US foods not available in the UK
Oct 23rd, 2011, 03:14 AM
#21
london yank - i just can't let you get away with this one:
Certain cuts of steak (flank steak, skirt steak)>>
any decent butcher will have both. skirt is actually the right cut for cornish pasties so it's ubiquitous here, but also "up country" too. ditto flank. and you should have little problem finding buttermilk, maple syrup [not sure what you mean by good, it certainly costs enough] molasses [it's called treacle and is next to the golden syrup] and non-alcoholic apple cider - isn't that just apple juice?
turkey sausage and turkey bacon, if you must, look for Bernard Matthews.
and as for lack of variety, one thing that shocked me in the states was the overwhelming number of varieties of one thing for example, 12 different sorts of cola. to me that smacks of consumerism gone mad.
Certain cuts of steak (flank steak, skirt steak)>>
any decent butcher will have both. skirt is actually the right cut for cornish pasties so it's ubiquitous here, but also "up country" too. ditto flank. and you should have little problem finding buttermilk, maple syrup [not sure what you mean by good, it certainly costs enough] molasses [it's called treacle and is next to the golden syrup] and non-alcoholic apple cider - isn't that just apple juice?
turkey sausage and turkey bacon, if you must, look for Bernard Matthews.
and as for lack of variety, one thing that shocked me in the states was the overwhelming number of varieties of one thing for example, 12 different sorts of cola. to me that smacks of consumerism gone mad.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 04:46 AM
#22
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Annhig says:
"one thing that shocked me in the states was the overwhelming number of varieties of one thing for example, 12 different sorts of cola. to me that smacks of consumerism gone mad"
Comment from Welsh friend on her first visit to an American grocery store: "You've got a whole aisle of water!"
"one thing that shocked me in the states was the overwhelming number of varieties of one thing for example, 12 different sorts of cola. to me that smacks of consumerism gone mad"
Comment from Welsh friend on her first visit to an American grocery store: "You've got a whole aisle of water!"
Oct 23rd, 2011, 04:52 AM
#23
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I get a decent microwave popcorn at Lidl, good maple syrup almost anywhere, and make my own buttermilk for cooking. Agreed, Dorito tortilla chips are terrible - I find the cheapest supermarket own brands the least objectionable, or make my own with fresh corn tortillas from Mexgrocer online.
But aisle for aisle, UK supermarket shopping is preferable to US - you can actually buy real food not processed junk.
But aisle for aisle, UK supermarket shopping is preferable to US - you can actually buy real food not processed junk.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 05:29 AM
#24
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annhig,
Don't you ever go shopping when you are in Italy? There are at least 12 different brands of coffee here as well as 12 different brands of orange juice. Many stores don't have the room to stock the several dozen different brands of spaghetti -- and I mean brands, not types -- and likewise the many different brands of rice, polenta, grissini, etc., marketed in just northern Italy alone. At the bigger supermarket where I sometimes shop, there are surely two dozen brands of yoghurt -- and most Italians don't each much yoghurt. Admittedly, it is hard to hold up the Italians as models of sanity when ti comes to consumerism, but this notion that Americans are somehow unusual is under-observant. In fact, I seem to recall whilst living in London encountering 20 different brands of the exact same black tea and at least 12 different brands of orange marmelade.
As for all this business that Americans put "wax" in their chocolate and Brits don't -- the truth is that mass market junk chocolate the world over is filled with junk. Cadbury's is just as loaded up with emulsifiers and preservatives as Hershey's and Nestle's and Kinder and Reidel and on and on. If you want good chocolate you need to pay for it. I see much more high-end quality chocolate wherever I go in the US than I do when I go to the UK. And none of it holds a candle to the best of Belgian, Italian, French or Swiss chocolates.
sailingsailing
You have no need to apologize for anything. You gave several Fodor's posters the chance to ride one of there favorite snooty hobbyhorses. If anything, apologizes should be flowing the other way.
Personally, I would prefer a gift of Graham crackers to Graham flour because then I could make a graham cracker crust or just eat the crackers.
Many, many American foods are not in the UK -- or the best examples of the taste are not there. Things like great bbq sauce, southwestern peppers, Old Bay -- anything distinctly regional and old fashioned would be one way to go, but the other way to go is to take what you'd most like to share -- including Graham crackers and your favorite American chocolates. Personally, I'd be thrilled by a gift of Sno-caps.
Don't you ever go shopping when you are in Italy? There are at least 12 different brands of coffee here as well as 12 different brands of orange juice. Many stores don't have the room to stock the several dozen different brands of spaghetti -- and I mean brands, not types -- and likewise the many different brands of rice, polenta, grissini, etc., marketed in just northern Italy alone. At the bigger supermarket where I sometimes shop, there are surely two dozen brands of yoghurt -- and most Italians don't each much yoghurt. Admittedly, it is hard to hold up the Italians as models of sanity when ti comes to consumerism, but this notion that Americans are somehow unusual is under-observant. In fact, I seem to recall whilst living in London encountering 20 different brands of the exact same black tea and at least 12 different brands of orange marmelade.
As for all this business that Americans put "wax" in their chocolate and Brits don't -- the truth is that mass market junk chocolate the world over is filled with junk. Cadbury's is just as loaded up with emulsifiers and preservatives as Hershey's and Nestle's and Kinder and Reidel and on and on. If you want good chocolate you need to pay for it. I see much more high-end quality chocolate wherever I go in the US than I do when I go to the UK. And none of it holds a candle to the best of Belgian, Italian, French or Swiss chocolates.
sailingsailing
You have no need to apologize for anything. You gave several Fodor's posters the chance to ride one of there favorite snooty hobbyhorses. If anything, apologizes should be flowing the other way.
Personally, I would prefer a gift of Graham crackers to Graham flour because then I could make a graham cracker crust or just eat the crackers.
Many, many American foods are not in the UK -- or the best examples of the taste are not there. Things like great bbq sauce, southwestern peppers, Old Bay -- anything distinctly regional and old fashioned would be one way to go, but the other way to go is to take what you'd most like to share -- including Graham crackers and your favorite American chocolates. Personally, I'd be thrilled by a gift of Sno-caps.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 05:31 AM
#25
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Bisquick, yes! Greenhouse reminds me that I've lugged boxes of that over so I could make US-style thick pancakes. However, that's definitely in the 'ingredient' camp, and more something I would take than send over in a box.
Following up on LondonYank's ranch dressing comment, though -- a selection of different interesting salad dressings might work. The UK supermarkets I've shopped in over the last couple years stocked a pretty narrow range. Maybe one of the UK residents here could comment on the types that are easiest to get there, & you could look for items outside that range. Items with a sharp vinegary 'tang' are popular in the UK -- they had salt-and-vinegar potato chips long before we did -- and so unusual vinegar-based dressings might be enjoyed.
Following up on LondonYank's ranch dressing comment, though -- a selection of different interesting salad dressings might work. The UK supermarkets I've shopped in over the last couple years stocked a pretty narrow range. Maybe one of the UK residents here could comment on the types that are easiest to get there, & you could look for items outside that range. Items with a sharp vinegary 'tang' are popular in the UK -- they had salt-and-vinegar potato chips long before we did -- and so unusual vinegar-based dressings might be enjoyed.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 05:35 AM
#26
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tarquin,
I've lived in England and it is only recently that food there has become even edible. It really isn't that long ago when hideous tinned beans, white breads, sugary everything and fatty everything were the standard fare, with scarcely a real piece of fruit in sight.
I don't know where you go in America, but the mega-markets from coast to coast are filled with an extraordinary range of fresh food and whole foods, and processed foods have become much more keen on selling to a health-conscious group.
One sees a parallel movement in Britain -- but Jaimie Oliver spoke up for a reason, and he's a recent phenomenon with a lot of work ahead of him.
I've lived in England and it is only recently that food there has become even edible. It really isn't that long ago when hideous tinned beans, white breads, sugary everything and fatty everything were the standard fare, with scarcely a real piece of fruit in sight.
I don't know where you go in America, but the mega-markets from coast to coast are filled with an extraordinary range of fresh food and whole foods, and processed foods have become much more keen on selling to a health-conscious group.
One sees a parallel movement in Britain -- but Jaimie Oliver spoke up for a reason, and he's a recent phenomenon with a lot of work ahead of him.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 05:41 AM
#27
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So what is Graham flour and why would I really love to have a gift of this?
One thing that has been a welcome present for my Dad had been Maple Butter when we have visited Canada but it is not easy to find.
As for the Welsh friend being surprised at the bottled water range- that is because we have great water in Wales and don't need to buy bottled. Its so good in fact that it supplies England!
One thing that has been a welcome present for my Dad had been Maple Butter when we have visited Canada but it is not easy to find.
As for the Welsh friend being surprised at the bottled water range- that is because we have great water in Wales and don't need to buy bottled. Its so good in fact that it supplies England!
Oct 23rd, 2011, 05:50 AM
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Oct 23rd, 2011, 05:54 AM
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I like "snooty hobbyhorses," but I don't think I am the only one guilty of that!
UK food has been better than edible for quite some time, perhaps 12-15 years ago the tide turned, and I am speaking of a rural area which has not experienced the benefits of immigrant cooking until recently. Admittedly my knowledge of US supermarkets is not extensive, but the whiff of corn derivatives seemed ubiquitous when I was there.
UK food has been better than edible for quite some time, perhaps 12-15 years ago the tide turned, and I am speaking of a rural area which has not experienced the benefits of immigrant cooking until recently. Admittedly my knowledge of US supermarkets is not extensive, but the whiff of corn derivatives seemed ubiquitous when I was there.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 06:08 AM
#32
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I have had a number of foreign exchange students and the ones from Europe said that maple syrup is very expensive there. As for chocolate I feel theirs is much better and the exchange students also felt that way, except for Reeces Peanut Butter Cups.
One item they all liked was a BLT, but they said they did not know where to get American style bacon back home. A number of them froze four or five pounds to take home with them to make them for their family.
One item they all liked was a BLT, but they said they did not know where to get American style bacon back home. A number of them froze four or five pounds to take home with them to make them for their family.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 06:27 AM
#33
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Tarquin,
I agree with you, I lived in the UK from 1991-1996 and the selection and quality at my local Sainsbury's and Tesco was outstanding. Large, staffed cheese and cold meat counters, great butcher dept., produce from the UK, Channel Islands and much further afield, etc.
Then there are Waitrose and Marks and Spencer, with fresh ready-made meals and more up-market choices. Since 1996, I think Tesco has slipped in quality but overall I still can't think of anything much I would ship from the US to UK friends.
Yes, there were things that I I missed and still do, particularly good quality microwave popcorn and arm and hammer toothpaste (France) but why would the things I missed appeal to Brits? I am just hard pressed to think of much that I could suggest singing send to her UK family, particularly considering the shipping costs.
I think zeppole lived in an alternate universe.
I agree with you, I lived in the UK from 1991-1996 and the selection and quality at my local Sainsbury's and Tesco was outstanding. Large, staffed cheese and cold meat counters, great butcher dept., produce from the UK, Channel Islands and much further afield, etc.
Then there are Waitrose and Marks and Spencer, with fresh ready-made meals and more up-market choices. Since 1996, I think Tesco has slipped in quality but overall I still can't think of anything much I would ship from the US to UK friends.
Yes, there were things that I I missed and still do, particularly good quality microwave popcorn and arm and hammer toothpaste (France) but why would the things I missed appeal to Brits? I am just hard pressed to think of much that I could suggest singing send to her UK family, particularly considering the shipping costs.
I think zeppole lived in an alternate universe.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 06:48 AM
#34
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I live near a Trader Joe's. Just last month I sent a friend who lives in a Trader-Joe's-less part of the US several of their 'spice grinders.' My favorite is the Lemon Pepper, but there's also a nice smoky seasoning, and one with sugar/chocolate/coffee beans in it for grinding on top of coffee and desserts (out of stock at my local TJ's, so I haven't tried it yet).
At this time of the year, TJ's (and some other places) also have pumpkin flavored coffees. Neither flavored coffees nor pumpkin are my 'thing,' so it wouldn't appeal to me, but your (and their) mileage may vary. I wouldn't send whole-bean coffee to a UK family unless I knew for sure they had a grinder, btw -- they're less common in home kitchens there than here.
At this time of the year, TJ's (and some other places) also have pumpkin flavored coffees. Neither flavored coffees nor pumpkin are my 'thing,' so it wouldn't appeal to me, but your (and their) mileage may vary. I wouldn't send whole-bean coffee to a UK family unless I knew for sure they had a grinder, btw -- they're less common in home kitchens there than here.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 07:32 AM
#36
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Thank you Zeppole but having read the recipe it seemed that Graham crackers were being used in circumstances where I'd use digestive biscuits.
I take it that Graham flout is used to make Graham crackers but does it have another use - one that would mean you would bring it as a gift? I'm intrigued.
I take it that Graham flout is used to make Graham crackers but does it have another use - one that would mean you would bring it as a gift? I'm intrigued.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 07:58 AM
#37
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I can think of a few things that we miss, but I'm not sure my UK friends would necessarily covet them. As mentioned above, decent chips and salsa, microwave popcorn and US peanut butter are on the list. We've found many of those at Costco though!
Canned tomatoes taste different here (sweet tom juice) but you probably don't want to give them that (and they probably like what they are used to anyway).
Good thought though.
Canned tomatoes taste different here (sweet tom juice) but you probably don't want to give them that (and they probably like what they are used to anyway).
Good thought though.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 08:03 AM
#38
Don't you ever go shopping when you are in Italy? There are at least 12 different brands of coffee here as well as 12 different brands of orange juice. Many stores don't have the room to stock the several dozen different brands of spaghetti -- and I mean brands, not types -- and likewise the many different brands of rice, polenta, grissini, etc., marketed in just northern Italy alone. At the bigger supermarket where I sometimes shop, there are surely two dozen brands of yoghurt -- and most Italians don't each much yoghurt. Admittedly, it is hard to hold up the Italians as models of sanity when ti comes to consumerism, but this notion that Americans are somehow unusual is under-observant. In fact, I seem to recall whilst living in London encountering 20 different brands of the exact same black tea and at least 12 different brands of orange marmalade. >>
If you read what i posted zeppole, you will see that i specifically referred to 12 sorts of cola, [of which one would hardly want one sort] not coffee, orange juice, pasta, rice etc.
and you clearly are not familiar with Waitrose, which has been stocking a wonderful selection of all the sorts of foods, fresh and otherwise, you mention for as many years as I can remember.
Yes, there were things that I I missed and still do, particularly good quality microwave popcorn and arm and hammer toothpaste (France) but why would the things I missed appeal to Brits? I am just hard pressed to think of much that I could suggest singing send to her UK family, particularly considering the shipping costs.
I think zeppole lived in an alternate universe.>>
cathinjo - exactly.
and that is not to say that I do not think that fresh fruit and veg in ITALY are superior to those generally found in the UK. but that is not the question raised by the OP, which was what foods s/he might send to the UK.
If you read what i posted zeppole, you will see that i specifically referred to 12 sorts of cola, [of which one would hardly want one sort] not coffee, orange juice, pasta, rice etc.
and you clearly are not familiar with Waitrose, which has been stocking a wonderful selection of all the sorts of foods, fresh and otherwise, you mention for as many years as I can remember.
Yes, there were things that I I missed and still do, particularly good quality microwave popcorn and arm and hammer toothpaste (France) but why would the things I missed appeal to Brits? I am just hard pressed to think of much that I could suggest singing send to her UK family, particularly considering the shipping costs.
I think zeppole lived in an alternate universe.>>
cathinjo - exactly.
and that is not to say that I do not think that fresh fruit and veg in ITALY are superior to those generally found in the UK. but that is not the question raised by the OP, which was what foods s/he might send to the UK.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 08:07 AM
#39
i've read the wiki guide to mars bars and me whole world is reeling. It seems that snickers are mar bars, there is no reference to the terrible, futile, struggles we had in the Uk to keep snickers's old name which was marathon. Marketing gone mad
Oct 23rd, 2011, 08:33 AM
#40
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About ten years ago, I bought some antique linens at one of the bridge shops in Bath. The woman in the shop said I had to only launder them in 'pure soap' not detergents. For years, at least 10, I had UK friends bring Persil every time they came over. Finally got over it and switched to Ivory Snow. Note to Frances: we make graham cracker pie crusts in this country for certain pies - chocolate, lemon meringue, key lime. I personally would buy such a crust in the freezer at the grocery and not spend time mashing up crumbs.
