The desire does not diminish over time, if anything, it seems to increase, knowing that it is something not readily available, and that we have to go to great lengths in order to satisfy the yearning.
My main source of procuring English food items, involved placing an order online to one of the specialty import shops, usually three of fours times a year, or a visit to our nearest Military Base, where the commissary stocks their shelves with ample selections of International foods.
Thankfully these are no longer my only options.
Ever since the Publix grocery store-chain moved into town, I have my very own imported English food isle, everything a sane Englishman or woman could possibly desire !
All the biscuits ( cookies) and chocolate bars a person could eat.
Bottles of favorite cordial drinks, and tins of beans and custard powders, and gravy-making OXO cubes, and pickled onions, and HP sauce.......oh the selection is endless.
This was all placed in my shopping cart today ;)
I ate the Crunchie chocolate bar, on the way home ... sorry no picture :)
Life is good.........
Life is good.........
24 comments:
Amazing! I need to send a link to my friend who is a Brit expat like you. Wonderful news for anybody who is able to get to this store! Congratulations on finding this!!!
Oh my do I LOVE Crunchie Bars. My Grandmother used to give me sixpence when I was a little girl to buy one.
We have one store that carries a limited variety of English goodies but no Crunchies :(
Enjoy your goodies!
☼ Sunny
Now you are a happy Brit in Tennessee (food is important)
Patsy.
It's great to find the simple comforts of home, no matter where you're from--We don't have Publix here in Virginia, but we do have Wegmans which has an imported food isle where I'll have to look for a Crunchie Bar to try and enjoy!
One of the great thing about living in south Florida was PUBLIX....one on almost every corner....!!!
None here in NC.... :(
Enjoy
You sound so like my mother......Bird's custard, HP sauce, pickled onions, digestives!!!!
Every time we used to go to England we would load up our suitcases...but now you can buy these things at the grocery store.
Cool.
I wish we had Publix! I've heard so many good things about them...especially their bakery.
It is so great that you found a place to find all those yummy things.
I like PUBLIX Jo... I used to go to them all of the time when I lived in Florida. We don't have one here --but there is one in Hendersonville where George's parents live. Glad you have one now---and can get your favorite foods there.. I'm so happy for you.
Hugs,
Betsy
Ahhh Birds Custard Powder. I have Mum send me a ton. Our local store has a british aisle but it is really, really expensive. I did find cheap HP sauce and Tetley Teabags at the indian market down the street of all places.
I am going home for two weeks this year Jo! Can't wait
Iremember the Bird's custard from one of your Christmas lists. So glad you can get it locally now. I love trying things from all over the world. Maybe it's the packaging or uniqueness or maybe because I know I'll never get to try anything from the source. Only thing I haven't much enjoyed, was the Indian curries and chutneys. I hear though that it is very loved in Great Britain. Maybe I just don't know the right brand to try. PS ~ next week will be the final Tudors and I am sure going to miss it since you got me started on it last year.
In Ireland we obviously get all the English food in the shops here,but I do crave the good old fish and chip shop,lardy cake and proper jam doughnuts.!!
Glad you are able to get your treats from the store you have found.
We have a little store in a neigboring community (Helen, GA) which sells Devonshire cream and scones. I grew up in Florida with Publix, and will have to look for these items in our Gainesville, GA store.
......and they say English food is rubbish!!!! Is there anything better than bananas and custard....or anything and custard? Ribena? Is that available? Used to drink that by the gallon! And Cadbury Flakes....
oh dear!!!!
How wonderful to have easy access to the tastes of home! What a heartfelt joy - and flavor!
I wish we had Publix, too. I think I'll see where the nearest one is.
Hugs!
OMG I am SOOOO ENVIOUS!! What an amazing find to have locally, you are sooo lucky!
Oh I recognize these delicious items so well, most of it is in my pantry :) We don't have Publix here but there is Wegmans and they have a pretty decent section of British products. And of course there's World Market, what would I do without that? Our local Giant also has a modest selection. These photos remind me that I need to stock up again. Enjoy all your goodies! Life is good when there are mushy peas and Yorkshire tea within easy reach, and all the other things of course.
An English Girl Rambles
Hello Jo, Oh my would I like to find a shop like that close to home! I recognize the Ovaltine and the OXO Cubes...we could get those in Canada. Living down here I can't get Cheezies (a type of crisp)so every time we go up to visit my family I get a few bags but I never seem to remember to bring a bunch back with me. Maybe that's a good thing! Enjoy your goodies....have a good day. Maura :)
I can remember coming home to the USA after an extended stay overseas. I walked into the Kroger, and cried, my husband asked what the matter was, I told him that anything I wanted, it was all in there.
Welcome to a taste of home!
You are very lucky. We don't have that store in Tennessee. Enjoy... I can get a lot of things I need here but not all in one shop. I get digestives, Heinz salad cream, HP beans from The World Market. I can get the custard powder from a little Indian shop in Knoxville, called Rama. They have lots of spicy foods which I love and am used to.
Interesting to see all those things in your cupboard.
Blessings, Star
As an expat from Stratford on Avon living in Illinois, I cannot tell you how envious I am of you and your supermarket Publix - wow - I covet everything I see in your basket - nice to meet another Brit over here, glad you are eating well and I want Publix to open here!
I just never can find scones and jam like what I had in the U.K. on our visits there....with tea.
Birds custard. How wonderful. I have not been able to make a decent trifle since I got here :(
I'm not sure if our Publix has the same selection but I definitely will go check it out :)
I have an English daughter in law so can understand your love of imported English food. She and my son often speak of the quality of the various foods at "home"
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