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AIBU

Moaning about the lack of British Food when abroad

(185 Posts)
TerriBull Thu 05-Jun-25 08:55:06

I didn't think such people existed anymore, when I read about it seemed like such a throwback. AIBU to wonder why anyone would go abroad, as a British woman did recently to Corfu and then complain about "the foreign food" and a lack of British food, her holiday being somewhat spoilt by distinct lack of chips and bacon shock eaten frequently seriously bad for the health anyway. It reminds me of going abroad in the '70s when some weirdos slightly strange hotel guests would bring their own cornflakes and tea bags shock

Just wondering what such a minority of people, certainly these days, expect from their foreign holiday.

Mollygo Wed 11-Jun-25 19:17:49

Mamie

I remember a story on a French forum of someone who had been given blood sausage for lunch, vomited and the nurses thoght he had hemorrhaged. 🤮
I hate andouillette almost as much as tripes de Caen.

We call Andouillette ‘gristle sausage’ but black pudding is fine. Talking about seeing it produced being off putting, reminds me of a visit to a local shop where they made meat and potato pies. To be fair, I didn’t like them before I saw how they were made, but afterwards, no chance.

Chocolatelovinggran Wed 11-Jun-25 18:45:52

Yes, these are good reasons to be a vegetarian...

Mamie Wed 11-Jun-25 17:57:59

I remember a story on a French forum of someone who had been given blood sausage for lunch, vomited and the nurses thoght he had hemorrhaged. 🤮
I hate andouillette almost as much as tripes de Caen.

JamesandJon33 Wed 11-Jun-25 17:16:45

I just looked that sausage up. Ych y fi !

TerriBull Wed 11-Jun-25 16:41:19

Indeed it isn't escaped, quite horrifying finding that on a plate shock

escaped Wed 11-Jun-25 16:32:35

TerriBull

Rick Stein on a cullinery travelogue through France a while ago, went to the town it emanates from he did say "it's an acquired taste" Good grief you're not kidding Rick shock

I remember that. I think it was in Troyes, and he said it wasn't everyone's cup of tea!! ☕️ 🫖

Seriously, who would eat that?

Allira Wed 11-Jun-25 16:28:39

Then made it on Saturday Kitchen, apparently!

ViceVersa Wed 11-Jun-25 16:28:25

I remember some years ago watching a cookery programme in which chef Nick Nairn was being shown how to make black pudding on Stornoway - poor soul had to go outside to be sick!

TerriBull Wed 11-Jun-25 16:23:54

Rick Stein on a cullinery travelogue through France a while ago, went to the town it emanates from he did say "it's an acquired taste" Good grief you're not kidding Rick shock

Allira Wed 11-Jun-25 16:20:51

Apparently he did like it and made it again on British TV.
It was Rick Stein.

Allira Wed 11-Jun-25 16:18:55

One of the travelling chefs was being shown how to make it on TV a while ago. Then pretend to enjoy it.
I had to look away.

M0nica Wed 11-Jun-25 16:16:03

andouillette? s-s-s-hudder.

Claremont Wed 11-Jun-25 15:41:53

Oh I agree about 'andouilette' never, ever arghhhhh noooo

Allira Wed 11-Jun-25 15:32:36

They even look revolting!

TerriBull Wed 11-Jun-25 15:29:00

Discussed before, I love France and its cuisine, except for Andouillette aaaagh.....it's the worst thing I've ever tasted, worse than school rice pudding, it's probably level pegging with some of the stuff contestants on I'm a c'leb have to ingest. It's simply my definition of food of the devil.

Allira Wed 11-Jun-25 15:12:28

escaped

La Baule. ⛱️

My DN used to go there 🙂
We visited briefly many years ago.
I think we were taking the DC to an Océarium somewhere.

Claremont Wed 11-Jun-25 15:01:34

Aely- but that is very different. I always take Vanilla Rooibush, for that reason. Very different to refusing to eat all local foods, and complain about it bitterly in the press.

Aely Wed 11-Jun-25 14:54:34

I confess, when going abroad in the past, I have taken some teabags, a plastic bag of instant coffee, a travel kettle and adaptor for the plug. Perhaps even some biscuits. Arriving at my hotel in Crete at 3a.m., there was nothing better than a cuppa and biccy while unpacking my nighty before crawling into bed.

When I used to go to Spain, it was impossible to find tea bags except in highly expensive packs of 5 and usually "speciality" teas.

On the train from NY to Ottawa, (1968), a 10 hour journey, with a £50 money limit for our 3 week holiday, my family and I certainly wished we had brought sandwiches and a thermos!

As for actual food, in the past I have found it difficult to get "local" cuisine in some destinations. MacDonalds are taking over the world. Thankfully, Crete seemed to be the exception and so long as I could avoid the almost ubiquitous olives (never could abide them) I enjoyed what was on offer.

Claremont Wed 11-Jun-25 14:36:27

escaped

La Baule. ⛱️

ah thanks, an unknow to me as yet. Enjoy.

escaped Wed 11-Jun-25 14:27:22

PS I've just found their menu. The one and only burger is served with no chips, ...
Pain burger feuilleté, steak haché de boeuf, lard ibérique, pancake de pommes de terre, fromage, tomate, frites et mesclun

escaped Wed 11-Jun-25 14:18:16

So, seeing as fish and chips were mentioned on this thread, the fish dishes in the restaurant consisted of ......

Tentacule de poulpe grillée, écrasé de pommes de terre au citron, salsa verde

Pavé de cabillaud rôti, mousseline de petits pois, crème de Saint Jacques au Noilly Prat

Filet de bar à la plancha, fine purée d'aubergines grillées, coulis de piquillos au piment d'espelette

Coquilles saint Jacques juste saisies, risotto parfumé à la truffe, foie gras poêlé, sauce poulette

No chips. 🍟

M0nica Wed 11-Jun-25 14:11:05

escaped

I am in a very chic French resort, not usually frequented by British tourists.
This was my lunch yesterday.
Burrata, tomates confites, olives, frites et mesclun. (The frîtes were 6 very thin sticks).
Fraises marinées au vin épicé, sablé breton et ganache montée chocolat blanc.

That was your choice. What else was on the menu?

escaped Wed 11-Jun-25 14:05:42

La Baule. ⛱️

Claremont Wed 11-Jun-25 14:02:53

oooh, I won't ask. But I am trying to imagine where. Biarritz? Collioure? Mégève? Deauville? Enjoy.

escaped Wed 11-Jun-25 13:37:11

I am in a very chic French resort, not usually frequented by British tourists.
This was my lunch yesterday.
Burrata, tomates confites, olives, frites et mesclun. (The frîtes were 6 very thin sticks).
Fraises marinées au vin épicé, sablé breton et ganache montée chocolat blanc.