A Whole New World

     Well, we're learning the lay of the land - grocery land, that is. We've tried Waitrose and Sainsburys and Co-op and Tesco. They all have their own versions of interesting new foods. It's an educational experience just to wander up and down the aisles to see what's for sale. We've noticed a few things already.

1. London is a melting pot and you can find almost every kind of food here. Interestingly, curry is the most popular dish in England.
2. If you're looking for a restaurant, check out the local pub. They are everywhere and the food is usually very good. Pubs serve standard British fare and a variety of ethnic dishes also.
3. If you're looking for meat, cheese and potatoes, this is the place.
4. If you're looking for a big variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, this is also the place

     This blog isn't going to do the subject justice because I feel rather clandestine walking around a crowded grocery store snapping photos, but here are a few of the new foods we've encountered since we've been here:

Squash - a very popular drink in many countries, including England.
It's basically a fruit juice and sugar concentrate that can be mixed
with water, club soda, and a number of strong drinks....

As opposed to ???

Huh?

One of our family's favorite concoctions. You can never
have enough Nutella :)

A British breakfast staple - kind of like shredded wheat but more
hearty, healthy, and versatile. You can eat it as cereal, hot or cold,
or toast it and serve with cheese or jam.

The most popular dish detergent.

We are in heaven! A whole store aisle of the best yogurt
this side of Switzerland.

Lots and lots and LOTS of different kinds of cheeses - common,
exotic, and downright strange. These are just a few.

Couldn't even begin to describe the variety of meats...

British pasties (pronounced "past - y") are hot meat pies in a 

light, crispy pastry. On Monday mornings when we have a few hours off, 

we head for our village bakery to try a new flavor. They are divine! 

This one's for you, Colin! Scotch eggs have become a favorite Christmas tradition
at our house, thanks to our son-in-law. I was amazed to find Scotch Eggs in the
frozen food  section in grocery stores here. They're delicious with white sauce.
Looking forward to Christmas already, though I think we'll make our own.
I'm not so sure about frozen eggs....

Yup, that's ham.

Some things need no translation.

A favorite from Clog America tours in Europe, they're a popular biscuit/cooky.

Brits love their "chips" (french fries).
Another entire aisle - in the frozen food section.

One tired and hungry shopper outside the British equivalent of Walmart.