskey, if I enjoyed those things). The "staff favorites" five-pack of 70% two-ounce bars (IIRC) for $40 (?), while outrageous for bar chocolate, is a better tasting experience than most restaurant meals and will forever change how you look at chocolate.

 

[rainbowstarry]

Definitely have Trader Joes there!

Cupertino!

 

[FL_runner]

YES to See's Candies -- the best bargain in American candy! Get a custom-made one-pound box -- half Scotch mallows and half dark-chocolate vanilla creams. There is much "finer" chocolate in the Bay Area -- Recchiutti, TCHO, Dandelion, etc. -- but it's 5X the price.

But now that I am thinking of it, Dandelion single origins are unbelievable. Two ingredients (cocoa beans and cane sugar) and they are all different and nuanced like red wine (or, I guess, cigars or whiskey, if I enjoyed those things). The "staff favorites" five-pack of 70% two-ounce bars (IIRC) for $40 (?), while outrageous for bar chocolate, is a better tasting experience than most restaurant meals and will forever change how you look at chocolate.

Love See’s!

 

[KaeKae]

Because I live near the factory in NJ, I was going to recommend M&Ms, which come in several varieties and would be easy to transport
But if he's going to California, See's Candy

 

[rainbowstarry]

Love their Nuts and Chews box

Love See’s!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Ooo

Oooo do you have peanut butter filled pretzels by you? I love those- Trader Joe’s makes good ones.

Sounds yum
No
We have borring pretzels here just with salt

 

[MMtwo]

Another yes to See's candy!

Food in America tends to be regional in nature. If you like spicy food and would like some yummy Creole spices, Tony Chachere's Cajun spice is an important part of my household cooking stash. You may have an equivalent there, I have no idea.

Too bad you're not dropping into Virginia, I'd make you a mess of greens, fried corn, and salt cured country ham. No way to send that home though.

​

 

[Arcadian]

I don't know if you can get these in Aus, but Chili Roasted Pistachios (or salt and Vinegar, both are really good. BBQ and honey are sweetest of the 4)

No Shells Chili Roasted Pistachios | Wonderful Pistachios

Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Chili Roasted pistachios explode with flavors of garlic, red pepper, and vinegar. Try these delectable pistachios today.

www.wonderfulpistachios.com

 

[Buttercookies]

Another rec for Traders Joe

I love this one

 

[MountainJuls]

We just moved away from the Bay Area last year-so I second the rec for Trader Joe’s and See’s Candy. AFAIK See’s will still give you free samples to ensure you love what you’re buying. I wouldn’t load up on TJ’s chocolate, but rather stop in a Sprouts or a Whole Foods for some better boutique chocolates. You’ll find many CA and West coast in general brands represented.
A Bay Area favorite is Pepper Plant sauce-an iconic staple of diners all over the bay. It is a local garlic pepper sauce that is fantastic on eggs, hash browns, burgers, etc. You can pick up a variety of flavors(original and chipotle are the best) from most grocery stores-although Lunardi’s is the best bet.
Sourdough used to always be the thing to bring home but our global world has made that more widely available, not to mention it’s usually sold in open bags and may not make the long trip home. I’d just recommend for your hubby to eat as much of the good stuff as possible while there (ideally with salted Kerrygold)!
Speaking of bread, he MUST enjoy a sandwich on some Dutch Crunch bread. Sadly, for a bread with such an international name and history, it is a regional favorite, not likely to be found outside of the SF Bay Area. Dittmer’s is a fantastic German sausage and smokehouse to grab a Dutch crunch sandwich and Ike’s sandwich shops are dotted all over the area-plus you’ll get a caramel apple lollipop with your order. Sorry I veered a bit off topic, got a bit wistful for a sec!