# UK Dopers: What Foods Do We Have in the US That You Don't Have Over There? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570 "2003-07-01T13:40:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/41 "2003-07-03T16:08:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kilt-wearin’ man \* > \*\*I’m betting that fried chicken, cornbread, chicken-fried steak, chicken and dumplings and other staples of Southern cuisine are fairly rare over there… \*\* It depends whether KFC counts as authentic fried chicken. There are over 500 KFC outlets in the UK and Ireland according to their website and any number of copy-cats. The other items in your list would be hard to find, although the [Texas Embassy Cantina](http://www.london-eating.co.uk/2037.htm) near Trafalgar Square in London does Tex Mex. It’s customer reviews are very mixed, however – “The best ribs and BBQ sauce we have had in a long time! Loved the atmosphere and music. Felt like I was back home in Texas”; “Don’t go to this place. Poor service and mediocre food make you feel like you have been to a real tourist trap”. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/42 "2003-07-03T16:18:46Z")
There isn’t much hominy to speak of. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/43 "2003-07-03T16:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pmwgreen \* > \*\*And of course, English Muffins do not exist in England. \*\* I keep seeing this. It is simply _not true._ English muffins (or simply “muffins”, as they are called here) are readily available in every supermarket I’ve ever been in – even little street corner mini-mart types. There they are, right next to the crumpets. This has been the case for as long as I can remember, and I’m 40. Is this an example of a North/South divide in baked goods? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/44 "2003-07-03T16:46:46Z")
Based on conversations in previous threads, I think what they call “English muffins” are not what you and I call muffins **WotNot**. ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/45 "2003-07-03T16:48:11Z")
I’ve hear you have cheese in a can I initially thought it was a can like a can of beans, that you might slice, which didn’t sound too bad, but someone told me it was **aerosol** cheese. Is that true or am I right to think he was trying to make me spew? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/46 "2003-07-03T16:54:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by everton \* > \*\*Based on conversations in previous threads, I think what they call “English muffins” are not what you and I call muffins **WotNot**. \*\* That may be the case, I suppose, though it’s frustratingly difficult to get a definitive answer. OK, I know: can any americans who’ve eaten at McDonalds in the UK (to avoid the possibility that McDs vary their menu from country to country) tell me whether the muffins they serve (ie Egg McMuffin thingys) are what you’re talking about when you say English muffins, or whether you mean something different? Because that’s what I thought you meant, and if you don’t I’ll withdraw the previous post. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/47 "2003-07-03T17:02:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curly chick \* > \*\*I initially thought it was a can like a can of beans, that you might slice, which didn’t sound too bad, but someone told me it was **aerosol** cheese. > > Is that true or am I right to think he was trying to make me spew? \*\* It’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/48 "2003-07-03T17:09:36Z")
What about corn on the cob? It’s a novelty to many Europeans visiting the U.S. Is it available in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/49 "2003-07-03T17:16:52Z")
Sure, there’s no difficulty getting hold of corn on the cob. My mum even used to grow it in our back garden once, but I presume most of it is imported from France where its a very common crop. ---
**Author:** ![Tezmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Tezmac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tezmac)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/50 "2003-07-03T17:26:03Z")
I went on holiday to England last summer for a month and they do not have Mexican food period. Theres a couple places that attempted to serve it, but their salsa was ketchup with what seemed like bell pepper in it just to give an example. Im from New Mexico, Im spoiled. 🙂 Since we are on the topic of English foods; can I get one of you kind Brits to Next Day Ship me a few hundred orders of fish and chips (the really greasy kind rolled up in newspaper), and 100 bags of salt and vinegar crisps? I lived over there for 4 years and have never found a good American replacement for either and I am horribly addicted to both. ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_V](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Rob\_V](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rob_V)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/51 "2003-07-03T17:28:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by curly chick \* > \*\*I’ve hear you have cheese in a can > > I initially thought it was a can like a can of beans, that you might slice, which didn’t sound too bad, but someone told me it was **aerosol** cheese. > > Is that true or am I right to think he was trying to make me spew? \*\* Yes indeedy, it’s called "Cheez-Whiz"™. The only thing I find it’s good for is when snorkleing in Hawaii. The fish at Hanauma Bay went WILD fo the stuff. Frozen peas, too. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/52 "2003-07-03T17:37:12Z")
Hmm. I’ll remember to bring some Cheezy-Peaz next time I go snorkelling in Hawaii then. ---
**Author:** ![Thinks2Much](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Thinks2Much](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinks2Much)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/53 "2003-07-03T18:38:50Z")
. > [@](#): > > can any americans who’ve eaten at McDonalds in the UK (to avoid the possibility that McDs vary their menu from country to country) tell me whether the muffins they serve (ie Egg McMuffin thingys) are what you’re talking about when you say English muffins, or whether you mean something different? Because that’s what I thought you meant, and if you don’t I’ll withdraw the previous post. I have not been to a UK in McDonald’s, but what the US calls an English Muffin is a dense, low profile (such as a slice of bread, to fit into the toaster) bread-like product, which is split into a top and bottom, that has lots of large holes in it on the inside, but a very consistent crust without holes. They are generally an off-white color. They only come in plain - well, sometimes cinnamon raisin. The last time I had an Egg MCMuffin here their excuse for an English muffin is poor, but it is similar. To us, a “normal” muffin has a similar shape and size to a large cupcake and comes in a variety of flavors: blueberry is the most popular, then flavors like banana nut, bran, chocolate chip, and lemon poppyseed are also common. They are also very dense (but with no holes, at least no more so than normal bread), with a more cake-like consistency than a bread-like consistency, much like banana bread or carrot cake. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/54 "2003-07-03T21:58:12Z")
> [@](#): > > To us, a “normal” muffin has a similar shape and size to a large cupcake and comes in a variety of flavors: Muffins (in the U.S.) are also almost always sweet, at least fruit-sweet (though not usually cupcake-sweet). The exception to this, in turn, is corn muffins, which are just cornbread baked in a muffin tin. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/55 "2003-07-04T08:15:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chrisk72 \* > **I have not been to a UK in McDonald’s, but what the US calls an English Muffin is a dense, low profile (such as a slice of bread, to fit into the toaster) bread-like product, which is split into a top and bottom, that has lots of large holes in it on the inside, but a very consistent crust without holes. They are generally an off-white color. They only come in plain - well, sometimes cinnamon raisin. The last time I had an Egg MCMuffin here their excuse for an English muffin is poor, but it is similar.** Well, this sounds like what I’m talking about. Allowing for McD’s ability to make anything they prepare almost inedible, it’s the same product. I’ve never seen cinnamon raisin muffins here, but we do have cheese muffins _(mmm!)._ > [@](#): > > \*\*To us, a “normal” muffin has a similar shape and size to a large cupcake and comes in a variety of flavors: blueberry is the most popular, then flavors like banana nut, bran, chocolate chip, and lemon poppyseed are also common. They are also very dense (but with no holes, at least no more so than normal bread), with a more cake-like consistency than a bread-like consistency, much like banana bread or carrot cake. \*\* Yes, we have those too. If we need to differentiate, we call them (wait for it…) _American_ muffins. ---
**Author:** ![Hattrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/34f0e0/32.png) [@Hattrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hattrick)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/56 "2003-07-04T10:46:02Z")
this we don’t have here in the UK (or very rare) that are in abundance in the states. Reeces Pieces Reeces Peanut butter cups Hersheys Chicken Fried Steak Okra Cream Gravy IHOP Pancakes Velveeta Taco Bell Decent Corn Tortillas Gibblets and Gravy Chicken Necks Kool-Aide Jello (but we do gave jelly:) ) Texas Chilli (no beans) Wendy’s Sonic Drive-in Movies Front and back yards (in major cities) Blue Bell Ice Cream Shiner Bock Beer Barbeque sauce Ranch Dressing I could go on and on, but you do have to realise that we do make up for it in other ways, with other food. Where would I be without my Milo and milk, and a donner kebab after a heavy drinking session? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/57 "2003-07-04T13:01:19Z")
Ranch Dressing is a good one. Fierra had never even heard of it at first, and now it’s her favourite. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/58 "2003-07-04T13:03:40Z")
Other things Fierra had never seen: Tootsie Rolls York Peppermint Patties Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Root Beer (although I’ve seen imports in the UK) Gatorade Habanero Cheese Original Nestle Toll-House Cookies 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![trabi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@trabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabi)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/59 "2003-07-04T14:19:44Z")
The fish might pong a bit by the time it reaches you. ---
**Author:** ![trabi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@trabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabi)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570/60 "2003-07-04T14:21:35Z")
Sorry, that was directed at **Tezmac**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-what-foods-do-we-have-in-the-us-that-you-dont-have-over-there/185570.md?page=4)