What items do you miss most?

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TishTash
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby TishTash » Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:16 pm

I buy the frozen ones currently for the same reason. 50p for a pepper is just ridiculous. As for the packaging, I completely agree with you, the amount we have to shove into the recycle bins is incredible, they really ought to stop so much waste being produced at the source.

I feel for you Miro, your last leg of jamón serrano is not a good thing! but fortunately you can get chorizo in almost all supermarkets now :) but the last leg, that's bad..... Also, intergrating with UK food really isn't the same as doing it the other way around! My way will be much easier ;)

truebrit
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby truebrit » Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:51 pm

I just asked my hubby this question. He thought long and hard and all he could come up with was The Sundays Papers not being delivered !

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chrissiehope
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby chrissiehope » Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:17 pm

miro - Lidl sometimes have boxed jamon ;-)
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markwilding
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby markwilding » Mon Aug 07, 2017 3:03 pm

While in London with students, we had to feed them their daily fix of chorizo and serrano ham sandwiches. Aldi had packs of mixed Spanish meats including both or they could be bought separately as well. All Reasonably priced.

elusive
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby elusive » Mon Aug 07, 2017 6:16 pm

Tesco cannelloni ready meal 4 for £5.. mercadona lasagne is pretty decent but any cannellonis ive tried are terrible

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Miro » Mon Aug 07, 2017 6:43 pm

Ready meals for buttons I can get anywhere. Never had one and don't intend to ever. It's real food I'm after.
Bought a jar of roasted red peppers today for a fraction of the price (by weight) of fresh peppers. Really don't understand...
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Lavanda » Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:11 pm

I miss my Mum and Dad and wish I had INSISTED they moved with me ten years ago. Now they tell me they would have come. They visited a lot up until three years ago when they said they were 'too old' to do the trip to Extremadura any more. They are now 91 and 94 years old and I go to Devon five or six times a year but I MISS THEM!!!

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby elusive » Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:28 pm

Miro wrote:Ready meals for buttons I can get anywhere. Never had one and don't intend to ever. It's real food I'm after.
Bought a jar of roasted red peppers today for a fraction of the price (by weight) of fresh peppers. Really don't understand...
You will never be short of a ready meal in the uk.! Marks & sparks dine for a tenner on a weekend. Lemon chicken and parmesan with spinach. I miss that!!

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby maureenscot » Tue Aug 08, 2017 2:13 pm

Yes Aldi and Lidl good value for most things

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firsttango
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby firsttango » Tue Aug 08, 2017 3:04 pm

One thing I do miss here in Spain is a decent butchers where they put some time and effort into the display....it always invariably looks like carnage to me. It was a joy when back in the u.k recently whilst completing on an apartment I took the time to visit a local butcher and to see all the various products presented enticingly and the joy of having many kinds and cuts of bacon to choose from was heaven, likewise all steaks labelled and laid out as I remembered. This alone may entice me back for an extra week here n there. Saying that I'm sure there are some great butchers around but I've not really come across them, the nearest thing is the Butchery section at Lidl in Velez.

http://www.cliftonbutchers.co.uk/beef-lamb-pork

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Rigsbyscat » Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:10 pm

Lavanda wrote:I miss my Mum and Dad and wish I had INSISTED they moved with me ten years ago. Now they tell me they would have come. They visited a lot up until three years ago when they said they were 'too old' to do the trip to Extremadura any more. They are now 91 and 94 years old and I go to Devon five or six times a year but I MISS THEM!!!
Hi Lavanda, that was a very lovely thing to say. I am sure your parents are very proud of you, and love your frequent visits to see them in Devon
I have some very good friends that moved to Andalucia many years ago. Their parents are now in their late 70's and 80's both still fit, but not as yet reached the dizzy heights of your parents as yet! However, I firmly believe that the adventure of travelling to see their offspring over the years has helped extended their lives, and kept them in good health, as they are constantly planning what to bring over on the next trip etc. And they still drive from Norfolk to Comares in Andalucia and Alburquerque in Extremadura at least twice a year. So good luck to you Lavanda, I hope you see them soon

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Wicksey » Tue Aug 08, 2017 9:41 pm

firsttango wrote:One thing I do miss here in Spain is a decent butchers where they put some time and effort into the display....it always invariably looks like carnage to me. It was a joy when back in the u.k recently whilst completing on an apartment I took the time to visit a local butcher and to see all the various products presented enticingly and the joy of having many kinds and cuts of bacon to choose from was heaven, likewise all steaks labelled and laid out as I remembered. This alone may entice me back for an extra week here n there. Saying that I'm sure there are some great butchers around but I've not really come across them, the nearest thing is the Butchery section at Lidl in Velez.

http://www.cliftonbutchers.co.uk/beef-lamb-pork
It's quite rare to find a butchers like that. So many towns have lost their individual shops now it's a shame. Where our rental house is in a small town in the UK there's a baker's only just surviving together with an old fashioned ironmongers, but nothing else in the High Street. The supermarkets have taken over.

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firsttango
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby firsttango » Tue Aug 08, 2017 10:05 pm

Wicksey yes its sad these individual shops are dying off, but not wanting to upset you but just a few yards away from the aforementioned Butcher is also a wonderful bakery.......it seems these kinds of shops are on the rise in Bristol and thankfully thriving. This bakery has 17 shops in the Bristol area alone.
http://www.parsonsbakery.co.uk/index.html

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Miro » Tue Aug 08, 2017 10:29 pm

Here in Southport the nearest thing to what I think of as a butcher is probably Crawshaws https://www.crawshawbutchers.com/ (apart from the Polish shop which does a good job, but is a bit limited) but frankly is a bit of a joke. The trouble is, everything is pre-packed, and although you can order larger quantities (if you do so two days ahead), the prices are still better in the likes of Lidl. It's all about presentation and fancy displays (perhaps to justify the fancy prices), which frankly I don't give a hoot about - give me carnage any day. Torremolinos has a plethora of butchers, fruit & veg shops, bakers etc., all doing a good trade and usually better quality & value than the supermarkets.
What's really getting to me in the UK is the diddy little packaging for just about everything. I know there's a trend towards reducing the size of the product whilst maintaining the same price (a lá Toblerone) but who do they think they're kidding when it comes to everyday things like deodorant sprays, floor cleaner, even coffee? Everyone knows they'll end up buying more aerosols, bottles, jars etc. than previously, to consume the same amount of product. The only result is more waste. And that should be legislated against by the government. It's an absolute disgrace.
Surely selling larger packages of any product reduces the cost to market? The saving can be passed on to the consumer, creating happy & loyal customers, there's less waste, everyone's a winner...I don't care for all these bonus points, club cards, loyalty discounts, cash back offers etc. etc., just give me bigger packages and lower prices.
Example: Maggi liquid seasoning (Mrs.M can't live without it) Tescos 100ml bottle, £1.10; WH Lung Chinese supermarket in Liverpool, 960ml bottle, £3.75; it's a no-brainer.
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Devils Advocate
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Devils Advocate » Wed Aug 09, 2017 8:45 am

Problem is Miro people have turned lazy and this is the cost of it. They would rather pay 10 quid for 2 marinated lamb shanks from M&S, one's that you roast in the foil tray than fetching a couple of proper spring lamb shanks from a butchers and doing it themselves.
Over the years high street butchers have declined in numbers because of this.

Cheap gruel from the likes of Lidl has added to this, it seems to sell well for some reason.

Try Graham Eyes butchers in Churchtown, maybe you'll like what they have on offer. They are a step up in quality from the national chain butcher Crawshaws.

I know you don't want to drive to a butchers as you indicated previously but Taylors farm is only 15 minutes away, probably one of the best butchers around who rear their own produce in the fields next to the shop, true top quality meats.
Decent traditional butchers shop too in Birkdale we've used.

Problem is they are more expensive than Tesco and Asda but if its quality over price you want then that is a "no brainer" too.

Only in these more bespoke shops can you actually get the cut you want, not what the supermarkets dictate you have.

I think the Spanish people may shun pre packed/fast meals more than the British have of late which has helped the local carniceria's survive better than they have in Southport and the likes.
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markwilding
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby markwilding » Wed Aug 09, 2017 10:19 am

I think calling people lazy is wide of the mark. Much of it can be put down to social changes. People don't have as much time as before. I couldn't not imagine my wife coming from home work and then having to cook the sort of spread her mother makes every day. Her mother has always been a housewife while my wife has always worked.
I'm certain as my wife's parents generation disappears, we will see the demand for better quality pre=prepared food increasing here as well. We can already see specialist shops selling it.

The big difference between Spain and the UK is the UK is much better at producing fresh ready made food than Spain. I get really envious walking around M&S when I see the variety of ready made fresh products.

We also have to remember that many peoples' budgets don't stretch to M&S and have to find cheaper produce

However, sometimes these supermarkets have superior produce as well, Aldi UK was the only place I could find a good selection of reasonable priced Spanish cooked meats and I've heard it's a great place to buy cheese.

That's not to say that some people aren't lazy and could do more especially at the weekend when there is more time.

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Lavanda » Wed Aug 09, 2017 10:45 am

Maybe everyone will die early from eating processed and pre-prepared foods. Why do you think Spanish people eat so late at night? The heat? Maybe it's because it takes a few hours to prepare a proper dinner after getting home from work? Well? Maybe.

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Wicksey
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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Wicksey » Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:34 am

When we go to the UK on our short visits we go around M&S and Tescos drooling over all the ready meals, but I must admit I often find them salty and over processed. I bought a type of open meat pie thingy from M&S and it had about 4 pieces of meat in it. It was part of their mealdeal so not too expensive but individually I think it was quite pricey for what it was. I do like a steak pie and bought some from Tescos when I was entertaining friends there which were really nice, but I bought fresh veg and made my own sweet potato mash and made steamed veggies to go with it.

There are a number of UK programmes about families that give eat takeaways and ready meals every night but with a little help from the presenters and a chef, they change and start making more fresh meals. I am always shocked at how much food is apparently thrown away and how many people go shopping and never think of looking in the fridge and cupboards before they go and/or make a list. Apart for the odd bendy carrot in the bottom of the fridge I throw very little away .... I would feel guilty doing so apart from the cost! I hope in Spain that it doesn't get that bad, and although there's more fast food outlets than before, there's not really much choice of ready meal and that does make you cook from scratch a bit more.

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby markwilding » Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:54 am

The latest theory why the Spanish eat so late because they are in a perpetual state of jet-lag due to fact we are on CET when they should be on GMT.

Talking to Spanish people it is unlikely many are coming home and cooking elaborate meals . A simple omelette or fried chicken with salad seems to be the norm. Many young working people also prepare their own food at home at the weekend, then microwave it at lunch time at work.

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Re: What items do you miss most?

Postby Free at Last » Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:30 pm

I think the main meal of the day is likely to be cooked and eaten at lunch time in Spanish homes, and it seems to be quite common, from observing neighbouring households, for younger working people to go to their mother or grandmother's home for lunch, even if they're not still living at home, as mami or abuela will be at home with more time to shop and cook.

I used to eat a lot (too many) ready meals when I lived in the UK and was working and commuting for long hours. When I go back to the UK now I might buy one or two whilst I'm there, but to be honest I now find them rather bland and disappointing (even the ones from M&S or Waitrose) whereas when we first moved over here I would have looked forward to eating them on a trip back. Even fresh cream cakes don't have quite the same appeal as they used to.


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