I haven't discussed food??

I was amazed by reading back on my entries and noted not one dedicated exclusively to my favorite subject.....FOOD. England has been heckled for years...(primarily by the French...la-dee-da) for their "poor" or inadequate-to-satisfy-the-palate food. I must say...it is what you make of it. Although some items I will never attempt or adjust to.....(LAMB....ugh..never had it, never will...or Faggots....organ meats ground up into a meatball with gravy...just say LIVER....again....UGH) Chips here are "crisps" and the flavors are not of the familiar variety for an American girl raised on plain, BBQ and Sour cream and onion. No...here you will find: Prawn Cocktail, Turkey with stuffing, Baked Chicken, Indian Chilli and yes the favorite...Salt and VINEGAR. I'm sure I am only listing a few.

They have the usual fare....Yorkshire Pudding..(which is to be honest, is hard for me to describe...it's not bad...just hard to describe), bubble and squeak, toad-in-the-hole and of course, fish and chips (I'll pass....will take the chips...with curry sauce on the side...pure evil....) Years ago, Brits must have had little time to eat...because most of the meals favored can fill you up for days. Try not filling up on Bangers and Mash....sure....

What I can't understand is what is with the beans on toast?? Everyone here...damn near...raves and practically lives on them..it. I tried it twice and loathed it both....(with and without cheese...even all the Worchestershire Sauce (just say Wooster...) in the world can't help. Beyond me. Also...gravy. Few Brits I've met can have a meal without slathering nasty out-of-a-jar made gravy on everything. Even their vegetables!! In a country of butter, cheese and dairy devotion...I rarely see anyone slather butter on anything...even toast. That calls for Marmite or it's beef cousin Bovrille. I swore I would never take a fancy to Marmite....now i confess to the late night toast with a smear. Picture a spreadable boullion...that's what it is...at least I think so. Lightly with the smear or you will be drinking water to wash the sodium out of your mouth for the next decade. I'm sure many a Brit has allowed the silly American to do just that if only to see the look of horror desend upon his/her face. Cheeky buggers.Think Americans love breakfast(?).....a full English breakfast will put all that to rest. Eggs, bacon, blood sausage (yes...I agree...yikes...), potatoes, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and god only knows what else. Tried one once....one of the bigger mistakes of my life.
The sandwich (or "Sarnie") of British choice would likely be: Tuna and sweetcorn, Ploughmans (thick cheese and lettuce with a nasty chutney on it....or type of pickle some say...don't taste like any pickle I have ever had!), Cheese and onion...(yes..I am serious..) Prawn and mayo...(holy gross) or another bizarre assortment of meats with cucumbers and onions on them. I make mine at home thanks.

I am being sarcastic...(albeit honest really). It isn't all that bad. I do enjoy certain things:

Jacket Potatoes....ok, these are just baked potatoes. Sadly, many put beans on them with cheese AND mayo....(ok..that's just wrong...beans....i don't get it..never thought anyone could desecrate a baked spud..I was wrong) I have become quite in love with the tuna and sweetcorn myself...never imagined...but it is SCRUMMY (borrowing this one...)

Cornish pasty....the REAL ones...like mom and granny used to make. No carrots thank you!!! Great to be somewhere that truly loves and appreciates pasty. Created here and treasured here.

Chips!! (fries...the big dinner ones mom gave as a treat when I was a kid) As I stated...curry sauce can be quite good...but just a bit of ketchup works....keep the vinegar. While I'm on THAT.....what is it with the vinegar?? It is pretty much in everything here...(I like that as much as salad cream....yikes!) Half the population is likely pickled by now and that being without the ale.

Sweets...........I have had some of the best desserts here and chocolate. Brits LOVE their sweeties, cakes and biscuits...(cookies). Some not for the faint of heart...(Eccles Cakes....sugar coated donut-ish biscquit stuffed with raisins...you've been warned....that would have to surpass the Christmas pudding...that is nasty beyond definition...no offense all you lovers of the stuff..) I believe this one is "borrowed" from the French..but who cares right? Profiteroles...(mini creme puffs covered in chocolate sitting in chocolate pudding and usually also covered with chocolate sauce.....my mouth is watering too...) Scottish shortbread....(man, I love that stuff...) Digestive biscquits with chocolate frosting....(like a shortbread cookie of sorts with chocolate....or HOBNOBS if you prefer oatmeal...ME!) Flapjacks (speaking of oatmeal..) with or without chocolate. Top of my list has to be scones with clotted cream and jam. Clotted cream is the decadent cream of heaven. Rich and heavy...oh so good. Have with tea and call it cream tea. Whatever...I still prefer coffee.

Sainsbury's Organic Honey Popcorn...I have ALWAYS loved popcorn..but usually only the salted variety...I have since changed...there is something still comforting and not-so-decadent about it with a touch of sweetness...not missing the salt fried tongue for hours after. This stuff is SOOO good.

Of course...there is always Indian food nearby...which i also LOVE...(but it doesn't love me...) or Chinese or Greek or Spanish or whatever culture you can practically think of. One of the benefits of living in a multicultural area. Naan bread at my beck and call....(luckily, I practice restraint...) Enjoyed an Indian meal last night at the "Balty Towers". Honestly. Fans of British telly must love that name. One of the few places I have eaten at in England where the service was as good as that food. Rare in these parts.

I, like, my other half, tend to be a creature of habit and frequent the same places. That must change...there is likely many great stops on the road I have missed.....so much to try. Some good, some not so good....sometimes the best food is just pub food. Actually that is serious business over here...not the beer nuts or jerky of the USA. This is usually really good food. Serious about drinking AND eating.