British Food Delivery Overseas

[ChippyTea16]

Hi all, just wanted to start a lighthearted thread about what British foods you miss while living overseas! I am currently living in the US and have been following the other threads about being 'stuck' here due to C-19 so I thought I'd try and think about some nicer things

I'm considering doing a food order in Autumn to get some British stuff in for the autumn/winter season. Has anyone done this before and can anyone recommend a particular website?

I have been looking at British Food Store Online and British Corner Shop so far but don't want to order until the Xmas stuff comes in (selection boxes etc.). I know that some things may be restricted this year/be slower to deliver etc. but I plan to order around the end of October.

I'd love to order:
-some selection boxes
-fudge
-proper tea
-stuffing
-gravy
-HP sauce
-mince pies
-the Xmas edition of Good Housekeeping magazine
-maybe some sweets too (pick n mix or penny sweets if they do them)

I feel like this will cost a fortune but after this shitty year I'm going to treat myself to some comfort foods from home!

Is anyone else doing the same? What are you ordering?

We've always taken Minstrels and Club biscuits back home when we've visited the UK before (currently living here now).

I've used British Corner Shop before, it was a few years ago but everything arrived quickly and on time so would use them again.
I'd definitely order selection boxes, just for things like fudge, chocolate buttons and maybe a curly whirly if they still exist!
I've been able to get proper mince pies the last couple of years, Fresh Market stock them along with Christmas Puddings if you have one of those nearby.
What I really, really want is a Marks & Spencer roast chicken pie and a Greggs sausage roll but I think I'll be out of luck getting those shipped over!!

The DCs’ piano teacher expects her Christmas tin of chocolate biscuits every year now!
I use the British Corner Shop and I’d say I’m 70% happy with them. I can pay in euros and track my package weight/capacity, which I often bulk out with Pot Noodles or Cuppasoups. But I’ve had a few products with short expiry dates and once a jar of Marmite broke in transit in spite of being bubble wrapped. Packed too close to the edge of the box.
Let me link their Christmas ad with a poor little boy finding a Brussels sprout in his advent calendar!

British Corner Shop

I treat myself to a British Corner Shop delivery at Christmas. Cheese, Bacon, sausage meat, a ham, salt & vinegar crisps, stuffing mix, gravy, goose fat, ingredients for Christmas baking etc.
I get more "grocery" items from Amazon though these days, stuffing X 12 boxes , golden syrup and black treacle...and a 500 catering pack of Yorkshire tea.

The cheese is probably the thing that has me most weeping for joy though!

Sgt- marmite- Amazon.it costs a lot less than BCS!

They have goose fat?, definitely adding that to my list, Christmas just doesn't taste the same with duck fat!

I've also found a butcher in Scotland who does meat hampers! Campbell's it's called and delivers to most of Europe.
Not that I'm obsessed with food or anything. but after a fishy Christmas at the in laws I insist on turkey etc on Boxing Day!

Ooh some great ideas thank you! Glad to hear you've mostly had good experiences.

@NotMoreFootball there is a Fresh Market down the road from us but I've never been yet, will definitely check it out. I'd love a Greggs as well, I didn't even eat any in the UK but I'd love a sausage roll now too!

Oh @Sgtmajormummy the Brussels sprout calendar! lol! That's not good about the Marmite. I actually found Marmite in my local supermarket but only the tiny jars.

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress I also considered Amazon for bulk-buying stuff, I think I'll have to make a big list of what I want and compare prices. And yes to the cheese, I cannot find anything strong enough in the US to satisfy my cheddar cravings. I will add to the list!

I feel all Xmassy now, love it!

I've used British Corner Shop a few times. You can usually get a discount code for half price shipping. The products are marked up A LOT from UK prices but it's a treat once or twice a year. They usually put up a dedicated Christmas section for all the selection boxes, chocolates, mince pies etc.

Also check out The British Food Depot, they are based in the US.

Agreeing with the British Corner Shop and also google Parker's , they do pasties, pork pies, and so on in a cold box that gets delivered

https://parkersbritishinstitution.com/shop-online?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZL6BRCmARIsAH6XFDLXZzyQKeGLmq9gz1zjF82-Jl1zvsXTzrcT5afXTkl8MGpF1RjpDIaAtgyEALww_wcB

I miss cheese and all the things that are labelled "picky bits" (hate that term so much). Hummus and cold meat and cheese straws and crisps.

Mainly cheese though.

I was just about to suggest Parker’s. I’ve ordered once before and it was all good. My friend orders regularly from them

Crisps, the variety is non existent here
Cheesey snacks like mini cheddars and the supermarket equivalent
Decent ready meals from M & S
Cod roe
Cod

I miss extra thick cream!

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress - I can vouch for “Campbells”, we have ordered from them several times here in UK (during lockdown), bbq boxes, meat hampers etc. All been excellent quality, (as Aussies we are very picky about quality of meat).

They have free delivery if you order over a certain amount and have special deals quite often. If you love black pudding, haggis etc fantastic according to my DH, though he thought he was ordering 500g and got 1kg of each, a lot to eat for one person😁

Now only if I could find some decent Aussie food shops, Ocado have stopped selling Tim Tams, even though they were £££. Amazing what you will pay for food from your “home country”🐨

Thank you for the Parkers link @toddlingtwo it looks amazing! and @scotx for the Food Depot link.

So much choice!

I do miss crisps too, funny how they don't have the came concept in the US (i.e. and individual bag).

And @Sandgroper I love Tim Tams too (I'm not an Aussie). I found some in a US supermarket the other week and they were soooo good. Can you get them on Amazon? I know what you mean about paying for your home country food, it's going to cost me a fortune to have a British Christmas here haha!

Also just remembered about World Market. I have one of these close to me but you can order online as well. Lots of Irish and British crisps on there.

www.worldmarket.com/category/food-and-drink/international-favorites/english-food.do

World Market has a lot of those items available online.

Chippytea16 - crikey I just looked them up on Amazon 😮 single regular pack was £4.75 Ranging up to £30 for a pack of 4😂,

However I think I will treat ourselves at Xmas time though, maybe not share with British DS, as they think penguin biscuits are just the same😲. Clearly they ARE NOT.

@Sandgroper absolutely do not share with someone who thinks Penguins are the same! Haha. I'd be hiding them away for sure