Inky

If all you Americans are that bloody picky then dont bother coming over here. Why go abroad just to complain about the products that you can't get there?

erica

Thanks Dave! I'll look for IrnBru. Is it an English product? What does it taste like? I don't particularly like the taste of Dew, just the way it wakes me up. I can make do with Coke - but if I'm going to be spending my evenings drinking strong English beer I'll need all the help I can get in the morning. <BR> <BR>What do the British eat for hangovers? A greasy burger and a fountain Coke are the best cures I have found on this side of the pond. Any suggestions?

Sheila

Irn Bru is Scottish. It used to market as "yer other national drink..made in Scotland...from girders" <BR> <BR>It tastes like nothing you have ever tasted before, and has a diet version. It is full of caffeine. <BR> <BR>It is a well known hangover cure. As to food for the purpose?... bacon butties?

Ed

'Sfunny. I find there are more things &gt;from&lt; I miss having left and come home than things from here I miss while in Europe. <BR> <BR>A few of the things I miss from Europe: <BR> <BR>Almost without exception the food is better in most of Western Europe, prepared with better ingredients. <BR> <BR>The public transport systems are a wonder. <BR> <BR>The baked goods are X times better than in the US. <BR> <BR>The breads, especially, are unmatched here, except in a few isolated areas. <BR> <BR>Drivers in Northern Europe (NOT souther) are better: more attentive, more conforming to rules and courtesy. <BR> <BR>I'm sure others will want to add to the list. <BR> <BR>Ed

Iama

England/Scotland/Wales - that the majority of police do not carry guns, they are helpful and polite. That in general people are well mannered and patient (especially when waiting in line). The pretty (as opposed to majestic or grand) countryside, the country lanes, old historic buildings, cute villages, with village greens and open churches (mostly), beautiful towns. The Lake District. The number of free museums. British Airways! Afternoon tea. Variety of accents. Friendly welcoming people with few exceptions (especially out of the main cities). Being able to walk out alone at night almost everywhere. Low crime rate......

Art

Cheryl You mean COKE don't you. <BR>

mo

Cheryl, every country my sis and I have been to we've visited a grocery store or 2 so I know where you are coming from. I agree with who ever said it was hard to find diet pepsi, my sis always complains about the diet coke in Europe-different recipe. I myself am a Mountain Dew lover! Your kids will love the different cookies and candies the UK has. As for the deli meat same as in the US I had no problem finding pb either. Don't forget to visit Harrods and Fortum and Mason food Halls. Harrods has a (what I like to call) a grocery store in their basement and I couldn't believe some of the american things they were sellling, of course a little more expensive. Have fun.

adina

Of course you can get everything in Europe that you can buy here but it might be different than what you are used to--I always pack a jar of Skippy Peanut Butter and you should also know that canned tuna fish is also different-- if you have an apartment and don't like change-- especially since you are going with kids-- it might be worth it to take a few cans of American tunafish.

edie

let me preface this by saying that i am not a parent, and maybe becoming one in the future would change my outlook on this. <BR>BUT.... <BR>last year an aquaintance asked me about taking her first grader to maui. i gave her the advice that i could, and mentioned off-handedly that food wouldn't be a problem,i would imagine that most of the restaurants in lahaina would have burgers, pasta, etc, if not a full out childrens menu. she said, oh no, we got a condo and i am packing a suitcase and cooler just for food. i thought it odd, but replied, well that would save you money. she said, it's not the money, it's what my daughter will eat. <BR>to wit, her daughter will only eat a certain brand of frozen chicken nuggets. only eat a certain brand and size of ravioli, and only eat one brand of sauce. will only eat burgers at mcdonalds, not the fries, the fries have to come from burger king. the mac and cheese has to be the kraft brand with the sauce, not the powder, not any other brand. also, the noodles have to be regular elbows, not any other shape. this goes on and on. she was worried that the brand of milk would be different and her daughter would rebel against the different carton. <BR> <BR>now i understand that kids are picky about food sometimes, but i have to say that a child with demands like those listed above have to have been encouraged or allowed by the parents. what a disservice parents are doing their children, not urging that they try new things in life. <BR>Part of traveling is experiencing new things, both for kids and for adults. <BR>so i kind of have to say that if you are in europe eating, don't try to replicate your food from the states, try something new. <BR>muesli is an excellent example, as are cornettos when in italy. <BR>i promise, they won't starve. they might miss a few food groups for the duration of your trip, but that won't kill them.

Mom

Edie, you raise a good point, and I'll bet the parents of the child you describe are picky eaters and picky people as well. <BR> <BR>I have a lot more sympathy for parents of picky eaters than I used to, though. I have two kids who will eat anything (even sushi!), and one who only eats a few things. I don't bring special food for him, and he'll eat when he gets hungry enough. But his refusals to eat are really hard on everyone and restrict what we can do as a family sometimes. You sure can't go to a movie if you know one kid is going to explode halfway through it due to hunger. I guess what I'm saying is that this picky eating thing is something some kids are born with and some are not. Changing it is not as easy as I thought it would be.

Brian in Atlanta

Well said edie.

Annika

This topic is ridiculous! Does someone seriously think about things like that?!? (And even worse: does someone really drink pepsi in the morning???) Might be a good idea just to stay home.

Debbie

Annika- <BR> of course people drink Pepsi in the morning ( I myself drink diet - Pepsi or Coke - no real preference) <BR> <BR> Some of us just never got the taste for Coffee or tea, and need to get our caffiene somehow.

elvira

Annika, there are cold caffeine addicts who need their morning hit just like the coffee addicts (me). When you think about it, what's so weird about drinking a brown drink, made from a bean, loaded with sugar? Sort of like the people who go "eeeyuu pizza for BREAKFAST?", then sit down to a western omelette and 3 pieces of toast... <BR> <BR>And if you are a caffeine drinker, withdrawal from it can cause headaches. <BR> <BR>Cheryl: you can find regular food in London (and throughout all of Europe) stores but sometimes in a different spot than you'd expect. Milk is super-sterilized, and is packaged in boxes. You'll find it in the grocery aisle, NOT the dairy case. Eggs aren't kept in the dairy case either; they're usually found in a 'coolish' area along an outside wall. You can also buy eggs buy the piece (you'll see a basket or bowl of them on the bakery counter or cheese case, for example). As for deli meats, there are the usual suspects, both packaged in the cooler and also at the deli counter (try the ham). <BR> <BR>My sister, who speaks no French other than the merci/bonjour sort, never has a problem shopping in France "well, even if I don't know the words, the pictures are the same". <BR> <BR> <BR>

Kathy

Try any HARTS store they are all over London. You can get beer , cokes, cookies tea etc.there We find that Harts is great for last min gifts. and less expensive than other stores espcially for specialty teas and shortbread cookies.They also have chips, croissants,etc.

Karen

Cheryl - most stores which sell Pepsi will usually sell Diet Pepsi too. I only drink diet fizzy drinks and have no problem finding any of them. There is also Pepsi Max, which I actually prefer to Diet Pepsi. For still fruit drinks, I like Oasis (summer fruits or blackcurrent) and you can also get a "light" version which is really nice and refreshing. <BR>Most box cereals are the same as in the US, you can get all sorts of sliced meats (ham, chicken etc) pre-packaged and in the larger shops they will cut meats, cheese etc for you at the counter. Tesco have nice bakery items, Marks and Spencers are more expensive but a lot of their foods IMHO are better quality - great individual desserts, fresh fruit drinks, etc. You will probably find peanut butter in most places but not so widely as its not that popular here. Milk will be in a chiller cabinet, usually in plastic see-through bottles. Eggs can be dotted around anywhere... <BR>Biscuits, chocolates, boxed cakes will be different, make sure to try some. Cadburys is nothing like you get in the US. My American friend couldnt get enough of sandwiches with cheddar cheese and Branston pickle!!! Oh, and if you buy lamb, chicken, beef etc to cook, I have been told it tastes different here!?!?! <BR>Americans will finds more of the food items they are used to in the UK than vice-versa.

Kim

Cheryl: <BR> <BR>As a pathetic Coke addict, I too have to have my fix in the morning. I am American, but am now living in England. Beware! They don't believe in ice over here and if you do ask for it in your drink, you'll be lucky to get more then 2 cubes! I've found many things taste different here then in the states, even though they have the same brand name, such as Special K cereal (won't buy that again). And despite what the Brits have been saying here, I can list a million things that I cannot buy in stores or markets here that I can get in the states. Sorry guys!

WhyohWhy

Kim <BR>The point exactly? When I go to the States I don't particularly want to get things from home. One of the good things about travelling is to try new things for a week or so. <BR>As has been said before all the basic things that Cheryl mentioned can be bought in the UK. So they may taste different and..? <BR>Why not just stay at home? Some of the posters on this thread seem to have major difficulties travelling. If food is such a problem I dread to think what you would do if something actually important went wrong. <BR>Glad though to see the good eating and drinking habits exhibited by our American friends.

Sssshhhhh

Yes, WhyOhWhy, no one should ever discuss any differences between Europe and the U.S. Any discussion, no matter how lighthearted, is irrefutable evidence that the participants should never travel because they cannot take it all in stride. Anyone who encounters any differences such as those described in this thread had better keep it to themselves because those sorts of travel experiences are not to be shared.

Cheryl

I am the author of this question and feel I need to repond to all the stuff said above. My questions were asked for one very specific reason -- to get an honest answer. Since I have never traveled abroad before, I was just trying to get a small idea of food availability. My family loves to try new food, and in NO MEANS was I trying to put down the lovely people of London or implicate that London stores are in the dark ages. My child is not a picky eater, so that was not my concern, either. I do apologize for any of you who responded that were offended. I did not even know this Website existed until I just recently purchased a book from Fodor's about London. We are looking forward to our trip to London. Thanks for hearing me out.