Even the vegetables are actually carved from lard and spraypainted with cadmium.
After finding (and putting back) ice cream with vegetable oil listed as the third ingredient, I am hereby obsessive about ingredient lists when shopping.
. . . and ice cream, and peanut butter, and pretzels, and yellow mustard . . . I could go on.
I adore the UK, but I have to say after a long stint there, I was pleased to get back to U.S. food. Though I think that was about the only thing I was pleased to come back to, since I had already missed the final seasons of ST:TNG, and that's the only other thing I remember pining for. *sigh*
I had some, erm, negative experiences on my way there, however, and ended up getting no sleep on Thursday night, so I was sick during most of the weekend. (I will be so happy when I have finally healed enough to stop being so damn fragile.)
Being sick to the gills appears to be an integral part of the Whitby experience. I spent most of the first one delirous and puking due to some African flu I contracted from working among throngs of tourists in Westminster (though I like to blame it on a certain someone's penchant for driving around roundabouts at light speed) - but I still had a hell of a time. ;)
How long should it be before you feel like a real person again?
OK, now I'm confused, because my local supermarket sells American ice cream, peanut butter, pretzels and yellow mustard. Hell, I prefer Skippy peanut butter to any of the UK brands - they're all too salty for me. I presume you weren't staying anywhere near London?
I lived in Islington and Highgate during 1993 and 1994. There was a bit of a trend towards more American brands coming around the time I left actually. Things like Ocean Spray drinks, Ben and Jerry's, and Snapple were starting to filter in around then, but yes, we did have a very hard time finding those specific things at the time! I remember having like five different jars of mustard in the fridge because we kept buying different kinds and hating them. Those Vienetta ice cream cake things were the only ice cream at Sainsbury's that we could stomach, the rest had the consistency of butter. There was one shop in Holborn that sold Reese's candies, and even in Golder's Green people at delis became violent with you if you asked where to get a knish. bobmonster has a little essay entitled something like, "The rantings of an American trying to find an all-night diner in London" somewhere online still I think. As i recall it was pretty amusing.
Yeah, it's been about a decade. Things may have changed.
Peanut butter was a big issue, yes. It used to be even more of an issue on the continent about fifteen years ago. Heh, my German friends in the eighties thought it was the most vile thing they'd ever tasted, and the idea of peanut butter and jam sandwiches really stressed them out.
I still have a friend in London who makes me ship her French's yellow mustard. Where is this magical place that you get it? :)
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(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 08:43 am (UTC)coffee lovers of the world, unite!
Date: 2002-11-12 09:19 am (UTC)I love turkish coffee.
And an Ethiopian place on Queen made me Ethiopian coffee that smells like heaven.
For me, a cup of Timmies is like home.
Second Cup, for me.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 08:52 am (UTC)Why do you think everyone drinks tea over there!
Welcome Home!
Now, Be sure to come to Saturnalia!
jv
(no subject)
But, one can have decent coffee in the UK: look for an Illy sign (usually Italian delis), or resort to a Starbucks.
We have decent coffee at home (according to J) but we have Illy or other Italian or French coffees.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 09:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 04:09 pm (UTC)The only thing Starbucks is good for is a passable chai latte.
Well actually...
Date: 2002-11-12 09:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 10:13 am (UTC)-A33
the land of crap coffee
Date: 2002-11-12 10:29 am (UTC)Whitby!
Re: the land of crap coffee
Date: 2002-11-12 12:04 pm (UTC)I Suck! :>(
-A33
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 11:01 am (UTC)and i've been eating salad like it's going out of style. bless vegetables. bless the little fuckers.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 01:49 pm (UTC)Didn't anyone warn you that the UK is proud to be vegetable free?
It's strictly chips chips chips and chips.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-13 03:36 am (UTC)After finding (and putting back) ice cream with vegetable oil listed as the third ingredient, I am hereby obsessive about ingredient lists when shopping.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 12:33 pm (UTC). . . and ice cream, and peanut butter, and pretzels, and yellow mustard . . . I could go on.
I adore the UK, but I have to say after a long stint there, I was pleased to get back to U.S. food. Though I think that was about the only thing I was pleased to come back to, since I had already missed the final seasons of ST:TNG, and that's the only other thing I remember pining for. *sigh*
Did you have a lovely time?
well...?
Date: 2002-11-12 02:58 pm (UTC)Yes.
And no.
Whitby is fabulous. Loved it.
I had some, erm, negative experiences on my way there, however, and ended up getting no sleep on Thursday night, so I was sick during most of the weekend. (I will be so happy when I have finally healed enough to stop being so damn fragile.)
Re: well...?
Date: 2002-11-13 10:29 am (UTC)Being sick to the gills appears to be an integral part of the Whitby experience. I spent most of the first one delirous and puking due to some African flu I contracted from working among throngs of tourists in Westminster (though I like to blame it on a certain someone's penchant for driving around roundabouts at light speed) - but I still had a hell of a time. ;)
How long should it be before you feel like a real person again?
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-12 04:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-13 10:20 am (UTC)I lived in Islington and Highgate during 1993 and 1994. There was a bit of a trend towards more American brands coming around the time I left actually. Things like Ocean Spray drinks, Ben and Jerry's, and Snapple were starting to filter in around then, but yes, we did have a very hard time finding those specific things at the time! I remember having like five different jars of mustard in the fridge because we kept buying different kinds and hating them. Those Vienetta ice cream cake things were the only ice cream at Sainsbury's that we could stomach, the rest had the consistency of butter. There was one shop in Holborn that sold Reese's candies, and even in Golder's Green people at delis became violent with you if you asked where to get a knish.
Yeah, it's been about a decade. Things may have changed.
Peanut butter was a big issue, yes. It used to be even more of an issue on the continent about fifteen years ago. Heh, my German friends in the eighties thought it was the most vile thing they'd ever tasted, and the idea of peanut butter and jam sandwiches really stressed them out.
I still have a friend in London who makes me ship her French's yellow mustard. Where is this magical place that you get it?
:)