Best posh/fancy foods?

[AMessageToYouRuby]

Got a ‘foodie’ relative staying from US so went to Fortnums and the foodhalls of Knightsbridge at the weekend. Some things (£8 radicchio!) are an absolute rip off but got me thinking, what are the best fancy foods?

My choices so far but feel free to disagree:

Torres Truffle Crisps
Nocellara Olives
Laurent Perrier everything
M&S chocolate Biscuits almost definitely non-U but have to be included off the strength of their own merits

Before the pitchforks appear; I know, COL, and mn ‘naice’ snobbery, and I like Netto 7p beans on white sliced with plastic cheese as much as or probably even more than most people and it is a perfectly good dinner anyone should be grateful for. However, some things really are just worth the indulgence.

Artisan cheeses are my favourite fancy food.

Absolutely with you on Torres crisps. If I were rich, I'd eat them every day.

@mynameiscalypso I'm thinking of scrapping my upcoming birthday meal and just eating a pack of these all to myself tbh.

Good seafood

Fortnum's Chocolossus biscuits closely followed by canneles from Babelle.

Please explain Torres crisps... I'm an uncultured northener but I like crisps.

Good quality meat and fish. Free range and organic. Simply prepared because the product is of a quality that can stand alone and doesn't need extra 'help' to taste good.

That's what says grand to me.

Oh and Chocolate Oliver biscuits. The king of chocolate biscuits.

I could not live without candied jalapeños from Haynes.

Organic everything.

Smoked salmon

@LovingLalo have a read here www.chipsandcrisps.com/torres.html

Always a good indicator of a high end deli if they stock these!

I'd say:

Good local cheese and butter (this butter is lovely www.netherendfarmbutter.co.uk/)
Meat from a named supplier
Rock Stein menu boxes especially the lobster one
Anything from an artisan baker or at a push, Gail's
Smoked salmon from here severnandwye.co.uk/ or if you are anywhere in the vicinity, a visit to their cafe, restaurant, food hall or gift shop are a must. Even the chip van outside is super posh , see menu

@HundredMilesAnHour You've sent me down a Fortnums biscuit rabbit hole. Thank god I was unaware on the weekend. Will definitely be getting these and sampling a Cannele in near future.

@LovingLalo https://www.amazon.co.uk/torres-crisps/s?k=torres+crisps They're just delicious crisps which tbf for the price you would expect. I get them on offer on Ocado for about £3/£4

Very few things in packaging but I do buy myself scallops and serve them on sourdough with lemon, butter and black pepper.

I've tried fancy coffee and the like but I prefer lidl French blend!

We have very expensive teabags but only because we get them free, dps work supplies Buckingham palace

Deli cheeses and good red wine doe it for me, every time. Also really good, fresh bread and pickles and syrupy balsamic etc.

Probably easier to impress an American with a lovely cheese board than meat or seafood, in fairness.

Also agree re Torres crisps. Nyom.

Thought this thread would be fun. Instant regret having just ordered some of these Candied Jalapenos - my hopes are high!

On the subject of tea, I'll be honest, I rate Yorkshire Gold above all and was being a real smug commoner perusing what I deemed the overpriced Fortnums range. Would love to hear if anyone drink their stuff?

I also vote Charbonnel et Walker Gingerbread Truffles, only available at Christmas though.

Oooh good butter - yes! Especially if you make your own (literally over-whip double cream, pour off the buttermilk, squeeze in a tea towel/muslin and rinse then mix in eg maldon salt, crispy bacon pieces, herbs, brown sugar and cinnamon, marmite, red wine and shallots, whatever you fancy!)

Americans make sandwiches with mayo, ffs - butter will come as a delightful surprise, I'm sure!

i'd go for really good English cheeses from Paxton & Whitfield with Fortnum's fig chutney which is out of this world.

US friends always go mad for our berries so I'd get heaps of fresh raspberries and UK grown strawberries - the flavour is so good. Serve with Fortnum's shortbread and fresh cream

English wine is really good these days, especially the sparkling, so maybe get some Camel Valley or Bluebell Vineyard Hindleap (both much nicer than Nyetimber imo) if they like a glass of fizz.

I so want to be the person who makes those butters.

I know myself well enough to realise I never will be.

@StaunchMomma Cousin is that you?! No mayo sandwiches from this one, she's already on the homemade butter, I have heard at length how it's apparently very simple (and I'll admit I'm slightly intrigued). Although I was very close to calling her the Barefoot Cuntessa when she turned her nose up at the extortionate block of Lurpak I shelled out for this morning.

I will look into churning my own.

All Americans I’ve met who call themselves foodies, just like to eat a lot and it does not have to be fancy even though they seem to think it is. It really confused me at first.

Sorry @AMessageToYouRuby the Chocolossus will ruin you. I don't usually even like biscuits (seriously!) but these are like some devilish wickedness that I can't resist.😋

But fresh berries served with something.. And nice chocolate as chocolate is not edible in America. I’m not from England but I always buy s&v brown bag crisps. Addictive!

Lush thread!! Deli cheeses and beautiful sourdough (I love making my own but it does come out a bit misshapen!). Really nice organic butter, like you get from a cheese deli. Champagne or English fizz like tenterden. Beautiful fruits in season that are crap out of like watermelon and blackberries. Wild garlic. Homemade dark chocolate truffles. Pizza properly made (I know it's not expensive usually but where I currently live only has one decent one not open all week which makes me see it as something to appreciate).

Prestat truffles.