I came home today to find that my long-awaited snack exchange gift had finally arrived from France. The box was badly beaten - no doubt the work of miscreant customs agents or postal workers - but it was still sealed and I thought it seemed OK. I was wrong.

I had asked my santa to send local or regional snacks and he/she assembled a fantastic selection of fine French foods, including Pâté Hénaff (pate made with pork), Filets de maquereaux au Muscadet Connétable (mackerel filets in white wine and herbs), whole duck foie gras, Nougats de Montélimar tendre (soft nougat from the city of Montélimar), milk chocolate with hazelnuts made with milk from the Alps, an Irish coffee chocolate bar (because whisky!), and a tin of loose leaf tea. The box also contained a lovely letter with an explanation of each snack and instructions on how to enjoy them. My santa assembled a truly wonderful assortment.

But tragedy struck. Unfortunately the tin of mackerel was crushed during transit, and the remaining snacks were covered with bits of rotten fish and mold. The smell was...unpleasant. But all was not lost. Nearly everything else was sealed tight and with a little soap and water I was able to salvage everything but the Irish coffee chocolate (and of course the mackerel).

I don't blame you, Secret Snacker -- the package was clearly mishandled on its journey here. Thank you for the wonderful snacks!