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Topic: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!  (Read 2272 times)

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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #15 on: October 14, 2016, 04:39:38 PM »
GBK makes a fine milkshake. 

At one point we had 5 American BBQ places in Twickenham.   Some are gone now.? I'm from NC and those places just don't do it for me.  It's like a bear that can dance, it doesn't matter how good it dances.  Generally they end up being crap. 

I usually go for the genuine restaurants that aren't trying to copy something they are not, like Indian or a decent local pizza place.  The food will be better.


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #16 on: October 14, 2016, 04:43:23 PM »
Margo, my husband is Coeliac.  I'm happy to help you navigate the British food selections.  ALL of Asda's "extra special" burgers and sausages are gluten free.  Loads of flavors and options.  Good prices too.  :)

M&S has brought out a massive line of gluten free foods as well.  He can grab a sandwich or wrap on the go from the local gas station now!  It's becoming easier each day to be Coeliac here.

Eating out is always a gamble though - which is why we rarely eat out.

M&S was my savior when my husband lived near one, tesco is the only supermarket almost close by his flat now. Moving to a place with better food options (and without damp issues) is the #1 priority when I get there.  But I haven't found anything that compares to my local market where really it's just fresh meat & spices, no weird stuff or grains added. When you have to eat a limited diet it was nice to have that variety or readily available flavors :) (I'm allergic to a bunch of preservatives and stabilizers too.)

I really only eat Indian food out, but avoid the fried things and anything tandoori. Occasionally we'll find a nice restaurant that accommodates well and it becomes an instant favorite - but where he is now is so blah that I'm trapped. I can't even do the grocery shopping because it's too far (20 min walk) and he doesn't have a cart so I can carry the things home. (My shoulders and ribs dislocate carrying even light things.)

But that's why I commented here. If the OP made a celiac friendly American breakfast place I would definitely travel. Even if it was just making sure of no cross contamination on the things that are naturally gluten free, that's worth it!  My husband can eat what he wants and I can have a safe meal out while visiting somewhere new. :)




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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #17 on: October 14, 2016, 04:45:39 PM »
OP, see if you can find 2 episodes of the British Ramsey's kitchen nightmares that had to do with Mamma Cherie's Soul Food Kitchen.  There's a second follow up as well.  She was a good lady who could cook and her heart was in it, but she was ultimately chewed up by Britain.  Don't think that opening a restaurant here will be easy.


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #18 on: October 14, 2016, 04:58:46 PM »
But I haven't found anything that compares to my local market where really it's just fresh meat & spices, no weird stuff or grains added.

Margo - you'll appreciate this.  My SIL eats gluten free by choice.  So my Mom thinks she's an expert.   ::)  When my parents are here, we eat out more than normal as they are really into eating out.  My husband will get the giant binder from the staff and start searching.  If my Mom says one more time, "Just get a burger without the bun," I may lose it!  She does NOT get that they bulk out so much of the food here with breadcrumbs.  <sigh>  Seriously, I think she thinks I'm making it up.


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #19 on: October 14, 2016, 06:18:03 PM »
Margo - you'll appreciate this.  My SIL eats gluten free by choice.  So my Mom thinks she's an expert.   ::)  When my parents are here, we eat out more than normal as they are really into eating out.  My husband will get the giant binder from the staff and start searching.  If my Mom says one more time, "Just get a burger without the bun," I may lose it!  She does NOT get that they bulk out so much of the food here with breadcrumbs.  <sigh>  Seriously, I think she thinks I'm making it up.

Oh man ... Those people are the best. It's definitely a lot more different in the UK than I thought it would be. I do have food sensitivities that vary by the day (it's annoying) so sometimes I eat things I shouldn't and hope the reaction isn't too bad, but that's not the same as being willfully ignorant!


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #20 on: October 15, 2016, 09:28:58 AM »
  If my Mom says one more time, "Just get a burger without the bun," I may lose it!  She does NOT get that they bulk out so much of the food here with breadcrumbs.  <sigh>  Seriously, I think she thinks I'm making it up.

Growing up, my dad would make burgers on the grill. Ground beef, maybe some garlic powder, salt, pepper and that's it. That is how I thought a burger should be made and the way I have always made them. The pre-made burgers here are disgusting. I am wary going to BBQ's in the summer because everyone buys the frozen burgers that are really around 80% beef, 20% fillers and preservatives. Plus they taste like cardboard.


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #21 on: October 15, 2016, 09:54:47 AM »
OP, see if you can find 2 episodes of the British Ramsey's kitchen nightmares that had to do with Mamma Cherie's Soul Food Kitchen.  There's a second follow up as well.  She was a good lady who could cook and her heart was in it, but she was ultimately chewed up by Britain.  Don't think that opening a restaurant here will be easy.

That was a good episode. And a good series. Gordon gets a lot of flack, but if you watch that first series...you can really see that he knows the nuts and bolts of the business.

His shows now are more about the drama of wacky characters, but that first series would often show him sitting down with the books and pretty quickly getting to the nub of the financial problem. Rent, food costs, staff expenses.

And for some reason, in every episode, he takes his shirt off.

I just hope that more people will ignore the fatalism of the argument that we are beyond repair. We are not beyond repair. We are never beyond repair. - AOC


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #22 on: October 15, 2016, 10:48:39 AM »
Quote from: sonofasailor link=topic=88696.msg1151339#ms

And for some reason, in every episode, he takes his shirt off.

There's a show he's in called Hotel Hell and you always see his bare butt getting into the bath or shower in it! Haha.
« Last Edit: October 15, 2016, 10:57:57 AM by lyonaria »
The usual. American girl meets British guy. They fall into like, then into love. Then there was the big decision. The American traveled across the pond to join the Brit. And life was never the same again.


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #23 on: October 15, 2016, 11:54:22 AM »
There's a show he's in called Hotel Hell and you always see his bare butt getting into the bath or shower in it! Haha.

It gets to where, while you are watching one of his shows, you are sort of wondering when it will happen..
I just hope that more people will ignore the fatalism of the argument that we are beyond repair. We are not beyond repair. We are never beyond repair. - AOC


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #24 on: October 15, 2016, 12:33:32 PM »
Hi CynCity,

I'm putting my business consulting head on to ask the following;

1. Realistically, what's the actual amount of money you have to invest in setting up your concept?

2. Will you need to borrow any funds?
3. Your marketing will need to be absolutely, completely and totally crucial due to the fact in the UK 99.95% of people haven't heard of or know about 'American Biscuits' or 'Restaurants' that would cater to this market.

4. The 'main' concentration of Americans in the UK is London and the surrounding home counties. Of course, there are other's of the UK's major cities and towns as well as rural locations where American people do of course live. You'll need to decide if you want to focus your restaurant to cater for the American's here or if you wish to appeal to the general population as a whole.

5. You'll need to check for all the regulatory requirements for running a food preparation business and of course all the same for having members of the public on your premises. All licensing, certifications for food storage and preparations will need to be in place along with any special requirements.

6. Related to the above will be all the overheads and running costs of the business.

7. Location will be similarly vital. The costs in Central London will be extremely high for finding a premises and then the ongoing related costs - rates, insurance given the location. In other cities, the same costs will of course be much lower.

8. You'll perhaps need to find specialist chefs/cooks familiar and knowledgeable with the food and that may mean having to pay a higher salary/rate, so do factor that into your cost calculations.


Do you have any industry experience of owning/running a food/restaurant type business? I think it'd be very advantageous if you do. If not, then my suggestion would be to look into creating a restaurant that covers a lot more specific American food and offer those under one roof i.e spread your risk. Do the 'usual' choices of what the general UK public think of as 'American Food' but at a much higher quality level and then offer the more unusual or not known about specialties as a specific section of your menu. This way you'll appeal to both sectors - UK people and Americans here who want high quality and authentic USA food.

I'm not such a 'foodie' but I do appreciate and like good food. Some of our family are much more 'foodie' and will go to specific places etc often quite a distance away. I do remember having some home made Meat Loaf in the US one time and it was really good! I've not tried to see if there's anywhere around here or in London that does the same!.

Good luck in all your evaluations!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!



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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #25 on: October 15, 2016, 02:40:38 PM »
It gets to where, while you are watching one of his shows, you are sort of wondering when it will happen..

Exactly! Haha. It's really funny. He really does seem to care, but he doesn't put up with sh*t though.
The usual. American girl meets British guy. They fall into like, then into love. Then there was the big decision. The American traveled across the pond to join the Brit. And life was never the same again.


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #26 on: October 15, 2016, 03:18:55 PM »
Exactly! Haha. It's really funny. He really does seem to care, but he doesn't put up with sh*t though.

My wife's favourite parts of his shows are when he discovers a dirty/unhygienic kitchen and has a big clean.

Yes, he can be a narcissistic ass, his temper can be a bit volcanic, but he is spot on about this. You can kill somebody with poor hygiene practice.
I just hope that more people will ignore the fatalism of the argument that we are beyond repair. We are not beyond repair. We are never beyond repair. - AOC


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #27 on: October 15, 2016, 04:20:39 PM »
My wife's favourite parts of his shows are when he discovers a dirty/unhygienic kitchen and has a big clean.

Yes, he can be a narcissistic ass, his temper can be a bit volcanic, but he is spot on about this. You can kill somebody with poor hygiene practice.

I agree. Haha.

And food hygeine/safety and cleanliness in a restaurant are paramount! I'bet noticed he only really yells at people who should know better.

Not to mention he is great with kids!
The usual. American girl meets British guy. They fall into like, then into love. Then there was the big decision. The American traveled across the pond to join the Brit. And life was never the same again.


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #28 on: October 15, 2016, 05:59:56 PM »
Hubs and I loved mama cheries when it was open in Brighton. They had some proper sweet corn bread and fried chicken. We were sad when it closed !
My home for 18 years since June 2002. Became a citizen 2006


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Re: I WANT TO START AN AMERICAN BISCUIT RESTAURANT IN THE UK!!!
« Reply #29 on: October 17, 2016, 09:53:59 AM »
I went to a popular breakfast cafe this weekend and foolishly ordered the "American breakfast" which was pancakes, sausage, bacon, and hash browns. The pancakes were aaaaaaawful. I was so, so tempted to ask my server to tell the cook to stop overbeating the batter and to adjust the temperature on the griddle. And to use smoked streaky bacon if they want anything approximating American bacon! Luckily I can make my own pancakes, I just really need to learn my lesson about ordering them out!


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