Question for Canadians

[Krikit 1,163]

Definitely check the expiry dates and where items are made before buying them. (Hint: If the chocolate says it's made by Hershey it's not going to taste the same.) Here's a thread with a spreadsheet of what we can't get down here:

Grocery Items Unavailable in the US

One nice thing to have for her is a Canadian flag.... either the type you fly on a pole or one you stick in the garden. She'll like that.

I see you live in Florida. We lived there for 4+ years. Depending on where you are, there are some good British pubs as well as British food sections in some of the grocery stores. Those will make her feel more at home. (Beware the American bars masquerading as British/Irish pubs. They are nowhere near the same.) I can help out with suggestions for the Central Florida area.

I bought this fridge magnet and it makes me happy.

[PastryChef 0]

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

Hm #######. It was

Maybe I'll make a secret trip to the grocery store next time I go visit.

[PastryChef 0]

One nice thing to have for her is a Canadian flag.... either the type you fly on a pole or one you stick in the garden. She'll like that.

Going to get a full sized one of these

[Moosker 7]

World Market has aero bars and after eight chocolate (yuuuum) and I think a few other Canadian candies too. It's not always the food/snacks you miss, it's more the atmosphere and family. So definitely put snacks in there (no girl will turn down chocolate!) but I think maybe a certificate for a free flight home whenever she feels she misses her family would be nice, and even something silly like a Canadian magnet. I think when I officially moved to the U.S., now that I look back on it, I was always scared to lose where I came from, I'm proud to be Canadian. I bought this big ole' Canadian flag magnet for my car and my husband hates that it's on there (more like - I think it scratches the car - hate) and we determined, hey, it's makes her happy, I'll leave it on there. Adjust to her, listen to her rant on about the motherland, and let her visit if she's homesick.

This is such a wonderful idea!!!

Edited July 19, 2011 by Moosker

[BH45 0]

Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup and if she likes Schneiders products, get some of those for her. You are a sweet man to be doing this for her and I'm sure she will appreciate it.

[PastryChef 0]

and even something silly like a Canadian magnet. I think when I officially moved to the U.S., now that I look back on it, I was always scared to lose where I came from, I'm proud to be Canadian.

She's proud to be Canadian, and I am proud to be married to a Canadian (soon anyway). I got her a full sized Canadian flag, several miniature Canadian flags, miniature provincial flags, Canadian flag lapel pins, Canadian/American flag together lapel pins, and Canadian flag car decals/stickers. I think most of these things will be used to decorate the basket. When she gets it she can take it apart and use them as she pleases.

The only food things I am missing now are Ah Caramel, Tim Hortons coffee, Ketchup chips, and Shreddies. I think I can get the ketchup chips here in the states. Have any of you Canadians tried both the US, and Canadian version of ketchup chips? If so, can you comment on the difference, if any?

You are a sweet man to be doing this for her and I'm sure she will appreciate it.

Thank you for the feedback

All of the positive feedback I've gotten in this thread really has helped motivate me to find this stuff. Thank you all

[Colleens 40]

She's proud to be Canadian, and I am proud to be married to a Canadian (soon anyway). I got her a full sized Canadian flag, several miniature Canadian flags, miniature provincial flags, Canadian flag lapel pins, Canadian/American flag together lapel pins, and Canadian flag car decals/stickers. I think most of these things will be used to decorate the basket. When she gets it she can take it apart and use them as she pleases.

The only food things I am missing now are Ah Caramel, Tim Hortons coffee, Ketchup chips, and Shreddies. I think I can get the ketchup chips here in the states. Have any of you Canadians tried both the US, and Canadian version of ketchup chips? If so, can you comment on the difference, if any?

Thank you for the feedback

All of the positive feedback I've gotten in this thread really has helped motivate me to find this stuff. Thank you all

I thought I was going to be in heaven when I found some "Terry's" brand ketchup chips at my local food city, my mouth was watering the whole way home. But when I opened the bag and bit into that first one....I was sooooo disappointed. They didn't taste anything like the Lay's back home. I have also tried the Heinz brand ones and they were not much better. So if she really like ketchup chips, I would suggest getting someone to send you some Canadian ones!

[warlord 72]

Yes definitely check out British import stores or even as some suggested British sections in the grocery stores (which I don't have here). A lot of the typical Canadian candies and such are actually English and not Canadian (Aero, Smarties and such) and so you should have an easier time finding those here than say ketchup chips or maple syrup things...

[APlusJ 1]

Aw, what a sweet idea! Everyone's already pretty much said everything. Maybe some real maple syrup would be nice too! I also find that a lot of the american cereal tastes so much different than canadian cereal even though it has the same name. So maybe order her a few boxes of her favourites, just in case! For example, I love corn pops and fruit loops, but they taste horrible here, yuck! Oh, also, I can never find hickory stick chips.. those are yummy!

[edsotherhalf 1]

Hawkins Cheezies, Kinder eggs and Kinder chocolate, Tim's coffee

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!

Oh and when I bought twizzlers there I was very disappointed. Not what we get here for sure so those can go on your list.

Hawkins Cheezies, Kinder eggs and Kinder chocolate, Tim's coffee

[APlusJ 1]

Just had to say, I have this exact same magnet on my fridge too! I love it

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Hawkins Cheezies, Kinder eggs and Kinder chocolate, Tim's coffee

Oh and when I bought twizzlers there I was very disappointed. Not what we get here for sure so those can go on your list.

Kinder eggs are actually illegal to import into the US, something about non food items inside of food items, so you'll have to smuggle those in!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Kinder eggs are actually illegal to import into the US, something about non food items inside of food items, so you'll have to smuggle those in!

Right - dont get hauled into Secondary because of your kinder eggs - you could always buy the kind chocolate bars which are the same quality (and not contraband!)

[warlord 72]

Right - dont get hauled into Secondary because of your kinder eggs - you could always buy the kind chocolate bars which are the same quality (and not contraband!)

Yeah but that defeats the whole purpose of Kinder Eggs, since the toys are usually super fun and cool. You could always eat the chocolate and bring the toys back across the border. That way they don't think you're smuggling in ICBMs or Plutonium in chocolate covered eggs...

[SapphireDreams 71]

I definitely miss Twizzlers! They taste much different in the US. I'm not sure why, but they are so much better in Canada.