Quick advice

[rachelmanija]

I need to buy a nice gift that I can take on an airplane or through luggage, so liquids, gels, and breakables are out. This is for the family that is putting me up-- I don't know them personally.

I am thinking a box of fancy chocolates (not Sees, they frequently visit California so that's not a novelty). What would be good that I can buy in LA, in that line or another? I personally don't like Godiva, but do most people? oyceter, Clementine sells assorted fancy food items like spiced nuts, candies, etc-- might your folks like those?

PS. Would it be nice/appropriate to wrap gifts given on Chinese New Year in red paper, or is that just for money? Are any colors or gifts considered weird on that occasion, like one wouldn't use black paper for Christmas?

Comments

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I think Scharffenberger and Michael Ricchiuti are some of the best chocolates available. Both started in California, and should be easy to find in LA, but are still glamorous enough to provide Wow Factor. Note that Ricchiuti is really expensive, though.

[newport2newport.livejournal.com]

Hi, I came by your blog via a mention of your memoir, which I've ordered and can't wait to read.

About CA-made chocolates...have you heard of this company?
http://www.scharffenberger.com/

They're located in the Berkley area, and they make brilliant dark chocolates. I also like that they're ecologically responsible, in that they're into sustainable farming.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

ScharffenBerger is now owned by Hershey's, who seem to be making the milk chocolate hard to find.

[panjianlien.livejournal.com]

Red envelopes are traditional for hong bao/money gifts, but red (esp. with gold) is a symbolically positive color so I can't think that you'd go wrong with wrapping a gift in red or red/gold. Lots of people wear red at the new year too. Candy is a good (and traditional) new year gift because it is symbolically wishing the recipient a sweet new year. Fruit is, too, particularly golden fruits for the gold symbolism.

Some people perceive gifts of books as being bad luck, because the Cantonese for "book" is a homonym for "lose." There are also some bad associations for superstitious people around shoes, for (IIRC) similar homophone reasons.

[miladyinsanity.livejournal.com]

Sure, wrap it in red. Everything is red on Chinese New Year.

Um, I don't know whether they are available in LA, but names to google include Garrison, Chuao Chocolatier, John DePaula, Vosges and Christopher Elbow. Vosges will probably be your best bet.

[miladyinsanity.livejournal.com]

Jacques Torres is another.

Oh and Chuao Chocolatier's in California.

[oyceter]

Clocks are bad too, not that you would randomly be getting that! It sounds like "death" or "end" or something in Chinese.

I vote for Clementine's, just because if no one else eats it, I will! Plus, local restaurant, not-able-to-get-even-in-Bay-Area factor. Or Vosges. I had their exotic chocolate bars and they are excellent! They have neat things like dark chocolate with wasabi, ginger, and black sesame, or chocolate with curry and coconut. (note that I am greedy and going for things I like, heh)

Also, more random bad luck things, white wrapping is probably bad too.

[coffeeem.livejournal.com]

Chuao Chocolatiers! (https://secure7.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=chuao&BusType=BtoC&Count1=515957057&Count2=433097481) Ah, the joy of Chuao...

Hey, waitaminit--I'm not supposed to wrap Christmas presents in black?

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Everything is better with black sesame!

I think I'll have Clementine make up a box, then I'll wrap it in red. And throw in some Vosges if I can find any.

[coffeeem.livejournal.com]

Scharffen Berger and Joseph Schmidt were both bought by Hershey's in 2005. (http://www.thehersheycompany.com/news/release.asp?releaseID=743393) Just in case you were wondering why they aren't quite the same...

[greenapple2004.livejournal.com]

There's a super fancy bakery/chocolatier on La Cienega, just north of Beverly, called "Boule," which has amazing and unusual chocolates. Like, honey/rose caramels, pistachio, lavender, cardamon/coffee, etc. They're pricey, but definitely exotic and unusual. And the boxes they come in are solid and sturdy, so there'd be less of a chance of them getting squashed in luggage. :-)

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

We have a winner! Thanks!

[greenapple2004.livejournal.com]

Hooray! You won't be disappointed. Unless people have really boring tastes.

[sarge-5150.livejournal.com]

As many Double-Doubles (http://www.in-n-out.com/menu.asp) as you can fit in your carry-on.

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Godiva's even more common than See's. If you haven't already got millions of good ideas, see if there's a Moonstruck chocolates carrier around you somewhere. Those are still relatively unusual.

I mean, not that I would ever say no to See's, personally. Even with a store just down the block. ;)