Shocking food news from London!

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Oh, I'm sure it was sherry trifle, and really the best I ever had. Whitby was a delightful seaside town and the abbey ruins spectacular - what a view! It was cooooooold even in July with that wind coming in off the North Sea, but we totally enjoyed our visit. Venders were out selling cockles - I wasn't brave enough to try those. The biggest conflict we had with the British culture was wanting our coffee WITH our dessert, not afterwards, LOL! It just seemed so odd to our waiters.

We love Whitby and had many day trips there last year. Cockles are very similar to mussels so if you don't like mussels you won't like cockles.

When we first came to the USA we sat in our hotel that first evening and ordered dinner. The side salad came out and we sat there for ages waiting for the main course to arrive. It was only through observing other guests that we realized that Americans eat their side salads before the main course instead of WITH it.

Two cultures separated with a common language.

[Nords]

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Originally Posted by audreyh1 I think I ate a couple of steak and kidney pies there at the height of the mad cow problem in 1991. They didn't know it was the height of the problem at the time! I guess I would know by now if...

Bloodbanks won't take donations from anyone who lived in Britain or Europe (over a certain minimum number of months) during most of the 1980s. I've been a non-donor since the policy started up in the late 1990s.

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords Bloodbanks won't take donations from anyone who lived in Britain or Europe (over a certain minimum number of months) during most of the 1980s. I've been a non-donor since the policy started up in the late 1990s.

Ditto, although I never lived in Britain. Living in Western Europe in the 1980s was enough to kick me off the donor list. Even lifelong vegetarians don't qualify. The fear was the infinitesimally small risk of Creutzfeld Jakob disease from the brains of an infected Mad Cow. One English hemophiliac got it from his Factor VIII injections.

Canadian Blood Services - Société canadienne du sang - Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease - FAQ

[Sarah in SC]

This would be a good time for me to reminisce about the anticuchos in Peru. And the Lomo Saltado. Both of which were pretty much cooked to the cook's orders, not mine, but still delicious! Thanks again to MichaelB for steering me in the right direction.

Now for some pub food recommendations in Southampton and Chichester!

[rescueme]

As long as they don't outlaw Steak Tartare on the Continent, I'll be happy. It's a dish I've had dozens of times when w*rking and traveling there.

The only place I found it served in the U.S. was a French Bistro, a few blocks from the Capitol Building in DC.

As for hamburgers? The only time I had one was in France at a Micky D's late at night after I/DW came back from a stroll from the Arc de Triomphe since we wanted to grab a quick snack on our way back to our hotel.

I must say, it was one of the best burgers I've ever eaten . I suspect that it had less fillers than the ones you get in the States. Heck, it could have been horsemeat; it dosen't matter - it was great .

As far as the British Isles? We stick to whatever local fare is available, with Guinness.

[NW-Bound]

Sounds like you are ready for horse meat tartare next.

Just joking. I have not had horse meat nor donkey, but do not see what the big deal is.

I don't believe horses or donkeys are raised for meat. Rather, when the animals are old and have to be put down, instead of sending them to a glue factory, in some countries people save some edible parts for human consumption. Please correct me if I am wrong.

On top of that, it is a hypocrisy to raise other farm animals for food, while making a big deal about horse meat.

How do we sing "Mary had a little lamb" to our children at bed time, while serving a lamb rack for dinner?

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound How do we sing "Mary had a little lamb" to our children at bed time, while serving a lamb rack for dinner?

Mary had a little lamb
With dainty little paws
Her mother cooked it up for dinner
And served it with mint sauce

[CyclingInvestor]

I have eaten raw beef (including burger) most days of my adult life, so maybe 8000 times without illness. It just tastes so much better.

I have found that only really expensive restaurants will serve very rare meat. Regular places only go down to about medium rare.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Mary had a little lamb With dainty little paws Her mother cooked it up for dinner And served it with mint sauce