In the past, you would bring home a fridge magnet in the shape of the Tower of Pisa, or a t-shirt for those who stayed home. The "And all I got was this lousy t-shirt" hype is still fresh in my memory. Brrr. Nowadays, we prefer to dive into the supermarket rather than the souvenir shop for a beautiful and especially tasty memory of the holiday. This is my top 5 of culinary souvenirs.
1. Canned fish
In Portugal, you see them everywhere: colorfully packaged and sealed cans with sardines, mackerel, octopus, and more delicacies from the sea. In my opinion, it's the perfect souvenir – you can keep them for a long time, they are affordable, and each one looks beautiful. The Portuguese preserves, in my opinion, capture the soul of this beautiful country.
2. Dried herbs
This summer, I visited my favorite island, Crete. The scent of fresh herbs like eucalyptus and oregano is, for me, typical of Greece. So just before departure, I scored several bags of dried herbs at my local supermarket. Even if it's just to smell them now and then.
3. Rillettes & terrines
Always nice as a gift for those staying at home: beautiful jars of rillettes or terrine from France. Look out for the Label Rouge, which is a mark of quality for French products.
4. Wines
The French supermarket is, in any case, a wonderful place to browse for special products. Beautiful wines, for example, which you can pick up for a song. Box in the back of the car and you can enjoy them for a long time afterward.
5. Tea
When I travel, I often bring tea back home. Because whether you're in England, China, or America, tea is available everywhere, and it tastes just a little different when you think back to pleasant holiday moments with your cup of tea. And it doesn't even matter that much whether you bring a pack of tea from the French Carrefour, stylishly packaged English Earl Grey, or loose tea from China.
6. Cold cuts
Every time I visit El Corte Ingles in Spain, I am amazed by the enormous food department in the basement, especially the selection of fresh fish, cheeses, and cold cuts. Since fish and cheeses don't travel well in my suitcase, I often opt for vacuum-packed cold cuts. Whether it's pata negra, chorizo, or lomo iberico; it's all equally delicious and easy to take with you. Once home, pour yourself a glass of vino, add a piece of meat – nothing more to do.
7. Olive oil
Admittedly, you can find olive oil in various flavors in the Netherlands. There are now countless stores where you can tap your own barrel of Extra Virgin from Greece or other countries. Still, I find a beautifully designed bottle of olive oil a perfect gift. In Spain and Italy, I prefer to buy them in a small, cozy delicatessen.
Feeling inspired to travel after reading this article? Then book our culinary world tour, where we take you along various culinary stops in Amsterdam.
