You’re probably thinking this is about fish and chips. After all, is there really anything else the UK has to offer for food? Good news…there is! You can’t really make a meal out of these British foods to try, but they will make you happy. And you can use all the goodness you can get after a big move or even just a bad day. Besides, isn’t that what good food is all about? And when you’re still not sure if you even want to try anything new right now, when you’re ready, give these a go. They might fill your Cheetos gap or simply leave you shopping guilt-free since they are inexpensive treats and make great gifts, too!
5 Under £5 British Foods To Try:
1 – Waitrose Dry White Wine
It’s hard to believe a bottle of wine under £5 is really worth it, but this one truly is. It’s shocking for me to recommend it and honestly, my American friends will probably wonder what’s gotten into me. I’m known to be a bit of a wine snob so it’s no surprise that this discovery was one due to cooking and not for a casual Friday night. I swore I’d never return to drink anything remotely close to Trader Joe’s Two Buck Chuck, but this time it’s different.
The funny thing is, I couldn’t find the typical white cooking wine at any of my local grocery stores. Finally, a clerk at Waitrose recommended the Waitrose Dry White Wine and muttered under her breath, “You can drink what you don’t use for your recipe.” I didn’t think much of it until I was cooking and poured myself a glass. Sure enough, it’s now a house staple for more than just cooking and without the guilt. 🙂
2 – Kelly’s of Cornwall Honeycomb Ice Cream
For whatever reason, despite how chilly England can be, ice cream seems to be the English dessert of choice. Everywhere you go there are ice cream trucks. Sunny days, cold days, rainy days….I mean, come on. Who really wants ice cream in the damp and cold weather?
I don’t remember where I tried Kelly’s of Cornwall Honeycomb Ice Cream for the first time, but when I did, it bumped mint chocolate chip to second place. There is something about the crunchy chunks of honeycomb in this creamy tub of ice cream just ready to be sliced to enjoy. Yes, sliced. The ice cream forms natural ridges in the tub making it easy to indicate the start and stop lines for a portion (or two!).
3 – Rhubarb Gin
Gin and I typically don’t blend (ever since a day at the L’Auberge pool), so it wasn’t until the 9th month of living in the UK that I decided to give the country’s specialty a try. But I didn’t just try any old gin. I went for a slow craft gin: rhubarb. I can’t believe I waited so long to try this. Refreshing, different and paired perfectly with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, a rhubarb gin is the perfect summer cocktail hanging with friends. Try Foxdenton Rhubarb available in 150ml.
4 – Tyrrell’s Black Truffle Crisps
The UK loves their potato crisps and for whatever reason offers a flavor in nearly everything imaginable. From prawn flavored to pork sausage and English mustard. Not kidding. I had no desire to try any of them, till my eyes caught sight of Tyrrell’s Truffle while searching for our family’s typical sea salt flavor. Seriously, truffle in crisps!
You don’t need to go to Italy to enjoy this exotic flavor! I’m totally addicted. In fact, I buy a bag for everyone that visits us from the US. I’m so convinced these are the best chips, I mean crisps, around. I will drive out of my way to buy them because they can only be purchased at Waitrose. Trust me, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Morrison’s and Iceland don’t carry them. Waitrose is the place.
5 – Clotted Cream
There is something about the image of what clotted cream looks like, tastes like and its texture that kept me from trying this. Both the hubs and I alike had visions of thick cottage cheese and the thought of it completely grossed us out. We didn’t bother asking for it, trying, or understanding what all the British fuss is about. Even when articles surfaced involving the Queen about debates between the order of what should go first, jam or cream, I still had no intent or interest in giving it a go.
But then Harry and Meghan had a big wedding which meant we went to a watch party at the local pub. Afternoon tea was served to the nines, with a debut of Rodda’s Classic Cornish Clotted Cream. Since it was right in front of us, both the hubs and I finally gave it a try. After all, it was a special wedding, so why not? And oh my! AMAZING!!!! Just another reason to absolutely love Cornwall.
Clotted cream does NOT look like cottage cheese. It’s thicker but spreadable like butter. Those scones with clotted cream and jam have been by far the best. Rodda’s now has its own spot in our fridge.
What was I so afraid of?
It’s hard trying more new things after a big move. Everything is new after a big move and unfortunately not selectable. You HAVE to learn to drive, new school, new home, new country, new friends, new EVERYTHING. So the last thing you want to do is force new foods on yourself, too. Food familiarity is one of the few things you can rely on for comfort when you’re missing home and need something easy, especially when everything else feels so hard. Trust me, I prepared the same weekly menu nearly every week after our big move.
But when you decide you are ready, these 5 under £5 British foods to try will not disappoint. You can’t experience them in the States so don’t miss out! Trust me because I’m not one to try anything that looks weird, sounds weird or deviates from the norm, but I’m so glad I did. If anything, they make great gifts for a gift bag when friends visit you. And they will be totally impressed that there is more to Britain food than all that they know: fish and chips.
Update as of October 2018:
Tesco now sells the Tyrell’s Truffle crisps!!!
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