The [food] gift that says Chicago

You're traveling, and you want to take a little taste of Chicago to a distant friend. What do you take?

Let's assume the friend is not a Chicago ex-pat, so something like a jar of neon relish would be meaningless. The item needs to be obviously Chicago-ish but good enough to stand up to scrutiny by someone with no hometown affections.

It needs to be able to be transported in checked luggage on a plane, so shelf-stable and not too bulky or liable to melt or leak.

Ideally, it isn't too expensive and it's available readily around town -- not in only one place in a farflung neighborhood.

Ideas?

Though not readily available everywhere, I've used this particular gift as my go-to gift for situations like yours as well as housewarming situations. It's the neighborhood spice pack from Spice House. I like the combo with the Bridgeport/Ukrainian Village/Back of the Yards/Pilsen blends. They've got some connection to the city but are also just great seasoning blends. And people love seasoning blends! You also get some bay leaves and whole nutmegs in the box as well. It's pretty compact and packs well. So, again, not readily available everywhere, it's always worth the trip to Spice House.

How about a box of... Tootsie Rolls

After all, they're compact and non-perishable.

Hmm - times like these, you wish Frangos, and Mrs Field's were still decent products. Frangos were still ok last I had (around xmas) but I don't think they would be considered great chocs. Where is your distant friend? Maybe that could narrow down some more choices of what they could get here but not there? How long will travel time be?

As suggested above, Spice House, and Penzey's do both have "Chicago themed" blends. Might be an easy choice for travel, comes in a box, nicely packaged, can pick it up all in one place..etc,

Frangos were my default Chicago item for a long time. And once I transported a Frango Mint Ice Cream Pie (yes, the caps are deserved) in dry ice on a plane to Newark for a dear friend, an exiled Chicagoan. Now when I want to give Chicago food to non-Chicagoans, I give either Intelligentsia coffee or some of the Frontera foods. I realize the latter are available in other parts of the country, so maybe it's not unique or local enough any more.

This is an issue that comes up from time to time in my life.

It's easier going overseas, when the food can be simply American. Traveling to Australia, I wound up taking Concord-grape jelly, a product unavailable there. I took chocolate chips to the Netherlands (which struck me as taking coals to Newcastle, but they were by special request of an ex-pat friend who wanted to make Toll House cookies and complained that the lovely Dutch chocolates had to be chopped and didn't produce an authentic effect.) Several European friends received wild rice.

I, too, used to routinely take Frangos, but I haven't bought them since production was moved out of state. For the same reason, I no longer buy Fannie May.

In any case, I'm concerned about transporting chocolates in checked baggage in July. And you can't carry on a sealed package anymore.

Also, apparently, most airlines are charging a ~$40 handling fee for dry ice, which must be in a vented cooler, which means an extra bag, another additional charge.

Although they are good suggestions in general, I'm not certain the particular New York friends I'm looking to bestow a gift on this time actually cook, so spice blends seem risky, and I'm pretty sure they don't drink coffee.

Things I've done in the past that certainly don't meet your criteria, but might work for others, include Berghoff beers or rootbeers and a deep dish pizza pan with a recipe for stuffed spinach pizza. Another thing awkward to pack, but often deeply appreciated, is a jar or two of good giardiniera. If they are by any chance young and goofy (or, I suppose, older and still goofy) an assortment of Ferrara Pan candies (Lemonheads, Atomic Fireballs, etc) in the classic small boxes is fun.

More awkward possibilities includes Freddy's pepperoni bread or homemade tamales from someplace like Neuvo Leon. Or some high quality Wisconsin cheeses from Pastoral.

Hmmm, this is hard. I'll be interested in what you finally decide.

On occasion, I have given boxes of Vosges truffles as a Chicago gift. Even though they’ve now opened boutiques in New York and Vegas in addition to their ones in Chicago, and many of their products can be bought at a variety of stores, they say on their website that they make things at their Chicago kitchen. The downside is that they can be expensive.

Jen

OK, racking my brain for this one, but let me make sure I'm clear on the parameters: nothing liquid, nothing that melts or requires refrigeration, nothing that requires culinary skill? The biggest problem is that you are usually the go-to person for this type of question!

What about baked goods? Is there a cookie or bread that says Chicago in the same way that Black-and-Whites and Bagels say New York? I'm guessing the Old Fashioned apple fritters won't travel well...maybe there's an ethnic group that isn't represented as well there as here - something from a Panaderia on Clark?

LAZ wrote:Also, apparently, most airlines are charging a ~$40 handling fee for dry ice, which must be in a vented cooler, which means an extra bag, another additional charge.

Fedex the item in advance. It'll be cheaper and has a much lower chance of being lost.

Maybe Pączkis?

Cured meats from Paulina.

No, they never heard of Paulina (yet), but I find people always recognize instantly that they're biting into something better than Hickory Farms and that you're bringing them stuff from a real, old school butcher like hardly exists anymore. A whole summer sausage, some landjagers, this and that, none of it needs refrigeration (at least in the time frame of a single flight).

Although I, personally, am not a fan - what about Superior Coffee? They have a product called Chicago Blues Blend that at least sounds good on paper...Intellegentsia foolishly doesn't name any of their blends for their hometown, but their coffee is better...

Wrigley's Big Red. I have lots of friends in the UK and around various parts of Europe that have told me cinnamon gum is unheard of in their areas. They love it and constantly ask me to bring it when I travel.

I have also traveled all around Japan and made a gift of a few packs of Big Red to all the friends I made along the way. They too enjoyed it.

Inside the U.S. it's a bit harder to give the gift of Chicago, but I'd have to stick with candy. I grew up eating Tootsie Pops, anything Brach's, Lemonheads, and Trinidads (oh sweet sweet Trinidad how I miss you). Maybe a tour-de-Chicago-candy (originals of course...but I doubt many are still made here) might be in order.

I always take giardiniera to my friends in Florida where they can't get it. I put it in the biggest Zip lock I can find, tape the lid, and have never had a problem in my checked luggage. Macy's on State St, still has Marshall Field Frango mints. Can of Garretts popcorn, Nuts on Clark (you can get this at the Midway airport)? Caputo's brands are also good for spices, Chicago labeling. I am assuming you only want culinary things, as Cubs, Sox, Bears things are everywhere.

Ship ahaead
http://www.tastesofchicago.com/
Hot dogs, Pizza, Popcorn, cookies, ribs or cheesecake

Mhays wrote:OK, racking my brain for this one, but let me make sure I'm clear on the parameters: nothing liquid, nothing that melts or requires refrigeration, nothing that requires culinary skill? The biggest problem is that you are usually the go-to person for this type of question!

I'm afraid of anything that could be affected by heat, in case the bags are left outdoors for a while.

I think I could do liquids if I pack them carefully in my checked bag -- they can't be carried on. The TSA rules say you can't carry on liquids in larger than a 3-ounce container. (Anyway, TSA would probably classify hot giardiniera as a "disabling chemical"!)

Another problem in the case of the particular friends I'm bestowing this gift on is that I'm not current on their tastes, so I have to rely on more or less generic "good stuff." And, of course, it's New York, so items that might appropriate to take to, say, Akron, like ethnic foods, are tricky.

I would go with Garretts. It's easy to find. I've never found anyone that doesn't like it. It should stay fresh in a tin (you can also get it in a Chicago tin). If your friend really enjoys it, it is available to order on their website, so it won't be something they love and then can never get again.

As to whether or not it is something unique to NY. I'm not sure. If you grew up on Garretts, my friend will tell you, she still orders it, after 6 years in NY. Whether a NYer will appreciate it, I can't tell you.

Best of luck, let us know what you choose.

Heather22 wrote:I would go with Garretts. It's easy to find. I've never found anyone that doesn't like it. It should stay fresh in a tin (you can also get it in a Chicago tin). If your friend really enjoys it, it is available to order on their website, so it won't be something they love and then can never get again.

Garrett Popcorn Shop has three locations in Manhattan. I'm not sure if that's good or bad as far as this gift is concerned.

Rene G wrote:Heather22 wrote:
I would go with Garretts. It's easy to find. I've never found anyone that doesn't like it. It should stay fresh in a tin (you can also get it in a Chicago tin). If your friend really enjoys it, it is available to order on their website, so it won't be something they love and then can never get again.

Garrett Popcorn Shop has three locations in Manhattan. I'm not sure if that's good or bad as far as this gift is concerned.

[quote="Rene G"]

I'm not sure myself anymore. This is a harder task than I imagined, a Chicago item that is generally good and appreciated by people not from Chicago.

Ohh - I was going to recommend you go online and give a Chicago experience gift from funsherpa, they are quite cool and memorable, but requires your recipient to be in Chicago. How about a box of Vosges chocolates? That is quite memorable and delish.

LAZ wrote:It's easier going overseas, when the food can be simply American.

We have taken pure maple syrup to a family in Mexico. We desperately tried to find a to scale copy of 'the bean' from Millenium Park. It doesn't exist. I can only assume that whoever had the rights to the Bean, refuses to license it.

If you insist on carrying it, if they like coffee go w/ Intelligentsia. Tea, go w/ Argo's selections. Otherwise, I usually, take Garrett's unless your friend is in NYC. The Chicago Mix is a winner.

LAZ wrote:You're traveling, and you want to take a little taste of Chicago to a distant friend. What do you take?

Let's assume the friend is not a Chicago ex-pat

Why would you assume I have no friends? I mean, it's true, but why go assuming it? Man, that's harsh. Now who's bringing me my Moody's Bleu Burger? Don't forget, medium rare.

Some Chicago food finds I like giving to friends:

- Spice set from The Spice House
- Garrett's Popcorn
- Ferrara Pan candies
- Vosges/Fannie May/Frango chocolates
- Vienna beef hot dog kits
- Bobak's sausages
- Eli's cheesecake (boxed whole cake or even a few of the individual slices for a 'sampler')
- Nielsen Massey Vanillas (even though they're based in the northern 'burb of Waukegan)
- Urban Accents spices, dry mixes, rubs, powdered drinks, cocktail mixes, etc (another Chicago based food company)
- Affy Tapples


Here's a suggestion - how about sending a 'Tastes of Chicago' package from Lou Malnati's site? I like giving these as gifts since its packaged up and have quite a bit of offerings to choose from... and perhaps in your situation it may work out nicely. When it's ordered, they are shipped/delivered within 1-2 days. You could even order it online so that it arrives the day you do. No fuss about packing and extra luggage and they can get a great taste of Chicago with little effort.

http://www.tastesofchicago.com/

I send my son Malnati's packs regularly (he's away at school). His roommates look forward to them. (Also sent one -with the Eli's option - to a co-worker who retired to Florida. She loved it.). As for sending spices & coffee. Okay, so it's from a Chicago-based company, but it hardly screams Chicago. The Malnati's (or Malnati's/Eli's) packs are a nice treat and really do offer a "taste" of Chicago.

Given how few of the suggestions here actually meet the air-travel- and hot-weather-friendly criteria I posed last year, it's a good thing my trip was canceled!

I wanted to know your favorite Chicago regional snacks. I'm visiting for the second time and wanted to bring back regional snacks for my friends. For instance, when I go to Hawaiian I bring back SPAM flavors only available there. Please let me know your favorites.

Want to bring a gift bag to my nephew out of town.
Need to drive around tomorrow to pick up some Chicago specialties (packaged goods only.) Suggestions appreciated!

Garrett's popcorn. A can't miss taste of Chicago. It's my go to Chicago gift and is always met with enthuiasm.