Only 3 things I miss from California/USA. You?

It's one of my good friends as well. When we were working together I'd pick him up a donut on Saturday mornings if I got one for myself.

I read that first sentence and thought you meant the cruller was your friend. Made perfect sense to me!

I'd settle for a bag of Sweet Sixteen powdered.

I love those as well.  One of the main ingredients is (or at least it was at one time) titanium dioxide.  Which is the stuff that makes paint white as well as that really white sun blocker people put on their face.   I never thought you could eat the stuff until I read the ingredients on the sweet 16 bag.

I love those as well.  One of the main ingredients is (or at least it was at one time) titanium dioxide.  Which is the stuff that makes paint white as well as that really white sun blocker people put on their face.   I never thought you could eat the stuff until I read the ingredients on the sweet 16 bag.

That powder was funky! It felt like damp talc. Like platelets were forming or something. Eating them in a car was tricky.

That powder was funky! It felt like damp talc. Like platelets were forming or something. Eating them in a car was tricky.

Exactly like damp talc!  But sugary.

I like it here, But I do miss a fair bit:
1) Affordable craft beer (I love American stouts & Porters). English ale can be very good, but I am a craft beer snob. It is a very expensive hobby here.
2) Buffalo Wings (The stuff here sucks)
3) Actually, good casual dining (Casual chains in the UK are awful and ridiculously priced) Some pubs offer great food of course, but that depends on where you live
4) Driving in the US. Far from perfect in the states, but I hate driving in this country. Too much traffic calming nonsense, and its very unfriendly if you don't know where you are going.
5) Movie theater popcorn. The stuff here is trash. I lived in Texas and really miss Alamo Draft house.
6) Convenience: Pretty obvious, convenience isn't as important here.
7) Easy access to European products in local markets. It's easier to get things like Buffalo Mozzerella and San Marzano tomatoes in the states than it is here. (Unless you're in London, I'm sure)
Target shooting- I miss my rifles
9) Cocktails that are reasonably priced and actually contain some booze
10) The sun

There are pretty compelling advantages here though
1) The NHS (while it lasts)
2) The proximity to Europe (When we can afford to go)
3) The police are so much better here. So many US cops are awful
4) A pretty low probability of getting shot (though it does happen here still)
5) Great produce.The eggs blow away any I've ever had in the states
6) It is a gorgeous country. On a nice cool sunny day, theres few places much better IMHO. Little snow, few 90 degree days.
7) History!!!!

I like it here, But I do miss a fair bit:
1) Affordable craft beer (I love American stouts & Porters). English ale can be very good, but I am a craft beer snob. It is a very expensive hobby here.
2) Buffalo Wings (The stuff here sucks)
3) Actually, good casual dining (Casual chains in the UK are awful and ridiculously priced) Some pubs offer great food of course, but that depends on where you live
4) Driving in the US. Far from perfect in the states, but I hate driving in this country. Too much traffic calming nonsense, and its very unfriendly if you don't know where you are going.
5) Movie theater popcorn. The stuff here is trash. I lived in Texas and really miss Alamo Draft house.
6) Convenience: Pretty obvious, convenience isn't as important here.
7) Easy access to European products in local markets. It's easier to get things like Buffalo Mozzerella and San Marzano tomatoes in the states than it is here. (Unless you're in London, I'm sure)
Target shooting- I miss my rifles
9) Cocktails that are reasonably priced and actually contain some booze
10) The sun

There are pretty compelling advantages here though
1) The NHS (while it lasts)
2) The proximity to Europe (When we can afford to go)
3) The police are so much better here. So many US cops are awful
4) A pretty low probability of getting shot (though it does happen here still)
5) Great produce.The eggs blow away any I've ever had in the states
6) It is a gorgeous country. On a nice cool sunny day, theres few places much better IMHO. Little snow, few 90 degree days.
7) History!!!!

That's a great post because I really like the eggs here as well.  I've been buying duck and goose eggs because I like them big. 

I would have thought that target shooting was plenty available here with all the country gentry being into it. 

I've got mixed feelings about the police being so absent here.  It's a bit funny that they seem to never drive around looking for wrong doers, they just wait for somebody to call them.  Even then, if you call them they spend ages trying to weasel out of coming- "Sounds like a civil matter to me...."  The American cops were always driving around, which was really inconvenient in my nefarious youth.  When I was growing up, if you hadn't had a couple of run ins with the police and at least one night in jail you weren't really living. 

6) Convenience: Pretty obvious, convenience isn't as important here.
7) Easy access to European products in local markets. It's easier to get things like Buffalo Mozzerella and San Marzano tomatoes in the states than it is here. (Unless you're in London, I'm sure)

Yes and yes!! I find that 9-5 is the standard pretty much everywhere, whether you're an office worker or in the shops. There's hardly ever shopping after work and you have to fight everyone else at the weekend.

I miss going to the Italian deli for provolone cheese, or getting some Greek food or Chinese take out! That doesn't exist here. And while I'm certain the American version if Chinese food isn't authentic, I'm highly confident that the British version is even more far fetched from the real deal!

Yes and yes!! I find that 9-5 is the standard pretty much everywhere, whether you're an office worker or in the shops. There's hardly ever shopping after work and you have to fight everyone else at the weekend.

I miss going to the Italian deli for provolone cheese, or getting some Greek food or Chinese take out! That doesn't exist here. And while I'm certain the American version if Chinese food isn't authentic, I'm highly confident that the British version is even more far fetched from the real deal!

You guys must really live in the sticks. Here in the big smoke, we get all the international food we need.  And plenty of what I think is proper Chinese but I'm no expert.  My only complaint is that it's so ridiculously expensive.

I miss going to the Italian deli for provolone cheese, or getting some Greek food or Chinese take out! That doesn't exist here. And while I'm certain the American version if Chinese food isn't authentic, I'm highly confident that the British version is even more far fetched from the real deal!

There are quite a few chinese restaurants/take aways where I live and every single one I have tried just doesn't taste right to me. I get a distinctly Indian food flavour profile from them and it makes me so sad! It's something I eat a few times when I'm back in the states, otherwise I just stick to yoshida's teriyaki sauce that my mom has been nice enough to bring me.

You guys must really live in the sticks. Here in the big smoke, we get all the international food we need.  And plenty of what I think is proper Chinese but I'm no expert.  My only complaint is that it's so ridiculously expensive.

I live in Manchester, which is hardly the sticks, but not London which always seems to get the best of everything. There is China Town which is meant to be exquisite and authentic, but it's not like your local Chinese take out. They're generally expensive restaurants :-/

There are quite a few chinese restaurants/take aways where I live and every single one I have tried just doesn't taste right to me. I get a distinctly Indian food flavour profile from them and it makes me so sad! It's something I eat a few times when I'm back in the states, otherwise I just stick to yoshida's teriyaki sauce that my mom has been nice enough to bring me.

Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of take outs claiming to be Chinese, but it seems to all be the same: Your choice of battered and fried meat with your choice of sugary sauce...and chips. Always chips.

God, I am so tired of chips!  And sweet chilli sauce! 

We ordered from our local takeaway for years before we twigged that they have a table and will happily make everything to eat there.  It's all a thousand times better straight from the kitchen on real plates.  They are actually Malaysian but that's fine with me.  The Gyoza is good, along with a seafood soup called Laksa. 

Shout out to Makken Makken in Twickenham!!!!

The Gyoza is good

Potstickers are the bomb dog. We have a decent little place here in Cambridge.

I thought you North London types were into ramen now...

Potstickers are the bomb dog. We have a decent little place here in Cambridge.

We have Dumpling Monkey in Glasgow... great potstickers!  Plus the Chinese supermarket sells big bags of frozen ones to do at home.

big bags of frozen ones to do at home.

I've got to get a big bag of potstickers!

I live in Manchester, which is hardly the sticks, but not London which always seems to get the best of everything. There is China Town which is meant to be exquisite and authentic, but it's not like your local Chinese take out. They're generally expensive restaurants :-/

You live in Manchester!  Home of my favourite Chinese restaurant EVER!!!
I highly recommend Hunan (1st floor, 19-21 George Street)... it's always full of Chinese people, and although I have never been to China to compare, I'm pretty sure the food is authentic Hunan, and it's unbelievably delicious!