London-based Americans, help!

[blamebrampton]

And London-familiar Americans, plus non-Americans in London who like American food or have had dalliances with our Colonial cousins …

Does anyone know of good shops for American groceries in London? I've already listed the American Food Store, Panzer's, Bentall's and Ocado's online shop, but any hints will be gratefully received. A dear friend is doing a lovely Thanksgiving favour for some of her local Americans and needs direction!

I, on the other hand, need typing elves and independent wealth. Thanks to everyone who has commented and voted on the Lavender poll, I'll be back with you as soon as I have slain my last act. Possibly with a chainsaw at this rate … Much love to all!

Comments

Hmmm...

[wemyss.livejournal.com]

The Whole Foods in Cheltenham have such things as sweet-potato mash and pecan pie; I shd think the same shd be true of Kensington and Piccadilly and Clapham and All That. Oddly, it doesn't seem as if al-Harrods are in on it; and obvs Fortnum shd never care to. This lot are in Ladbroke Grove: http://www.usafoodstore.co.uk/.

Re: Hmmm...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I've had some luck with the Ladbroke Grove shop in the past, but v pricey. Whole Foods seem to be good for the foodier parts of her endeavour, fingers crossed the chemically confronting ingredients will all be stocked at one of the others.

American sweet-potato mash scares me: my version is just sweet potato roasted with the skin on until it is caramelised, then beaten with a little milk or olive oil depending on what it's going with, maybe a little cinnamon or nutmeg if it needs a spicy edge, black pepper and salt if it doesn't. The ill-considered American boyfriend once fed me a version out of a can and another homemade containing marshmallow. And he was genuinely surprised that I couldn't see myself marrying him.

[winstonmom.livejournal.com]

Reg. you America boyfriend: food taste can be a deal breaker. If the now husband of mine hadn't conceal from me his dislike for pasta, I would not have become his wife!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

HEE! Mine hates dried fruit, which is usually not such an issue, but 17 years without Christmas pudding … They're not stupid, they can sense the things to hide until it is too late (you never find out about the dirty socks under the chairs habit until you move in together …)

Re: Hmmm...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That casserole sounds like a sweet that I was served in East Africa (I think Kenya, but I might be wrong, it was a long time ago!) that was really delicious.

I know there's proper cooking in the US, because my hippy friends over there all make delicious things. It's just that the other cooking is so remarkably terrifying!

(Of course, I say this coming from a heritage that has blood pudding on one side and witchetty grubs on the other …)

Re: Hmmm...

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

A potential ceased to be potential when I invited them for dinner to a nice Persian restaurant and they confessed that they had eaten beforehand because they hadn't tried Persian before and hadn't been sure that they would like it.

I was taken for dinner to a "soul food" restaurant in New York once, and there was sugar in everything, including the sweet potatoes and the boiled cabbage (!!!). The iced tea was so sweet as to be literally undrinkable. I truly don't know how they bear it.

Re: Hmmm...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I will say to my chap's credit that he was very good about hunting out 'unusual' restaurants I might like and was a big fan of Persian and Turkish, bless his cotton socks. But he wanted to live in Santa Cruz.

And GOOD GRIEF! Eat AFTER if you don't like it, you can make it into a jokey bonding experience. That's just rubbish dating etiquette. I hear you on the sugar: I feel certain I would find it very easy to be super-healthy if I lived in the US as all the processed food is so unpalatable.

They have some brilliant produce and organic foods, though, I suppose that's to make up for the super-crap things.