Moaning about the lack of British Food when abroad

M0nica

Go to France these days and all the best restaurants offer 'Fish and chips'. I am not talking about those in places with lots of British tourists, but in places where English tourists are relatively rare.

A few years ago 'crumble' was all the rage and the magazine racks were full of magazine supplements with a range of crumble recipes, both sweet and savoury, as were the menus in most restaurants.

Even more so is the rise of the burger in France Monica for some restaurants their main thrust is several variations of this dreadful dish. We have stopped going to one or two of our local restaurants because of this. I'm not talking here about McDo or fast food places but more traditional restaurants.
I suppose they would argue they are just catering to popular demand.

Iam64

Witzend, I agree it’s easy to find authentic Greek food but not in the busy tourist resorts on corfu, where the majority of tourists are Brits who expect full English a
, baked beans, ketchup and Sunday roasts.

That wasn't our experience. Our daughter got married in Corfu last June and we were in one of the busier resorts and there were lots of lovely Greek restaurants around. We did see some places - mainly down on the 'strip' - advertising English breakfasts, but nearer our hotel there were some lovely little family-run tavernas offering delicious authentic Greek food.

I would be really put out if I was presented with British food on holiday (if abroad of course).

Part of the pleasure of holiday is tasting all the local cuisine.

We’ve had some delicious food especially if we’ve gone off the beaten track.

Witzend, I agree it’s easy to find authentic Greek food but not in the busy tourist resorts on corfu, where the majority of tourists are Brits who expect full English a
, baked beans, ketchup and Sunday roasts.

FranP

I went to Corfu and was somewhat disappointed by the amount and number of British type fast food places.

Difficulty in main areas actually finding Greek food

In Greece, where we’re regular visitors, we’ve never had any trouble finding a traditional taverna, with umpteen local dishes on the menu.

Reported

We went to Barcelona a few years ago and had the most amazing food. An amazing paella at a busy restaurant and our hotel on the Rambla did brilliant Spanish Omelettes. My DH likes his plain English food but he enjoyed the food there.
We had proper Spag Bol and Tiramisu in Rome and a salad with proper fresh olives. I don't really like them but they tasted different to the ones here. They were delicious.

Go to France these days and all the best restaurants offer 'Fish and chips'. I am not talking about those in places with lots of British tourists, but in places where English tourists are relatively rare.

A few years ago 'crumble' was all the rage and the magazine racks were full of magazine supplements with a range of crumble recipes, both sweet and savoury, as were the menus in most restaurants.

Can get food poisoning in the UK too. I had campallo bactor after eating chicken not well cooked at a Zizzi's, and OH another time, with 2 of our teenage children, due to off prawns, very much in the UK too.

petra

N4nna

Oh my days, that’s the best part, trying different foods especially eating where the locals eat. Maybe they should hire a villa or something and cook their own food.

One evening in Shanghai we decided to eat locally I had food poisoning and ended up in hospital the next day: my birthday 😥

I ate something in Madeira and was ill for our wedding anniversary. Missed the champagne breakfast, but DH enjoyed it!
He got food poisoning in Wales 😁

N4nna

Oh my days, that’s the best part, trying different foods especially eating where the locals eat. Maybe they should hire a villa or something and cook their own food.

One evening in Shanghai we decided to eat locally I had food poisoning and ended up in hospital the next day: my birthday 😥

Thanks OldFrill I think my data was newer (2023) but like yours, collected variously over different years.

All sadly not good re the UK.

N4nna

Oh my days, that’s the best part, trying different foods especially eating where the locals eat. Maybe they should hire a villa or something and cook their own food.

I still can't understand this woman's mentality. I know not everyone likes food other than what they are used to at home, and some - like me - might be on a restricted or limited diet, but surely, it must have occurred to her that making public her complaint would open her up to ridicule?

That's what I can't get to grips with. And even more puzzling - she declares she suffers from ulcerative colitis, and laments the lack of 'hot' sausage and bacon. I have some slight knowledge about UC as my late ex suffered with this and I know that these two food items are definitely not recommended with this condition.

If an English breakfast / British food (what exactly is British Food anyway?) is important to her, did she not research what was likely to be on offer?

Also she said (allegedly) "there was no food we could eat and we couldn't have anything to drink."

... does she mean alcohol (also contraindicated with UC) or that there just wasn't any tea / coffee / water etc?

Package holidays are not always what we hope or expect them to be but I think this woman's ability for critical-thinking is severely challenged.

She was apparently offered £100 in holiday vouchers as compensation but turned it down.

Iam always embarrassed when visiting Mediterranean countries as I truly dislike fish, shellfish and crustaceans- but I never make a fuss, and always make sure it is my problem and no-one else. Last year on a guided tour of Corsica, I forgot to make it clear before the trip and they were often unable to provide an alternative. I ate the veg and potaoes/rice/pasta and that was that. Going on guided tour of Puglia this year, so made sure I informed the company in advance, but again, will accept alternatives may not always be provided.

Oh my days, that’s the best part, trying different foods especially eating where the locals eat. Maybe they should hire a villa or something and cook their own food.

The link
www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/02/ultra-processed-products-now-half-of-all-uk-family-food-purchases?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

NotSpaghetti

GrammarGrandma

They go abroad for the sunshine! Then want to eat the diet they have at home. I saw a map yesterday that over 50% of British food purchases were of ultra-processed food, the highest in Europe. The lowest was Portugal at 14%

Please can you share the map as Italy and Romania used to be (in 2022) the lowest and the UK and Sweden the highest.

I think it's the map in this Guardian article.
Interestingly the data used is based on different years in different countries, as there is no common data. The UK data is from 2008 so l really don't know how useful the research is, nor did l get so far as could l be bothered finding who financed it.

Shouldn't be allowed to go abroad for the sake of 'er mental elf!

Deeda, my dh once made a business trip to SE Asia (for him, one of many) with a colleague who would only ever eat in the hotel, where he could have his steak and chips!

Very cross

You are missing my point, but I can’t see the point in explaining it to you. One thing though, I see others on here have used far more insulting words than I have but you didn’t reprimand them. Be consistent please, then your advice would be worth while

Oh dear. Crossstitchfan, nobody else has attacked another poster on this thread. Just you.

Another one just off to have my Greek Yoghurt and fruit for breakfast. So good!

Daft woman. Never mind she's home now to her chips.

TerriBull

Allira yes! I'm with you, Greek yoghurt, the thick stuff none of your Greek 'style' yoghurt thank you very much and with fruit and nuts, my go to breakfast. You can stuff the full English, I have it very occasionally, but here, not abroad

Yes, so do I 🙂

GrammarGrandma

They go abroad for the sunshine! Then want to eat the diet they have at home. I saw a map yesterday that over 50% of British food purchases were of ultra-processed food, the highest in Europe. The lowest was Portugal at 14%

Please can you share the map as Italy and Romania used to be (in 2022) the lowest and the UK and Sweden the highest.