Eating and Drinking in Britain: Part II

Meat and potatoes are a big thing here. I’ve had a few Sunday roasts now, and although they are good and filling, I’ve been wanting to try some food that wasn’t so English. Consequently, my latest dining experiences have allowed me to experience the British take on burritos and Ethiopian cuisine.

I went to Mission Burrito to begin my quest for an honest burrito in England. The business is named after the Mission District in San Francisco, and its advertisements promised that their burritos were the real deal! This seemed like it was worth investigating further. The tortilla warmer, Jarritos, and Cholula bottles were good signs when I walked in — there is hope! I opted for the fajita burrito with black beans, rice, vegetables, guacamole, fresh tomato salsa (dare I saw pico de gallo?), lettuce, cheese, and habanero sauce. Back in California I would have shied away from such a sauce (it really isn’t a true salsa since it is so creamy), but I tried a sample and knew it was hot but acceptable. I also appreciated that they mix the ingredients before they wrap the burrito up in aluminum foil (another moment of hope). The burrito was edible, but the flavor profile was completely off. My friend mentioned that hers tasted a bit sweeter, and I thought that mine was a bit bland as well even with the habanero sauce. One of the things I like about burritos is that you are able to taste all the individual elements even though they are mixed together. This burrito was edible, but Mission Burrito would quickly go out of business if it opened a storefront in its namesake area.

The Ethiopian restaurant was a lot better. I used to go to one frequently in San Francisco and I found the Ethiopian food in England to be very similar to what I had experienced back home. Since I’ve never been to Ethiopia, I cannot vouch for its authenticity, but it was pretty tasty. The food was delightfully spicy – I had a spinach dish and a saucy beef dish whose names I have forgotten. The restaurant has an all you can eat night on Thursdays for a few pounds, so I might come back to do that even though such buffets are dangerous places for the waistline!

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