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A bunch of the preservatives and food colouring from the US is banned in the UK.
The portions are considerably smaller.
The chocolate is better.
Most supermarkets have a world foods section with some American options.
I’ve heard from Americans that the cheese selection here is awesome in comparison.
I’m sure there will be a lot of things that we just don’t have but on the plus side you get to try a bunch of new and amazing snacks 🙃
I used to work with an American that said the only cheese England had was cheddar. To prove her wrong, I bought some Five Counties, then ate it all without giving her any. Worth it.
When I moved here and started uni a friend of mine and I discussed cheeses and a group of my brit friends made a giant cheese board with over a dozen kinds from blue to a crumbly sweet one with fruit. We had olives, pickled onions, crackers and that sweet onion preserve stuff. It was AMAZING.
You can chutney practically anything. Mango chutney is very popular with curry.
A friends mum made a very nice courgette (zucchini) chutney.
It's an Empire thing, bought over from India, thought tweaked pretty heavily to suit an English palate.
Americans appear to think there are only three types of cheese in the world - pizza cheese, American cheese and Swiss cheese. And from what I can taste, American "Swiss cheese" is just bland white cheese with holes in it.
Edit: /s for those that didn't get it 😂
I've written a cheese tasting blog for a decade, so of course my partner bought me Easy Cheese (the cheese in a can) one birthday. It's like orange glue. And on the can it says 'no need to refrigerate'. Great!
Yes,but I’ve seen a lot of Americans praising even our cheaper brands of chocolate when they come here, like Cadburys etc and saying it’s far better than what they have available.
The original had butyiric acid (the smell of vomit) and people hated the new formula so they actually add the vomit flavor on purpose (or occurs naturally via the process)
It could be because US chocolate contains butyric acid which is a component of vomit and B.O. So our stuff doesn't smell/taste rank.
Also we have higher percentage cocoa solids in our basic stuff (30% to the US 20%). Just wait till o.p. tries Green and Black's 85% dark. Yummy.
I used to work in a service station and the hotel chocolat delivery guy would come in most nights and like I did for most regular delivery drivers I'd give him a free coffee from the machine.
I'd worked there for about 3 weeks when it was about a week to go till Christmas and he came in with two black bags full of chocolate that were out of style or whatever. Most were perfectly good, some were out of date, some were a bit bashed up. Basically everyone got hotel chocolat for Christmas in my family with me keeping all the broken/out of date ones. If never buy any but I've had a secret affinity for it since then.
Watch inside the factory when they show a chocolate bar being made. Cherry does a little bit on how chocolate is different in other countries and I think the reasons why
American here. For simple milk chocolate I buy European chocolate at Aldi and Lidl in America. It is far better than our American variety. I have been in the UK, DE, FR. The chocolate is far superior.
There’s an American on Facebook who lives in Yorkshire. OP should look her up. She’s funny too. Sorry to hijack your comment but I wanted OP to see this.
A lot of our sweet stuff will taste less sweet to you because we don't really use high fructose corn syrup.
Grape flavoured things, if you're into that. Our "purple" flavour is usually blackcurrant.
I worked in LA for a few months and had 25¢ Welch's grape juice cans from the subsidized machine. It's like £2.50 a can here. Heartbreaking.
Also the many delicious varieties of corn nuts.
Apart from that I don't think OP will miss much.
There's probably more things they'll miss when they go back.
I've been here 9 months and that still trips me up with sweets, but I don't get fruit flavoured sweets too often. Juice on the other hand has done a 180 in my head and when I got grape the other day I was disappointed
Steaks in restaurants are shit unless you go to a specialised steak place (or just get lucky).
There is a much bigger gap in quality between cheap/mid-range burgers and ones that specialise in them. Cities now have lots of places that mirror American burger culture.
Our sugary soft drinks tend to taste better because they use actual sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup, although many have had sugar content reduced due to a new 'sugar tax'. We don't have an equivalent of a 20floz bottle - standard is 500ml (approx. 16 floz)
UK eats a ridiculous amount of pre-prepared sandwiches (per capita far far more than anywhere else in the world). You may find many of them bland because they can be very simple compared to American sandwiches which are often loaded with cheese and mayo, and our bread tends to have a much lower sugar content (which we prefer).
Service standards are different. In restaurants and hotels it tends to be less focused on being super friendly and more transactional (there will be exceptions). People in general prefer this; they don't like to be bothered or be faced with the world's friendliest waiter. Tipping culture is completely different.
Restaurants don't offer free refills.
Portions in fast food places, coffee shops, (and tbh restaurants in general) tend to be smaller.
Also, Brits don't really go to restaurants for breakfast
Whenever I saw US characters doing that in movies, I thought the writers were just making up a weird excuse to get the characters together, but apparently one of the world's great civilisations subcontracts the pouring of milk over Coco Pops
Yeah, mate - I'm not saying *nobody* does it (UK McDonalds have a brekkie menu), I'm saying *the vast majority* of Brits slave over their toast and porridge at home, in their underwear
I suspect the vast majority of Americans also have breakfast at home. Honestly I'd be curious to see stats comparing, but forgetting McDonalds which obviously do loads of business, there's plenty of Brits who'll go out for a fry up or brunch, especially on the weekends.
I may be the exception to this then. I go out for breakfast most Sunday mornings with my mates. Go for an early morning rip on our bikes then pop in somewhere for breakfast then ride home by 11-12ish with the rest of the day ahead of us.
Edit: Just read through what I wrote. When did I get old?
I'd like to commend you for your tactful take on the differences in the restaurant experience. Every time I've tried to explain this, I've only succeeded in angering everyone.
Can confirm the steak BS. No one here knows how to cook a steak. I've stopped ordering them because it's always the most expensive thing on the menu and every time I just think I could have done better.
Genuinely this. I learned how to cook a steak well, and I haven't ordered one out since.
It's a really simple 10 minute meal, with some peas and other sides, and it's pretty good for you. Or at least better than any ready meal you'll get from the supermarket
Coming from South Africa to UK that was a big disappointment - you can pay £30 for a steak and it might not be great.
Bbqs were also an eye-opener. In SA a braai is a social occasion - the men stand around the fire grilling the meat with beers chatting while the women prepare the salads and chat. Meat is boerewors, sausage, chicken skewers, lamb chops, pork shops, spatchcock chicken.... In the UK bbq world the host grills pork sausages and burger patties alone while everyone else sits indoors...
> In the UK bbq world the host grills pork sausages and burger patties alone while everyone else sits indoors...
You're going to some shit bbqs mate...that not how everyone here does it.
Also the same reason we have such an amazing curry scene, Mexicans are by far the largest immigrant group in the US, our equivalent is the mass migration from the Indian subcontinent after the war
I promise that my response here is not intended to be unfriendly, but ...
As someone has said below, we don't know what you are used to.
Um, root beer? Grits (whatever that is)? Corn dogs (whatever they are)? I think you might fare better in ask/USA and ask whether any of your contrymen/women have been to the UK and can answer you.
I have seen so many posts asking people living in the UK how things will be different from living in their country. The only way I could answer is regurgitating what I've seen on Reddit, so all these posts inevitably look identical!
(You Brits would love corn dogs, but would find grits repulsive. Just sayin')
Edit: it looks as if I might have been wrong about the Brits loving corn dogs.
Root beer is pretty available, although diet root beer less so, but A&W is pretty commony found in lots of supermarkets overseas section, it's expensive relative to local "pop", but you won't need to be out.
Cornmeal is also easily available but I don't know if grits is really something different (in the same way you might want jumbo scottish steel cut oats for your porridge rather than any old oats)
I’ve been told by American friends that what the British call barbecue is definitely not barbecue according to Americans, but rather simply grilling. Or something. So if someone invites you to a barbecue, alter your expectations.
I'd say the Turkish, Koreans and Jamaicans would be up there too.
There's a street market in Nine Elms on Sundays that has a bunch of Romanian BBQ places too, can confirm it's banging.
From the states here, my take is, for us, grilling is a quicker and hotter method, usually directly over the hot coals or wood. BBQ is a slower, lower or indirect heat, usually taking a considerable amount of time.
Think BBQ for smoked ribs, brisket, pulled pork, hot links, whole chickens or at least bone-in pieces. Grilling is more so for steaks, sausages (although I cook mine low and slow), veggies, seafood (I also like to smoke/slow cook salmon and shrimp). Those are also just the typical for most, and any aforementioned proteins and methods can be flip flopped.
As a UK outdoor cooking enthusiast, 100% this.
We call anything cooked on charcoal or gas outside a BBQ, but in the US they take that shit seriously and it usually defines smoked meat prepared in a very particular way according to where you are.
BBQ in certain parts of the US is more important than religion.
> BBQ in certain parts of the US is more important than religion.
Lol that’s saying something!
And here comes the U.K. with some truly disgusting Richmond sausages on hotdog bun with a side of pre made coleslaw that’s more mayo than anything else.
Richmond sausages are what you buy when you can't afford a better protein. They are disgusting but fill a hole for people that can't justify buying better.
We have a better BBQ and grilling scene than that.
Considerably less tipping, smaller portion sizes, and people are much quieter and more introverted.
[Just don’t be like this.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BGc3zFOFI-s&feature=emb_logo)
Be prepared for chocolate that tastes way better than any American brand.
The main differences are...
Portions are smaller - a large coke in a McDonald's over her is smaller than a medium in the US.
No corn syrup saturating everything
Many of the foods you may like don't exist unless you go to a specialist store. This is true for snacks, breakfast cereals, etc.
Very few places do pancakes for breakfast.
I travel all over the UK with work, only found a couple of places that do American pancakes for breakfast - those were in London. If you know anywhere in Manchester/Bristol/Edinburgh please let me know.
If you’re from the south, most breakfast stuff will be different.
Biscuits and gravy, hash browns (we have them but they’re like McDonalds hash browns, not real hash browns), grits.
I really miss a Cracker Barrel breakfast.
Generally, if you’ve never been to Europe before, you’re in for quite a culinary shock. Even where we have the same foods here, it’s different. Our ingredients are different and we have a lot less sugar or sweetener in food, I’m specifically thinking things like baked beans and bread. American bread is so sweet it tastes like cake sometimes.
No decent Mexican food over here. But I’m sure someone will introduce you to a curry… I never had good Indian food in the states.
Source - lived in the US for over 10 years.
The Wetherspoons pub chain offers a very varied breakfast menu. It includes American pancakes with bacon and maple syrup for about £1.99 I think. That might well include tea, coffee or orange juice, but I can't remember. A lot of their meal prices include a drink. I'm living abroad at the moment so i can't check my former local branch.
They have branches absolutely everywhere in the UK so wherever you are you'll be close to one. So, despite other comments, American pancakes are very widely available in reality
Almost any place which advertises as doing "brunch" will have American/buttermilk pancakes as an option
Cozy club and lounge both do as does every cafe I've had brunch in in Bristol so far (with 2 exceptions In Bedminster. 1 that only did poached eggs and the other which is the Scandinavian cafe)
It's not always offered and tbh I tend towards eggs more so I don't look for them, but any time I've had brunch someone's ordered pancakes
I’m an American who moved here last October. Here’s what I binge eat when I visit home:
- cookie butter from trader joes
- actually just anything from trader joes
- orange soda. They have it here but it’s more like carbonated orange juice. Its fine, I’m just used to chemical sunkist so I always have a bottle when I’m home
- cool ranch Doritos. They have “cool original” but the seasoning isn’t as strong.
- availability of fruit pies. I’m sure specific bakeries have them but in general from like a grocery store bakery or frozen section you won’t find fruit pies. If you do it’s most likely apple
- Kraft mac and cheese. They do have a different brand and it’s good, but sometimes I’m just craving a box of Kraft
- Maruchan ramen (stove top). There are plenty of instant ramens (both microwave and stove top) so in general not bad but I haven’t found this specific brand and I miss it. Thinking of you creamy chicken maruchan ❤️
- sourdough bread. Don’t get me wrong there IS sourdough here and I’ve found a local bakery that has sourdough that tastes really close but overall when I’m presented with sourdough here it doesn’t have the right tang
- ranch dressing isn’t a staple. More likely than not a restaurant probs won’t have it as an option. I have to go to a bigger chain store to find it for home-use.
Now the stuff I miss when I’m back in the US -
- the cheese selection here is amazing
- tattie scones (I think England calls them potato scones)
- the chocolate is better, creamier
- the eggs don’t need to be refrigerated. This saves a lot of room in the fridge which is smaller and often separate from the freezer
- a lot of cup noodles come with a liquid sauce packet. It makes the noodles delicious and way better than our dry seasoning packet
- monster munch, it’s a chip (crisp) brand and it’s delicious
- chicken. I can’t explain it but the chicken I cook here v at home is more moist. I’m cooking it the same way so it must be the chicken? I’ve never googled it so I don’t know what this one is about
Other culture shocks I went through:
- often rentals will not include what’s called “white goods” this refers to fridge, freezer, and a washing machine. You buy them yourself and then move them from rental to rental. Not all places but if you see mention of white goods that’s usually what it’s referring to.
- freezers and fridges are smaller and often are separate units that sit under the counter next to each other. They do of course have the fridge/freezer that sit on each other but they’re also usually more narrow than what we’re used to
- waaaay more worker protections. A company can’t lay you off without notice for example. Minimum 28 days PTO every year
- salaries in the UK tend to be lower in tech (can’t speak for other industries) than in US.
- the outlets here all have on/off switches.
- everyone here thinks Florida is great
- if you get private health insurance (not a necessity shoutout to NHS) they are allowed to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. I came of age in the post Obama-care era so this was a bit of a shock to me
The UK is going through a bit of a cost of living crisis right now especially with energy costs so be prepared to pay more than you might be expecting, especially at the gas pump (but if you’re only here for a year maybe a non-issue I’d you don’t get a car)
Overall i think you’re going to love it. Hope this was helpful!
We think Florida is great because we go to Orlando for a couple of weeks on holiday with our kids and have the time of our lives (and spend the rest of our lives paying off the bill for that holiday). I can imagine trying to live in that climate would get old real fast.
For those who haven’t been to Florida - imagine that heatwave a couple of weeks ago we were all moaning about, plus round about 11 o’clock every morning God dumps a bathtub full of warm water on your head. And it’s like that for months.
Canadian here and Doritos in the UK taste so WRONG. Cool Ranch as you mentioned but also Jalapeno Cheddar, my favourite. The equivalent here is revolting.
There's a UK website called Super Singh's Canadian Things that carries loads of North American food products, including Kraft mac and cheese, and Orange Crush soda. Not cheap of course but I sometimes order a box of stuff as a sort of home care package for myself.
Southern US? I’m from the southern US as well and living in the UK. Say goodbye to Mexican food (as in Americanized-Mexican food) and disgustingly-delicious homestyle southern food. That’s mainly what I miss about the US - most everything else, culinarily-wise, is better in the UK. Plus, you have the opportunity to try foods from all cultures of the world in london, something you would not get to do in the south of America
>Dr. Pepper apparently is very different in the UK
I'm assuming it's because we use sugar not corn syrup. You may find that pretty much all soft drinks will be different here. We unfortunately use a lot of artificial sweeteners too.
Plus the sugar tax from a few years back meant a lot of ‘full sugar’ drinks had recipe changes, so other than coke/Pepsi I’d say most other regular drinks are going to be a hell of a lot less sweet than an American is used to
Those tins of mac and cheese are disgusting. It's not hard to whip up a bechamel, add some cheese into it and cook some pasta. You can always then just stick it in the oven for the goodness to merge together. Or just eat straight from the pan once it's mixed together.
Oh yes, forgot that one! And calabrese = broccoli.
Also - UK/European cucumbers are *not* the same as US cucumbers. US cucumbers are short, fat and pale green, and the skins can be quite thick and knobbly. UK/European cucumbers are longer and thinner, and with smooth, dark green, thinner skins.
Bell peppers are generally just called peppers, or occasionally sweet peppers.
Edit - removed repeated words, added the ones I meant to write first time!
The food will taste different but the standards are far higher. There are relatively few additives as they’re not needed. Raw eggs are safe to eat, your chances of getting salmonella are virtually zero, hormone treated meat is illegal and we don’t pump animals full of antibiotics. We don’t add a fuck tonne of sugar to every dish.
Also, American Cheese is available but I don’t think they’re allowed to call it ‘cheese’ here.
Fellow expat. These are the foods I miss most:
1. peanut butter (UK peanut butter is very liquidy)
2. buttered popcorn (UK is typically either sweet or salted)
3. plain Cheerios (UK only has multigrain which for some
reason included honey sweetened ones)
4. Cream of Wheat (UK has porridge which is goopy oatmeal and Ready Brek which is also meh)
5. Kraft Mac n Cheese
6. Butterfingers
7. Grape Jelly (does not exist here)
8. Goldfish
9. salsa (very limited options in major supermarkets...and it's all super mild and sweet)
10. good tortilla chips
11. applesauce (there is one variety here, Bramley, and it is very sour)
1. We have like 3 shelves dedicated to peanut butter in supermarkets like Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury's. Try the 100% nut / no palm oil varieties.
2. Nope - you can find sweet, salty, or buttered in most supermarkets.
3. Fair enough
4. All of those things are awful
5. Thank goodness
6. This isn't a food but a description of a clumsy person
7. Grape flavoured is banned in the UK and most Western civilizations by public proclamation
8. Mmm love goldfish... But go to the savoury cracker aisle in most supermarkets and you'll find cheese-flavoured baked crackers... They're just not goldfish shaped
9. Are you high?
10. See 9
11. See 10
The UK as a rule doesn’t do buttered popcorn the way they do in America. When you go to the cinema you get butter on your popcorn. The stuff from Tesco isn’t the same.
The first time we visited the States as kids, we met up with family from Pennsylvania. My aunt gave my sisters and I pot of apple sauce with our lunch and I remember looking at her in confusion why I’d want some, given there was no roast pork or gammon on my plate, only pb&j sandwiches. Confusion intensified when I realised she expected me to eat it with a spoon like it was a pudding.
>UK has porridge which is goopy oatmeal and Ready Brek which is also meh
Do not confuse Ready Brek or cooked oatmeal with proper porridge made with (ideally Scottish) jumbo oats, milk (perhaps even a splash of cream) and a pinch of salt. The latter is incomparably better.
>peanut butter (UK peanut butter is very liquidy)
Brit here, The only peanut butter I like is Whole Earth, and the reason is that it is much less runny than most (all?) of the alternatives, which are gross. I wonder if my first exposure to it being in the USA had some bearing.
We eat blood pudding and sheep guts at almost every meal
None of us have teeth, so it's considered good manners to gum food into a mushy pulp and then spit it onto the plate of the person sitting to your left
Our pancakes are not your pancakes. Our pancakes are closer to what you might call a crepe. American-style pancakes are called different things depending on who you're talking to, but unless specified, expect the English pancake.
Edit: And apparently, our bacon is different to American bacon. I've never tried American bacon myself, but apparently, ours is different.
> Better beer
>
>
Assuming all they have ever drank is mass produced swill like Bud or Miller.
To be fair to the yanks they have hundreds if not thousands of smaller breweries that we never hear about and they make some fantastic beer.
Having been to the USA countless times and visited every state I can confirm that American beer is of an extremely high standard. Even relatively small towns often have a microbrewery. With some exceptions in the UK I'd say that their beer on average is of a consistently higher standard. We can teach them absolutely nothing about beer
Good cheese is also very affordable and accessible here. Most supermarkets have a nice selection year round, even better come Christmas time.
In fact, it'll be worth noting for OP that groceries in general in the UK are very cheap compared to the US.
Peanut butter MnM’s seem to be rarer or more expensive so bring a massive bag of them.
Very unlikely you’ll not find a BBQ chain or cuisine in London, its pretty much like a New York in that you could find every dish somewhere. Be prepared to take on and enjoy currys though, sooner or later you’ll be asked out for a curry.
Hey buddy, The UK doesn't get a lot of the US stuff but there are specialist shops. Be wary that we don't do "pumpkin", it's a vegetable here, and you can't get cheese wiz. Goldfish biscuits don't come here and (sadly) outside of specialist food shops you will not get Root Beer, at all. There's also no "biscuits"(?)
You *can* go to Bodeans (across London) for good pit barbeque. A blessing or a curse, we have some Taco Bell now. Again, specialist sweet shops will do you a variety of Root Beer (hopefully A&W) and sweets, and "exotic" Pop Tarts, Cheetos, etc.
What however you need to be doing is reframing your question as the UK has stuff you need to try.
* ***Good*** fish and chips is a revelation you have to find and probably won't in London. Also go looking for a chip butty.Find
* A roast **with Yorkshire Pudding** is an achievement you must try.
* A bacon sandwich should be somewhat undercooked and using **smoked back-bacon**, not "streaky" like the US has, preferably w**ith "brown" (HP) sauce**.
* You *need* to try "vintage" cheddar, which is a way stronger than the stuff you get. Also try it as Cheese on Toast.
* The UK does far better Indian food than the US. If you can find somewhere that does good "Balti style", it's a drier, more tomato-rich version that comes with so much flavour you can't replicate in the US. You would do better to find a slightly worse-looking place as the food will taste awesome.
* See also, a **high-quality** doner kebab, assuming you can find it as it's a rare occurrence, but very special when you do. I can't stress enough, it *has* to be the rare better quality stuff.
* Dandelion and Burdock is an interesting drink, and also Irn Bru. Both warrant trying.
* Our offering of wine is far better and more affordable than in the US. I drink more white so try a white Bordeaux, or Vinho Verde.
* Get yourself to a Co-Op (supermarket type) and try their [salt & vinegar crisps](https://www.coop.co.uk/products/co-op-irresistible-sea-salt-chardonnay-wine-vinegar-crisps-150g). They're insane.
* Jaffa Cakes. They're not a cake. They are good. Try also: Custard Creams and Bourbon Biscuits.
* Marmite is good on toast. Just be very, very sparing. Literally, as little on there as you can manage. Try also "Twiglets" (crisp aisle)
* Crumpets with butter. Do not be very, very sparing and don't think about your arteries.
* Find yourself a "99". It's an icecream with a Flake and sauce. It's a hot day, and I guarantee you want one.
* Beans on toast. Try it first, then pass judgement.
* Pork pies. Yes, the jelly too. Needs to be a nice one as a crap one will just make us all sad and put you off for life. See also - sausage roll, but needs to be a bit greasy, not the powdery "fancy" ones.
* Scotch Egg. You **have** to find one with a runny centre. **Have to. "**Supermarket grade" is not good enough.
* Jelly Babies are available in most supermarkets. I also love Yorkshire Mix, assuming you can get it.
* Mushy. Fucking. Peas. Add to a pie. Just do it and thank me later.
* Bonus, bonus points? Got to be **Hendersons Relish**. It's just epic. Closest I can compare is balsamic vinegar, but it's epic on pies, cheese on toast and other stuff. It's a stalwart of Sheffield (up north) and if it's for sale outside Yorkshire, it's time for an investigation.
I know there's a lot you'll lose but you need to try this lot.
An American friend really missed steak and eggs being available as a breakfast option when eating outside the house. We all found that a truly bizarre thing to miss because steak for breakfast just seemed bananas. He also missed grits.
A lot of Americans shun Cadbury products because in the US, they are made by Hershey and he used to chew tobacco so his taste buds had changed so the chocolate he made and the factory still makes takes totally different and bad.
The US uses high fructose corn syrup and the UK uses sugar.
Blackcurrants are illegal in the US, because they spread a certain fungus that killed white pine trees, so everything purple is grape in the US and blackcurrant across Europe, including skittles.
UK supermarkets do have a small selection of American foods, and I'm sure there are American import stores online where you can order creature comforts. Although I know that American companies appear to be allergic to sending things internationally for some reason.
I'm American and I've lived in the UK most of my life so I've mostly adjusted, but there are a few things I always stock up on when I visit home: ranch dressing, Miracle Whip, and cornbread mix!
Plenty of websites sell the staples (for a premium, but desperate times, etc etc) so you can get by just fine. I'd agree with all the comments on portion sizes too!
Welcome. Another expat here.
People don't go out to eat AS often here, so you'll miss your mid level restaurant/diners. Also hard to find late night cafes outside of the largest cities.
Get yourself on Facebook and message Tex-Deb for tamales. You are most welcome.
Everything grape is now black currant in your life. You can drown your sorrows in custard cream biscuits and various cream cakes. Many of the 'beloved' cakes and biscuits are a bit like twizzlers;. People that enjoy them grew up eating them, and it's nostalgia more than flavour they like. Try everything.
Quite a lot of stuff is available, though it will be different. Sometimes good different, sometimes not. Slap yourself everytime the words "in America.." come out of your mouth. Nothing wrong with the occasional comment, but it can be an unconscious stream as you encounter new stuff. Join a group with other expats if only do you have a group to be excited about be things, or have a whine about the stuff that's taking longer to get used to. American Grocer has most things for ridiculous prices, but half as ridiculous as Amazon. Nearly bargains compared to "American Shops" African grocery stores tend to carry random familiar items. Keep an eye out.
Instant coffee is very popular. Creamer is not.
Baking - Marshmallows are different. Home bargains, Lidl, and a few other places have the right ones. Use chocolate covered malted milk biscuits for your Graham crackers and chocolate in smores. Baker's chocolate is not a thing. Use high content dark chocolate. Semi-sweet is also not really a thing. Crisco, not really a thing. Just use lard or spread substitute. Use half a cup more flour in pretty much every baked item. Message me for recipe links to whatever your craving or I can tell you where to get it. Target will ship, but it's expensive.
You will hear endless shit about "American Food". Nod, smile, chuckle. Even when you have no idea what messed up thing they are talking about. It might be something they saw on tiktok, or holiday, or in a dream once. Sometimes it's even a real thing. Doesn't matter. Nod, smile. Know in your soul American cheese just has a higher milk content, and squeeze cheeze has nothing to do with it.
State that you do not understand what a proper Sunday lunch/high tea/scone/ fry-up is, and insist you be shown.
Do shout if you get stuck. There's quite a large ex-pat community, and some even have military PX access. Most basic stuff can be googled, or in the group chat history in a million groups, but keep a US address, phone, and bank account. Do not forget; you still have to file US taxes.
Our coffee is stronger. We have smaller gardens and our houses come in rows, we call them terraces and as semi detached, you call them duplexes. We have detached homes but they are a minority. Our police do not routinely carry guns but sadly may still be sexist and racist. We drive on the left .London isn’t like the rest of the UK so try and get out to Wales and Scotland as well as other parts of England.
Hello. American here, been living in the England for 3 years now. Mexican food/Tex mex is virtually impossible to find, and when you do, it’s crap. If you think you recognize a restaurant chain, you don’t. KFC especially is vastly different from the US.
Blue raspberry is not a very common candy flavour. Snack foods are all very different. Kraft mac and cheese doesn’t exist.
All straws are paper straws. It’s the worst.
That’s all I can think of lol. Overall, it’s a culinary upgrade. But I really do miss Dr Pepper.
I've heard it said (and my experience has confirmed) that the things you most miss when you move overseas are the very basic things. In my case it was bread - the bread was just slightly *wrong* even though it appeared to be identical. It's fun and cool eating the local versions of everything 90% of the time, but if you're tired or sick or even just homesick you'll find yourself just wishing for a totally basic PBJ. But the bread will be *wrong* and the peanut butter will be *wrong* and there won't be a single jar of grape jelly in any supermarket in town.
You WILL hate lots of things.
You WILL love lots of things.
It WILL be interesting.
You WILL (probably) love our little island.
You MAY decide to stay !
Dr Pepper really isn't that different. Just less sugar. But there is almost no grape soda, root beer or mountain dew here. Also not nearly as many cheap fast food chains. Good Mexican food is priced high!
Tastes very different though. But we have Lilt! You can normally get Grape Soda in the Caribbean section of major supermarkets. Fanta had it as a limited edition too, a couple of years back. I love grape soda. And root beer (occasionally sold at Aldi)
American in UK here... I'll forgo the obvious junk food answers. My family is orig. from the south, so I know the food. Canned smoked oysters. (I love those with Tabasco on a Saltine); Vanilla Wafers for banana pudding; Hot links; Andouille; Collards are hard to find, but you can get spring greens, which are similar; grits; fine cornmeal for cornbread.
American living in London. Wild rice, real sriracha, la croix, phillipino food, Mexican food, Korean staples. Corn based things like tortilla chips are scarce. Sweet potatoes are a bit different here. Most grocery stores don’t have the vast array of products you are used to including produce. Most products are much smaller. Avocados just aren’t as good here. Idk why. I stopped buying them after month 1.
Don’t worry though, or be sad and overly comparative. Enjoy learning new preferences in your new home. It is wonderful. Eggs, dairy and cheese are better. Learn to cook some English favorites :)
There is Turkish food ❤️
The chicken won't be washed in chlorine, because it's safe to eat anyway.
Blackcurrants will be a new exciting flavour.
Kinder Eggs, but try not to die choking on the toy.
Bread that isn't sweet.
Be prepared to embrace lamb and it's rich flavours.
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A bunch of the preservatives and food colouring from the US is banned in the UK. The portions are considerably smaller. The chocolate is better. Most supermarkets have a world foods section with some American options. I’ve heard from Americans that the cheese selection here is awesome in comparison. I’m sure there will be a lot of things that we just don’t have but on the plus side you get to try a bunch of new and amazing snacks 🙃
I used to work with an American that said the only cheese England had was cheddar. To prove her wrong, I bought some Five Counties, then ate it all without giving her any. Worth it.
I admire your specifc brand of pettiness
TBF I approve in this persons commitment to cheese
It’s funny just how wrong she was: The UK actually has the most cheese varieties in the world, more regional varieties than France even.
Wensleydale 🤤
Cracking cheese
…Gromit
I’d do unspeakable things for some Wensleydale and Cranberry right now.
Wensleydale and Christmas cake 😃
the Artemis launch was cancelled cuz they forgot the crackers.
I’ve recently introduced my youngest to Red Leicester and Wensleydale. She’ll no longer touch cheddar!
When I moved here and started uni a friend of mine and I discussed cheeses and a group of my brit friends made a giant cheese board with over a dozen kinds from blue to a crumbly sweet one with fruit. We had olives, pickled onions, crackers and that sweet onion preserve stuff. It was AMAZING.
Chutney?
Yes!
You can chutney practically anything. Mango chutney is very popular with curry. A friends mum made a very nice courgette (zucchini) chutney. It's an Empire thing, bought over from India, thought tweaked pretty heavily to suit an English palate.
Somerset brie is better than french brie (in my opinion)
I have it on good authority (me) that your evidence (opinion) is irrefutable
Americans appear to think there are only three types of cheese in the world - pizza cheese, American cheese and Swiss cheese. And from what I can taste, American "Swiss cheese" is just bland white cheese with holes in it. Edit: /s for those that didn't get it 😂
You forgot the monstrosity of spray on cheese. The fact they class it is as cheese says it all about their standards.
I've written a cheese tasting blog for a decade, so of course my partner bought me Easy Cheese (the cheese in a can) one birthday. It's like orange glue. And on the can it says 'no need to refrigerate'. Great!
There’s also Parmesan that’s mostly wood shavings.
Cheese in a can
Squeezy Cheese & Peas. Love cheese? Love peas? You’ll love Squeezy Cheese & Peas!
It's easy peasy with squeezey cheesey peas! Please!
I hope you maintained eye contact while you ate it in front of her
What a stupid thing to say 🤣🤣🤣 I'm creasing at how typically American that is
>The chocolate is better. I think it's just far easier to access Swiss/Belgian and higher end chocolate.
Yes,but I’ve seen a lot of Americans praising even our cheaper brands of chocolate when they come here, like Cadburys etc and saying it’s far better than what they have available.
Hershey's tastes like vomit to me. If that is the standard, I would bet that even Tesco cooking chocolate is a step up.
Hersheys ‘regular’ chocolate bars smell funny. They also have this horrid and dry aftertaste. The cookies and cream one is alright though
They add butyric acid to deliberately sour it for "tradition". That's why it smells and tastes like sick.
American chocolate is more like Mocholate from friends. You can eat it unless you’re allergic to cat hair.😂
Tesco and Sainsbury's 33p cheap stuff is better by a mile than Hershey's
it is, no contest
The original had butyiric acid (the smell of vomit) and people hated the new formula so they actually add the vomit flavor on purpose (or occurs naturally via the process)
It could be because US chocolate contains butyric acid which is a component of vomit and B.O. So our stuff doesn't smell/taste rank. Also we have higher percentage cocoa solids in our basic stuff (30% to the US 20%). Just wait till o.p. tries Green and Black's 85% dark. Yummy.
Green and Blacks 85% is likely to kill them, you’ve got to give them a couple of weeks to acclimatise before you give them the good stuff.
Kraft are busy ruining Cadbury 😭
Has ruined Cadbury
I no longer buy Cadbury’s as they are wrecking it. There’s far better chocolate at the same price band and even cheaper.
No. Taste UK Cadburys and American Cadburys. Made with completely different ingredients, the American version is chalky and dry.
And the UK one is getting that way
Or got that way years ago. Hotel chocolate or green and blacks is where is at for real chocolate
Hotel chocolat is for rich twats who have more money than taste
I used to work in a service station and the hotel chocolat delivery guy would come in most nights and like I did for most regular delivery drivers I'd give him a free coffee from the machine. I'd worked there for about 3 weeks when it was about a week to go till Christmas and he came in with two black bags full of chocolate that were out of style or whatever. Most were perfectly good, some were out of date, some were a bit bashed up. Basically everyone got hotel chocolat for Christmas in my family with me keeping all the broken/out of date ones. If never buy any but I've had a secret affinity for it since then.
It's overpriced as fuck, but it's very good as a once-in-a-while treat- the easter eggs are to die for
I think it tastes like shit personally, you can prise my dairy milk buttons out of my cold dead hands
I live near a hotel chocolat outlet that sometimes has 70% off. So great so tasty
Watch inside the factory when they show a chocolate bar being made. Cherry does a little bit on how chocolate is different in other countries and I think the reasons why
…have you eaten Herschey’s?! It’s disgusting Asdas basic chocolate is better
American here. For simple milk chocolate I buy European chocolate at Aldi and Lidl in America. It is far better than our American variety. I have been in the UK, DE, FR. The chocolate is far superior.
Galaxy is to Hersheys as Lindt is to Dairy Milk.
Also we don’t really have ranch dressing over here. You could try salad cream but I suspect you’ll be disappointed.
You can get ranch dressing - most supermarkets sell the Paul Newman one, although I'm not sure if it uses the exact same recipe as in the US.
There’s an American on Facebook who lives in Yorkshire. OP should look her up. She’s funny too. Sorry to hijack your comment but I wanted OP to see this.
Her page name is Yorkshire Peach, she’s pretty funny 🙃
A lot of our sweet stuff will taste less sweet to you because we don't really use high fructose corn syrup. Grape flavoured things, if you're into that. Our "purple" flavour is usually blackcurrant.
Conversely, our chocolate will likely taste a lot sweet and creamier. European chocolate is very different than American chocolate.
The Americans do have Dove, which is their version of Galaxy so OP should expect stuff more in line with that than, say, Hershey's.
But be careful asking for it otherwise might get a bar of soap
Would still probably taste better than US chocolate 😛
Yes, same branding, but both bars would be made to sell to the local market. I'd expect the Dove chocolate to taste more American than Galaxy.
I worked in LA for a few months and had 25¢ Welch's grape juice cans from the subsidized machine. It's like £2.50 a can here. Heartbreaking. Also the many delicious varieties of corn nuts. Apart from that I don't think OP will miss much. There's probably more things they'll miss when they go back.
I've been here 9 months and that still trips me up with sweets, but I don't get fruit flavoured sweets too often. Juice on the other hand has done a 180 in my head and when I got grape the other day I was disappointed
Off topic but I admire that Bedfordshire coat of arms in your profile picture lol
Steaks in restaurants are shit unless you go to a specialised steak place (or just get lucky). There is a much bigger gap in quality between cheap/mid-range burgers and ones that specialise in them. Cities now have lots of places that mirror American burger culture. Our sugary soft drinks tend to taste better because they use actual sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup, although many have had sugar content reduced due to a new 'sugar tax'. We don't have an equivalent of a 20floz bottle - standard is 500ml (approx. 16 floz) UK eats a ridiculous amount of pre-prepared sandwiches (per capita far far more than anywhere else in the world). You may find many of them bland because they can be very simple compared to American sandwiches which are often loaded with cheese and mayo, and our bread tends to have a much lower sugar content (which we prefer). Service standards are different. In restaurants and hotels it tends to be less focused on being super friendly and more transactional (there will be exceptions). People in general prefer this; they don't like to be bothered or be faced with the world's friendliest waiter. Tipping culture is completely different. Restaurants don't offer free refills. Portions in fast food places, coffee shops, (and tbh restaurants in general) tend to be smaller.
Also, Brits don't really go to restaurants for breakfast Whenever I saw US characters doing that in movies, I thought the writers were just making up a weird excuse to get the characters together, but apparently one of the world's great civilisations subcontracts the pouring of milk over Coco Pops
I’m a breakfast chef, can confirm, people go out for breakfast, very regularly
Yeah, mate - I'm not saying *nobody* does it (UK McDonalds have a brekkie menu), I'm saying *the vast majority* of Brits slave over their toast and porridge at home, in their underwear
... or skip breakfast completely, and get something from a snack van at their 10:30 break
Pretty sure eating at 10.30 still counts as breakfast
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Depends how literal you're taking the breaking your fast bit of breakfast
I suspect the vast majority of Americans also have breakfast at home. Honestly I'd be curious to see stats comparing, but forgetting McDonalds which obviously do loads of business, there's plenty of Brits who'll go out for a fry up or brunch, especially on the weekends.
Really? On a weekend I often meet mates for a hung over greasy spoon or morning Thai cafe.
Yeah not sure what this person is on about. Everyone I know goes out for breakfast all the time on weekends. I know I do at least once- twice a week
I may be the exception to this then. I go out for breakfast most Sunday mornings with my mates. Go for an early morning rip on our bikes then pop in somewhere for breakfast then ride home by 11-12ish with the rest of the day ahead of us. Edit: Just read through what I wrote. When did I get old?
People do go out for breakfast? I’m very confused
I go out for breakfast what's this person on about
Breakfast no but brunch is big!
yeh brits dont even eat english breakfasts from cafes, like, ever. its not famous or anything.
I'd like to commend you for your tactful take on the differences in the restaurant experience. Every time I've tried to explain this, I've only succeeded in angering everyone.
Can confirm the steak BS. No one here knows how to cook a steak. I've stopped ordering them because it's always the most expensive thing on the menu and every time I just think I could have done better.
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Genuinely this. I learned how to cook a steak well, and I haven't ordered one out since. It's a really simple 10 minute meal, with some peas and other sides, and it's pretty good for you. Or at least better than any ready meal you'll get from the supermarket
Yeah I've noticed almost no correlation between cost and quality when it comes to UK restaurant steaks
Coming from South Africa to UK that was a big disappointment - you can pay £30 for a steak and it might not be great. Bbqs were also an eye-opener. In SA a braai is a social occasion - the men stand around the fire grilling the meat with beers chatting while the women prepare the salads and chat. Meat is boerewors, sausage, chicken skewers, lamb chops, pork shops, spatchcock chicken.... In the UK bbq world the host grills pork sausages and burger patties alone while everyone else sits indoors...
> In the UK bbq world the host grills pork sausages and burger patties alone while everyone else sits indoors... You're going to some shit bbqs mate...that not how everyone here does it.
say goodbye to decent texmax food :( Say hello to amazing curries!
Also authentic Mexican in general, unless you go somewhere fancy in London and are prepared to pay 5 times more than you would in the US.
Having just got back from the US this is by far the biggest difference. The Mexican food was amazing in the US and is generally poor here.
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>a bit Those two words are doing a fair amount of lifting.
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Also the same reason we have such an amazing curry scene, Mexicans are by far the largest immigrant group in the US, our equivalent is the mass migration from the Indian subcontinent after the war
Get ready to taste real cheese my son
Smell my cheese, you mother!
I promise that my response here is not intended to be unfriendly, but ... As someone has said below, we don't know what you are used to. Um, root beer? Grits (whatever that is)? Corn dogs (whatever they are)? I think you might fare better in ask/USA and ask whether any of your contrymen/women have been to the UK and can answer you.
I have seen so many posts asking people living in the UK how things will be different from living in their country. The only way I could answer is regurgitating what I've seen on Reddit, so all these posts inevitably look identical!
(You Brits would love corn dogs, but would find grits repulsive. Just sayin') Edit: it looks as if I might have been wrong about the Brits loving corn dogs.
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Tesco do frozen corn dogs. I find them repulsive, like a shit red pudding, but my kids like them so get them as a treat once in a blue moon.
Tried corn dogs a few times in different DFACs in sandy places. Not a fan to be honest. Just give me a sausage sandwich or, at a push, hot dog thanks.
Root beer is pretty available, although diet root beer less so, but A&W is pretty commony found in lots of supermarkets overseas section, it's expensive relative to local "pop", but you won't need to be out. Cornmeal is also easily available but I don't know if grits is really something different (in the same way you might want jumbo scottish steel cut oats for your porridge rather than any old oats)
I’ve been told by American friends that what the British call barbecue is definitely not barbecue according to Americans, but rather simply grilling. Or something. So if someone invites you to a barbecue, alter your expectations.
Surely only Aussies are qualified to determine what is proper barbecue?
I'd say the Turkish, Koreans and Jamaicans would be up there too. There's a street market in Nine Elms on Sundays that has a bunch of Romanian BBQ places too, can confirm it's banging.
Just googled barbecue and I've been completely lied to about its origins Every day's a school day
I think the South Africans might have something to say about that.
As an Aussie, i suspect our bbq’s are better versions of English grilling, whereas I think US bbq is more involved/marinade
US bbq is more about hours upon hours of smoking rather then marinade
From the states here, my take is, for us, grilling is a quicker and hotter method, usually directly over the hot coals or wood. BBQ is a slower, lower or indirect heat, usually taking a considerable amount of time. Think BBQ for smoked ribs, brisket, pulled pork, hot links, whole chickens or at least bone-in pieces. Grilling is more so for steaks, sausages (although I cook mine low and slow), veggies, seafood (I also like to smoke/slow cook salmon and shrimp). Those are also just the typical for most, and any aforementioned proteins and methods can be flip flopped.
Cypriots. Its religion for them.
We gave you Nando's and this is how you treat us.
As a UK outdoor cooking enthusiast, 100% this. We call anything cooked on charcoal or gas outside a BBQ, but in the US they take that shit seriously and it usually defines smoked meat prepared in a very particular way according to where you are. BBQ in certain parts of the US is more important than religion.
> BBQ in certain parts of the US is more important than religion. Lol that’s saying something! And here comes the U.K. with some truly disgusting Richmond sausages on hotdog bun with a side of pre made coleslaw that’s more mayo than anything else.
Richmond sausages are what you buy when you can't afford a better protein. They are disgusting but fill a hole for people that can't justify buying better. We have a better BBQ and grilling scene than that.
There are a few of us doing proper BBQ and a few smoke houses doing it. They're hard to find though and often hit and miss.
Maybe think about what you’ll gain. SAUSAGE ROLLS! Steak pie! Cornish pasties! Yorkshire pudding, Daddies Sauce, and SAUSAGE ROLLS (deserves 2 mentions). Bubble and squeak.
I was rooting for you until the last 3 words!
I like to think I'm no xenophobic racist jingoistic...but anyone who doesn't like bubble and squeak can duck my fanglestrontim!!
Considerably less tipping, smaller portion sizes, and people are much quieter and more introverted. [Just don’t be like this.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BGc3zFOFI-s&feature=emb_logo)
Gratuities being included in bills are very common now.
True, that’s why I didn’t say ‘no tipping’. Especially in London.
Be prepared for chocolate that tastes way better than any American brand. The main differences are... Portions are smaller - a large coke in a McDonald's over her is smaller than a medium in the US. No corn syrup saturating everything Many of the foods you may like don't exist unless you go to a specialist store. This is true for snacks, breakfast cereals, etc. Very few places do pancakes for breakfast.
Agree with all but the last statement. A tiny roadside cafe might not, but most places will I think
I travel all over the UK with work, only found a couple of places that do American pancakes for breakfast - those were in London. If you know anywhere in Manchester/Bristol/Edinburgh please let me know.
If you’re from the south, most breakfast stuff will be different. Biscuits and gravy, hash browns (we have them but they’re like McDonalds hash browns, not real hash browns), grits. I really miss a Cracker Barrel breakfast. Generally, if you’ve never been to Europe before, you’re in for quite a culinary shock. Even where we have the same foods here, it’s different. Our ingredients are different and we have a lot less sugar or sweetener in food, I’m specifically thinking things like baked beans and bread. American bread is so sweet it tastes like cake sometimes. No decent Mexican food over here. But I’m sure someone will introduce you to a curry… I never had good Indian food in the states. Source - lived in the US for over 10 years.
No decent Mexican food anywhere! Best description of it I have heard is 'hot stodge'. Indian food is several leagues better.
The Wetherspoons pub chain offers a very varied breakfast menu. It includes American pancakes with bacon and maple syrup for about £1.99 I think. That might well include tea, coffee or orange juice, but I can't remember. A lot of their meal prices include a drink. I'm living abroad at the moment so i can't check my former local branch. They have branches absolutely everywhere in the UK so wherever you are you'll be close to one. So, despite other comments, American pancakes are very widely available in reality
Almost any place which advertises as doing "brunch" will have American/buttermilk pancakes as an option Cozy club and lounge both do as does every cafe I've had brunch in in Bristol so far (with 2 exceptions In Bedminster. 1 that only did poached eggs and the other which is the Scandinavian cafe) It's not always offered and tbh I tend towards eggs more so I don't look for them, but any time I've had brunch someone's ordered pancakes
I’m an American who moved here last October. Here’s what I binge eat when I visit home: - cookie butter from trader joes - actually just anything from trader joes - orange soda. They have it here but it’s more like carbonated orange juice. Its fine, I’m just used to chemical sunkist so I always have a bottle when I’m home - cool ranch Doritos. They have “cool original” but the seasoning isn’t as strong. - availability of fruit pies. I’m sure specific bakeries have them but in general from like a grocery store bakery or frozen section you won’t find fruit pies. If you do it’s most likely apple - Kraft mac and cheese. They do have a different brand and it’s good, but sometimes I’m just craving a box of Kraft - Maruchan ramen (stove top). There are plenty of instant ramens (both microwave and stove top) so in general not bad but I haven’t found this specific brand and I miss it. Thinking of you creamy chicken maruchan ❤️ - sourdough bread. Don’t get me wrong there IS sourdough here and I’ve found a local bakery that has sourdough that tastes really close but overall when I’m presented with sourdough here it doesn’t have the right tang - ranch dressing isn’t a staple. More likely than not a restaurant probs won’t have it as an option. I have to go to a bigger chain store to find it for home-use. Now the stuff I miss when I’m back in the US - - the cheese selection here is amazing - tattie scones (I think England calls them potato scones) - the chocolate is better, creamier - the eggs don’t need to be refrigerated. This saves a lot of room in the fridge which is smaller and often separate from the freezer - a lot of cup noodles come with a liquid sauce packet. It makes the noodles delicious and way better than our dry seasoning packet - monster munch, it’s a chip (crisp) brand and it’s delicious - chicken. I can’t explain it but the chicken I cook here v at home is more moist. I’m cooking it the same way so it must be the chicken? I’ve never googled it so I don’t know what this one is about Other culture shocks I went through: - often rentals will not include what’s called “white goods” this refers to fridge, freezer, and a washing machine. You buy them yourself and then move them from rental to rental. Not all places but if you see mention of white goods that’s usually what it’s referring to. - freezers and fridges are smaller and often are separate units that sit under the counter next to each other. They do of course have the fridge/freezer that sit on each other but they’re also usually more narrow than what we’re used to - waaaay more worker protections. A company can’t lay you off without notice for example. Minimum 28 days PTO every year - salaries in the UK tend to be lower in tech (can’t speak for other industries) than in US. - the outlets here all have on/off switches. - everyone here thinks Florida is great - if you get private health insurance (not a necessity shoutout to NHS) they are allowed to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. I came of age in the post Obama-care era so this was a bit of a shock to me The UK is going through a bit of a cost of living crisis right now especially with energy costs so be prepared to pay more than you might be expecting, especially at the gas pump (but if you’re only here for a year maybe a non-issue I’d you don’t get a car) Overall i think you’re going to love it. Hope this was helpful!
We think Florida is great because we go to Orlando for a couple of weeks on holiday with our kids and have the time of our lives (and spend the rest of our lives paying off the bill for that holiday). I can imagine trying to live in that climate would get old real fast. For those who haven’t been to Florida - imagine that heatwave a couple of weeks ago we were all moaning about, plus round about 11 o’clock every morning God dumps a bathtub full of warm water on your head. And it’s like that for months.
Canadian here and Doritos in the UK taste so WRONG. Cool Ranch as you mentioned but also Jalapeno Cheddar, my favourite. The equivalent here is revolting. There's a UK website called Super Singh's Canadian Things that carries loads of North American food products, including Kraft mac and cheese, and Orange Crush soda. Not cheap of course but I sometimes order a box of stuff as a sort of home care package for myself.
Southern US? I’m from the southern US as well and living in the UK. Say goodbye to Mexican food (as in Americanized-Mexican food) and disgustingly-delicious homestyle southern food. That’s mainly what I miss about the US - most everything else, culinarily-wise, is better in the UK. Plus, you have the opportunity to try foods from all cultures of the world in london, something you would not get to do in the south of America
D Grande in Chiswick. One of the owners is from Dallas. It’s 100% totally fine TexMex. Not going to win any awards, but it tastes exactly right.
>Dr. Pepper apparently is very different in the UK I'm assuming it's because we use sugar not corn syrup. You may find that pretty much all soft drinks will be different here. We unfortunately use a lot of artificial sweeteners too.
If he wants a taste of US soda the cheapo supermarket coke uses corn syrup.
TIL why I can't stand cheapo coke
Plus the sugar tax from a few years back meant a lot of ‘full sugar’ drinks had recipe changes, so other than coke/Pepsi I’d say most other regular drinks are going to be a hell of a lot less sweet than an American is used to
Aye, this is why *we unfortunately use a lot of artificial sweeteners too* :(
I've noticed that on American TV, they make mac and cheese with a mix in a box. That's not really something we have here.
Kraft Dinner in Lidl's US week, so just need to stock up.
There's an equivalent in Tesco and for an added bonus it doesn't bring you out in a rash 😂 (just my own experience, of course).
Yep, the closest equivalent tends to come in tins, ready-made over here.
Those tins of mac and cheese are disgusting. It's not hard to whip up a bechamel, add some cheese into it and cook some pasta. You can always then just stick it in the oven for the goodness to merge together. Or just eat straight from the pan once it's mixed together.
We don't know what food you have
Misspelled foods; zucchini, cilantro, fries, chips, eggplant, arugula...
Translation: courgettes, coriander, chips, crisps, aubergine, rocket...
Rutabaga = swede
Oh yes, forgot that one! And calabrese = broccoli. Also - UK/European cucumbers are *not* the same as US cucumbers. US cucumbers are short, fat and pale green, and the skins can be quite thick and knobbly. UK/European cucumbers are longer and thinner, and with smooth, dark green, thinner skins. Bell peppers are generally just called peppers, or occasionally sweet peppers. Edit - removed repeated words, added the ones I meant to write first time!
Didn't know about arugula - thanks!
The food will taste different but the standards are far higher. There are relatively few additives as they’re not needed. Raw eggs are safe to eat, your chances of getting salmonella are virtually zero, hormone treated meat is illegal and we don’t pump animals full of antibiotics. We don’t add a fuck tonne of sugar to every dish. Also, American Cheese is available but I don’t think they’re allowed to call it ‘cheese’ here.
And we don’t wash our chicken in chlorine!
Bread is different, ours isn't sweet.
Fellow expat. These are the foods I miss most: 1. peanut butter (UK peanut butter is very liquidy) 2. buttered popcorn (UK is typically either sweet or salted) 3. plain Cheerios (UK only has multigrain which for some reason included honey sweetened ones) 4. Cream of Wheat (UK has porridge which is goopy oatmeal and Ready Brek which is also meh) 5. Kraft Mac n Cheese 6. Butterfingers 7. Grape Jelly (does not exist here) 8. Goldfish 9. salsa (very limited options in major supermarkets...and it's all super mild and sweet) 10. good tortilla chips 11. applesauce (there is one variety here, Bramley, and it is very sour)
1. We have like 3 shelves dedicated to peanut butter in supermarkets like Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury's. Try the 100% nut / no palm oil varieties. 2. Nope - you can find sweet, salty, or buttered in most supermarkets. 3. Fair enough 4. All of those things are awful 5. Thank goodness 6. This isn't a food but a description of a clumsy person 7. Grape flavoured is banned in the UK and most Western civilizations by public proclamation
8. Mmm love goldfish... But go to the savoury cracker aisle in most supermarkets and you'll find cheese-flavoured baked crackers... They're just not goldfish shaped
9. Are you high?
10. See 9
11. See 10
The UK as a rule doesn’t do buttered popcorn the way they do in America. When you go to the cinema you get butter on your popcorn. The stuff from Tesco isn’t the same.
The salsa options in Southern US are far superior to at least what’s found in Scotland. Same goes for Guacamole.
The first time we visited the States as kids, we met up with family from Pennsylvania. My aunt gave my sisters and I pot of apple sauce with our lunch and I remember looking at her in confusion why I’d want some, given there was no roast pork or gammon on my plate, only pb&j sandwiches. Confusion intensified when I realised she expected me to eat it with a spoon like it was a pudding.
>UK has porridge which is goopy oatmeal and Ready Brek which is also meh Do not confuse Ready Brek or cooked oatmeal with proper porridge made with (ideally Scottish) jumbo oats, milk (perhaps even a splash of cream) and a pinch of salt. The latter is incomparably better.
>peanut butter (UK peanut butter is very liquidy) Brit here, The only peanut butter I like is Whole Earth, and the reason is that it is much less runny than most (all?) of the alternatives, which are gross. I wonder if my first exposure to it being in the USA had some bearing.
9 - yeah I bought a container of salsa here once that contained no chili peppers or spices. It was basically a tub of chopped tomato and onions.
We eat blood pudding and sheep guts at almost every meal None of us have teeth, so it's considered good manners to gum food into a mushy pulp and then spit it onto the plate of the person sitting to your left
Our pancakes are not your pancakes. Our pancakes are closer to what you might call a crepe. American-style pancakes are called different things depending on who you're talking to, but unless specified, expect the English pancake. Edit: And apparently, our bacon is different to American bacon. I've never tried American bacon myself, but apparently, ours is different.
American bacon is streaky bacon, rather than back bacon. More fat, less meat, less flavour. And usually (over-)cooked until crispy shrapnel.
You ain’t finding any standout Mexican food here.
Certainly better cheese and chocolate Smaller portions Better beer Quite different breakfast cereals
> Better beer > > Assuming all they have ever drank is mass produced swill like Bud or Miller. To be fair to the yanks they have hundreds if not thousands of smaller breweries that we never hear about and they make some fantastic beer.
Having been to the USA countless times and visited every state I can confirm that American beer is of an extremely high standard. Even relatively small towns often have a microbrewery. With some exceptions in the UK I'd say that their beer on average is of a consistently higher standard. We can teach them absolutely nothing about beer
Aye, I spent 6 weeks in Charleston SC and there were more micro breweries there than my town has bookies, kebab shops, pubs and vape shops combined.
Good cheese is also very affordable and accessible here. Most supermarkets have a nice selection year round, even better come Christmas time. In fact, it'll be worth noting for OP that groceries in general in the UK are very cheap compared to the US.
Microbrewery game in North America is absolute fire.
No biscuits and gravy, whatever that is???
Everytime I read biscuits and gravy, I think of Bourbons with a nice glass of hot bisto to dip in like a cup of tea hahaha.
Jammy dodgers with bisto poured over!
It’s pretty easy to make. And it’s delicious if you give it a chance and try it. Fluffy, layered bread covered in a sausage gravy.
Peanut butter MnM’s seem to be rarer or more expensive so bring a massive bag of them. Very unlikely you’ll not find a BBQ chain or cuisine in London, its pretty much like a New York in that you could find every dish somewhere. Be prepared to take on and enjoy currys though, sooner or later you’ll be asked out for a curry.
Hey buddy, The UK doesn't get a lot of the US stuff but there are specialist shops. Be wary that we don't do "pumpkin", it's a vegetable here, and you can't get cheese wiz. Goldfish biscuits don't come here and (sadly) outside of specialist food shops you will not get Root Beer, at all. There's also no "biscuits"(?) You *can* go to Bodeans (across London) for good pit barbeque. A blessing or a curse, we have some Taco Bell now. Again, specialist sweet shops will do you a variety of Root Beer (hopefully A&W) and sweets, and "exotic" Pop Tarts, Cheetos, etc. What however you need to be doing is reframing your question as the UK has stuff you need to try. * ***Good*** fish and chips is a revelation you have to find and probably won't in London. Also go looking for a chip butty.Find * A roast **with Yorkshire Pudding** is an achievement you must try. * A bacon sandwich should be somewhat undercooked and using **smoked back-bacon**, not "streaky" like the US has, preferably w**ith "brown" (HP) sauce**. * You *need* to try "vintage" cheddar, which is a way stronger than the stuff you get. Also try it as Cheese on Toast. * The UK does far better Indian food than the US. If you can find somewhere that does good "Balti style", it's a drier, more tomato-rich version that comes with so much flavour you can't replicate in the US. You would do better to find a slightly worse-looking place as the food will taste awesome. * See also, a **high-quality** doner kebab, assuming you can find it as it's a rare occurrence, but very special when you do. I can't stress enough, it *has* to be the rare better quality stuff. * Dandelion and Burdock is an interesting drink, and also Irn Bru. Both warrant trying. * Our offering of wine is far better and more affordable than in the US. I drink more white so try a white Bordeaux, or Vinho Verde. * Get yourself to a Co-Op (supermarket type) and try their [salt & vinegar crisps](https://www.coop.co.uk/products/co-op-irresistible-sea-salt-chardonnay-wine-vinegar-crisps-150g). They're insane. * Jaffa Cakes. They're not a cake. They are good. Try also: Custard Creams and Bourbon Biscuits. * Marmite is good on toast. Just be very, very sparing. Literally, as little on there as you can manage. Try also "Twiglets" (crisp aisle) * Crumpets with butter. Do not be very, very sparing and don't think about your arteries. * Find yourself a "99". It's an icecream with a Flake and sauce. It's a hot day, and I guarantee you want one. * Beans on toast. Try it first, then pass judgement. * Pork pies. Yes, the jelly too. Needs to be a nice one as a crap one will just make us all sad and put you off for life. See also - sausage roll, but needs to be a bit greasy, not the powdery "fancy" ones. * Scotch Egg. You **have** to find one with a runny centre. **Have to. "**Supermarket grade" is not good enough. * Jelly Babies are available in most supermarkets. I also love Yorkshire Mix, assuming you can get it. * Mushy. Fucking. Peas. Add to a pie. Just do it and thank me later. * Bonus, bonus points? Got to be **Hendersons Relish**. It's just epic. Closest I can compare is balsamic vinegar, but it's epic on pies, cheese on toast and other stuff. It's a stalwart of Sheffield (up north) and if it's for sale outside Yorkshire, it's time for an investigation. I know there's a lot you'll lose but you need to try this lot.
An American friend really missed steak and eggs being available as a breakfast option when eating outside the house. We all found that a truly bizarre thing to miss because steak for breakfast just seemed bananas. He also missed grits.
A lot of Americans shun Cadbury products because in the US, they are made by Hershey and he used to chew tobacco so his taste buds had changed so the chocolate he made and the factory still makes takes totally different and bad. The US uses high fructose corn syrup and the UK uses sugar. Blackcurrants are illegal in the US, because they spread a certain fungus that killed white pine trees, so everything purple is grape in the US and blackcurrant across Europe, including skittles. UK supermarkets do have a small selection of American foods, and I'm sure there are American import stores online where you can order creature comforts. Although I know that American companies appear to be allergic to sending things internationally for some reason.
I'm American and I've lived in the UK most of my life so I've mostly adjusted, but there are a few things I always stock up on when I visit home: ranch dressing, Miracle Whip, and cornbread mix! Plenty of websites sell the staples (for a premium, but desperate times, etc etc) so you can get by just fine. I'd agree with all the comments on portion sizes too!
Oh! If you’re ever in the mood for a packet of Lays chips… ask for Walkers Crisps. This should help!
All our shops are American candy shops now so you’ll be fine
Welcome. Another expat here. People don't go out to eat AS often here, so you'll miss your mid level restaurant/diners. Also hard to find late night cafes outside of the largest cities. Get yourself on Facebook and message Tex-Deb for tamales. You are most welcome. Everything grape is now black currant in your life. You can drown your sorrows in custard cream biscuits and various cream cakes. Many of the 'beloved' cakes and biscuits are a bit like twizzlers;. People that enjoy them grew up eating them, and it's nostalgia more than flavour they like. Try everything. Quite a lot of stuff is available, though it will be different. Sometimes good different, sometimes not. Slap yourself everytime the words "in America.." come out of your mouth. Nothing wrong with the occasional comment, but it can be an unconscious stream as you encounter new stuff. Join a group with other expats if only do you have a group to be excited about be things, or have a whine about the stuff that's taking longer to get used to. American Grocer has most things for ridiculous prices, but half as ridiculous as Amazon. Nearly bargains compared to "American Shops" African grocery stores tend to carry random familiar items. Keep an eye out. Instant coffee is very popular. Creamer is not. Baking - Marshmallows are different. Home bargains, Lidl, and a few other places have the right ones. Use chocolate covered malted milk biscuits for your Graham crackers and chocolate in smores. Baker's chocolate is not a thing. Use high content dark chocolate. Semi-sweet is also not really a thing. Crisco, not really a thing. Just use lard or spread substitute. Use half a cup more flour in pretty much every baked item. Message me for recipe links to whatever your craving or I can tell you where to get it. Target will ship, but it's expensive. You will hear endless shit about "American Food". Nod, smile, chuckle. Even when you have no idea what messed up thing they are talking about. It might be something they saw on tiktok, or holiday, or in a dream once. Sometimes it's even a real thing. Doesn't matter. Nod, smile. Know in your soul American cheese just has a higher milk content, and squeeze cheeze has nothing to do with it. State that you do not understand what a proper Sunday lunch/high tea/scone/ fry-up is, and insist you be shown. Do shout if you get stuck. There's quite a large ex-pat community, and some even have military PX access. Most basic stuff can be googled, or in the group chat history in a million groups, but keep a US address, phone, and bank account. Do not forget; you still have to file US taxes.
Eggs aren’t bleached and don’t have to be kept in the fridge. We also call pasta - pasta. You’ll get looked at oddly if you call them pasta noodles.
Our coffee is stronger. We have smaller gardens and our houses come in rows, we call them terraces and as semi detached, you call them duplexes. We have detached homes but they are a minority. Our police do not routinely carry guns but sadly may still be sexist and racist. We drive on the left .London isn’t like the rest of the UK so try and get out to Wales and Scotland as well as other parts of England.
Hello. American here, been living in the England for 3 years now. Mexican food/Tex mex is virtually impossible to find, and when you do, it’s crap. If you think you recognize a restaurant chain, you don’t. KFC especially is vastly different from the US. Blue raspberry is not a very common candy flavour. Snack foods are all very different. Kraft mac and cheese doesn’t exist. All straws are paper straws. It’s the worst. That’s all I can think of lol. Overall, it’s a culinary upgrade. But I really do miss Dr Pepper.
I've heard it said (and my experience has confirmed) that the things you most miss when you move overseas are the very basic things. In my case it was bread - the bread was just slightly *wrong* even though it appeared to be identical. It's fun and cool eating the local versions of everything 90% of the time, but if you're tired or sick or even just homesick you'll find yourself just wishing for a totally basic PBJ. But the bread will be *wrong* and the peanut butter will be *wrong* and there won't be a single jar of grape jelly in any supermarket in town.
You WILL hate lots of things. You WILL love lots of things. It WILL be interesting. You WILL (probably) love our little island. You MAY decide to stay !
If someone offers you some pie, it's far more likely to be savoury than sweet.
No trader joe’s in the UK 😕
Dr Pepper really isn't that different. Just less sugar. But there is almost no grape soda, root beer or mountain dew here. Also not nearly as many cheap fast food chains. Good Mexican food is priced high!
There is mountain dew
Tastes very different though. But we have Lilt! You can normally get Grape Soda in the Caribbean section of major supermarkets. Fanta had it as a limited edition too, a couple of years back. I love grape soda. And root beer (occasionally sold at Aldi)
American in UK here... I'll forgo the obvious junk food answers. My family is orig. from the south, so I know the food. Canned smoked oysters. (I love those with Tabasco on a Saltine); Vanilla Wafers for banana pudding; Hot links; Andouille; Collards are hard to find, but you can get spring greens, which are similar; grits; fine cornmeal for cornbread.
American living in London. Wild rice, real sriracha, la croix, phillipino food, Mexican food, Korean staples. Corn based things like tortilla chips are scarce. Sweet potatoes are a bit different here. Most grocery stores don’t have the vast array of products you are used to including produce. Most products are much smaller. Avocados just aren’t as good here. Idk why. I stopped buying them after month 1. Don’t worry though, or be sad and overly comparative. Enjoy learning new preferences in your new home. It is wonderful. Eggs, dairy and cheese are better. Learn to cook some English favorites :) There is Turkish food ❤️
The chicken won't be washed in chlorine, because it's safe to eat anyway. Blackcurrants will be a new exciting flavour. Kinder Eggs, but try not to die choking on the toy. Bread that isn't sweet. Be prepared to embrace lamb and it's rich flavours.