I bought British food today!

This weekend, I discovered that there was a website featuring British stuff and guess what?  Their store is here in the Dayton area!  So today, off I went to explore this store.  Wise Choice British Foods, Gifts and Candies is on Brandt Pike in Huber Heights.  While there, exploring, we first met Greg who we enjoyed talking to very much.  Then out comes the owner, who at first thought I sounded a bit British.  I kept talking, I'm sure he changed his mind ;)  Here's the owner Harry:

This store was interesting.  It had a wide variety of things from food items to personal hygiene items.  I have had a few British foods while in the UK but also have had many discussions about food with UK friends.    Here's a breakdown of what we bought and why:

Digestive  Biscuits and Butter Crinkle Biscuits

I first learned of Digestives when I went to Portugal.  We started a conversation about them at lunch one day and it was hard to understand what they were because America doesn't have anything like them.  When you hear of them, you think maybe graham crackers but they are nothing like them.  They are like .. hmm... not a cracker... not a cookie....
Then the Crinkle Biscuits are like a cookie to us.  They are sweet and delightful.  One is enough ;)


Heinz Beans

Don't laugh!  Ok, you can laugh.  Yes, Beans.  Has anyone ever seen Heinz Beans in America?  Every time I hear about English breakfasts, they say they had beans.  HUH?  BEANS?  I'm always astonished by this.  So my friend Peter and I had this huge conversation one day about them. I explained that none of the grocery stores I go to sell Heinz beans, and that in fact, Americans don't eat beans for breakfast.  Lunch? Maybe.  Dinner? Yup.  But Breakfast??? nah...
He googled it and discovered I speak the truth.  I showed him various websites that had beans on them and discovered they are quite different here - most of our beans are sweet and the ones shown above are not.   They come in a tomato base and from our talk and a google search, are served on buttered toast for breakfast.  So I bought some to try.  I'll let you know what I think.  But at $3.29 a can, I can't afford to become addicted.  I know they cost less in the UK.

Earl Grey Tea

Earl Grey is my favorite tea of all time.  Why? I love the taste.  I first tried it because I kept hearing Jean Luc Piccard order it on Star Trek when my husband was watching it and decided to give it a try.  I was hooked from the first cup.  So they had Earl Grey on the clearance rack for $6.00.  I wanted to see if it tasted any better than the $3.00 package I buy at Meijer.  I'll let you know.

Ginger Beer

Ok - most people who know me know I do not drink alcohol much.  Well luckily, Ginger Beer is not alcoholic at all.  But wow! it sure packs a punch!  Goes down smooth then hits hard!  You know you have had ginger beer when you drink it!

Here's some more pictures I took of the place.  We had a nice time visiting and learned a lot about Wales (where I'll be visiting for a few months in September).  Here is their website - it's fun to look at their site and see the different offerings from what we are used to in America!
http://www.wisechoiceuk.com/Scripts/default.asp

So if you are in the Dayton area - stop by and say hi to these nice folks!  If not, go check out their website.  It's definitely iinteresting how varied our foods are.  By the way, did you know that CADBURY chocolate here is owned by Hersheys and laiden with wax, yet in the UK, CADBURY is owned by CADBURY and is amazing???   I had a sample yesterday and OMG.  I love bringing home chocolate from Europe for this reason!    *Note: a friend just told me KRAFT bought Cadburys - I'm shocked!!*

Love ~ Peace ~ Happiness
Marianne