What parts of English culture will you/do you miss?

[rjm_cmyk 75]

Having been a here for a few months I now understand why a Brit friend on the east coast always goes for an Indian as soon as he gets back to the UK. I'll be doing the same when I go back sometime this summer. The curry experience (and food) is just not the same....

[lost_at_sea 995]

  On 3/3/2014 at 3:22 AM, rjm_cmyk said:

Having been a here for a few months I now understand why a Brit friend on the east coast always goes for an Indian as soon as he gets back to the UK. I'll be doing the same when I go back sometime this summer. The curry experience (and food) is just not the same....

Yes. Concur.

I've found one in San Francisco that I really like, and actually makes their curries hot, that actually matches the experience back home (there's a couple other ones that are actually okay, but not that UK Indian authentic). If you come up this way ever, Indian Oven on Fillmore St.. They even deliver (which seems to be rare here, too).

Edited March 3, 2014 by lost_at_sea

[Cam54 84]

Iv been here just shy of two months now, and what I miss is cafes (workman style) where I can get a nice vegi fry up n mug of tea, English Chinese takeaways, nandos, being able to walk places without lots of people literally stopping their cars in the street to ask me if I need a ride anywhere. I miss the convenience of English life, I know everyone says tht americans are all about convenience but I haven't found this, for example if I was out and about in England and needed to get some milk and bread on way home id just run into garage n grab some knowing it would be decent stuff n im not being extorted, don't really find that here. And I liked that in England you have shops in shopping centres like boots where u can grab a lunch deal if u want something cheap but healthy and I miss there being book stores in shopping centres, I don't wana drive 10 miles to get to a big barnes n noble if im just browsing. I also miss stuff being the price it says on the label n no more and I miss not tipping lol

[nobbie 105]

I just got back from the UK a week ago and while there realised how much I miss just going to the pub to drink beer and talk nonsense. Put the world to rights and so on. Here in the US it seems people go to the bar, sit on stools round the bar and can only talk to the person next to you. They don't seem to stand about in groups just talking and having a few pints. I brought back Colemans mustard, HP sauce, Waitrose own Dijon mustard (69p a big jar, the wife loves it), T bags, stock pots and a box of quality street for the local barmaid who is american but brought up in the UK.

[Cam54 84]

just wana add I miss supermarket food being cheap, Californian supermarkets are insanely expensive, $5 for a tub of peanut butter when in England id pay about a pound 50 which is what $2.50

[2ndMessiah 184]

  On 3/3/2014 at 4:12 AM, lost_at_sea said:

Yes. Concur.

I've found one in San Francisco that I really like, and actually makes their curries hot, that actually matches the experience back home (there's a couple other ones that are actually okay, but not that UK Indian authentic). If you come up this way ever, Indian Oven on Fillmore St.. They even deliver (which seems to be rare here, too).

The UK Indian Authentic line.... For some reason that tickled me. lol I suppose it is as different to Indian food as it is to native UK food.

A unique flavor in itself.

It will take time to adjust to a very different life style, the US being different.

I actually like places like Applebee's, Chili's etc. I never did enjoy traditional English/ Irish Pubs. Horses for courses I suppose.

I do miss side walks ( sorry footpaths). Yes being able to put one foot in front of each other and just nip down to the local Gas station and buy a loaf of bread and milk. I have to drive to get to my local petrol station.

Bread. Now there is another thing. All I want is a plain white sliced loaf. Yes I know it is unhealthy, but flavoring it with Honey or something else really messes up the taste when all you want is a slice of toast.

I miss sausage rolls, until my wife one day surprised me with home made ones. All I could say was WOW!!!!

I have even manged to convert my American step kids to them. The first time they got them, the insisted on putting maple syrup. Soon knocked that idea out of their heads. We even imported HP brown sauce.

Happy days.

[2ndMessiah 184]

Jiff Peanut butter in Walmart $2.78...

[srvman 38]

I am going to miss not having to tip. I am a scrooge and hate tipping, but my fiancee makes me tip, because her ma is waitress lol.

[2ndMessiah 184]

In the service industry there is no such thing as an honest days pay for an honest days labor. Employees having to rely on the charity of customers to earn a livable wage is barbaric.So unfortunately tipping is not showing appreciation for exceptional service (which it should be)but just paying your waiter/waitress wage.

Unless US culture/business practices change (unlikely) and restaurants start to pay their staff, or people vote with their feet and not go out to eat because of tipping(very unlikely) nothing will change.

So just accept your bill will be approximately 15% higher than what is on your check.

[lost_at_sea 995]

  On 3/3/2014 at 6:22 PM, 2ndMessiah said:

The UK Indian Authentic line.... For some reason that tickled me. lol I suppose it is as different to Indian food as it is to native UK food.

A unique flavor in itself.

Yes! That's why I qualified it that way.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

  On 2/12/2014 at 10:24 PM, Pooky said:

Definitely missing the NHS right now.

That's me late to the party again.

Everything OK, Pooky? Sure hope so.........

Edited March 3, 2014 by Rebecca Jo

[Pooky 3,850]

  On 3/3/2014 at 11:53 PM, Rebecca Jo said:

That's me late to the party again.

Everything OK, Pooky? Sure hope so.........

Just a little major surgery.

I'm back at work, recovering.

Daytime TV sucks, and it's quieter in the office than it is at home right now.

[rjm_cmyk 75]

  On 3/3/2014 at 4:12 AM, lost_at_sea said:

Yes. Concur.

I've found one in San Francisco that I really like, and actually makes their curries hot, that actually matches the experience back home (there's a couple other ones that are actually okay, but not that UK Indian authentic). If you come up this way ever, Indian Oven on Fillmore St.. They even deliver (which seems to be rare here, too).

Well I'm only up the road in Marin so it's not that much of a trip. Having had an Indian (well Himalyan) meal cooked by hispanics in a restaurant in Petaluma I think I'm getting this fusion cooking thing too. Fave place to eat so far is Millenium in SF. Best meal here evuhhhhhhh.

And yes there is a distinctly British Indian food experience. The remains of empire , indian food developed for British tastes and as much part of British culcha as pubs - with the two often sharing the same evening timeline :-) I have tried explaining to furniners why it's more than just a food type.

Oh and I cook my own bread. Can't stand the HFCS stuff.

Edited March 4, 2014 by rjm_cmyk

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

  On 3/4/2014 at 3:40 AM, Pooky said:

Just a little major surgery.

I'm back at work, recovering.

Daytime TV sucks, and it's quieter in the office than it is at home right now.

Hope the operation took care of everything and no more doctors for you!

[Cam54 84]

  On 3/3/2014 at 6:29 PM, 2ndMessiah said:

Jiff Peanut butter in Walmart $2.78...

Think I need to move to Virginia!