launderess
Well-known member
Clearing out my cache
Last ones
Last ones
Local NYC Supermarket's UK/EU Offerings
- Thread starter launderess
- Start date
danemodsandy
Well-known member
British Favorites - Erm, Favourites....
There are some British foods I adore.
One is Branston pickle, which is not easy to find in the States, but which makes a wonderful sandwich with good Cheddar. British Cheddar is wonderful, of course, but you have to mortgage your house to afford it here, so Cabot's Sharp or Seriously Sharp it is. Cabot's Cheddar (made in Vermont and never dyed Dayglo orange with annatto) is to most American Cheddar what a Breitling watch is to a Timex. I would put it up against most any British Cheddar out there, and I have enjoyed a good many of them in my time.
I love Lucozade, which you might find here every sixth or seventh blue moon if you're in a large city with a shop catering to expats. And Ribena, which is so rare it makes Lucozade look plentiful. Ribena is made from blackcurrants, and luscious stuff it is. You dare not spill it - it could stain the hull of a battleship.
Heinz beans are terrific; this is one Yank who loves beans on toast, a favorite picked up from two expats I knew in Atlanta. They were from Plymouth. The British Heinz beans are hard to come by, which is weird, because they're made from beans imported to the U.K. from America, but there you are. American Heinz vegetarian beans are the closest Stateside equivalent I've found. I am a purist about beans on toast. The toast must be cold and buttered; the beans very hot. And no bloody cheese! Cheese with beans on toast is as bad as milk in first, though eating beans on toast at all puts you at an entirely different place on the social scale than that occupied by anyone concerned about who puts milk in first, of course.
Scottish rather than British, but delectable for all that, is Keiller's Dundee Marmalade. Oddly, you can get this in the U.S. without a prescription, a court order or an appeal to a British consulate.
If I'm drinking tea in the daytime, Typhoo makes a decent cuppa, for those who want builder's tea. I will admit I seldom do; as a Yank, I'm a morning and daytime coffee drinker. Typhoo is findable here. Not easily, but it's out there.
But at tea time? Twinings Earl Grey, and not the Twinings USA dreck in teabags *, either. British Twinings, and loose, please, so that I can put my Nutbrown strainer over my teacup when I pour.
* Oddly, it was an American writer, Louise Andrews Kent, whose '30s and '40s cookbooks were published under the nom de plume "Mrs. Appleyard," who pegged teabags best: "The mouse in the teacup," she wrote of the damned things. If I were a mouse, I should feel offended.
There are some British foods I adore.
One is Branston pickle, which is not easy to find in the States, but which makes a wonderful sandwich with good Cheddar. British Cheddar is wonderful, of course, but you have to mortgage your house to afford it here, so Cabot's Sharp or Seriously Sharp it is. Cabot's Cheddar (made in Vermont and never dyed Dayglo orange with annatto) is to most American Cheddar what a Breitling watch is to a Timex. I would put it up against most any British Cheddar out there, and I have enjoyed a good many of them in my time.
I love Lucozade, which you might find here every sixth or seventh blue moon if you're in a large city with a shop catering to expats. And Ribena, which is so rare it makes Lucozade look plentiful. Ribena is made from blackcurrants, and luscious stuff it is. You dare not spill it - it could stain the hull of a battleship.
Heinz beans are terrific; this is one Yank who loves beans on toast, a favorite picked up from two expats I knew in Atlanta. They were from Plymouth. The British Heinz beans are hard to come by, which is weird, because they're made from beans imported to the U.K. from America, but there you are. American Heinz vegetarian beans are the closest Stateside equivalent I've found. I am a purist about beans on toast. The toast must be cold and buttered; the beans very hot. And no bloody cheese! Cheese with beans on toast is as bad as milk in first, though eating beans on toast at all puts you at an entirely different place on the social scale than that occupied by anyone concerned about who puts milk in first, of course.
Scottish rather than British, but delectable for all that, is Keiller's Dundee Marmalade. Oddly, you can get this in the U.S. without a prescription, a court order or an appeal to a British consulate.
If I'm drinking tea in the daytime, Typhoo makes a decent cuppa, for those who want builder's tea. I will admit I seldom do; as a Yank, I'm a morning and daytime coffee drinker. Typhoo is findable here. Not easily, but it's out there.
But at tea time? Twinings Earl Grey, and not the Twinings USA dreck in teabags *, either. British Twinings, and loose, please, so that I can put my Nutbrown strainer over my teacup when I pour.
* Oddly, it was an American writer, Louise Andrews Kent, whose '30s and '40s cookbooks were published under the nom de plume "Mrs. Appleyard," who pegged teabags best: "The mouse in the teacup," she wrote of the damned things. If I were a mouse, I should feel offended.
launderess
Well-known member
More
launderess
Well-known member
Etc...
They say the Canadian Heinz ketchup is slightly different from the US version but I buy both, which ever's on sale depending what store I'm in at the time and I can't really tell any difference between them. The Canadian Heinz beans are rather bland compared to Bush's. It's one of the nice things about living here.. get to shop in both countries easily.
launderess
Well-known member
Tea?
launderess
Well-known member
Wot is a "cuppa club"
Anyone?
Anyone?
launderess
Well-known member
Heinz Spotted Dick Tins
Seem to be part of line designed for exporting the "tastes of home".
Seem to be part of line designed for exporting the "tastes of home".
launderess
Well-known member
Sticky Pudding
Is another nursery/school favourite.
Is another nursery/school favourite.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
I Used To Love....
A Cadbury's Flake when I could get one, which was never often enough. The two expat sisters I knew in Atlanta would bring me a few precious bars whenever they went home for a bit.
I would not buy them now, even if I were in the U.K., because I won't buy Cadbury now that Kraft owns them. The chocolate has been changed, the British factory closed and its jobs sent to Poland. This was after many, many promises from Kraft that everything would continue as it had always been if they were allowed to purchase Cadbury. When the British government tried to compel testimony from Kraft's American CEO, Irene Rosenfeld, on why Kraft's promises were immediately broken once the deal was closed, she refused to appear.
After that bit of contempt, I regretfully gave up Cadbury. I was not nearly so regretful about Kraft's other products, which also have no place in my house.
A Cadbury's Flake when I could get one, which was never often enough. The two expat sisters I knew in Atlanta would bring me a few precious bars whenever they went home for a bit.
I would not buy them now, even if I were in the U.K., because I won't buy Cadbury now that Kraft owns them. The chocolate has been changed, the British factory closed and its jobs sent to Poland. This was after many, many promises from Kraft that everything would continue as it had always been if they were allowed to purchase Cadbury. When the British government tried to compel testimony from Kraft's American CEO, Irene Rosenfeld, on why Kraft's promises were immediately broken once the deal was closed, she refused to appear.
After that bit of contempt, I regretfully gave up Cadbury. I was not nearly so regretful about Kraft's other products, which also have no place in my house.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Fortunately for us, here in Houston there are a few British import stores that have nice food sections, and most large grocery stores have an "imported" food section. Heinz Beans and Spotted Dick are commonly found in most of these.
Our favorite tea is Fortnum & Mason's "Royal Blend" and Jackson's "Coronation Tea"
But several years ago Fortnum & Mason withdrew from the U.S. market and now their Royal Blend tea is only available in their London shop. You can get it on Ebay for a rather expensive price. The British import store owner said even a few years down the road people are still asking about Fortnum & Mason teas.
We were drinking P&G tips in the morning, but it seems to have gotten bitter over the past few years. We like a very smooth tea, made using the traditional British method. No zapped tea for us!
We've been drinking Green tea in the mornings lately. Made rather stout, I don't like watery teas. We once tried "Lifeboat Tea", a very serious cup of tea! It kept us going for three days!
Our favorite tea is Fortnum & Mason's "Royal Blend" and Jackson's "Coronation Tea"
But several years ago Fortnum & Mason withdrew from the U.S. market and now their Royal Blend tea is only available in their London shop. You can get it on Ebay for a rather expensive price. The British import store owner said even a few years down the road people are still asking about Fortnum & Mason teas.
We were drinking P&G tips in the morning, but it seems to have gotten bitter over the past few years. We like a very smooth tea, made using the traditional British method. No zapped tea for us!
We've been drinking Green tea in the mornings lately. Made rather stout, I don't like watery teas. We once tried "Lifeboat Tea", a very serious cup of tea! It kept us going for three days!
davetranter
Well-known member
Observations from new photographs
Here are a few thoughts / observations......
'Hob Nobs' (reply#32) made (or at least packaged) for the U.S. market. Note the U.S. spelling 'flavor'. Also worrying is the fact that the stuff they are putting on top no longer qualifies as 'chocolate'. I wonder if this has to do with the '0g trans-fat' promise. I will check U.K. items and compare. They are not something I buy.
'Barry's' tea (Reply#35). Can't say I've heard of this brand, but then I'm not a tea drinker.
'Cuppa Club' (Reply#36) Just a bit of advertising, as is the woollen 'glove puppet' character.
Heinz 'Taste of Home' puddings. Presumably made exclusively for 'ex-pats' around the World. Again, the packaging is not the same here, and the contents may differ, too.
This is turning into a VERY fascinating thread...
My 'P.S.' on my last 'post' only refers to 'Grant's' brand canned Haggis. I cannot vouch for any others. Don't let preconceptions about 'what it's made from' put you off. There are many foodstuffs which 'don't look good on paper'. It's worthy of an unbiassed taste test.
I'll check some local supermarkets and report back with my findings.
All best
Dave T
Here are a few thoughts / observations......
'Hob Nobs' (reply#32) made (or at least packaged) for the U.S. market. Note the U.S. spelling 'flavor'. Also worrying is the fact that the stuff they are putting on top no longer qualifies as 'chocolate'. I wonder if this has to do with the '0g trans-fat' promise. I will check U.K. items and compare. They are not something I buy.
'Barry's' tea (Reply#35). Can't say I've heard of this brand, but then I'm not a tea drinker.
'Cuppa Club' (Reply#36) Just a bit of advertising, as is the woollen 'glove puppet' character.
Heinz 'Taste of Home' puddings. Presumably made exclusively for 'ex-pats' around the World. Again, the packaging is not the same here, and the contents may differ, too.
This is turning into a VERY fascinating thread...
My 'P.S.' on my last 'post' only refers to 'Grant's' brand canned Haggis. I cannot vouch for any others. Don't let preconceptions about 'what it's made from' put you off. There are many foodstuffs which 'don't look good on paper'. It's worthy of an unbiassed taste test.
I'll check some local supermarkets and report back with my findings.
All best
Dave T
ozzie908
Well-known member
Most Marmite ad's were along the lines of you "love
or you hate it"
Now just a note about "Suet" we have a vegetarian version as well which is low in fat so makes a healthy alternative, I use it in pastry and puddings I believe a similar substance is " Crisco?" I also know that when I was in the US 15 years ago Marmite was brought out to me for my morning toast by visitors from the UK as I was unable then to find any even online.
Never heard of "Barrys tea" and the "Cuppa Club" is something that PGtips have been running with their adverts. Sadly though although I am English I cannot abide tea with milk prefer it black but my beverage of choice although extremely plebby is Nescafe coffee the nearest I found was Farmers Choice or something similar sold in stop and shop in a red and gold jar! Not a lover of drip coffee as it takes too long.
Austin
or you hate it"
Now just a note about "Suet" we have a vegetarian version as well which is low in fat so makes a healthy alternative, I use it in pastry and puddings I believe a similar substance is " Crisco?" I also know that when I was in the US 15 years ago Marmite was brought out to me for my morning toast by visitors from the UK as I was unable then to find any even online.
Never heard of "Barrys tea" and the "Cuppa Club" is something that PGtips have been running with their adverts. Sadly though although I am English I cannot abide tea with milk prefer it black but my beverage of choice although extremely plebby is Nescafe coffee the nearest I found was Farmers Choice or something similar sold in stop and shop in a red and gold jar! Not a lover of drip coffee as it takes too long.
Austin
launderess
Well-known member
Fortnum & Mason's "Royal Blend" In USA
Knock yourself out! *LOL*
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/fortnum-mason-tea/
Knock yourself out! *LOL*
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/fortnum-mason-tea/
spoodles
Well-known member
Those Heinz 'Taste of Home' puddings are exactly the same as the ones sold in the UK. I think the name is meant to suggest that they're like the ones your mum used to make, not something aimed at ex-pats. Barry's Tea is an Irish brand, for those wondering why they've never heard of it!
We have US food sections in some UK supermarkets too, but it mainly consists of peanut butter Oreos, Reese's peanut butter chocolates, peanut butter M&M's, Smucker's peanut butter & jam (can you spot the theme?), various breakfast cereals such as Lucky Charms, Hershey bars and other US chocolate bars and some Aunt Jemima's products.
whirlcool's accidental rebranding of PG Tips to "P&G Tips" made me smile - it's made by Unilever!
We have US food sections in some UK supermarkets too, but it mainly consists of peanut butter Oreos, Reese's peanut butter chocolates, peanut butter M&M's, Smucker's peanut butter & jam (can you spot the theme?), various breakfast cereals such as Lucky Charms, Hershey bars and other US chocolate bars and some Aunt Jemima's products.
whirlcool's accidental rebranding of PG Tips to "P&G Tips" made me smile - it's made by Unilever!
For those who like to browse online: The Brit Superstore Online ships a wide array of UK favorites to your doorstep. While prices for the items are reasonable, shipping rates will startle you. I order from them a few times a year and have had excellent luck.
Laundry detergents are listed under Home Care.
http://www.britsuperstore.com
Laundry detergents are listed under Home Care.
http://www.britsuperstore.com
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Ozzie:
We're not allowed to have real suet from the U.K. here (BSE concerns on the part of a U.S. government that has not kept up with the progress Britain has made with the issue), but the veggie version of Atora can be ordered.
We're not allowed to have real suet from the U.K. here (BSE concerns on the part of a U.S. government that has not kept up with the progress Britain has made with the issue), but the veggie version of Atora can be ordered.
A word of thanks to Laundress
For starting up a great thread.
And I see you have been out in the trench coat and fedora again LOLOL - only teasing. And thanks for the second crop of photos
For starting up a great thread.
And I see you have been out in the trench coat and fedora again LOLOL - only teasing. And thanks for the second crop of photos
back to the shopping
Barry's tea is actually Irish, I have seen it on sale here in Morrisons. Same with the Bolands products - I am trying to remember the brand name they used to be but for the life of me I cannot remember it. I remember the Coconut Creams (its actually a soft cookie, topped with a blob of marshmallow and dusted with coconut and the non-chocolate version of Kimberley too - that's a soft, slightly gingery cookie sandwiched with marshmallow. The main place I see Chocolate Tea Cakes is Marks & Spencer - small soft cookie, with marshmallow on to and the whole thing enrobed in a thin layer of chocolate.
The only "proper" Jaffa Cakes in the Uk are made by McVities, who also make several other varieties shown in reply 33. Curiously Chocolate Hob Nobs (in the "grab and go" package are a completely different (although equally delicious) product to the non-chocolate product, very good straight from the fridge.
Rolling back up to reply #32 I am surprised to see there are two distinct varieties of McVitie biscuits/cookies - the ones on the lower shelf are the sort we get here, I dont believe I have seen the packaging of, apparently the same product, that are seen on the top shelf before.
Back down to # 33
A Mars bar is what North Americans know as a Milky Way (it gets confusing for us Brits as a Milky Way in this country is a completely different product). A Twix is two fingers on crisp cookie each covered with a reasonably thick layer of caramel and enrobed in chocolate. A Bounty is a coconut bar (again two in a packet) covered by reasonably thick chocolate - the blue is milk chocolate, the red plain.
Aero started out as an aerated chocolate bar (firm not soft - the point being you could see the bubbles) which is covered in smooth chocolate. In the 1960s an additional product was launched when the chocolate filling was replaced by a green peppermint flavouring. The orange filling was added later. It looks like there might be some peppermint ones in one of the orange cartons
Just visible are Maltesers which are malted flavour honeycomb (like) balls enrobed in chocolate.
Al
Barry's tea is actually Irish, I have seen it on sale here in Morrisons. Same with the Bolands products - I am trying to remember the brand name they used to be but for the life of me I cannot remember it. I remember the Coconut Creams (its actually a soft cookie, topped with a blob of marshmallow and dusted with coconut and the non-chocolate version of Kimberley too - that's a soft, slightly gingery cookie sandwiched with marshmallow. The main place I see Chocolate Tea Cakes is Marks & Spencer - small soft cookie, with marshmallow on to and the whole thing enrobed in a thin layer of chocolate.
The only "proper" Jaffa Cakes in the Uk are made by McVities, who also make several other varieties shown in reply 33. Curiously Chocolate Hob Nobs (in the "grab and go" package are a completely different (although equally delicious) product to the non-chocolate product, very good straight from the fridge.
Rolling back up to reply #32 I am surprised to see there are two distinct varieties of McVitie biscuits/cookies - the ones on the lower shelf are the sort we get here, I dont believe I have seen the packaging of, apparently the same product, that are seen on the top shelf before.
Back down to # 33
A Mars bar is what North Americans know as a Milky Way (it gets confusing for us Brits as a Milky Way in this country is a completely different product). A Twix is two fingers on crisp cookie each covered with a reasonably thick layer of caramel and enrobed in chocolate. A Bounty is a coconut bar (again two in a packet) covered by reasonably thick chocolate - the blue is milk chocolate, the red plain.
Aero started out as an aerated chocolate bar (firm not soft - the point being you could see the bubbles) which is covered in smooth chocolate. In the 1960s an additional product was launched when the chocolate filling was replaced by a green peppermint flavouring. The orange filling was added later. It looks like there might be some peppermint ones in one of the orange cartons
Just visible are Maltesers which are malted flavour honeycomb (like) balls enrobed in chocolate.
Al
@ Frigilux
I am quite startled to see the of variety of products on that site you linked too. I noticed two of the products in the new section - Tiptree Jam and Fudges biscuits. Although the prices might look very high they are premium products and the prices shown are not a great deal more than they are in this country. Tiptree jam (or marmalade if you like it) is particularly good if you ever want to treat yourself - particularly something like afternoon tea with cream scones.
Now this is where it gets confusing - a scone is a sweeter (although not massively so) version of what you guys call biscuits - so for say 8oz flour/1oz shortening you add about 1 oz sugar - its like a sweetish bread rather than a cake. When freshly made but cooled you split them horizontally, put a nice thick layer of jam (strawberry by tradition, I prefer raspberry) on the lower part and a good blob of thick cream on top, finally topping with the upper part of the scone. Serve with plenty of cups of tea
I am quite startled to see the of variety of products on that site you linked too. I noticed two of the products in the new section - Tiptree Jam and Fudges biscuits. Although the prices might look very high they are premium products and the prices shown are not a great deal more than they are in this country. Tiptree jam (or marmalade if you like it) is particularly good if you ever want to treat yourself - particularly something like afternoon tea with cream scones.
Now this is where it gets confusing - a scone is a sweeter (although not massively so) version of what you guys call biscuits - so for say 8oz flour/1oz shortening you add about 1 oz sugar - its like a sweetish bread rather than a cake. When freshly made but cooled you split them horizontally, put a nice thick layer of jam (strawberry by tradition, I prefer raspberry) on the lower part and a good blob of thick cream on top, finally topping with the upper part of the scone. Serve with plenty of cups of tea
aquarius1984
Well-known member
Al,
The coconut marshmallow things were last known under the 'Jacobs' name FWIR, but I wondered if at one point they were made by 'Caxton' who also make the Marshmallow Pink n Whites - ice cream wafer sandwiched with marshmallow and dusted with caster sugar.
The coconut marshmallow things were last known under the 'Jacobs' name FWIR, but I wondered if at one point they were made by 'Caxton' who also make the Marshmallow Pink n Whites - ice cream wafer sandwiched with marshmallow and dusted with caster sugar.
Allen, if you like a smooth tea you might try Yorkshire Gold. It is sometimes sold in the British food sections of stores here, but it is cheaper from Amazon. They also make a slightly less expensive version that is just called Yorkshire Tea.
Fauchon Darjeeling from France is possibly the best tea I've ever had, but it seems hard to get.
Fauchon Darjeeling from France is possibly the best tea I've ever had, but it seems hard to get.
launderess
Well-known member
Only Cream Cookie One Wants To Find Is Gypsy Creams
*LOL*
One day when over that way will check out the British store in the Village on Hudson Street. Keep meaning to pop in but usually am down that way well after hours. Know they sell UK laundry products but not sure if the prices are anything to write home about.
Am wondering how fast the turnover for these British foods are at my local. I mean if one were tempted probably would reach to the back of the shelve for anything.
Hot scones with butter are wonderful at tea time, though jam is equally good as well. Unlike say croissants (the official baked good of France), scones are rather easy to make. As noted the batter is really a type of biscuit and as with making that you don't want a heavy hand with the mixing or you end up with bricks.
*LOL*
One day when over that way will check out the British store in the Village on Hudson Street. Keep meaning to pop in but usually am down that way well after hours. Know they sell UK laundry products but not sure if the prices are anything to write home about.
Am wondering how fast the turnover for these British foods are at my local. I mean if one were tempted probably would reach to the back of the shelve for anything.
Hot scones with butter are wonderful at tea time, though jam is equally good as well. Unlike say croissants (the official baked good of France), scones are rather easy to make. As noted the batter is really a type of biscuit and as with making that you don't want a heavy hand with the mixing or you end up with bricks.
aquarius1984
Well-known member
Your closest thing to Gypsy creams are Fox's cream crunch although they are not quite the same FWIR.
Nestle, Kraft and Hershey
They're ruining the chocolate industry with all their acquisitions. Crappy products to gain more shelf space.
They're ruining the chocolate industry with all their acquisitions. Crappy products to gain more shelf space.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Food Turnover In Grocery Stores
I have noticed that things like Malt Vinegar, digestives and tinned kippers turn over pretty fast. You can find Spotted Dick in a can with dust on the lid. Barley water moves pretty fast.
Sorry about the PG tips name screw up.
And Laundress: Thanks for the link to the Fortnum & Mason tea! I ordered a tin!
And Supersuds, we'll give the Yorkshire Gold a try. Love smooth teas. On Sunday morning we wade through the pot!
I have noticed that things like Malt Vinegar, digestives and tinned kippers turn over pretty fast. You can find Spotted Dick in a can with dust on the lid. Barley water moves pretty fast.
Sorry about the PG tips name screw up.
And Laundress: Thanks for the link to the Fortnum & Mason tea! I ordered a tin!
And Supersuds, we'll give the Yorkshire Gold a try. Love smooth teas. On Sunday morning we wade through the pot!
Barry's Tea is actually one of the biggest local food/drink brands here in Cork in Ireland.
They're still a family-owned business and do a pretty nice range of teas.
The two 'big' tea brands in Ireland are Lyons (now part of Unilever) and Barry's Tea. People seem to become diehard fans of one or the other. All the smaller tea brands (including main of the big names like Twinings) are sort of niche in comparison.
Jacob's Biscuits is a little bit like the story of Persil. Two companies ended up owning the brand which originated in Ireland in the 1800s. One company is in Ireland and one in England and they've had court battles over the trademark.
There were actually court battles as recently as 2007 over Fig Roll packaging similarities.
The Irish part is Jacobs Fruitfield which is now called Valeo.
Jacob's biscuits are as quintessentially part of the Irish pallet as Oreos are in the US. There's a range of products that are just absolutely part of culture.
They're around for a VERY long time though as this slightly politically incorrect early 1970s TV ad would demonstrate
http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRQAa7eA9l4
They're still a family-owned business and do a pretty nice range of teas.
The two 'big' tea brands in Ireland are Lyons (now part of Unilever) and Barry's Tea. People seem to become diehard fans of one or the other. All the smaller tea brands (including main of the big names like Twinings) are sort of niche in comparison.
Jacob's Biscuits is a little bit like the story of Persil. Two companies ended up owning the brand which originated in Ireland in the 1800s. One company is in Ireland and one in England and they've had court battles over the trademark.
There were actually court battles as recently as 2007 over Fig Roll packaging similarities.
The Irish part is Jacobs Fruitfield which is now called Valeo.
Jacob's biscuits are as quintessentially part of the Irish pallet as Oreos are in the US. There's a range of products that are just absolutely part of culture.
They're around for a VERY long time though as this slightly politically incorrect early 1970s TV ad would demonstrate
http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRQAa7eA9l4
The things I miss when I'm abroad...
When I'm abroad I actually start to miss some of the oddest things which I don't think of as particularly British or Irish.
One of the main ones is actually Indian curry spices and cooking sauces. There is an absolutely fantastic range of them in the supermarkets here including some locally produced ones from a small company about 2km away.
I also really miss the very high quality pasta sauces you can pick up here. I know you can get decent ones in the US, but I find sometimes in continental european countries you end up stuck with quite bad selections or have to make it yourself from scratch almost.
In the US, the main things I started to miss were breads. I'm quite lucky to be very near some really good bakeries and my local convenience store's quite gourmet. So, I'm fairly used to picking up very high end bread fresh every day.
When I was in the US there wasn't really anything local so I ended up just stopping eating bread as I hate he supermarket stuff.
I know you can get really amazing bread in the US too, but it just wasn't available where I was.
I also really missed soft drinks with actual sugar as opposed to corn syrup. US Coca-cola for example, despite being an american classic, tastes 'strange' because of the corn syrup content. It's made with beet sugar here.
When I'm abroad I actually start to miss some of the oddest things which I don't think of as particularly British or Irish.
One of the main ones is actually Indian curry spices and cooking sauces. There is an absolutely fantastic range of them in the supermarkets here including some locally produced ones from a small company about 2km away.
I also really miss the very high quality pasta sauces you can pick up here. I know you can get decent ones in the US, but I find sometimes in continental european countries you end up stuck with quite bad selections or have to make it yourself from scratch almost.
In the US, the main things I started to miss were breads. I'm quite lucky to be very near some really good bakeries and my local convenience store's quite gourmet. So, I'm fairly used to picking up very high end bread fresh every day.
When I was in the US there wasn't really anything local so I ended up just stopping eating bread as I hate he supermarket stuff.
I know you can get really amazing bread in the US too, but it just wasn't available where I was.
I also really missed soft drinks with actual sugar as opposed to corn syrup. US Coca-cola for example, despite being an american classic, tastes 'strange' because of the corn syrup content. It's made with beet sugar here.
Jacobs
James
Thanks for posting the ad - I could remember that one on Ulster Television maybe back in the 1970s or possibly early 1980s. Milkado were ALWAYS my favourites - still are the odd time I see them.
And thanks also for filling in the story about Jacobs, I thought Kimberly, Milkado and Coconut Creams were Irish made, but could not work out where the cream crackers fitted in. I have done a quick search on YouTube but so far Jim Figgerty is no where to be seen - but that's well before your time I think.
And like you, when I came to live in London, I too missed the wide variety of breads that I was used to - very occasionally you might see a "Plain" loaf here (they are made in Scotland too) and potato cakes and soda farls are easily available here now as are what I used to know as "Oven Wheaten" or "Oven Fruit Bread" - sold here under the James Rankin label although they are very similar to Ormo products. Of course I am a bit spoiled as I worked for three (VERY happy) years at Ormo (strictly it was Ormeau) Bakery so all their products were immediately available to me.
I am actually planning a trip to NI in the summer (the first time in a very long time) and I am looking forward to such fondly remembered delights as Griddle Wheatens (like soda farls only VERY course wholemeal), slims, snowballs, Veda bread, Indians, Treacle Scones, Paris buns ....... As usual I could go on and on ...
And actually I could make a number of these myself, but I can never get wheaten meal course enough here - I can see the car will be well stocked up when I am coming back LOLOLOL
Al
James
Thanks for posting the ad - I could remember that one on Ulster Television maybe back in the 1970s or possibly early 1980s. Milkado were ALWAYS my favourites - still are the odd time I see them.
And thanks also for filling in the story about Jacobs, I thought Kimberly, Milkado and Coconut Creams were Irish made, but could not work out where the cream crackers fitted in. I have done a quick search on YouTube but so far Jim Figgerty is no where to be seen - but that's well before your time I think.
And like you, when I came to live in London, I too missed the wide variety of breads that I was used to - very occasionally you might see a "Plain" loaf here (they are made in Scotland too) and potato cakes and soda farls are easily available here now as are what I used to know as "Oven Wheaten" or "Oven Fruit Bread" - sold here under the James Rankin label although they are very similar to Ormo products. Of course I am a bit spoiled as I worked for three (VERY happy) years at Ormo (strictly it was Ormeau) Bakery so all their products were immediately available to me.
I am actually planning a trip to NI in the summer (the first time in a very long time) and I am looking forward to such fondly remembered delights as Griddle Wheatens (like soda farls only VERY course wholemeal), slims, snowballs, Veda bread, Indians, Treacle Scones, Paris buns ....... As usual I could go on and on ...
And actually I could make a number of these myself, but I can never get wheaten meal course enough here - I can see the car will be well stocked up when I am coming back LOLOLOL
Al
"make it yourself from scratch almost"
James
I nearly laughed out loud at that one - true desperation then. I hardly ever use a
pasta sauce, I always make it from scratch
Al
James
I nearly laughed out loud at that one - true desperation then. I hardly ever use a
pasta sauce, I always make it from scratch
Al
