Found: pickles

In Britanny, France! But I will search a more local or online source for you later on.

It is divine... heat but packed with flavour and though originally from the New World it grew like crazy in the Basque region and is the only pepper to have an AOC (like a fine wine :-) )

Are they a specific type of chili flake or chili powder because both are available here.  Let me know I will try and source it for you.

I haven't seen any red pepper flakes here, but I suppose they wouldn't be called that...

Is American style chili powder available here? I have not seen it. What is it called? I don't mean the substance that is called chilli powder here, which is pure chillies, but rather the one used in Tex-Mex cooking that is actually a spice blend containing roasted ancho chillies.

If it's chilli flakes you're after they are available in some Asian shops. Your best bets for Tex-Mex ingredients are Lupe Pintos & Cool Chile.

Back to the pickles ... the Sainsburys ones taste better now they've had garlic in the jar for a few days but still sooo sour. The other Polish ones I got the other day are nice and crunchy but only taste of salt. Quite pleasant but we've put them in a jar now (they came in a vacuum pack) with the brine they came in & topped up with vinegar + loads of garlic cloves. So we'll see how those turn out in a few days.

If it's chilli flakes you're after they are available in some Asian shops.

I wil have to look in the Chinese shop in Bristol that we go to every chance we get.

Your best bets for Tex-Mex ingredients are Lupe Pintos & Cool Chile.

I had looked at those places online and thought they were pretty expensive for what you get, esp. paying postage. Actually cheaper to have certain things sent from the US...

Back to the pickles ... the Sainsburys ones taste better now they've had garlic in the jar for a few days but still sooo sour. The other Polish ones I got the other day are nice and crunchy but only taste of salt. Quite pleasant but we've put them in a jar now (they came in a vacuum pack) with the brine they came in & topped up with vinegar + loads of garlic cloves. So we'll see how those turn out in a few days.

Hmmm...mine came in a jar and had dill seeds and garlic in them. I suppose there must be lots of different varieties. I had better stock up in case this shop doesn't last.

Oh I know the postage is ridiculous, I just thought I'd mention it in case you are anywhere near their shops. Sainsburys stocks a few Cool Chile items as well.

Hmmm the pickle quest continues...

US style chili powder with the cumin and various types of chilis is indeed available but you have to make sure you read the ingredients list for the items.  Sometimes it's with the "Mexican" world foods, sometimes in the spice rack and sometimes hidden in the gourmet section.

Barring that you can make your own mix using chili pepper powder of your choice, cumin, a little oregano, garlic powder etc.

I do of course have ancho powder and chipotle I bring over too! You can in a pinch create it here.  It's like those kits you get in the USA for 3 Alarm Chili. The Devon Chili Farm also grows and dries a lot of their own chilis which can be used to make the powder. They also do fresh poblanos. All these links are up in the  ethnic food finds section.

Also a local Indian or Asian shop will do huge bags of chili flakes and they are good place to look for corn meal too.

Sorry back on topic to pickles!
   

I just opened a jar of French Style Cornichons from Aldi's last night.  Not a strong "dill" flavour, but still nummy and NO SUGAR and Crunchy.

I tell you the only pickle I miss are the Clausen.  Nothing else compares.  Should have made my own.