I’d love to give them a perennial plant, though they already have so many. I’m thinking of a gift certificate to a mail order nursery so they can choose what they like. Can you recommend a good mail order nursery?
I’m also thinking of a box of excellent chocolate. Our US chocolates are too sweet for French people so I can’t bring any from home. What would you consider a quality brand of French chocolates that would suit most French tastes?
We won’t be in Paris before their party. The biggest city we’ll be in is Laval and I don’t know what’s available there. I’ve seen a Jeff de Bruges near where we’ll be. Is that worthy of a 50th anniversary?
Great that you recognise that US chocolates too sweet for our tastes. But Jeff de Bruges is a chain store. A good chain, but not a high class chocolatier, so depends on what sort of people they are as to whether this would suit. We would appreciate a box from there but it wouldn’t be special.
There are three chocolaterie in Laval, this is one of them
Obviously no idea what they are like, but perhaps more personal a gift.
And plants can be a responsibility if you don’t know their tastes/preferences, in Paris do they even have much of a garden or indoor plants?
JaneJones, thank you. We’ve seen this place but never gone in. Forget Jeff de Bruges, I’ll try L’imperial.
I wasn’t clear about where they live; I just mentioned Paris to forestall suggestions of great Paris chocolateries. Our friends live in the country near Laval and are enthusiastic gardeners. Lots of perennials and a large potager and they maintain it at a high level. Tons of energy, those two have.
Susannah, I like your idea for us. Winter is coming!
The link is a french company, based in Normandy. I bought some “sticks” from them last year, obviously no fruit this year but they seem to be growing ok.
I’m enjoying all the good ideas and the banter. At least now I know we’ll find something that passes muster for the 50th. We have five days to shop after we arrive. Also I’m getting good gift ideas for other situations.
Ah… if you are coming from US (or any other foreign place)… I know that our locals adore getting something from abroad… from UK we used to bring 'em shortbread and anything from tins to
T-cloths with British landmarks on it…
you’ve been invited, so it’s you they want to see… and anything you give will be received graciously.
One can NEVER have too many plants.
