NEED TO KNOW
After welcoming their son James, Michael Vitale knew he wanted to give his wife Madison a push present
The 35-year-old Hoboken, N.J., dad spent some time debating what to get her
Then, it hit him: French butter
After welcoming their son James, Michael Vitale knew he wanted to give his wife Madison a push present she’d never forget.
The 35-year-old Hoboken, N.J., dad spent some time debating what to get her, thinking about the things she loves. And then it hit him: French butter.
“I’ve always been obsessed with butter, specifically French butter, and knew I’d enjoy it,” Madison tells PEOPLE exclusively. “After our honeymoon in France last year, where we ate a ton of bread and butter and jambon-beurre sandwiches, he knew I’d appreciate it. I’ve also gotten into making sourdough over the past year, so we always have fresh bread at home.”
Madison Vitale with her son James.
Madison Vitale
Michael went all out, ordering 11 pounds (5 kilos) of butter from Box N Case, shipped straight from Normandy, France. The gift cost $273.56, plus about $50 for other sandwich ingredients.
When it arrived, Michael presented the gift to Madison, who recorded her reaction on camera. She later shared it on her TikTok account @sistersnacking, where she’s been documenting her pregnancy and everything she’s eaten since giving birth. The video went viral, amassing over 3.4 million views and 6,000 comments.
“To be loved is to be known 💛,” one viewer wrote.
“I’ve seen women unbox Chanel bags as push presents, but I’ve never been more jealous than I am now. Best of all time 🧈,” commented another.
“As a French person, this is the correct amount of butter,” added someone else.
“He wrapped it all beautifully and then handed me a basket of ingredients so we could enjoy it right away with jambon-beurres,” Madison adds. “I hadn’t eaten deli meat my whole pregnancy, and I was craving sandwiches!”
Madison and Michael Vitale with their son James.
Madison Vitale
With the butter, Madison and Michael immediately made jambon-beurre sandwiches. Michael also whipped up a fancy compound butter.
“We also had caviar butter bagels, butter and jam on toast, and I made buttermilk biscuits,” she says. “We eat it with eggs and toast every day. I plan to make so many things — pasta, brown butter cookies, baked goods, more compound butters. I’ll even freeze some and share with friends! I love to cook for friends, so once our son is a bit older, we’ll definitely have them over.”
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Madison says what made the gift so special wasn’t just its size or uniqueness, it was the thought behind it.
“It was really sweet how my husband didn’t just buy a cookie-cutter push present like a bag or jewelry. He really thought about what I like and what would make me happy — it was so thoughtful.”
Dining and Cooking