Food Eat You Special – Things you don’t see

Written by: JRatio on June 26, 2010.

Good day to you all and welcome back to Food Eat You. Normally Food Eat you is designed to compare English and American cuisine, though quite frankly today I am not feeling too judgmental, so I am writing a special blog describing some of the food you wouldn’t see in the US or UK without visiting a special store.

Crumpets

Seen in: England (Also sold commonly in Canada)

Meal Used in: Breakfast mainly, although enjoyed anytime with tea (yes, the saying Tea ‘n crumpets is quite real)

Crumpets are very simple things, they are made with English style pancake batter, and yeast, then pan fried to form, and then toasted. It is important to mention that English Pancake batter is vastly different to American also. American pancakes are fluffier and sweeter and more cake like than their English counterparts, which are basically just milk, water and flour with a pinch of salt, which make a more flat and shiny pancake (often rolled with fillings/toppings, like crepes, instead of stacked and drowned) Once the crumpet is made, it is a very soft creation with lots of holes, which soak up your butter when hot. The sponge of the pastry world.

English Muffins

Seen in: America

Meal Used in: Breakfast mainly

I have no Idea why these little dough Frisbees are called English muffins, as the face of the matter is, you seldom see them in England, and many untraveled English people will not have a clue what you mean when you refer to the English muffin. English muffins are used very commonly in McBreakfast items, so you English folk out there, if you get curious, check out McEvil to see an English muffin. Fact of the matter is, if you say What is a Muffin to most English people, they will tell you it’s an oversized cupcake (as is the muffin in the USA) only difference is, we don’t put butter on the “American” Muffins.

Mountain Dew (Pepsi Co.)

Seen In: America

Meal Used in: Beverage

Mtn Dew is a Green Soda Pop that has more sugar in it than water; so it seems; or as I like to call It, Holy Elixir. It is sweet, has a tang to it, and looks like piss. Yet Mtn Dew is special… it’s like a legal drug which is hard to give up, once you’re hooked. Mtn Dew does exist as a Brand in the UK, but they lend their brand name to a line of energy drinks. Also, Mtn Dew was marketed years ago in the UK, but the use of Sugar instead of Corn Syrup and various other minor differences left it being pulled from the shelves and discontinued, although most English friends I know often offer me their right arm if I can get them some dew.

Lucozade

Seen in: England

Meal Used in: Beverage

Long before the Energy Drink fad that gripped the world, certain drinks existed on the market that provided energy and replenishment; the USA has had Gatorade, and the UK Has Lucozade. Two entirely different types of drink however. Lucozade is a carbonated drink, rich orange color, and a very sharp and hard to describe taste. The key ingredient of Lucozade, which you smart Americans may have guessed, is Glucose. Glucose being a sugar that the body consumes and distributes very quickly. Lucozade is often the choice of people who are Ill or sick as the nature of the drink can perk you up considerably. Lucozade also make a Sport Drink line, which is more fruity in taste and non- carbonated.

Müller Corner Yogurt

Seen in: England

Meal Used in: Breakfast, Desert, Snack

Corner yogurts are my favorite yogurt, bar none. They allow you to take plain yogurt and fold the corner over, where in a separate compartment lies an enhancer. The 2 main lines are Fruit Corner and Crunch Corner, fruit corners contain a compartment of fruit sauce, like strawberry and cherry where as crunch corners have white and milk chocolate balls, chocolate covered cornflakes and chocolate covered cheerio style cereal. I like this as they retain their crunchiness.

Nestle YOcrunch yogurt.

Seen in: America

Meal Used in: Breakfast, Desert, Snack

Almost the same as above; but with only crunchies. The line includes more candy bar based items, such as Reece’s pieces and crunch bar, also uses granola, but the yogurt itself is not quite as nice as the above.

Lemon Curd

Seen in: England

Meals Used In: Bread Spread, Pies and Deserts

Lemon Curd is an item I am amazed has not become a staple in the USA. It is a spreadable Lemon style jelly, but it’s not translucent, it’s creamier as opposed to jellified. It is a very zingy sweet item, also excellent used in lemon meringue pies.

Grape Jelly

Seen in: America

Meals Used in: Bread Spread, Sauces (as a preserver)

Grape Jelly, or Jam is simple yet huge business in the United States. The popular choice for many which beats out the likes of the UK’s favorite; Strawberry. You can find it in the UK, but it’s very discrete in its shelf presence.

Salad Cream

Seen in: England

Meals used in: Salads, Anything where a condiment is used.

Salad Cream is a very sweet mayonnaise style sauce. Americans might be thinking Miracle Whip, but it is not. Salad Crème’s main ingredients are Egg Yolk (Dried) and Mustard. It is tart and sweet, vanilla yellow in appearance and smooth like ketchup.

Okie dokie folks, that’s your lot for now; more to come in the future, If you travel or visit any specialist English Food Stores in the USA (the do exist!) or American Food Stores in the UK, look out for some of these items.