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The huge choices in food available now

(66 Posts)
nanna8 Mon 19-Jan-26 11:35:33

I was just thinking how when I was young there really wasn’t much choice in the sort of food available. Fish and chips, pies, a nasty version of Chinese cuisine with an incredible amount of bean sprouts. Now, within a stone’s throw you can get Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Greek, Malaysian, Korean, Indian, Nepali, Italian, German, Mexican, Vietnamese ( my favourite), French and I’m sure I’ve forgotten some. All within a 10 minute drive. My parents would never believe it.
What is your favourite, apart from your own ? Any you really don’t like ? I don’t particularly like Mexican I must admit.

cc Tue 20-Jan-26 16:41:32

I really love Lebanese food but the nearest restaurant has closed down now. Also Thai, there is a chain of pubs that has really good authentic Thai food in and around London, our nearest is half an hour away by bus. I live to the west of London in a borough is thought of as an ethnic area (particularly SE Asian) but the only curry restauant that we liked has closed down now.
Mostly we go to a family run Italian restaurant where the food is really excellent.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 20-Jan-26 17:06:20

Wyllow3

A real Wimpy! Haven't seen one for ages, what is it like inside, GG13?

A throw back to the 60/70’s and they still serve the Bendy Burger 🙀😹

pce612 Tue 20-Jan-26 17:11:10

Living in the back of beyond in Aberdeenshire, it is a 10 mile drive to a not brilliant Chinese takeaway and a chippie.
No delivery services either.

Allira Tue 20-Jan-26 21:06:14

nanna8, it sure if you can receive BBC but Rick Stein has a programme called Rick Stein Australia on BBC2 at the moment.
He's travelling up the East Coast at the moment, stopping at various interesting places and sampling the cuisine.

Allira Tue 20-Jan-26 21:06:43

it sure
Not sure

Wyllow3 Tue 20-Jan-26 21:32:21

GrannyGravy13

Wyllow3

A real Wimpy! Haven't seen one for ages, what is it like inside, GG13?

A throw back to the 60/70’s and they still serve the Bendy Burger 🙀😹

Oh my goodness, memories! it was so daring as teenagers to go in. I wonder if it has a big nostalgia custom base.

leeds22 Wed 21-Jan-26 15:52:46

We never ate out when I was young apart from when on holiday and then it was down market seaside food. When I started work we received 3/6 luncheon vouchers which we used for Chinese business men’s lunches. Then we discovered the Gourmet Restaurant in the centre of Leeds: moussaka, spaghetti bolognaise, spam fritters, etc, all accompanied with chips (even the spag bol). When I worked in Bradford there were lots of Greek and Italian restaurants, later followed by curry houses. My favourites now are Turkish, Greek and Persian.

Norah Wed 21-Jan-26 16:21:05

leeds22 We never ate out when I was young apart from when on holiday

We never had to eat out young either, apart from visiting London grandparents or on Holiday. Eating at home was usual, I believe.

Ladylea Thu 22-Jan-26 09:56:33

I love Moroccan and turkish, also Chinese ( although Chinese a few hours after iv eaten im hungry again )

kittylester Thu 22-Jan-26 10:57:01

Eating out was not the 'thing' when people our age were young though, was it.

And it was much more formal - starched white cloths etc.

DH and I went for a meal in Leamington Spa on our first wedding anniversary and were told by the very superior waitress that we couldn't have our desserts until be had finished the red wine we had with out main courses. Imagine that now.

Witzend Thu 22-Jan-26 11:06:21

nanna8

I have a mango everyday just now - they are in season in Australia. Cost $2 .50 each down here, probably a lot cheaper up north where they come from ! I love ‘em and also great in salads with feta.

I often buy packs of sliced, ready to eat mango for the GDCs. They earn me a lot of granny points! And certainly less messy than properly ripe whole mangoes.

On the beach holidays we used to have I’d often buy a mango from a beach vendor - and take it in the sea to eat it! Cool off and wash off the sticky juice all in one go.

ayse Thu 22-Jan-26 11:09:49

cc

I really love Lebanese food but the nearest restaurant has closed down now. Also Thai, there is a chain of pubs that has really good authentic Thai food in and around London, our nearest is half an hour away by bus. I live to the west of London in a borough is thought of as an ethnic area (particularly SE Asian) but the only curry restauant that we liked has closed down now.
Mostly we go to a family run Italian restaurant where the food is really excellent.

Lebanese is my favourite as well although I’m ok to eat almost anywhere except burger, pizza and huge chains. Much prefer small local businesses.

prestbury Thu 22-Jan-26 12:53:03

Wyllow3

GrannyGravy13

Wyllow3

A real Wimpy! Haven't seen one for ages, what is it like inside, GG13?

A throw back to the 60/70’s and they still serve the Bendy Burger 🙀😹

Oh my goodness, memories! it was so daring as teenagers to go in. I wonder if it has a big nostalgia custom base.

A little bit about the history of Wimpy in the UK.

Apparently there are only 61 left in the UK.

In the late 80's, early 90's they were aquired from United Biscuits by Grand Metropolitan except for a few in undesirable locations. Grand Met then converted them to Burger King which they already owned and tried to outsmart the new kid on the block, McDonalds.

The few Grand Met did not take on were bought by a management buyout and subsequently sold to South African Famous Brands who owns them today.

Must admit my memories of Wimpy are pretty good and certainly when I was a teenager they seem to have appeared on every street corner.

NotSpaghetti Fri 23-Jan-26 09:13:29

www.theoldie.co.uk/article/i-launched-the-great-british-hamburger-invasion

A Wimpy bar article - about the first Wimpy in 1957

TheWeirdoAgain60 Fri 23-Jan-26 09:34:26

We've got a Fine Dining Indian Restaurant here, 7eventy1, which I'm in once a month in the evenings, and there's a Chinese takeaway, a Bistro, 2 cafes, 3 pubs and a couple of hotels for food.

There was a Fat Chicken, but while I never went in as I can't abide fast ''food'' of that type, several people told me it was awful, burgers etc were rubbish, ''hot'' drinks were cold, and everything was way overpriced. Apparently, one of the male staff was quite surly. They were only there for about 8 weeks before closing down over a year ago, and the property is still empty!

I detest Chinese food and won't touch it, same with any Oriental, and also ''thick'' food like Mediterranean, Spanish, Moroccan, Turkish, etc. I'm just about OK with Italian, not bothered with Polish. Mexican is far too hot and spicy for me.

I've never tried various other countries' cuisines, so I can't say on those.

I love English and Indian.