So often these days you can't fly from Point A to Point B without a connection. But if your transit time is long enough this can be a great foodie shopping opportunity. What items of food or drink--unusual, unavailable elsewhere, well priced, local and therefore fresher, any of the above--have you picked up in the airport?
A few of my finds over the years:
Munich: Gift pack of Mozartkugel (good price, fresh)
(different trip) Hungarian Barackpalinka (apricot schnapps)
Helsinki: many strange and alluring things, including single-use food smoker kits (didn't buy, darn it)
Zurich - large 6-packs of Toblerone (all flavors, good price)
Glasgow - Thornton's toffee
Now that I think of it, does anyone know whether--and where--I can get Thornton's at LHR Terminal 3?
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 9,805
Lots of airports now include retail food stores, even full size supermarkets. At least a dozen have this kind of food shopping (it is targetted at airport employees). So you can find all sorts of local foods, often at cheap prices, if you make your way to the supermarket. Often this is next to the railway station (at airports that have a railway station in-house). FRA is a good example (and maybe the oldest supermarket in an airport).
I find the difference in name brands between countries to be the most interesting. For example many Nestle products are completely different between countries (despite having the same brand name). They say it is catering to local tastes, but I think it is more from marketers having too much time on their hands. Very annoying to find such inconsistencies.
Of course the best foods cannot be taken through customs. They are not properly vacuum packed and certified. Which severely limits the usefulness for MRs.
This may not be all that unique, but Paradise Bakery & Cafe has restaurants landside in Terminal 4 in PHX and airside in DEN in Concourse C and B. Whenever transiting through, I enjoy their soups & sandwiches. Also MDW has several great Chicago style pizza joints, as well as Potbelly's, Harry Carray's, and SuperDawg. Mmmmmm...
SIN - beef jerky. Or pretty much any food. It's so awesome.
HKG - soup dumplings.
JFK - as much as I don't want to admit, Nathan hot dog is really not bad.
The shopping in the pre-TSA mall at PDX is pretty good, with a focus on local stores and products. There are a couple of shops airside, and a kiosk with Oregon pinot noirs, that are worth it as well. Whenever I pass through PDX I always stock up on Dagoba chocolates...especially the one with chiles
Programs: CX, OZ, KE (+AY, JL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 3,723
LHR - Caviar House, not for salmon or fish eggs, though. But various Duchy's Originals for souvernirs and some great British cheeses and chutneys for myself and jam for my GF.
Caviar House also for eating. Just pretty annoyed they are not offering the great seafood breakfast anymore.
HEL - Stockmann, for good quality and reasonably priced smoked salmon and fish eggs. Maybe also some dried reindeer ham and "black label" mature Finnish Emmenthal cheese. And rye bread, of course.
Only eat at lounges, nothing really strikes my fancy in the poor gastronomic offering.
DUS - Wine and champers.
Horrible prices for dining & wining but the Kikaku sushi outlet landside is not bad.
HKG - Seasonal stuff like mooncakes for mainland friends and biz partners. Mostly spend any extra hours either in the lounge or meeting friends in the city so not much shopping experience or time.
Only eaten at The Wing/Pier/KA Lounge so far.
Last edited by mosburger; Feb 16, 08 at 8:02 am.
Reason: felt bold(ing)
AMS Neuhaus Chocolates booth (near the casino, maybe? It's been a while.). I bought a half-dozen truffles on a layover once, then after paying, decided I wanted a 7th (for me) and got it free.
DTW Gayle's Chocolates in the McNamara Terminal between gates A21 and A23. Locally-made chocolates, very good Michigan cherry truffles.
GVA duty-free shop just before clearing security. Lots and lots of chocolates.
(Sensing a theme?)
MEM Explore! Memphis shop at the central shopping hub in Concourse B. It has some excellent local BBQ sauce.
Ole!
