½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Curry and salt and vinegar walkers crisps are the only things I think Mmmmmmmmmm. Everything else more than makes up for it.

My husband is a fan of Indian food ( so am I ) and he decided ages ago to try a bit of cooking himself and now cooks all our Indians for us.

He mostly uses Madjhur Jaffreys Cook book if you can get a copy or if you like anything particular , I can always type out the recipe.

Our sons bring over the spices which we buy from a little back street store ( indian ) in Kettering where we used to live . We get huge amounts of spices for little money !!!

I expect you can get most of them here but as our sons have started to pop over quite a bit, they just bring what we need. The spices don't weigh much and last for ages.

Let me know if you want any recipes.

The two things I miss eventually are Heinz beans and Yorkshire Tea. Liptons Yellow Label and Star Tea "Classico" just don't do it for me.

Whenever I go home with my Fiance I bring some tea from the UK. ½ûÂþÌìÌà tea doesn't do the trick for him.

Too weak.

Someone should think about importing it to Italy...

new business idea, would someone open a proper english tea room? cream teas, scones, the lot!

Paola

[QUOTE=latoca]Whenever I go home with my Fiance I bring some tea from the UK. ½ûÂþÌìÌà tea doesn't do the trick for him.

Too weak.

Someone should think about importing it to Italy...

new business idea, would someone open a proper english tea room? cream teas, scones, the lot!

Paola[/QUOTE]
My friend and I always joke about opening a tea room when we are on holiday in Italy. I think in many of the hotels, it's not just the tea bags they use, it's the water that isn't hot enough to brew it. We take our own tea bags and a travel kettle with us so we get at least one decent cup of tea a day!

When I visit my Anglo ½ûÂþÌìÌà friends, I always ask what, if anything, they want bringing from England.

Regular requests are
Walkers Crisps [all flavours except Ready Salted]
Piccallily
Peanut Butter
Strong Cheddar Cheese
A loaf of 'soggy white sliced' if possible
Taramasalata
Gravy Powder

and of course

Cadbury Milk Chocolate

[url]http://www.herbies.com.au/[/url]

It might seem like a long way to get it, but we have ordered spices through herbies in Australia, good prices and spices.

We have a pretty good shop here in Palermo where we can get most spices we want now.

We do a lot of searching for weetabix though

Henderson's Relish... But fortunately, when I CASUALLY MENTIONED it to a mate before he came over last year, his wife brought 4 bottles, so, I'm OK for a few years now.

Ok! I'm surprised but interested. While I languish in the UK waiting to sell a house, I will do this shopping, shipping thing if anyone is seriously interested. Even a couple of tins of beans and a box of tea bags would'nt be too much trouble. So as you read this sit back and dream of what really can't wait until your next trip to blighty - now where is that person who is opening the tea shop? - alien idea I think - but having said that lots of ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs do seem to love things 'british/english.

I&S, strange as it may seem, I think a chain of tea shoppes would be a goer.

Last summer, I took a trip up to Rimini with the "Henderson's relish" man, and while driving back and forth along the beach we noticed a "British Pub" with the all day breakfast sign outside You just have to, don't you...

So we ordered the burned sausage egg chips beans black pudding and fried bread as a starter :o I was amazed, as the restaurant part filled up, they were all ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs, banging the grease down their necks, the owner said they normally don't get many Brits. in during the day but they usually do good business
Ohh yes, missing proper fish and chips too...

Hi George,

I saw your notes yesterday but did'nt have time to reply. I am know thinking deeply about 'English Tea-shops and 'English Pubs with all day breakfast' and Italy - a string of them down through Le Marche and into Abruzzo should do it. I would'nt want Lotaresco to feel he was left out so a couple very close to him should be good. Oh and then there would have to be the ubiquitous coach parties stopping off at these merry establishments. As Bob Dylan once said 'If my thought dreams could be seem, they'd probably put my head in a Guillotine'. Steve could sell his olive oil to the punters - so no problems there - we'd all be driving Beemers in no time.

But seriously, ideas of the the odd quality English tearoom might work for some body

The 'Tall Ships' sailed out of the Tyne this morning. It was pouring down with rain, but I made the pilgrimage to Tynemouth to watch. By the way George which Trade Union?

Ian

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]Ohh yes, missing proper fish and chips too...[/QUOTE]

Really? I can't say I miss them at all, I do miss porchetta and pattatini when I'm in England, but I'd much rather have frito misto than the English slab of fish well past its sell by date.

[QUOTE=Ian and Sandra]Hi George,

I saw your notes yesterday but did'nt have time to reply. I am know thinking deeply about 'English Tea-shops and 'English Pubs with all day breakfast' and Italy - a string of them down through Le Marche and into Abruzzo should do it. I would'nt want Lotaresco to feel he was left out so a couple very close to him should be good. Oh and then there would have to be the ubiquitous coach parties stopping off at these merry establishments. As Bob Dylan once said 'If my thought dreams could be seem, they'd probably put my head in a Guillotine'. Steve could sell his olive oil to the punters - so no problems there - we'd all be driving Beemers in no time.

But seriously, ideas of the the odd quality English tearoom might work for some body

The 'Tall Ships' sailed out of the Tyne this morning. It was pouring down with rain, but I made the pilgrimage to Tynemouth to watch. By the way George which Trade Union?

Ian[/QUOTE]

Saw some of the ships from the South Shields side but got soaked and ended up shivering and had to leave...........nice ships though.

Fritto misto?
where about did you eat it? it si traditional form piemonte...
I mean, our traditional one, has loads of differnt cuts of meat, amaretti, apples.... is that what you are talking about????

Paola

There is that tea room in Rome, though - is it called Babbington's? - near the Spanish Steps. If it's any indication I think they've been in business for decades and do a roaring trade.

Gosh, I'm getting excited just thinking about it - proper tea, clotted cream, proper shortbread, ladies fingers. It's hard to get these in London, actually unless you go to one of the big hotels and pay through the nose.

Used to work in South Shields once, actually, thats a lie, I used to re do calculations for the computer to allow for salesmen's lies many, many years ago, they were the days, computers were the proper size then, none of this palm top stuff, and, who ever needs more than 32kb. of storage anyway....
Is Ciggy Components still there ????

How can you get wet watching ships, surely it can't be raining????, it's bleedin' hot here. ;)

I&S, can't say, afraid I had to sign several confidentiality clauses when they settled rather than go to tribunal, mind you, can't grumble, I'd been living here on full pay for 7 months when they settled... Keep paying your subs though, they aren't all bad. :rolleyes: unless you work for one...

Our friends came to stay last Oct and brought us a crate of Heinz Beans ! We've only got 2 tins left now. We can get them here, but they are the costly price of about £1 a tin.
Agree about the tea - I have [B]Never[/B] found a decent type of tea and therefore when guests come, their magic key to come in the house is a box of teabags please !! (any make is better than the ones we have here - even the cheapest supermarket brand).
We do have a specialist shop in the centre of Turin - but its very expensive and they just dont understand the importance of things like Salt & vinegar crisps and HP sauce (fruity!).
But I have to say that the top of my list is without a doubt.........Milk Chocolate Digestives...........mmm!
Karen
BUT in desperation .... you can buy normal digestives and a bar of milk choc and then make your own !!

Strong cheddar cheese & marmite are my weakness, marmite not too bad (long shelf live) but cheddar cheese??
I love the ½ûÂþÌìÌà cheeses but I will still miss Cheddar.

Havn't made the move yet but I'd miss crumbly white Cheshire cheese. Delish melted on toast, Hollands puddings and dont know where you originate from Steve but any chippy serving out of date fish in the Wigan area would be shut down, but cod and chips and mussy peas (had them for lunch today actually). Also missed would be Sesame Prawn Toast, Crispy spring rolls, Ribs in OK sause and Crispy Duck. Roll on tomorrow night.................................

Neal, I agree, but, won't say so openly... How good were they ?. NO, don't tell me, errrrm, errrm, arrrghhh.....Yes, and mushy peas...

I'll tell you how they were, George. The fish was very white, flaky and tasty, the batter, very light and crispy, the chips were not greasy and fresh out of the pan and the peas, mushy, green and delish. Don't like gravy on mine, its makes the batter soggy.

Looking forward to our usual Sat night takeaway and its Chinese tonight. :p

[QUOTE=neal hampson]dont know where you originate from Steve but any chippy serving out of date fish in the Wigan area would be shut down[/QUOTE]

Errm not that far from Wigan, I have relatives at Westhoughton and from time to time I work around Knowsley/St Helens/Leigh. I'm sorry to say that I've had some of the worst fish and chips ever in that area, incuding Wigan itself. Also a truly poisonous Indian meal at Billinge. My relatives love the food and can't understand why I won't eat it, they also don't like eating down here in Hampshire, so maybe it's a cultural thing? FWIW the best fish and chips I can remember having were from Buxton, Godalming and a pub called the Trinity Foot near Cambridge. Sadly all of them closed or changed hands nowadays.

I prefer to do my own now and we buy the fish still gasping from the dock at Portsmouth.

Bacon!!

the smell of cooking bacon is one of the 7 wonders of the world to me, pancetta is just not the same

Susi

[QUOTE=Stribs]Strong cheddar cheese & marmite are my weakness, marmite not too bad (long shelf live) but cheddar cheese??
I love the ½ûÂþÌìÌà cheeses but I will still miss Cheddar.[/QUOTE]

Cheddar Chees freezes pretty well - goes a bit crumbly when you thaw it, but the flavour is fine.

I once took about 2Kg of string cheddar out to my friend - and and suggested that she freeze most of it in 500g slabs - but she ate it all within the week!

Crumbly Cheddar is even better with a cottage loaf and home made tomato chutney

Still in England at the moment, but I think I would miss a good vindaloo, with pilau rice and of course a good cup of tea. Brits hey.......

My husband would dearly miss real ale, he refuses to drink lager. He will be brewing his own when we relocate. Do you think an english real ale shop would work, or would that be a pub???

Must find out the law on selling alcohol in Italy!!

Jan

One thing we missed when in Italy was a good steak. The ½ûÂþÌìÌà interpretation, whilst nice, did not do the trick when we were craving a decent chunk of meat on the plate.

Beyond that most of the things I would miss fall into the comfort food category, exactly the same things I miss here actually, malva puddings, boboties, etc (all fat laden, heavy and probably best never eating them again but hey, that's comfort food for you).

[QUOTE=Sano]One thing we missed when in Italy was a good steak. The ½ûÂþÌìÌà interpretation, whilst nice, did not do the trick when we were craving a decent chunk of meat on the plate.

Have to say that the v.best steaks i've ever eaten were in Italy (not the same cuts mindfor reasons won't go into) do not ask for a bistecca you'll invariably get a thinnish bit of meat inevitably overdone.
although you can get a costata which isn't bad i'd suggest going for a proper "filetto" ( this should be a medalion fillet and NOT sottofiletto)or to a Fiorentina ( which in Florence at least they will not serve well done even if you asked for it) this is more or less a t-bone and is sold by weight and best go for it when hungry.
By the way the whole issue of baked beans is resolved.We grow the borlotti beans and the tomatoes but you can buy both and MAKE them they are out of this world no sugar ( heinz and the others are full of that) no chemical additives,colouring,or preserving things.Ours are just as dense and if eaten with bacon e/o eggs are fantastic.

I have re read Neal's fish and chip post four times now. Mmmmmmmmmmm
(actually, I printed it, and ate the print, tasted horrible.)
Ohhhh, off to read it again :D

Guess you miss the fish and chip's then eh George. Just thought I'd wind you up and tell you that its fish and chips for lunch tomorrow. Same chippy as last time, light white fish in a thin crispy batter. The batter is very thin, not at all greasy and you can still see the fish through it. The chips are delish. Nice and crispy on the outside and still fluffy potatoe on the inside, and dont forget the mushy pea's. Very mushy with just the odd still whole pea.

Our favourite chipy also does mince and chips which is fab. It's minced meat in a gravy with peas, onions and carrots and its poured over the chips. Plent of salt and vinager.

I'm hungry myself now.

Paula

[QUOTE=Sebastiano][QUOTE=Sano]One thing we missed when in Italy was a good steak. The ½ûÂþÌìÌà interpretation, whilst nice, did not do the trick when we were craving a decent chunk of meat on the plate.

Have to say that the v.best steaks i've ever eaten were in Italy (not the same cuts mindfor reasons won't go into) do not ask for a bistecca you'll invariably get a thinnish bit of meat inevitably overdone.
although you can get a costata which isn't bad i'd suggest going for a proper "filetto" ( this should be a medalion fillet and NOT sottofiletto)or to a Fiorentina ( which in Florence at least they will not serve well done even if you asked for it) this is more or less a t-bone and is sold by weight and best go for it when hungry.
By the way the whole issue of baked beans is resolved.We grow the borlotti beans and the tomatoes but you can buy both and MAKE them they are out of this world no sugar ( heinz and the others are full of that) no chemical additives,colouring,or preserving things.Ours are just as dense and if eaten with bacon e/o eggs are fantastic.[/QUOTE]

The only steaks we ever succeeded in getting over there was the pizziaola (sp?) variety - thin strips in a tomato sauce. Lovely as they are, just not enough for committed carnivores. It is nice to know alternatives exist.

Good to know re the baked beans too. Are borlotti the best beans to use for this?

Sebastiano !!! please tell how to grow the beans and how to make my own baked beans...can't have sugar , so would be a godsend...oh for some tonight to go with the sausages...do you do mail order !!!!

Enjoy you book George..what you reading ? nosey eh????
Gotta go..sausages calling ...shame no beans !

[QUOTE=Jan]Still in England at the moment, but I think I would miss a good vindaloo, with pilau rice and of course a good cup of tea. Brits hey.......

My husband would dearly miss real ale, he refuses to drink lager. He will be brewing his own when we relocate. Do you think an english real ale shop would work, or would that be a pub???

Must find out the law on selling alcohol in Italy!!

Jan[/QUOTE]

Jan - there is an Irish theme pub in Comunanza (Marche) which sells guiness from ireland - if that's any help to your husband. Don't they just get everywhere!

You can play soft darts there as well - a bit like stickle-bricks for adults

Did you people from the UK, living abroad, missing certain foods, ever try these online shops?

[url]http://www.britishcornershop.co.uk/default.asp[/url]
[url]http://www.igourmet.com/index.asp[/url]
[url]http://www.britstore.co.uk/[/url]
[url]http://www.expatdirect.co.uk/[/url]
[url]http://www.xpatshop.co.uk/contents.asp?[/url]

I myself am Swedish, so I'm lucky, there are Ikea stores just about everywhere!

Have fun shopping!

O.

Don't want to be sarcastic but, fish and chips and mushy peas ordered via a web site............pass me the sick bucket.

Once we move I may use one of these sites to supplies Branston Pickle, Heinz tomato soup, Lurpak butter (will that travel) Baileys and Tia Maria (I'm sure I'll get that there) and dont forget my Hollands Puddingsand Heinz ketchup

Paula.

[QUOTE=neal hampson]Don't want to be sarcastic but, fish and chips and mushy peas ordered via a web site............pass me the sick bucket.

Once we move I may use one of these sites to supplies Branston Pickle, Heinz tomato soup, Lurpak butter (will that travel) Baileys and Tia Maria (I'm sure I'll get that there) and dont forget my Hollands Puddingsand Heinz ketchup

Paula.[/QUOTE]

Hi Paula,
I don't think you'll have problems in Italy to find Baileys, Tia Maria and Lupark butter (but isn't it danish?).
You could find Heinz ketchup too.
but I'm afraid there are no possibilities with Branston Pickle and Hollands Puddingsand.... btw what are they?

BLT now that's another story. I own a buisiness making soft furnishings an once I have off loaded all my children I get to my shop and order my breakfast which consists of a BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato (Italy does [B][U]NOT [/U] [/B] have the same bacon as us) and loads of mayo on a barm). I know I've had a bit of wine tonight (whats new) but where did I put bwt. Mabey I need glasses. That could be another thread in itself>

Ciao for now.

Px

You can carry on the fish and chip wind ups, I'm over it now (he lied). I was referring to the post, however, currently reading "The Africa House" by Christina Lamb (that bloke needs a good slapping) and, just finished Bill Bryson's "A short history of nearly everything" (Errrm, SO, that's where we came from) Sandwiches, a delicacy I was introduced to in Sheffield, Turkey, bacon and Mayo... Cold Turkey, Hot Bacon, mayo in between... Ohhhhhh :o

It will have to be a good old chicken Madras that't I'd miss most(!)

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]You can carry on the fish and chip wind ups, I'm over it now (he lied). I was referring to the post, however, currently reading "The Africa House" by Christina Lamb (that bloke needs a good slapping) and, just finished Bill Bryson's "A short history of nearly everything" (Errrm, SO, that's where we came from) Sandwiches, a delicacy I was introduced to in Sheffield, Turkey, bacon and Mayo... Cold Turkey, Hot Bacon, mayo in between... Ohhhhhh :o[/QUOTE]

Yes this is the Food and Drink forum, but you menttion books as something you are missing?

Have you taken a look at our posting on English Books yet?

The books thing was in response to a post from Alex and lyn "italian baked beans", have seen your post on books, interesting, but I like all of my books too much to send them away, there are a few people in the area who loan one another books, DVD's etc.,

George and anyone !!

Where is the reference to books on making my own baked beans ??? I've been thru this post twice and can't find it...in desperation we bought 2 tins today in Auchan...it was a toss up between fillet steak and baked beans...I won !!!!!!! Beans on toast tonight !!!!!

"Enjoy you book George..what you reading ? nosey eh????
Gotta go..sausages calling ...shame no beans !"

Errrm, thats it...

Thanks george, I can now rest easy knowing i'm not off my rocker...or am i ????

Off for drinks with neighbours..it's a hard life !!!!

Good, enjoy, off down to exhibition of old tractors and "Stands Gastronomique" in downtown Francavilla meself...

Dang I could have brought my tractor. I wonder how long it would take to bring a cingolo down from Teramo to Francvilla? Probably more hours than I have life left.

[QUOTE=alex and lyn]Where is the reference to books on making my own baked beans ???[/QUOTE]
The best book on the subject was the Schwartz spices book of American cookery. Sadly it's long out of print, but you may get lucky and find one in a secondhand bookshop in the UK. The baked bean recipe was perfect, the only paind being the extended cooking time (12 hours if I recall correctly) which meant that if you didn't have an Aga you would be heading for monstrous electricity/gas bills.

Steve, If you'd made it you would have been incredibly disappointed, when I dropped down to the piazza, the local bobbie was standing looking bemused, the piazza was deserted and in the top piazza, the accordian band had completed their sound checks and were looking at a couple of hundred empty chairs there were only four of us civilians, one dog and three cats, they hadn't even opened up the gastronomici at 8pm. the lovely miss Rimini Bikini is due to give a display of contortionism this evening, bet there's a better turn out, apparently, Monte S. Pietrangeli were staging a "do" for the ambulance service and everyone had gone there... :D

We had a disappointing evening as well....well Alex did !...went to neighbours for 'drinks'...offered tea or coffee !!!! Alex gagging for a beer !!!...nice couple tho'
See my other post re; drinking habits in Puglia ( actually it was in reply to someone else, but can't remember which post now !!!

Apparently it all kicked off around 11.30 last night in the Piazza, there was a (very attractive) woman who lives in the piazza giving the mayor a good telling off about it when I went down to the bar earlier, the old threshing machines building up to speed too, the tractor show now Sunday morning, it's all getting rather tense now, weather gorgeous too.