The sweet taste of home

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Posted at 12:15PM, 26 June 2009 by Emily Boyce - Acting sub-editor, bbcgoodfood.com

It's strange the things you crave when you're abroad. Beyond EastEnders and orderly queues, of course. I spent a year in Turin, northern Italy, in 2005, and though I loved doing the Italian thing of going to markets and cooking beautiful fresh veg, there were times when I longed for the familiar tastes of home - or for something a bit more exotic than pasta. In Italy, it's pretty difficult to track down a decent Indian restaurant, or to find the ingredients for a curry in a supermarket.

I was overjoyed once to come across baked beans in a little shop near the main market. I don't normally even like baked beans, but they were somehow reassuring and I cleared them out of their supply. A friend who lived in Spain had a similar experience with Branston pickle - she needed to keep a jar on hand in the kitchen, even if she never used it. Marmite, salt and vinegar crisps and ketchup can also suddenly become essential.

There are so many cows in France, where's the fresh milk going?

Other things I missed were ordinary white bread for toast and sandwiches (ciabatta's all well and good, but it's already hard and dry when you buy it, then by the next day it's inedible) and proper cups of tea made with PG Tips and fresh, cold, non UHT milk. Indeed, a straw poll around the office reveals dairy products are one of the most troublesome areas. As one of the cookery team pondered, there are so many cows in France, where's the fresh milk going? Into all those 246 + varieties of cheese, I suppose. None of which is good old Cheddar. And cookery assistant Jemma regularly gets calls from readers abroad desperately seeking equivalents of double cream.

Then there's cooking equipment. The team report feeling stranded without a good sharp knife, a mini blender, a trusty set of versatile butter knives and an oven that can be relied upon. In Italy, I couldn't believe no one had an electric kettle - no way was I resorting to boiling water in a pan, however charmingly rustic that might be.

Which ingredients, dishes and gadgets do you miss when you're away from home?

Comments

41-47 of 47 comments

Nadia Rouis

29 July, 11:30PM
Nadia Rouis

I've just had a good laugh: thanks a lot! Beeing French and having spent lots of time in Italy (whit Italians) I could imagine your blind-deaf reporter. I'd be very happy to join your team on an investigating reporting (not much further than the corner supermarket) to show you all that!

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MindyaCalling

31 July, 2:50PM
MindyaCalling

Living in Bulgaria, it has taken a long time to find replacement or ingredients for day to day living. Many say you are in Bulgaria now so eat what Bulgarians eat. I say I have enough trying to adapt to my new life and if I fancy sausage casserole, well so be it. There are shops that sell British Brands, you do pay highly, but if you need SR Flour and cant get on with the local brand, what the hell. As time goes on you find the things you are looking for but labled in Bulgarian. Thank goodness for Google Translate! We keep a list of needs, and when the family are coming out they bring the shop with them. Last week I had Tea Bags, Allspice and Sage and Onion Stuffing ( I know I can make my own but PAXO just is a treat.) We get Cornflakes and Salad Cream but as I said....Â£3.50 for a bottle of Heinz Salad cream...Mmmmmm. Tried to make my own, just not the same. But hey its great to try.

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workhome

8 August, 12:58PM
workhome

after many years of going abroard i came to the conclusion that to miss things I use regulary is something i dont do. I take tomato sauce, brown sauce, my herbs, mustard,teabags, coffee and sugar, tins of beans with me. I think well, if i can fit all those sun creams, insect sprays, electric desk fan,sun umberella,sandles and flipflops, etc etc into my luggage and those of my family, i can fit the "important stuff" in also! I like the taste of the milk abroard too!

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Peppers

3 September, 3:33PM
Peppers

I spent several years in Asia and missed a good many things from home, but what amazed me most was that when I finally returned home I found myself missing countless Asian products I had become accustemed to using. There's absolutly no pleasing me now.

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angel mags

27 October, 10:55AM
angel mags

well what can i say i have been living in the southern part of sweden for the last year as my husband works here. I am missing my gravy BISTO! I do try and make my own but it does not come out that well plus there veg is not great in certain supermarkets they wrap things in cling film the veg sweats and you have to use it up quickly so i sometimes by frozen. Have found some English teabags so that's a bounus!

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lili

28 October, 5:15AM
lili

How do I track <a href="http://www.mytobling.com/"><strong>Cheap Ugg Boots</strong></a>?

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squaccy

10 November, 5:55PM
squaccy

I'm actually part French, living in England :) So when I'm in England, I miss French cheese, the vast range of dried pasta, DECENT meals in a tin and the vast range of fruit and veg available everywhere. Though when I am in France, I miss the bread, French bread that's similar to hovis is vile. I can't say I miss Tea because I drink herbal Tea and most things you can get in England you can get in France too! :) Oh, and I love the French Crisps and the fact they sell Vanilla Coke :)

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