I recently had the refreshing experience of reconnecting
with a dear friend who was visiting London from the States. I had almost as
much fun hearing what she had to say about her culinary experience as a visitor
to England as I did sharing gossip about friends and family.
She has perhaps had the rather unusual experience of landing for work in Peterborough while staying in Stamford. For those of you not yet, nor perhaps ever, familiar with these towns let’s just say they are by no means the international metropolis that is London. Having said that, she has found a local gym that hosts zumba lessons! Post zumba however her dining choices are rather limited.
Bacon, what is it with Bacon batties, butties, buttons- what, what do they call those things and what are they?!! This was one of the most animated comments she had on life in Britain. I now know I have lived here a long time and yes my children really are half British. I found myself practically defending what is perhaps the world’s most unhealthy sandwich on earth, a sandwich my children eat with delight on at least one occasion while on holiday in Devon. For those less familiar with the Bacon Buttie it is a sandwich comprised of fried Canadian bacon enclosed in well buttered white bread. The taxi stand that I pass regularly just off Sloane Street has a queue at least 15 long every morning. I take note because the smell is so divine! Many Americans are familiar with the BLT (bacon lettuce and tomato) but somehow the addition of lettuce and tomato and the absence of butter makes their version seem positively healthy, especially when served on wholegrain toast. Needless to say the conversation about the nutritional sin of this Bacon buttie was animated and opened the flood gates on the pub food she has been exposed to in the small town she is calling home for the next few weeks.
For those of you wondering the obvious, how can an American
be critical when the obesity rate there... Yes, we covered this as well! I will be sure to point my friend in the
direction of some of the best that Britain has to offer and will try not to
smirk when I am next in the supermarket in the US surrounded by a multitude of
refrigerators piled high with frozen meals!
Written by Nancy Dickinson
For more information please visit www.focus-info.org
Written by Nancy Dickinson
For more information please visit www.focus-info.org
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