So it's been a couple of weeks

Been going mental on the whole ranch thing, really. I WILL find it though. Lol.
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I've been experimenting with other dressings and such, but I think my standards are ranch. And nothing else.

Try making your own?  This is the recipe I am going to use once my ranch stash runs out!

http://americanfood.about.com/od/saucesdipsanddressings/r/Ranch_Dressing.htm

I worked as a barista in both the US and the UK (Glasgow). An Americano and a 'Black Coffee' are pretty much the same thing in the UK (and the same as an Americano in the US), at least where I worked. It's all watered down espresso. This is because most places, as I'm sure you all know, don't have filter coffee and not everyone wants a full-on espresso/cappuccino/latte/macchiato.

If someone came in and asked for a black coffee, we gave them what everyone knows to be an Americano. If they asked for a white coffee, it was an Americano (or 'Black Coffee') with milk.

But black coffee does not equal americano. Americano is watered down espresso, not actual drip/brewed coffee. But in terms of taste, it's pretty good (and it's all I order when I'm out!)

but, given that's your only option here... coffee places don't do 'drip'... I can't understand why the baristas or servers don't 'get' that when you ask for black coffee, they should deliver an Americano.  It's not rocket science.

but, given that's your only option here... coffee places don't do 'drip'... I can't understand why the baristas or servers don't 'get' that when you ask for black coffee, they should deliver an Americano.  It's not rocket science.

I honestly don't get it either! Where have you been going? If it's Bean Scene, then I get it.   

I was a temp at the cafe for The Herald and that's what I had learned to be black coffee within the first 5 minutes. The only places I know that serve drip are Starbucks and Artisan Roast on Gibson street. Even then, a 'black coffee' most likely means an Americano. Drip/Filter are incredibly specific and not what a barista would go to first in the UK when asked for a black coffee.

The only places I know that serve drip are Starbucks and Artisan Roast on Gibson street.

I didn't know anyplace served drip, so I stand corrected on that one.  If anything, that makes it worse.... that they serve drip, but still don't know what someone means when they order a black coffee!! 

I don't usually drink black coffee myself... although only yesterday i was wanting a coffee, but only had £1, so went through McDonald's drive-through (hey, I work in Clydebank... coffee options are limited!) and ordered a double espresso for 99p and it was ok.  Nice and hot and strong.... hit the spot at that moment.  Oh, and McD's actually DOES have 'black coffee' on their menu! 

I personally think MaccyD's has nice coffee 

(I thought I hadn't been to a MaccyD's in years, but I lied, because J and I have gotten their coffee several time on road trips and enjoyed it.  We actually couldn't believe how nice it was.    It's only the food I haven't eaten.  The last time being six years ago in Hungary when it was the only thing available and then I couldn't even remember when before that) 

He gives me weird looks because I'll dip plain, original potato crisps in ketchup (really, it's just like dipping french fries!), but he's since started doing that himself. Hahahaha.

Oh man, no one got the memo that I don't want to be reminded of ketchup chips! I totally used to OD on Herr's Ketchup Chips and now I have a craving! Must get me some wavy crisps and Heinz now. (PS- a Brit can't tell you that you eat things weird- those people eat pizza with utensils. Pizza, I tell you!)

Americano in the US is a watered down shot of espresso. Not the same as filter / drip coffee. Different beans for one thing 

Understood, but besides Starbucks true filter coffee is hard to find. Plus I have been hating that Pike Place blend filter coffee at Sbx recently.

If you are ever in London Speakeasy Coffee has a great filter coffee bar and the cone filter coffee from Monmouth is delicious.
But yeah, I miss bottomless cups of coffee poured from these:

but, given that's your only option here... coffee places don't do 'drip'... I can't understand why the baristas or servers don't 'get' that when you ask for black coffee, they should deliver an Americano.  It's not rocket science.

I guess. I don't call it "black coffee", so when I went to Costa and asked for just regular coffee that wasn't espresso, the guy explained Americano to me. In London at least, I tend to find the baristas are not originally from the UK, so I can see there being a language barrier to "black coffee" (they may be thinking 'But all coffee is black! What other colour is there?')

I made the mistake of bringing over some American products to help "ease the transition." What is happened is that my step sons consume it all because it's American. Thank goodness they don't like chunky peanut butter and I will be unhappy when I run out of Crest toothpaste. My DH always orders Americano coffee. I think that's as close as you can get.

DB gets a bit upset at me because I won't do vinegar on chips, and I don't like brown sauce (I think I almost got broken up with over that one, LOL! KIDDING!). He gives me weird looks because I'll dip plain, original potato crisps in ketchup (really, it's just like dipping french fries!), but he's since started doing that himself. Hahahaha.

I like brown sauce, but I can't bring myself to put vinegar on my chips. I've tried it multiple times and my taste buds don't like it. A few weeks back, DH and I were ordering takeout and we decided to get chips. The guy making them finished cooking them, put them in a box, picked up the vinegar and asked if we wanted any. DH said yes, because he always gets it and completely forgot that I loathed it. When I realized what happened, the man was already dousing the chips in vinegar and I was literally like "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" DH was in the doghouse for that one. 

Oh man! I can never get enough vinegar on my chips. Mmmmmm.

I like brown sauce, but I can't bring myself to put vinegar on my chips. I've tried it multiple times and my taste buds don't like it.

I thought you were from Massachusetts?  We always had vinegar on our fish and chips growing up in MA!!  I never realised it was a New England/British thing until I moved to other parts of the US.  

Salt 'n' sauce on my chips please 
(Not that I have proper chips very often!!!!)

I thought you were from Massachusetts?  We always had vinegar on our fish and chips growing up in MA!!  I never realised it was a New England/British thing until I moved to other parts of the US.  

Salt 'n' sauce on my chips please 
(Not that I have proper chips very often!!!!)

I'm just really picky about my food. I like everything "plain." I don't even like ketchup on my chips. Just salt please. I'll even eat them without salt.   I'm all about the New England Boiled Dinner, Yankee Pot Roast and Fluffernutter though!  

I've not really found any ranch I like over here at all and like you I'm a "dipper".  I've never made my own but heard it's good.  I skip those little packets of Hidden Valley mix at the supermarket and go for the large 16oz size.  I've found them at Sam's club but I think you can also order them online (Sam's stopped selling them for awhile which equated to near crisis for me).  We don't make as much dressing as much anymore but use it as a seasoning on other things.  To make the dressing you just mix some milk and mayo then put as much powder as you like to taste. 

Also we have a regular drip coffee maker at our house and get ground coffee from Costco, filters too.  I sometimes miss having the flavored coffee beans like caramel or turtle roasted right into the bean though.

3. I don't know what they call general or sesame chicken when ordering Chinese food here...

I have been lamenting sesame chicken since I started visiting a few years ago.  Living here for a few months now, and still no luck.  They must not know what they're missing!  It's one thing I miss, along with Mexican, of course.  In Florida, I was used to having a big choice of Mexican- and Cuban-style food.

4. I miss outlets in the bathroom.

Yes.  I'm mostly used to it now, but it is pretty annoying.  It makes sense for them to be there.  I don't want to dry my crazy-thick hair or charge my electric toothbrush in the bedroom.  Bah.

7. People are so dog friendly! I miss mine terribly and cannot WAIT to bring them over. How do I train them to press "Answer with video" on a touch screen so I can Skype them? Lol, kidding.

I feel this.  What kind of dogs do you have?  I'm a dog nerd but it's a cat I'm hoping to bring over... a weird one that acts like a dog.  Miss her like crazy.  Last night my husband gave me a little plush black cat with big green eyes like hers.  :)  You would not believe how many black cats have found their way to me since I've been here, btw... it's spooky!  Good thing this isn't Scotland back in the old days or I'd be drowned as a witch for sure.  Haha.



Regarding salt and vinegar on fish and chips... send 'em my way.  I'll have brown sauce on my chips in small amounts, too.  What grosses me out is my husband dipping his chips in mayonnaise!  bleughghghghauuguh.  As for me, if it turns out with garden peas instead of mushy peas, god have mercy...  >:|

I have to say being a black coffee specialist (love it!) and having lived here all me life I have never had a problem. I just ask for a black coffee I suppose it gets a bit more confusing when you get into espresso, double espressos and Americano t
erritory just play safe and ask for a black coffee. If they don't known what you mean maybe they should be working in another job