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Original poster

What British food do you miss?

54 replies

nailonthehead · 26/06/2010 08:16

I'm looking for a gift for friends who now live in Southern France.We are driving down to stay near them in August this year and staying overnight 1/2 way so can't really take fresh food.

I was going to put a hamper together of say tea,M & S biscuits,chocolate and umm I'm not sure what really.

Looking for some inspiration of what is difficult to get abroad and you might miss.

Any ideas would be great.

OP posts:
cyberspacecinders · 26/06/2010 08:32

fudge

marmite

crisps

twiglets

pickles

pickled onions

cheesy biscuits

have you a cool box for the chocs,
fudge may travel better
just a thought,

frakkit · 26/06/2010 08:37

Peanut butter!

kreecherlivesupstairs · 26/06/2010 10:22

Marmite, cheddar and stilton, carrs water biscuits and bacon. All are available in Switzerland but at a ridiculous cost. HTH.

maryz · 26/06/2010 10:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ZZZenAgain · 26/06/2010 15:15

I get cravings for marmite and hobnobs and Heinz baked beans.

I don't know if people in the south of France would be likely to feel the same. Just every now and again, I need a fix.

Also mixed spice I need for a lot of my old recipes and I can't get it here.

ZZZenAgain · 26/06/2010 15:17

prices can be a joke kreecher, I agree. I paid something like 8 euros for a tiny pot of marmite which I finally managed to locate in a dept store foodstall. It was mysteriously placed under "exotic sauces".

cyberspacecinders · 26/06/2010 16:24

marmite an exotic sauce
strange

ZZZenAgain · 26/06/2010 16:27

I know. I found it entirely by chance. I always look where the jams/peanut butter/spreads are - and don't find it

They obviously couldn't make out what the hell it is good for

Effjay · 26/06/2010 16:32

My sister lives in the States. When she comes back here, she stocks up on Fish and Chips, pork pies, back bacon, bovril, Cadbury's chocolate, shortbread, crisps. All very unhealthy!! But I suppose that's a lot of British food for you!

cyberspacecinders · 26/06/2010 18:28

I think anything from M and s would be very thoughtful

maybe even add some mags or a book if you know there tastes well ..

zzzenagain....marmite is always something that reminds me of home ..
yet I have not aten it for ages

Original poster
nailonthehead · 26/06/2010 19:15

Thankyou for your good suggestions.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner but been out enjoying the sun with the children.Hot in the UK today.

Definately some things I wouldn't have thought of so I've made a list.

Books and magazines a good idea also.

OP posts:
sayanything · 26/06/2010 19:34

Crumbly mature cheddar

Salt & vinegar crisps

Cadbury's

Bacon

HP sauce for bacon sarnies!

cyberspacecinders · 26/06/2010 19:42

and magic painting books

ds loves those
we can never find them here if
they have young children

Mavis cheek is my fav author at the mo
very English
well to me anyway

have a lovely holiday ..

Othersideofthechannel · 26/06/2010 20:23

Lots have already been mentioned plus:

Tea bags

Patak's curry pastes

Bonsoir · 27/06/2010 06:31

Elderflower cordial (very good for people in hot climates - the Belvoir one has such pretty bottles too).

Tunnock's Tea Cakes

Original poster
nailonthehead · 27/06/2010 08:27

Thankyou Bonsoir - Elderflower cordial is a good idea.It is lovely.

OP posts:
cyberspacecinders · 27/06/2010 09:56

oh silly idea

maybe ask if there is anything small
she is really missing...

another useful thing is the satchets of calpol

admylin · 27/06/2010 09:59

What about some Branston pickle? Would keep well in a hamper.

trianera · 27/06/2010 10:47

Malt vinegar, pickles and chutneys, golden syrup, curry pastes, cordial, cheddar and wensleydale cheese, marmite, anything cadbury's, custard powder, good brown sugar and other things for baking, gravy granules, salad cream. Might not be easy to get them at the mo but if they stay in France for Christmas crackers (the pulling not eating kind) are always very difficult to get hold of.

trianera · 27/06/2010 10:48

Oh, and good salt and vinegar crisps.

chiccadee · 27/06/2010 11:06

Ah, yes, Walkers salt and vinegar crisps and Cadbury chocolate - even though I never ate the stuff when in the UK.

[wave of mild homesickness on reading this thread].

LinzerTorte · 27/06/2010 11:09

When I'm back in the UK, I stock up on:

Cadbury's fruit & nut
Chocolate hobnobs
Cereals
Tea bags
Baking ingredients (vanilla essence, bicarb. of soda, chocolate chips, different types of sugar, etc.)
Cheese
Indian food/ingredients for Indian cooking
Herbs and spices
Gravy granules
Healthy(ish) snacks for children, e.g. small packets of raisins
Chocolate mints
Canned beans

and probably quite a lot more that I can't remember at the moment!

cyberspacecinders · 27/06/2010 11:41

starts making shopping list for next trip home...

and flapjacks...one cake i can not cook...

WomanAtTheWell · 27/06/2010 11:59

I'd say take a newspaper as well - I love it when people bring me one and read it cover to cover and am always when visitors say they left one on the plane.

Bucharest · 27/06/2010 12:02

My order from British Corner Shop (always worth a treat every now and then for expats- they send about 30 kilo of stuff for about £20 postage- it's Waitrose (if not Harrods)prices, but is so fab when it arrives!) always contains:
weetabix
salt and vinegar crisps
marmite
syrup, black treacle, maple syrup, peanut butter
after 8 mints
bits and pieces to do Indian and Chinese
(spices and pastes, noodles etc)
Cadburys Dairy Milk
Gravy
Oxo cubes
Dry cured bacon

They can't ship dairy, but there would be cheese, cheese and more cheese if they could!