Taste the UK
We are Helena and Malena, two Spanish students currently studying at Nottingham Trent University and doing our placement at OK Student.
In this post, we will introduce you to our #foodproject, our first task as part of our OK Student journey. To put you in context, we’ve been visiting different places and gathering information about the food in the UK.
Like many other people, we have always thought this country had nothing to offer in terms of food (wasn’t the best option when talking about food). Indeed, we were scared of not finding some Mediterranean products that are indispensables for us such as fruit and vegetables. But after being here for almost 6 months we have realized that this preconception is far from the truth.
Based on our personal experience and the information collected throughout the research, we have decided to focus on two different aspects, restaurants and supermarkets.
RESTAURANTS AND PLACES TO EAT
When it comes to eating out, we can found two main categories: typical English dishes and international food restaurants.
To begin with, we went to The Cod’s Scallops, the first UK’s fish and chip shop. We tried there two different fresh fish dishes: the typical deep-fried cod served with chips and an alternative option, salmon with the same side. Even though we are not big fans of fish, we really liked it. We’ll definitely go there again!
Moreover, there are loads of places to eat offering food from every part of the world, from Chinese to Italian food. We would like to recommend some of them:
Annie’s Burger Shack, serving a great variety of creative American burgers, with both veggie and vegan options.
Then, Zizzi, one of the most popular restaurant chains in the UK, it’s a safe alternative for everyone, as it offers delicious Italian meals with antipasti option.
If you love exotic food, Wagamama is a must! It brings the pan-Asian cooking style to the UK.
Last but not least, you won’t leave the UK without having been almost 100 times at Wetherspoon. The favourite students’ pub allows you to hang out with friends and have a meal and drinks for a few pounds.
Besides, we advise you to leave room for the dessert, with places offering delicious sweet courses like The pudding pantry, Heavenly desserts or Doughnotts you won’t regret it.
SUPERMARKETS & COOKING AT HOME
Going abroad is the best opportunity for learning to be more independent. With independence, responsibilities appear and learning how to cook is a crucial one! As far as we know, you will develop and improve your cooking skills, or at least you will try.
Although it may seem difficult, we can tell that it is not that hard. The United Kingdom has a variety of supermarkets where you can find every ingredient you need for your dishes. Here are a few suggestions:
Aldi and Lidl: These supermarkets are located across the UK with a “smart discount” business model, where you can find good quality-price items.
Tesco: being the biggest supermarket chain in the UK and one of the biggest multinationals, On its superstores there is a wide range of products from many well-known brands plus the cheapest own white label. Besides, it’s always around the corner with its Tesco express version for quick purchases.
Asda: High-quality brands at affordable prices. Free home delivery which makes it super convenient for big or heavy purchases.
Poundland: our favourite supermarket in the UK, where you can always find great deals and bargains. Once you get in, you can’t go out/stop purchasing whims.
These supermarkets saved our lives. Here is one funny anecdote: We thought that there won’t be any olive oil in the UK, and even if there was, it would be quite expensive. Surprisingly, we were wrong, we found it at a very affordable price, even cheaper than in Spain.
Besides, there are also some local and street markets where you can buy fruits and vegetables as well as fresh fish and meat. As it is widely known, these shops stand out for the great variety of products offered and its quality. Nevertheless, they usually open in the morning, that’s why we recommend you not to leave shopping for the very last minute.
In addition, with the objective of collecting more information about the topic, we interviewed people from different countries. Like us, they always find a way of purchasing their preferred products. While some of them buy at the places we mentioned before, there are others that go to special shops that sell very specific products like the Oriental Mart in Nottingham or the ScandiKitchen in London.
As you can see, there is a broad array of possibilities for enjoying food in the UK. Whether you prefer eating your favourite meals or you dare to taste new courses, there is always an option for everyone. So, set food prejudices aside, and start thinking about giving a try to the UK!
