Every time I live in a new country, I need to experience the food. Food organizes my thoughts around the culture and anchors me. I did a short trip through Turkey last month with my mom and I ate my way through that country and finished the trip off with a proper bout with severe food poisoning. What is life without some risk…
Not to dwell on Turkey, but back to the point, I want to give a list of my favorite English finds. Personally, I have my reservations about English cuisine, so much so, that I feel it is an oxymoron to even say English and cuisine together. I have not found the perfect Bangers and Mash, Fish and Chips or Curry dish, but I have found a few favorite brands available at any local supermarket:
Colman’s Mustard:
In America, this would be called spicy, but here it is just mustard. This is frankly the best mustard I have ever had, full stop. It is a simple yellow mustard but with a solid kick from the front of the palette to the rear. Colman’s originates from Norwich and makes their mustard from just six simple ingredients. They have been making mustard since 1814.
Old Jamaican Ginger Beer:
This root based fizzy drink (soda) is
closest to Dr. Pepper in the punchy aftertaste, but the Doctor just
cannot compete with the powerful packed Ginger taste. Ginger Beer isn’t
common in the US and what few cans are sold in organic markets, cannot
compare to the flavorfulness of Old Jamaican. One day as I am heading
home on the bus with all the middle school kids, I notice a select few
Black kids choice drink is Old Jamaican Ginger Beer. That small sample
size of kids on the bus indicated to me this drink is a winner. I told
that story to a British friend of mine and she explained that most
English do not like the strong taste of Ginger Beer and it is seen as a
low-class drink, largely because Blacks drink so much of it. Whatever
the case, the high brow English are missing out.
Sainsbury Gouda:
My
new favorite cheese is Gouda, all thanks to Sainsbury, the local chain
grocery store. The proximity to France only gives England that slight
edge on great cheese, with a surprisingly affordable price. Gouda is a
strong tasting cheese, originally from Holland, it goes with crackers
and salads. I prefer it straight from the round.
If I could take anything away from England and import it directly to the US, which includes the variety and price, it would be these items. I already had to have my friend bring over a jar of Colman's Mustard. Eventually, I will go on my Gouda search, under $5 per pound and well, Ginger Beer will just be chalked up to the good ol' days.
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