Just in Time for the London Olympics: My Favorite British Foods

by Caitlin

If I had a giant bugle (trumpet?) I would be blowing it JUBILANTLY right now!

Turn it up!

 

AMERICA!

It's no secret that I'm slightly obsessed with Britain. I'm hardly over the Diamond Jubilee and now we're on to the Olypmics! And not just any Olympics (it's a 50/50 shot, calm down) but the SUMMER Olympics, which are the best kind! And they're in London! If you've got a touch of the anglophilia and gleefully track the British royals' every move, and also love the Olympics, life is pretty good for you (me) right now, is what I'm saying. Which reminds me, have you been introduced to What Kate Wore? Or better yet, Kate Middleton FTW?

Right, but this is Food Lush, not Style Lush.

Let's talk about favorite British treats. And how if I had planned better and were not felled with yet another sinus infection (let's not talk about that), I would've loved to throw a little British Olympics themed viewing party for the opening ceremonies. That's not happening, but we're still going to talk about the food. It's what we do, and we love some British food around here.

I mentioned in a previous post that Zach and I have some wonderful British friends with whom we share a love of food. The great thing about having food-loving friends in other countries is that you can swap care packages full of delectable and exotic treats. This is especially useful after you've, say, visited those same friends in England and they introduced you to all the wonderful British products that are hard or impossible to find in America.

Without further ado (I'm good at ado), here are some of my favorite British treats:

1. Tunnock's!

Zach and I love both the caramel wafers (wafer cookies sandwiched between layers of caramel and covered in chocolate) and the teacakes (a graham/shortbread/something cookie with a dome of creamy marshmallow, all covered in chocolate). Because hello:

I mean come on. Luckily we're starting to see them in the States.

2. Strongbow cider. I love this cider and can get it stateside but my knowledge of British ciders is embarassingly small and I know there are probably a ton out there that I'm missing. I am willing to study and do my homework though, because I care about education.

 3. Char teas.

photo from charteas.com

A lovely little tea shop that our friend Bridget took us to in Winchester, England. We'd been drinking their delicious products at our hosts' house, and couldn't resist buying up a bunch. The good news is that you can order online and have it shipped to the States. Drink it cold in the summer months, or hot in the winter, but when you do, think of this favorite phrase I picked up from Bridget, as she put on the kettle for the 30th or 40th time (I lost count) in a day: "Tea is the answer. What was the question?"

Highly recommend the Earl Gray Supreme and the Lady Winchester.

4. Shout out to Irn Bru, a soda my husband was turned onto by our Scottish friend Adrian (bridget's husband), and which I can enjoy about a sip of, because it tastes like liquid bubblegum. You can get this in the States fairly easily.

Photo from http://www.leftoverqueen.com

5. You didn't think I'd go through this post without mentioning Haribo, did you? Namely, Starmix. It's not  specifically British but reminds me of our trip to London last year so it's British to me. You can't find this type of Haribo here, which I think is what makes it so special. That and the fried eggs, which disgusted me for so long. Gummy fried eggs, I'm so sorry I doubted you.

It also has a rocketship on the package, which is something I always look for in my gummy candies.

6. Other British food thing I can't get enough of: Traditional pubs that are somehow also Thai restaurants. The first sit down meal Zach and I had on our trip to London last year was at such a place (called the Lemon Tree, in Covent Garden). We had Fish & Chips alongside Pad Thai, and washed it all down with some ice cold Strongbow. It doesn't get better than that. Unless there's Haribo for dessert.

7. Bacon rolls. Delicious British bacon (thicker, chewier, and heartier than American bacon) on the softest roll imaginable, with a little butter and Hp Sauce. Perfect breakfast.

 

8. Cadbury Chocolate. All of it. And these: Maltesers. I'm not traditionally a fan of Whoppers, and though these are sort of similar they're much milder and thoroughly enjoyable. Available at World Market!

Photo from http://www.britishdelights.com

 

So that's it! Highlights of my favorite British treats! If only next time I can enjoy them while getting a private tour of Buckingham Palace from ole Bill and Cathy Cambridge. Ah well. I did recently have a dream that I was Kate's illegitimate half sister. And I was THRILLED about it. So. DREAM BIG.

 

Do you have any favorite treats from Britain? What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport? ...What's your favorite HARIBO?

Photos by me unless otherwise noted.

Comments

[elz]

My family lived in Britain for many years growing up. I'd have to say that actual British food is ...ahem, not my favorite. But, they do candy exceptionally well. If we are talking about actual food-cornish game hens are far and away my favorite, followed closely by great fish & chips. Nowhere on the list is mushy peas, which are beyond disgusting. Oh, and Chutney and butter sandwiches-oh grossdisgustinglygross.

I still love a good crumble bar. But, Turkish Delights at Christmas are the best. Thanks for a trip down memory lane!

Favorite Summer Olympic sports-Swimming, Diving, and Gymnastics.

[stephanie]

My grandmother would always bring us back boxes of Quality Street chocolate and Smarties. I agree with Elz, though, they really do candy exceptionally well and you can't go wrong with any of it! (Except licorice.) I also love afternoon tea... we really need to institute that tradition Stateside.

[April]

There is a British pub/Thai restaurant in DC! I didn't realize that was a thing.

I love Bounty bars. They're like Mounds but better.

[April]

I forgot about pouring custard. I always got dessert when I was in England because you could get it with pourable custard. YUM.

[matrax]

Most of mine would be considered junk food these days, but in my defense I did live there from 13-16 years old:

Walkers Cheese & Onion crisps
Sausage rolls
Potato waffles
Scotch Eggs
Ribena
Tango
Hula Hoops
Pepperami
Lion bar
Aero bar
Chips & Peas
Bacon bap (look it up!)
Fruit Pastilles
Beans on toast

Why I am not a Fat Bastard right now is beyond me. GET IN MUH BELLY!

[Kelly P]

I have a British husband, so I've been introduced to many of the things you mentioned. While I cannot get on board with Irn Bru, I love me some Strongbow and HP Sauce. I can't get enough of Walker's crisps too - such strange flavors! I also really like Terry's Chocolate Orange. My in-laws get us each one every Christmas. As for actual food, Bangers and Mash are an all time favorite as well as Shepherd's Pie. Any meat pie, really. When I'm in the UK, I'll even eat them at gas station type places, which is saying a lot. Also interesting are things that are horrifically disgusting: Scotch Eggs, Haggis, Black Pudding (all of which my husband LOVES of course).

[Duncan Hannah]

My favorite is the Decathapub. 10 pubs in 10 miles. no need to keep track of time, Everybody wins!

[Jessica]

My favorite cider is Aspall cider. Oh I love it so. I MISS IT SO MUCH and I can hardly wait to get back across the pond to drink a lot of it. A LOT OF IT.

I also am totally infatuated with Pret. I know we have a couple in the states but THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. I do not care. I DO NOT CARE.

Oh and the CRISPS. Cheese and Onion all the way.

I need to go back, like right now.

[Jesabes]

McVities biscuits (graham cracker-type cookies). I especially like the ones coated in dark chocolate. Plus, I can buy them at World Market. They must be solid butter, though, as it's really high on the ingredient list and they have almost 100 calories each (for a rather small biscuit.) So I try to refrain from buying them too often.

[natalie]

I like Strongbow!

Also, I saw Haribo on sale at Walgreens and Target.

[Erica]

Mmmm, Cadbury's. I loved that there were Cadbury's vending machines in almost every Tube stop in London.