10 Foods Americans Miss Most When Abroad

Right- so a bit of a travel article, rather than an 'expat' article, but nonetheless, still interesting, especially the comments section -i.e. many expats chipping in going-
yes, I like fried slugs in caramel sauce, but I really just want a DQ Sundae- we can all relate! and just as many slagging American's off for crap food- or things that you can indeed find abroad (But hey who really wants to pay £9.00 for a box of Lucky Charms!!)

10 Foods Americans Miss Most When Abroad

I agree with a lot of these, especially my beloved root beer. I am sure I will post more tomorrow, since I am headed to bed in a minute, but I just had to post about the ketchup.

Has anyone ever successfully gotten 'extra' ketchup? Even when there were three of us with large fries in McD's one day, when I requested extra ketchup, I was given a surly look followed by a 'Don't ask for more' glare, as the girl slammed two packets onto the tray. 

Where do you have to pay for ketchup packets?? I've never ever seen that!

I remember having to pay in Scotland in the late 90s/early 00s.

I learned to use less ketchup. 

I love how Mexican is at the top of the list! Its definitely the thing my daughter and I miss the most. We had some great Mexican places where we were living in the States. Nothing better than a night out with friends for Mexican food and Margaritas.

Where do you have to pay for ketchup packets?? I've never ever seen that!

Really? I see lots of places where ketchup (and brown sauce and salad cream, etc) is 5p/10p a packet.  Our own canteen was one for many years, now I think you're 'allowed' one free one.   

Really? I see lots of places where ketchup (and brown sauce and salad cream, etc) is 5p/10p a packet.  Our own canteen was one for many years, now I think you're 'allowed' one free one.   

No, never!! 

 

Really? I see lots of places where ketchup (and brown sauce and salad cream, etc) is 5p/10p a packet.  Our own canteen was one for many years, now I think you're 'allowed' one free one.   

Most of the chippies and family run type places here in town charge 10p each. The Morrisons cafe allows one or two and you have to pay for more.

I had to laugh over the pizza one, while completely agreeing. Other than Pizza Hut and Dominos, I haven't had a good pizza here. Even getting one without sweetcorn, they just aren't right for my liking.

Definitely Mexican. I pine for good Mexican. Blackburn just doesn't have any.

Doesn't Macdonalds have those little taps and wax pots?

Cinammon grahams are a lot like cinammon toast crunch if you're missing that

I totally understand missing random things when you're abroad, even if they're junky. I never eat fish fingers, but very occasionally like once every 3 years I NEED a fish finger sandwich, with a slice of processed cheese, junky white bread and tartare sauce...Don't care about the health aspect, just want one...I eat one and never want a fish finger again for another 3 years. I'd really feel sad if I couldn't get one when that craving hit. Also Terry's chocolate oranges...

I've only been to a few McDonald's here, and they all have packets. It would be nice if they had the pumps. In the States, I generally skip the wax pots and go straight to squirting ketchup into the lid of my burger box.

I totally understand missing random things when you're abroad, even if they're junky. I never eat fish fingers, but very occasionally like once every 3 years I NEED a fish finger sandwich, with a slice of processed cheese, junky white bread and tartare sauce...Don't care about the health aspect, just want one...I eat one and never want a fish finger again for another 3 years. I'd really feel sad if I couldn't get one when that craving hit. Also Terry's chocolate oranges...

I can understand your fish finger sandwich NEED because on occasion I desperately NEED a Miracle Whip, American cheese and tomato slice on white bread sandwich. Not often, of course, but when I do I want it then and there.

I've only been to a few McDonald's here, and they all have packets. It would be nice if they had the pumps. In the States, I generally skip the wax pots and go straight to squirting ketchup into the lid of my burger box.

I can understand your fish finger sandwich NEED because on occasion I desperately NEED a Miracle Whip, American cheese and tomato slice on white bread sandwich. Not often, of course, but when I do I want it then and there.

The McDonald's in my area has the ketchup pumps thankfully.  

Whenever I have a sandwich 99% of the time I have to have Miracle Whip on my sandwich.  

Our Local chippy you have to pay for ketchup packets.  

Really? I see lots of places where ketchup (and brown sauce and salad cream, etc) is 5p/10p a packet.  Our own canteen was one for many years, now I think you're 'allowed' one free one.   

Our work canteen it's 10p a sachet.

What really struck me as odd the time I mentioned above, was we weren't even given one packet each per large order of fries and she was acting like I was asking for too much. I've managed a Subway, so I get the concept of keeping food cost down to make profits go up, but one packet per person is not going to break the company.

The McDonald's in my area has the ketchup pumps thankfully.  

I would have never dreamed ketchup pumps exit here. I'm not being mean, but basing my thought on how hard it is to get it when out and about.

Well, I must live in some sort of a ketchup dream world then, because I have never been charged.

Ketchup dream world must be fun. Is it like Busch Gardens?  Do they have a giant french fry ride where you can get dunked? Ohh, a ride to get squeezed out of a bottle?   Antique trolley rides through tomato fields, vinegar, brown sugar, onions...     How about seeing if you can get the ketchup out of the bottle and win a prize games? How about do a tasting tour of ketchup around the world? Or a behind the scenes look at how ketchup is made?  An exhibition exploring the history behind the name, Ketchup, Catsup, Catchup, Katsup, Catsip, Cotsup, Kotchup, Kitsip, Catsoup, Katshoup, Katsock, Cackchop, Cornchop, Cotpock, Kotpock, Kutpuck, Kutchpuck and Cutchpuck, and the oh so popular tomato sauce and oh don't you dare call it Heinz 57?

Foods allowed: Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Scrambled Eggs, and 'American Relish'