It's a British food kind of day...

[fenchurch]

Our neighbors, M & T, got back from their trip to England today (T is actually from there) and brought over a basket of goodies as a thank you for checking in on their cat while they were gone. M knows I love British food and that I'm doing Weight Watchers, so she picked up a copy of the British WW magazine and a British WW cookbook, Cook Smart Family Food -- I can't wait to try out some of the recipes. She also grabbed a few WW snack items, Caramel Wafers and Caramel Shortcakes (which I've already sampled and are quite yummy), plus some sweet pickle (she knows I'm quite fond of cheese and pickle sandwiches), some Colman's Mustard, a can of WW Baked Beans (for breakfast), and a variety pack of Walker's crisps (with some very funky flavors: Fish & Chips, Crispy Duck & Hoisin, and Cajun Squirrel -- She hadn't been able to find any of the Balsamic Vinegar & Caramelised Onion or Roasted Lamb & Moroccan Spices crisps we loved so much and she thought this would be a fun substitute). It feels a bit like Christmas! British food Christmas!

I'm actually rather glad she stopped by today, because chatting with her reminded me that we'd ordered a dozen hot cross buns from the British Pantry last Saturday (we stopped by in hopes that they'd have some in stock and ended up buying chocolate (Curly Wurly bars and Quality Street Favourites) when we found out they didn't) and we needed to pick them up sometime after Noon -- rackham and I had both completely forgotten about it. So, I ended up swinging by and picking up Rackham from work so we could head over to The British Pantry to pick up our goodies... and grab some lunch at the attached restaurant, Neville's. Mmmm... cold pork pie with Branston Pickle... food of the gods!

And the hot cross buns were pretty excellent, too!

Comments

[pmgoose.livejournal.com]

Yay! British food! :)

[sadbhyl.livejournal.com]

Apparently British squirrels love the taste of the Cajun Squirrel crisps... I love Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.

[dionneshea.livejournal.com]

I wish I had a car so I could drive down to that British Pantry.

I want some Yorkshire Pudding so bad.

Actually, maybe it's just as well that I don't have a car. I don't remember Yorkshire Pudding being particularly healthy.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It is incredibly easy to make - and only really good eaten the minute it comes out of the oven. Why not have a go at making your own?

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Cajun Squirrel flavor?! OMG, the Independent was right - the British are experiencing a resurgence in their love for squirrel meat (due to the economic downturn there, apparently). That is so gross -- and they turned it into a crisp flavor?! Bleah.

Everything else sounds great, though - well, except for the lamb crisp flavor (not a lamb fan). I'm envious.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

We turn everything into crisp flavours:)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It is a long-standing British joke, and the flavour is produced totally artificially. No-one actually knows if it tastes like the real thing or not.

[framefolly.livejournal.com]

Wow! I've never had most of these foods, but just reading your descriptions makes me hanker for them so badly...droooolz...

Please do tell us more about "Crispy Duck & Hoisin, and Cajun Squirrel!"

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

Heee - I love how you like British food. The French consider our food to be terrible! LOL!

[tomte.livejournal.com]

I think the British have a not wholly deserved reputation for terrible food--but in my (limited) experience British baking and sweets can be world-class.

If you haven't already seen the web pages of Ivan Day, you should really take a look. He's been making the argument that traditional British cuisine could stand up to any other world cuisine before the advent of the Industrial Revolution... and he teaches classes.

http://www.historicfood.com/portal.htm

It's fascinating stuff.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The French eat snails. I rest my case.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

I've got hot cross buns in my kitchen right now. And they are excellent and since they're just for Lent it's a case of eat now or they're gone.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

My favourite of the new Walkers flavours is the chilli chocolate one...

[slm76.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, new Walkers flavours? I miss Walkers crisps. If our NY refund ever materialises I really need to order me some.

Does your local store have a website? I order from UKgoods.com but I'm always interested in finding other retailers.