British meal ideas after years in Aus

[JDM625]

A relative is visiting the UK having moved to Aus in the 1960's. She has visited the UK over those years and the last time was pre-covid. I realise this is very individual but what meal would you like me to cook? Any specific ingredients/veg/dessert that aren't as popular or easy to get in Aus?

Agree with @youegg , "All of these suggestions are foodstuffs that are not only readily available in Aus but appear on most families’ weekly dinners and be found on any pub menu!"

Harder to find a decent curry down here though. British curry is next level.

@youegg We have Viennetta here in Aus. It’s made by Streets. Same heart logo as Walls. Viennetta was invented in Aus. Is the UK version better?

We have Vienetta in Aus 😊and lots of people I know make traditional xmas pudding and mince pies, myself included, so I really think as PP said, asking about what she's missed is a good start. But it is definitely difficult to get hold of scotch eggs, pork pies, clotted cream and (weirdly) watercress where I am. Likewise cod, sole and cockles - would be very unusual to see those here (we get barramundi, salmon, blue grenadier, mussels, and oysters as standard). If she's vegetarian though none of those would be very exciting for her except maybe the clotted cream and watercress.

Traditional flapjack is unexpectedly uncommon here (I think because there are so many packaged muesli bars that are oat based here instead). We Aussies pretty much claim 'chocolate caramel slice' as our own invention even though I think it's based on millionnaire's shortbread. We have equivalents to most of the church fete traybakes (or tray non-bakes) and oodles of scones, doughnuts, muffins, cupcakes, etc but a traditional victoria sponge is less common here.

I'm a Brit in Aus too. Don't know what corner of Australia you're living in but there are plenty of proper chippies in Australia, and vast numbers of Chinese and Indian take-aways. Australian crisps are good quality and big variety.

There's very little available in the UK that's not available here. The people saying things like "home-made Xmas puddings and brandy butter" are also off the mark - plenty of Aussies make this stuff from scratch and there's a wide variety of good hand-crafted fare of this kind available. UK regional cheeses etc. are widely imported.

Best to ask the individuals what particular foods they miss that are hard for them personally to source in their area.

I’d cook game: venison or pheasant.

I’m in NZ now and haven’t found a Viennetta @FeralWoman. Can’t say I’ve been looking though.

Very much agree that Indian/Chinese/Thai is very much available (so no idea where people are living that they don’t have access) but the curries aren’t quite as good as the UK. Our local fish and chip takeaway in our tiny location in NZ however is incredible. Best I’ve ever had and I’m from the NE of England! Light crispy batter and super tasty proper chip shop chips. What I do miss though is CHIPS AND GRAVY! Yes I can get a poncy poutine in the city but I mean chippy chips and some thick gluggy gravy. That me being a northerner though as DH is Essex and thinks chips and gravy is vile.

Post Script @FeralWoman found it at Woolies!

Can I recommend people watch Masterchef Australia and My Kitchen Rules?

It will give you a good idea of what is widely available along with what needs to be got from a specialist shop.

You will start to want to eat pipips, Moreton bay bugs and use Lemon myrtle, saltbush and wattle seed in your cooking.

There is also a drinking game to go with MKR. One a friend and I invented. Every time someone says, "I don't want to over cook it, but I don't want to under cook it" take a drink.

If anyone says, "Under the pump" have a drink.

In one particular series we introduced the if anyone says, "Asian" drink.

If anyone (usually Manu) says, "Where is the sauce?" drink.

@BeanQuisine
Yes there are good chip shops (we have a UK one but it’s a not that local), Chinese and Indians - but they are different to UK ones. I miss the nostalgia of egg fried rice, crispy seaweed, sweet and sour chicken balls and Chinese curry sauce! Chicken pakora with the bright pink sauce, spiced onions - huge nan breads, soggy chips, curry sauce and the fish batter is heavier here and the fish meatier. And UK crisps are much better, no prawn cocktail, quavers or monster munch.
Also agree with the poster saying small black mussels!

@hotelheartbreak Try Woolworths for Lays Prawn Cocktail chips but not in the chip aisle. There should be an international food section and if they’ve included British food then you’ll find the prawn chips.

@youegg Excellent! Hope you enjoy it.

For homesick UK people in Australia the big two supermarkets generally stock some British staples in their international food section. Not much but a bit of a taste of home. Things like Barry’s tea, PG Tips tea, Bisto gravy granules, various chocolate bars, Tunnocks caramel wafers, Batchelors canned mushy peas, and Pot Noodles.

I was so excited last month when I was in London to go to a proper English pub for a Sunday roast. Every single thing on the plate I make better myself - the roast potatoes were especially woeful - and I was horrified at the cost, £26 for a roast is $52Aus. The pubs I go to in Sydney for roasts charge $25-32. It was a lovely pub and I was surrounded by family which was a rare and special treat but the “English roast” was a big disappointment.

Roast potatoes made with Maris pipers! Our potatoes aren’t as dry so you don’t get a super crispy spud!

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

To those saying to 'just ask her', I'm aware that that is the obvious solution! She has no mobile, doesn't use email and will be staying with other relatives when she arrives. Due to me working away, I'm unsure if I can get in touch with her before they come for a meal and wanted to get some ideas so I can shop/organise before their visit.

I aware that 'British' food is widely available in Aus. I've had some great ideas so thanks everyone.

Based on your last post OP I would go for something quintessentially’British’ that you know tastes great and are comfortable making without stress.

Top tip for scones when you can't get clotted cream - mascarpone make an excellent substitution...

My Aus friend enjoys fresh seasonal fruit, especially berries when he is Up Top in spring/summer. He says most Aus berries are grown in greenhouses hydroponically and have v little flavour compared to those grown in 'natural' conditions.

For roast potatoes, I find King Edwards make the best crunchy ones.

Presumably, your other relatives hosting her can text/email so you could contact them for a list of things they've already served/she liked/she mentioned?

Little Gem lettuce and Shreddies.

Well, since the UK’s national dish is actually chicken tikka masala I’d go for a curry ;)

https://www.designmynight.com/uk/blog/uk-national-dish-chicken-tikka-masala

Due to visit Aus soon from UK- can I take KP Skips in?? is there a banning on crisp type products? Unopened of course

My cousins always love fish and chip shop
Cream teas
Yorkshire tea

https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/categories/goods-without-declaring

This page says crisps can be brought in, I always declare food and let the border protection people make the final decision though!

He's bonkers if he really thinks berries are grown hydroponically here.

Yes, better to declare it. I think unopened crisps are fine but you don't want to risk a fine.

My parents bring half the tesco crisp aisle in - you’ll be fine. Just declare it.

SiL lives in Sydney. She said she misses certain fruits, especially gooseberries, blackcurrants and rhubarb.
A gooseberry cheesecake and a rhubarb crumble went down very well last time she came over.

Everywhere we went (on the se coast) they were frozen monstrosities. Fish was good though, but its not north sea fish and is different.
My sister always craves oxtail soup and has it as often as possible when here, also black pudding and pork pies.