# British foods, anyone??? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362 "2003-02-11T16:17:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/41 "2003-02-12T15:16:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bippy the Beardless \* > **In Devon/Cornwall try Cream Teas, Pot of Tea, Scone, Clotted cream and strawberry Jam** Cream teas are one of the things I look forward to most when visiting England–with proper, clotted Devonshire cream, mind you, not that suspiciously like CoolWhip stuff you sometimes get in the east and north. I believe that clotted cream is one of the finest dairy products on this Earth. I also recommend carry-out fish&chips with malt vinegar, eaten out of a crumpled bit of paper in a public park or at sea-side. And full English breakfasts: eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, baked beans, innumerable slices of toast, and a tiny, acidic glass of orange juice. I’ve tried to reproduce this at home, but American sausage is not quite the same, and HP Brown Sauce nearly impossible to obtain. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/42 "2003-02-12T15:36:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > Years ago, I read about a London pub called “Dirty Dick’s”…the place’s claim to fame was that it hadn’t been cleaned in 300 years! I wonder how the food there is…any UK dopers care to comment? I have only been there once and that was years ago. However, I was very disappointed that they had cleaned the place up. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/43 "2003-02-12T15:51:05Z")
Reading the site that was linked in the OP made me remember just how closely the UK and Canada are linked. I think the fact that my step-father is the first generation born in Canada to British parents also helps. I make mincemeat tarts and Christmas pudding, and grew up with bangers & mash, toad in the hole, Digestive cookies (so yummy!), and steak and kidney pie. The steak & kidney pie is something that my Dad loves, but none of the rest of us would eat it - RENAL FUNCTION, people! I’m making a roast beef tonight, maybe I should make Yorkshire pud, as well. I’m almost 100% sure Dave has never had it. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/44 "2003-02-12T16:02:13Z")
I don’t have much experience with British food outside Scottish cuisine but I can tell you… Haggis is…quite tasty, as long as it’s prepared by someone who knows what they’re doing. I had two servings of good haggis (one of which was fried…) and one serving of bland, tasteless haggis while in Scotland. Goes well with neeps and tatties - turnips and potatoes. Smoked Salmon is divine. Of course, single-malt Scotch whisky is the nectar of the gods. I will go on record saying it’s much easier to find Indian food than traditional Scottish food in Scotland. ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/45 "2003-02-12T17:35:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sirtonyh \* > \*\* > > If your chosen restaurant includes any of the following words, leave immediately and seek out nearest approved restaurant from the list at the top. > > [snip] > b) Full English Breakfast - A heart attack on a plate\*\* Yeah, but you die happy. > [@](#): > > **c) Marmite - No explaination needed. If visiting Australia, same applies to Vegemite** Marmite is delicious! Though admittedly an acquired taste. Never tried Vegemite, so I won’t make any claims. But don’t skip the Marmite, at least try it. After all, why travel if you don’t want an adventure? > [@](#): > > \*\* > d) Roast Chicken/Beef/Lamb or other meat. The meat will be overcooked and the vegetables boiled for approx 3 hrs so as to remove all traces of flavor\*\* This has been, sadly, entirely true in my limited experience. > [@](#): > > \*\* > f) Sandwich - 2 slices of wafer thin white bread (less than 1% chance of wholemeal bread), covered in approx 1/2lb of butter. Fillings will be either Cheese or Ham. If the description includes Branston Pickle run very, very quickly. Do not expect salad. In the UK salad is 1 (and only 1) soggy piece of Iceberg lettuce.\*\* The wierdest sandwiches I’ve ever had have been English. Yes, they always seem to have butter on them. Not always a bad thing, but not what you expect with, say, a corned beef sandwich. I think the oddest, least palatable one I ever had was grated cheese mixed with salad cream–the bread was buttered, too, of course. You forgot warnings about shandy, which is absolutely, bar none, the most disgusting drink I’ve ever had. With the possible exception of the non-carbonated, cola flavored beverage I found in my packed lunch one day. Fish and chips, in my experience, is spotty. When it’s good, it’s wonderful. When it’s bad, it’s disgusting. I second the recommendation of getting recomendations, if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/46 "2003-02-12T17:44:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bren\_Cameron \* > Fish and chips, in my experience, is spotty. When it’s good, it’s wonderful. And don’t forget to sprinkle the chips with malt vinegar (and loads of it)! ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/47 "2003-02-12T18:01:59Z")
**Bren\_Cameron** sandwiches without butter are a vile construct of the evo; on men’s hearts. Whoever first put mayo on a sandwich should be hung drawn and quatered (twice if possible). Sandwich = bread + butter + filling Cornedbeef sandwich should deffinately be bread butter corned beef and branston pickle. Chip Butty should be bread butter and chips (french fries) that have been cooked in lard if at all possible. Smothered in brown sauce or ketchup. 😃 darned, I’m hungry again, Bippy ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/48 "2003-02-12T19:31:26Z")
I am addicted to Branston Pickle, now that it is available in my local Houston supermarket. I get a handful of Wheat Thins and a big blob of Branston and chow down! ---
**Author:** ![Insecta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3da27b/32.png) [@Insecta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Insecta)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/49 "2003-02-12T21:49:59Z")
My personal favourite as a former English resident - Cadbury’s Chocolate! It’s produced in a different way from most other chocolate (European brands love to kick up a fuss over this) and you can really taste it. The company also uses their chocolate in a multitude of snack bars - may I recommend the Fruit and Nut, Dairy Milk, Fudge, Twirl, Flake - ah, screw that - try them all! You appear to get Cadbury’s in parts of the USA, but it’s manafactured by Hershey’s, so there is a different taste and range of products. Live the difference! Hats off the New Zealand and Australia who do an amazing job with their Cadbury factories. Gotta love Moro and Pinky bars, then the insane amount of variations on the standard bar. I’ve also spotted regular Cadbury’s in Egypt and Ecuador, and the Australasian products leak as far as Singapore (and probably further). Wherever it may be, the name is certainly of English origin. For every English restaurant there _isn’t_ in foreign countries, there is a shop selling Cadbury’s. On the subject of snack foods, if you get thirsty, give Irn-Bru a chance. It’s Scottish, and has almost become part of the Scot stereotype in parts of England. I’m not sure what Ginger Ale tastes like in the USA, but in case it tastes like the watered down lemonade they serve in Switzerland, then give it a shot in the UK. Also try Tango, even if it’s just for the irritating black bottles that hide the fizzing (about to erupt) liquid from your view. Coke’s regional soft drink is Lilt, while being nothing special, doesn’t exist in (m)any other places. I could go on for ever… but I better end this and go catch some sleep. Enjoy your trip, real food and snacky junk food I’ve mentioned here! ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/50 "2003-02-12T23:38:53Z")
> [@](#): > > You appear to get Cadbury’s in parts of the USA, but it’s manufactured by Hershey’s, so there is a different taste and range of products. Live the difference! Do you get the Mini-Eggs at Easter time? In the U.S., they’re small chocolate eggs with a candy-coated shell (my favorite candy BTW). As for whether the Cadbury chocolate tastes different here than in Europe I can’t say because I’ve had the British-made stuff. However, I can say American Cadbury milk chocolate does taste different from Hershey’s milk chocolate in that Cadbury’s is richer and more mellow while Hershey’s has a sour tinge to it. > [@](#): > > On the subject of snack foods, if you get thirsty, give Irn-Bru a chance. It’s Scottish, and has almost become part of the Scot stereotype in parts of England. I’m not sure what Ginger Ale tastes like in the USA, but in case it tastes like the watered down lemonade they serve in Switzerland, then give it a shot in the UK. There are numerous brands of Ginger Ale in the U.S. of which Canada Dry and Schwep’s are probably the most popular. Most are pretty mild in comparison to Irn-Bru but there are at least a couple regional brands that might give it competition: Vernor’s (Michigan) and Blenheim (not sure about the name but it’s from the South). ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/51 "2003-02-13T02:34:42Z")
There is a wonderful Ginger Ale called Dominion, which is brewed just up the road from **Jonathan Chance** ’s. I’m going to ask him to pick up a case for me before we see him this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/52 "2003-02-13T03:20:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NDP \* > \*\*There are numerous brands of Ginger Ale in the U.S. of which Canada Dry and Schwep’s are probably the most popular. Most are pretty mild in comparison to Irn-Bru but there are at least a couple regional brands that might give it competition: Vernor’s (Michigan) and Blenheim (not sure about the name but it’s from the South). \*\* Did you mean to type Schweppe’s? That’s a British company (actually a division of [Cadbury Schweppes](http://www.cadburyschweppes.com/index.shtml)). Barr’s [Irn Bru](http://www.irn-bru.co.uk/irnbru.asp) isn’t lemonade or ginger ale (and beware of the link – it’s got music). ---
**Author:** ![Stinkum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Stinkum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stinkum)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/53 "2003-02-13T06:23:53Z")
Hob Nob biscuits. Oh my. Kendall Mint Cakes . . . yum – pure sugar and peppermint. You can fly home on these. Devonshire cream teas are to die for. Proper clotted cream, a bit of jam on fabulous scones. Accept no substitutes! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/54 "2003-02-13T07:22:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stinkum \* > **Kendall Mint Cakes . . . yum – pure sugar and peppermint. You can fly home on these.** I lived in the Lakes District for over a year, and i have the sweetest tooth on the planet, but i really can’t stand this stuff. Each to their own, however. As a sweet-tooth, my favourite British food is the desserts. I worked in a country house hotel when i was in the Lakes District, and made a point of getting on well with the pastry chef. It was my ticket to steamed pudding (syrup or ginger), syllabubs, bread and butter pudding, as well as a bunch of great non-English stuff like mille-feuille, creme brulee, tart tatin, etc., etc. In terms of more general foodstuffs, British food is not so friendly to vegetarians like me. As many have noted, things like roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, and fish and chips are some of the better-known dishes. Much of the stuff i ate in England is not specifically English - indeed, i spent lots of time in the many great Indian restaurants. After all, everyone knows that the whole British empire was the by-product of the Brits’ world-wide search for a decent meal. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Theom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@Theom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theom)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/55 "2003-02-13T12:13:31Z")
Hershey’s Chocolate tastes like cheese to me…really really grim. Do you have toblerone in the US? It’s swiss but try it while here mmmmmmm… A feel like a Cadbury Creme Egg now ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/56 "2003-02-13T13:50:44Z")
We have Toblerone in the US, but it’s not anywhere near as popular here as it was at home in Canada. I’ve had a difficult time finding it, although there’s a national ad campaign for it. ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/57 "2003-02-13T15:24:43Z")
**Theom** , hubby bought me one earlier. It’s in the fridge… Thanks for the reminder 🙂 ::off in search of choccie:: ---
**Author:** ![johncole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@johncole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johncole)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/58 "2003-02-13T16:33:22Z")
**Beef Wellington** - beef steak w/mushrooms in a flaky pastry wrapping. Followed by a Drambuie syllabub. If you get over here, try Tiddy Doll’s in London. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/59 "2003-02-13T17:14:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*When I first came to London that was still - okay, only just - a pub …before the fuckwits moved in. Does the Bricklayers Arms off the Lower Richmond Road ring any bells, up the side road opposite the Star and Garter ? … used to arrange the occasional secret assignation there …_sigh_ … as, of course, Cromwell used to do in the Church by Putney Bridge. We had different goals, though … > > \*\* It’s still there but has very erratic opening hours. The Dukes head by the Star and garter is, if anything, worse than the sloaney pony. As for the star itself. Don’t. Ever. Ever. Go. There. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362/60 "2003-02-13T17:16:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\*Years ago, I read about a London pub called “Dirty Dick’s”…the place’s claim to fame was that it hadn’t been cleaned in 300 years! I wonder how the food there is…any UK dopers care to comment? > For your info, NYC has a similar place (McSorley’s Ale House, near the CooperUnion Institute). The place is absolutelyfilthy! (there are chicken wishbones parked on the light fixtures-some reputedly there since the 1920’s)! \*\* Dirty Dick’s is opposite Liverpool St Station. It is now completely cleaned up. There are pictures of its previous filth. It’s now full of floppy haired city boys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-foods-anyone/154362.md?page=4)