11065 Food from "home" in Italy

I'm not really the sad individual I sometimes sound when discussing food items such as English strength tea and Heinz Baked Beanz but I do enjoy food from "home" occasionally. However, it can be different here, can't it? Just checking my can of beanz bought in Firenze and I see they were made in England so will be the same as we eat there. But other foods often aren't and, like tea, I feel have the flavour adjusted to suit continental European tastes. McVities Chocolate Digestives are a case in point, Kit Kats too, they are have a far sweeter, more almondy flavour here than they do in Britain. Can anyone think of any other examples?

Category
Food & Drink

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/30/2008 - 07:25

Orange marmalade is also sweeter and not as nice as the British one.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/30/2008 - 08:02

Hi
Heinz, alpabete spaghetti has no Js,ks,ws,xs or ys..........

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/30/2008 - 08:35

Hi Violetta and All

Heinz baked beans in the Arezzo area!
There is an ethnic shop in Via F. Petrarca, which is one of the roads that comes off Piazza Guido Monaco, which is just a bit up from the railway station. The shop is called Himalaya and they have a wide range of 'ethnic' foods, Asian, Polish, Eastern European, Chinese, African etc. plus a wide range of goods for the working girl!!!

Violetta, go into the shop (its just a bit chaotic) and with your back to the window go to the left hand ailse. Go to the end and just before the shop widens out there should, hopefully, be some Heinz on the shelf just in front of you. They also stock PG tips, Scotts porridge, cornflour and lots of other odd bits and pieces. If you are into New Zealand lamb I think they also stock that.

For 'English' marmalade - I suggest that the next time you are in England look in the jams section of Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's etc. for a tin of Mamade. This is a 1 kg. tin of prepared seville marmalade oranges. You then use this peel/pulp with water and sugar to make your own marmalade. This way you can control how much sugar to use. Its really quite good, but to make it taste even fresher and homemade I add some of my homegrown mandarins 50/50 for a lovely fresh but still English tasting marmalade. The guests love it so hopefully not too bad. You could use any soft citrus -clementine, lemon etc.

Now back to the chestnut stuffing - for a taste versus convenience rating!

Convenience
1. Puree
2. Precooked peeled chestnuts
3. Fresh Chestnuts

Taste
1. Fresh Chestnuts
2. Precooked peeled chestnuts
3. Puree

If you have the time use some sort of whole chestnut as the taste is so so much better.

As for other 'home' foods, agree about the digestives being sweeter here, although Vaz,our dog loves them. Tried to stop buying other sweets etc. as we are both putting on a bit too much weight with the vino,,,, how to stop when it is just so easy to enjoy!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/30/2008 - 10:58

[quote=Aretina;104427]Mamade. This is a 1 kg. tin of prepared seville marmalade oranges. You then use this peel/pulp with water and sugar to make your own marmalade. This way you can control how much sugar to use. [/quote]

Oh, Aretina, dear old marmade, my mother used to use this as a base for her home made marmalade and you're right, you have complete control over how much sugar to use and with a few adjustments it can taste exceptionally good. Will try and find your shop on Saturday. Thanks.