Bringing Takeout back to US from European Restaurant
 

I'm planning a MR next month to a city in Europe that the Mrs. and I have visited before. While I'm there I plan to have dinner at a restaurant that we both love. If I get takeout from that restaurant, would I be able to bring it back to the US? It'll be fully cooked food. Most likely pork or beef. What odds will I have of being able to bring this through US customs? Would it help if the food was frozen? Anyone have any luck with something odd like this?

"Not happening without smuggling."

Any second opinions? What about packing in dry ice and FedEx'ing?

Spiff is correct. From the "Know before you go" publication:

Meats, Livestock, and Poultry
The regulations governing meat and meat products
are very strict. You may not import fresh, dried, or
canned meats or meat products from most foreign
countries into the United States. Also, you may not
import food products that have been prepared with
meat.

:eek:
:confused:

Any suggestions for the best way to do that?

take the mrs. with you

--Russ

:D:D:D almost spewed heineken all over the keyboard. (it's ok - I'm in the CLE PC - they have a bar rag handy for next time)

It's probably easier to smuggle the food than it is to smuggle the Mrs.

Or make a deal and fly in the cook. ;) I heard this is pretty common in the Gulf States and certain Teheran families in Iran...

I can't even bring frozen sausage rolls across the border in my car from British Columbia. I've never even imagined trying to bring room-temp restaurant leftovers across the Atlantic. You gotta be kidding.

Ewww...leftovers out of refrigeration for 10+ hours? Be sure to smuggle in some pepto bismol for the Mrs. as well. :D

What restaurant is this? If it's that good, I'd like to try it the next time I'm across the pond.

Also, you'll have to get is past these dawgs, which ain't gonna be easy. You can hope a fellow passenger is wearing milkbone underwear that day, otherwise you're sol.

People bring tons of Pollo Campero chicken into the US aboard flights from all over Central America each year. The official word seems to be that it's verboten, but still it seems to happen.

One very special FTer smuggled me a 16-piece Spicy White from Popeye's into BCN all the way from ATL a couple of years ago. She had no issues that I recall either.

Someone I know smuggled some very ripe raw milk cheese in from France. Quite a large piece, several pounds. It is well-known that many returnees smuggle in sausages etc. from their home countries.

But, I wouldn't do it. And my acquaintance has stopped. Two big reasons: 1. ecological danger, bringing in hoof and mouth disease, etc. and 2. EXCELLENT chance of getting caught. Those dogs do not just sniff out drugs. The fine is very stiff and the hassle very large. Times have changed.

By the way, next time you come through customs ask the inspector if you can see the confiscated food stuffs from that day. You will be amazed at the barrels full of stuff awaiting burning.