Love it or hate it, nothing compares to the moment I had last year.
Our family had just been moved overseas in a surprise, upsetting move. I was homesick beyond belief. Saddled with a cranky toddler I walked to the nearby mall and saw a McDonalds, someplace I hardly ever go to, and thought "ahh, a piece of home".
I pushed the stroller onto the elevator and when the doors opened the Mermaid was there grinning at me. Starbucks! I was so happy. Foolishly so, because I have now discovered how amazing cafes are in my new city, but at that moment the little piece of home made me feel so much better.
@Adam Kuban, yes from what I understand it is a triple order of garlic.
@Garvey Thanks!
@Letley Thank You! Thank you so much!
Thanks all! For my husband and I this will be our 9th trip to the UK (as well as a short stint spent living in Scotland for me many moons ago) and we've done most of the stuff there is to do in London.
Thanks @twoflower, I think the point that we won't be back for ages kind of decides it for us. I've always been curious about going....
@ermintrude75, we are staying in Kent so I will look into the other things you suggested, thanks!
@wildbluehugh oh yes that stuff flies in Eastern Europe. I live in Hungary and last Easter (my first one here) I was happily piling cute Easter bunnies for 90 forints - about 45 cents US - into my basket for my kids. I was under the assumption that every product is better in Europe, which I gained whilst living abroad in other western European countries.
Unbeknownst to me I had discovered chocomass (or csokimass, or whatever it is called in Hungarian) which is vegetable fat and cocoa powder and a small amount of sugar. So gross. Even my kid who was 2 yo at the time and eats crayons would not eat it.
As for paprika pringles @happyscrappy, we have them in spades here. Not just pringles, but all sorts of brands have paprika flavoured snacks. I have not been able to develop a taste for them and instead buy salt and vinegar crisps from the local UK Products store.
Thanks all! I will use sea salt and err on the side of 5 oz for prudence.
And yes, I do have a kitchen scale that I bought at Ikea. We don't shop on Amazon or anything of the like because we do not want to pay the huge shipping fees and the duties. I miss how cheap things were in the US!
I live in Budapest and I'd like to throw out a recommendation for our fair city for your honeymoon. It has good beer, good food and is quite pretty. Cost effective too. Though Prague is beer central if that is what you are looking for. There is even a hotel in a brewery there.
Feb 18th, but will there be anyone in Budapest wanting to meet up?
@thesteveroller thanks for the tip about Mongolian Cafe! We've heard it was good and it is very, very close to our flat. We have two little ones though and don't get out to restaurants very often (and when we do we tend to head to Pest and go to a fav ruin pub after we eat out).
I'm not sure if the chinese black market place is near the train station anymore. My husband said it was by Esceri (the flea market) so it is prob the same place you were talking about.
@BitchinFixins we're hoping to go to Lake Bled next summer so I'll remember to keep my eye out for Chimichongas! Thanks!
Oh @BitchinFixins and @thesteveroller, you made me lol.
I live in Budapest, Hungary right now. I am an expat and my husband and I are always searching in vain for some good Mexican food. There is a new taco stand type place near us that served up a somewhat decent fish taco. We were surprised.
I love to cook Mexican too and have found that really hard. Corn tortillas are impossible to get though one expat I know makes them and sells them.
Chinese food is abismal here. Food is presented in trays cold at a buffet and microwaved for you when ordered and they do not make dumplings! We've heard rumors of a place out in the sticks/bad neighborhood that has a Chinese blackmarket mall that has delicious food, though we heard it was raided, so we are not sure it is still there.
This post is torture for me.
In my past life I lived on lobster rolls from May until September (with the occasional one in December). We were lucky enough to have family with a home in Rhode Island that they gave us a key to and we'd travel up there every opportunity we got.
Now I am in Budapest and nary a lobster in sight, so I can't even make my own lobster roll. Sigh...
These look pretty awesome.... though I doubt there is a chance in hell I'll find any fresh masa in Budapest (where we live).
I am thinking that I could easily bastardize the Hungarian langos with some taco toppings though. Langos is serious fried bread and my inlaws who were just visiting kept saying how much it reminded them of Navajo fry bread.
Isn't it
orange = NDP
red= Liberal
blue= conservative
green= Green Party
???= Bloc Quebecois (not that it matters anymore)
Another chili recipe. This one (if you omit the cheese and sour cream when serving) is also vegan. My sister-in-law used to be vegan and I first cooked this for her, but we have found it so delicious that we have it often and it is my basic go-to chili recipe.
Barber's Best Chili
1-1/2 Cups (375ml) - Chopped onion
2 - Green Peppers, seeded, chopped
3 - Celery Stalks, chopped
4 - Cloves (not bulbs) of garlic, minced
2 - Tbsp. (30ml) Oil
2 - 28oz (2 - 796 ml) Cans Tomatoes
1 - 14oz (398ml) Kidney Beans
1 - 14oz (398ml) Brown Beans
2 - Cups (500ml) Sliced Fresh Mushrooms
1-1/2 - Cups (375ml) Water
1/2 - Cup (125ml) Raisins
1/4 - Cup (60ml) Vinegar
1 - Bay leaf
1 - Tbsp. (15ml) Chili Powder
1 - Tbsp. (15ml) Parsley
1-1/2 - Tbsp. (7ml) Basil
1-1/2 - Tbsp. (7ml) Oregano
1/2 - Tbsp. (2ml) Pepper
1/4 - Tbsp. (1ml) Tobasco
1 - Cup (250ml) Cashews (optional)
Grated Chedder Cheese
Sour Crean
Saute' onion, green peppers, celery, garlic in oil till tender. Add tomatoes and beans with liquid, along with remaining ingedients, except cashews, cheese and sour cream. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Uncover and simmer for another hour. Remove Bay leaf if you can find it. If using cashews add at the end. Serve with grated cheese and a dolop of sour cream. Serves 8-10.
I would love to meet some other SE'ers, but I am in Budapest and I doubt that there are any others here, or that many of them come this way very often either.
But if you are coming let me know! There is a private market tour I have been aching to take, but I don't want to do it solo.
Oh @PeanutButter you made me so blue! I am currently living in Europe and I would probably sell my first born for some Hickory Sticks and Hawkin's Cheesies (and perhaps some Old Dutch BBQ chips). And I haven't had Pop Shoppe Pop for years!
I will have to make something, and I think I will go with either Nanaimo Bars or Butter Tarts.
Thanks @Monsieur_Ghislain! My husband loves Wunderbars (I am Canadian and he is American. He got hooked on wunderbars everytime he visited Canada when we were dating.) Now we are living in Europe and I'm off to the UK today so I will def be picking up some Starbars for him.
Thanks all for the suggestions. Butter tarts and Nanaimo bars both sound like possibilities, esp the Nanaimo bars since my dad's recipe has Bird's custard in it and I know I can get that in the UK for sure. :)
karen1monger - Thank you! I am going to look for them this weekend during our regular market trip. :)
I am living in Budapest, having moved here in January. The seasonalvores would have their limits far tested here. The only vegetables I have been able to get have been onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, parsnips and the occasional squash. The local markets cater to Hungarians and Hunagarians want local and they want seasonal.
Just now blinding white stalks of asparagus are showing up at produce stands and last weekend I saw the first green asparagus this year, and you had better believe I snapped it right up. Though the white asparagus was fine, the green is the color I needed. I was spoiled in New York for ten years because I could choose to be seasonal but I knew I could also get kumquats in November if I really wanted them.
I kind of miss the variety, and yes I miss ramps because the bacon here is amazing and I know they would be delicious together with a poached egg on top.
It totally depends where you are going to live in the city. What neighborhood are you planning on living in?
I lived in New York city for over ten years having moved there from Canada and I would often hit up Myers for some tastes that were familiar and homey. Wine gums were always the first thing I would put in my basket. Remember when that cat was stuck in the store walls?
Now I have moved to Budapest and I was so happy to find a well-stocked British foods shop that also delivers to my apartment for free! Digestives also make excellent pie crusts when you want a change from graham crackers. Now if I could just find a Canadian foods shop (hickory sticks anyone?) I would be supremely happy.
Thank you for this! I can't get good old yellow mustard here and am getting desperate. Now to try and see if I can find the other ingredients.... I am sure Wondra flour is not available in Hungary, but I guess I can improvise.
I have a very distinct memory of the McDLT because it was a rare occasion for us to eat at McDonalds at all when we were kids and one night my mother went out and got take-out and brought it home. The McDLTs were unveiled, but someone had forgotten to put the "warm side" in.
All we had were a bunch of tops with lettuce and cheese. My mother called the restaurant and got her money back, but I don't think we ever had a McDLT in the end.
Saw on another message board that a person was unsure if they should throw out VERY EXPENSIVE steaks left in a hot car for over 4 hours. Do you think it would be safe to cook and eat tose steaks? She presumes it is over 100F in the car.
My husband went to Tuft's University about 100 years ago (well, like 20 years ago) and he still talks about a pizza he used to get while in school.
I don't know the name of the restaurant, but it was close to campus and his order was always garlic, extra garlic. It was a white pie, that much I know.
Now we live 1000s of miles away from the area and his birthday is coming up and I'm hoping to surprise him with a pizza for his birthday. I'm pretty good at the dough, but I'm wondering if anyone might have any ideas how I can recreate this pizza of his memories.
Thanks!
We're going to be in the UK in June and we are trying to think of something different we can do with our children.
My husband thought a trip to Cadbury world might be fun. Our children are 3 and 5 and the trip would be almost a 3 hour drive to get there.
Is it worth it? We will not be back in the UK for many years, so this would be our one time to do it.
I live overseas (Budapest) and my supply of kosher salt has run out. The stores that I have been to, from your local CBA to the high end gourmet and specialty, carry a vast array of salt. I've even come across Viking Smoked Salt. But no kosher (kóser in Hungarian) salt.
I've been really looking forward to making the Momofuku recipe for Bo Ssam for some friends and have tracked down all of the ingredients at various Asian markets here but no luck with the salt for the first step of the recipe.
The recipe calls for a dry brine combining 1 cup of kosher salt with 1 cup white sugar.
What other salt could I use? I can get sea salt pretty easily and of course regular table salt. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks!
I am traveling to the UK this week to visit a friend and we are going to attend a potluck village party in honor of the royal wedding.
I am supposed to bring something to the potluck (I get to the UK on Wednesday so I will have time to shop and make something) and have been asked to bring something "Canadian" (as I am Canadian).
What should I bring? Maple syrup is crazy expensive here, so anything with Maple is out.
Thanks!
I am currently living in Budapest and for Easter it just wouldn't be the same without some ham on the table.
A trip to the market, a fumbling with Hungarian and English stilted phrasing and I have returned home with a smoked "thigh" with a lot of the fat and skin still attached. It is a small piece of meat, no more than 3 lbs and boneless.
It is very marbled and quite dark in color (I am thinking it is quite smokey), and I am wondering how should I cook it? Any ideas? I would love some help with this one.
Thanks!
I got a lovely bone in pork loin roast at the Farmer's Market and I want to roast it up for Sunday dinner. I am also making mexican street corn for my husband (by request). Anyone have any recipes or ideas for the roast so that the two go together? Also, what else should I serve?
So it looks like I'm going to be doing the expat thing in Budapest. My dh got a job there and we'll be moving there in a few weeks/months (not sure yet).
Does anyone have an knowledge or advice about what markets, cooking etc. is like there? What should I expect to not see in stores over there that I've gotten used to in New York?
I love to cook and am kind of nervous and excited at the same time.
Thanks!
I made some delicious strawberry-lavender-lemonade yesterday. To my palate the balance of sweet-sour was spot on. To my husband's sensitive stomach it was way too acidic. We tried adding more ice and water, but he said that just took away the flavour.
Is there such a thing as a low-acid lemonade? My husband likes to drink low-acid orange juice, I'm wondering if there is an equivalent or a way to doctor my own low-acid lemonade.
Is he doomed to just watch me and the kids enjoy the lemonade?
I'm looking for ideas under $250 for a gift for my husband who is a huge food fan. His favorite food (as common as it sounds) is bacon of all kinds.
What would you give to a food fan? What would you like to receive?
My sister is a huge foodie and is coming for a visit. I want to take her some great spots for retail for a foodie fan. Does anyone have some recommendations in New York city for great stops (not restaurants) for a food fan?
Thanks!
After almost 11 years in New York City (and area) my husband and I are leaving this summer.
We're compiling a list of places and things we want to see and do before we go and we were thinking "where do we want to eat??"
So my question New Yorkers: where would you make sure you ate if you were moving very far away from the city?
Anyone have any ideas for nibbles I could serve at a party that are 50s in theme? The party is during the day, so it is not a cocktail party though I do plan on serving Bloody Marys.
I'm looking for stuff that is delicious and edible but def has that retro feel as I'm hosting what is basically a Tupperware party for a good friend and we want to play up the kitsch of the whole thing.
Thank you.
I am making a goat cheese tart and it calls for herb goat cheese. I only have reg goat cheese, but I have some fresh herbs: thyme, rosemary, sage, tarragon and basil.
Which combo of herbs should I use?
I'm invited to a brunch potluck next week and the hostess asked me to bring something savory. I'm at a loss. Any ideas of something I can bring that is transportable?
Thanks!
Can I put frosting on top of fondant? Working on an idea for a birthday cake...
I am visiting family in a remote location and wanted to make a pulled pork dish that I always make at home, but of course I forgot to bring my stash of smoked paprika, something that makes the dish in my opinion.
Of course the limited supply of grocery stores here do not have smoked paprika, I can use normal paprika I know, but how can I add that nice smokey flavour? I saw liquid smoke at the grocery store yesterday, would that work?
Any other ideas? Thanks so much!
Any tips for the big apple bbq festival? My husband is going this weekend for the first time with a fastpass. Should he go early or later?
Was invited to a summer bbq this coming weekend. Asked if I could bring anything, hostess said no. Then she sent an email to me this morning not only asking me to bring a dessert, but to make something very particular. I could see a request for something particular if it is something I am known for (ie "Mary, please bring your delicious cheesecake!") but the hostess has asked me to bring something I have never made before that is of a specific ethnic origin that I am unfamiliar with (not hostess ethnicity but theme she is going with for the bbq).
I think this is rude. Should I just suck it up and make the dish? What would you do?
We're hoping to head out on Mother's Day and a search here found plenty of guides for the uninitiated, but no note on if they are around on Sundays as well as Saturdays.
Does anyone know if the food vendors are open on Sunday? Thanks.
I'm looking for a source for interesting and delicious low cholesterol recipes. Stuff that is easy to make on a day to day basis. Anyone have any favourites?
Thanks!
My mother was visiting me a couple of weeks ago and we were watching some Food Network shows (Tyler's Ultimate, Barefoot Contessa etc). She made the comment that they used way too much salt.
I laughed her off, but I have noticed that if I follow recipes to a T from some cooks from tv they are too salty and I have to reduce the salt. For example Ina Garten's Truffle Mac and Cheese called for a Tablespoon of salt on top of the salty cheese.
Do you think they are using too much salt on tv cooking shows? Do you think it is just for theatrics?
Can I substitute bread flour for all-purpose flour in a muffin recipe?
I have two friends and their husbands coming in from out of town to NYC and we want to eat out. Since I'm a mom I don't get out much anymore and when I do I always seem to end up at Little Giant on Orchard Street. I want to try something new (especially since I am springing for a sitter).
What restaurant would you recommend for a group of six that is not too expensive (we're artist types with at least one unemployed husband) that has great food and is downtown-ish.
Thanks!
I think I saw it on here, but I can't remember. There was a blog or website featuring recipes that can be made cheaply.
Does anyone remember what it was called, or does anyone have another one to recommend?
Thanks!
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Oh and don't get me started on the quality of their pastries. Horrible beyond belief. Where I live the culture of cafes and the art of fine pastries makes the dry, tasteless, over-produced stuff that Starbucks insists on selling here even more embarrassing. I have been known to go to one place and buy pastries and sneak them into Starbucks so I can enjoy their air conditioning.