Are there still any treats that you can only buy in London/big U.K. cities?

[Goodyetalso]

I live up north. About 10 years ago whenever DH had a meeting in London I remember he used to bring home a big box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts because you could only buy them there and in a couple of other big cities. And 15 years before that my dad used to bring home a certain brand of posh chocolates that you could only buy there whenever he went in for meetings.

Of course, you can now buy Krispy Kremes from any branch of Tesco if you like them so they don’t hold the same allure. But I am in London for a meeting next week and remembering this made me wonder if there is any food or treats that is still only available there (or ina couple of other major U.K. cities). It always felt mildly exciting to have someone bringing home a little treat that we couldn’t usually buy but everything seems to be available everywhere now. Is there still anything that I could pick up and bring home for a little treat?*

*not jellied eels

Bens cookies or the hummingbird bakery don't have stores everywhere but you can order online

There's more in Fortnum's main shop than than there is in their concessions or online. But the brand over all is no longer London only.

Harrods and Liberty ditto

Japanese Kit-Kats? Matcha tea and other exotic flavours, only available at the (hugely expensive) Japan store near Leicester Square . As far as i know, of course.
I wanted a selection of some 2-finger ones for baby shower treats and could only get them there.

I live in Scotland and am enormously fond of Leon's bircher muesli and LoveBurgers, so I also have some when I go down for work.

You can buy the LoveBurger sauce in Tesco now, but it's not the same as a real one.

I wonder why Leon isn't in Scotland?

Anything that doesn't go off you can buy online really. So you'd be looking for something in the sweet spot that will last for a couple of hours but not the couple of days it would take to post. I guess if I was living in the sticks I might ask someone to bring me back a cinnamon roll from Gail's or Ole & Steen. Or plain beigels from Brick Lane

It’s not very portable but Joe and the Juice hasn’t made it to the provinces yet; I always go when I visit

I see now that some are available to buy on Amazon (of course) but I think they have more varieties at the Japan shop.

The Kitkats are definitely available on Amazon - I got some for Christmas stockings.

I think looking for things that are perishable/fragile so people don't tend to put them on delivery sites?

There are Chinese pastries that I think you'd struggle to find outside the Chinatowns in big cities

x-post about the Kitkats! Range of varieties was wider in the run up to Christmas

@Traumdeuter Joe & the Juice had stores in Debenhams in Manchester and still has one in John Lewis in Liverpool (I think).

Brick-lane type bagels, the traditional Jewish ones, chewy but not puffy, some plain, some with onion or seeds, are also available at Panzer's deli in St.John's Wood.
Not exactly nationwide, of course but you can probably get them in good Jewish or Kosher bakeries in, eg, Leeds or Manchester too.

My London treat is also Leon as a coeliac it’s gluten free heaven-I buy 10 lemon slices and freeze them at home.

I can get Gail's products in Cambridge.

Brilliant ideas everybody - making a little list.

Ladurée. Not a massive fan but my DD loves it. Only in London and Manchester Selfridges, I think.

Try the cake shop Konditor.

(Anyone else now singing ‘We’re going to London, to buy Heat magazine’ from the old adverts?

Just me?)

@piglet81

(Anyone else now singing ‘We’re going to London, to buy Heat magazine’ from the old adverts?

Just me?)

That brings back memories 😅

Lots of interesting treats in the food courts at Selfridges, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason but not sure how exclusive they are to London.

We were struggling to think of somewhere to go for a birthday dinner a few weeks ago. Pre-Covid, there was always somewhere new that we wanted to try. The same with the latest food trends like cronuts, ice cream macarons, ice cream clouds, specialist jamon stores, custard bao buns. There hasn't been a "next big thing" recently, at least, I can't think of anything new that you won't find elsewhere yet. You could probably find something that is better quality/more authentic than you could find outside of London though.

Where is your meeting? There is bound to be a great deli or specialist food store or bakery/chocolatier nearby but it would be helpful to know what is convenient.

@ShaneTwane

[quote SecretVictoria]@Traumdeuter Joe & the Juice had stores in Debenhams in Manchester and still has one in John Lewis in Liverpool (I think).[/quote]
Good to know! Still not a convenient one for me but helps with planning 😀

Of course, you can now buy Krispy Kremes from any branch of Tesco if you like them

Not in my local Tesco! But that's okay because imo Morrison's doughnuts are both better and significantly cheaper.

I've heard great things about Leon but have never been anywhere near one.

@SiobhanSharpe

I can get Gail's products in Cambridge.

You can get Gail's on Ocado and Wairose and possibly others. Not the full range, but worth checking so you dont get one of the easy to source items.

Rococo chocolates on Kings Road can be bought online now but they're not a hugely well known brand and if you're in that part of town it's worth dropping in.

Fortnums tea and biscuits and lemon curd - the packaging is so beautiful!

Stuff from the Japan centre near Piccadilly.