Eating and Drinking in Britain

As many of you know, I like food. A lot. So much, in fact, that I would rather eat out than see a movie. Seeking out new food is something I like doing. In Italy the team is usually good about picking out different foods for us to enjoy for dinner. We called these items on our list “secret cheese” and “secret ingredient”: the people who go to the market  get mozzarella and an additional cheese. The secret ingredient (the name is reminiscent of “Iron Chef”) could be anything: pudding, beets, carrots, spicy olives, etc. It is up to the buyers. This allowed us to have a variety of food each season and prevented us from getting too bored with our dinner. Allez cuisine!

In an effort to keep up with this tradition, I am also buying new items whenever I go to the market here. This really isn’t a new thing for me; back at home I would always pick up something new at Trader Joe’s to try out. The slight twist I’ve decided to add in England is that the secret ingredient has to be a food I’ve never tried before. So, the newest frozen version to Chicken Tikka Masala is out, as are all the types of teas I’ve tried before. Some new foods I have tried are English baked beans (acceptable after hot sauce is added) and this boxed custard dessert (UHT milk product – haven’t tried it yet). The custard comes in those cardboard packs that usually contain soy milk or ready to eat soups. We’ll see what else pops into my basket the next time I go shopping.

Some people have also asked how expensive food is here. Most prices are 30-60% higher than back at home.
Can of Soup: $0.74
Candy Bar: $0.64
Instant Oatmeal (10 packets): $3.49
Small Bagged Salad (enough for two): $1.73
Small Jar of Pasta Sauce (half the size of one in the USA): $1.60
1.05 lbs. Dried Pasta: $1.38
Spreadable Butter: $4.50
Flat of Salami: $2.96
Six Small Oranges: $1.60

Mind you, these prices are coming from ASDA, Wal-Mart’s brand in Britain (open 24 hours). Prices at the corner shop in my neighborhood are even more expensive than what I listed above. I’m trying different supermarkets each week to figure out which one I like the best. So far I have been to a Tesco Express (small and lame), a gigantic Tesco, Morrisons, and ASDA. I still have to check out Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, the latter of which is rather high end. Someone told me that Marks and Spencer, a department store, also carries groceries, so they will be on the list, too.

In case that wasn’t enough sticker shock for you, gas is currently hovering around $8/gallon here. Ouch!

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