Thread: Western Foods You Miss and WANT

Maybe I am Maybe not.

For one moment, lets stop thinking about this and start thinking about what Western foods we would like to be able to purchase at places like Foodland and Villa Supermarket.

Here is a list of food items that I really miss:

grits,
beef stew in can,
beef stew spice mix,
polenta mix,
cornbread mix (not Jiffy),
ready to bake biscuits,
tamales in can (or frozen)
chile in can (or frozen)
Saltine crackers
corn meal
chocolate/vanilla pudding mix
really good beef (not Thai beef that sucks)...top quality ground beef, steaks, etc.
real pork chops w/ bone (never have seen them in Thailand)

What about you? Yes, you!

I'm from a rural New Zealand background

cue: sheep jokes etc

What I miss is a bloody good bloody steak. The kind you don't see in a supermarket, maybe in a luxury butcher, the prime stuff a farmer can keep from home-killed stock.

It's been a long time. Any beef I have ever had here has been barely acceptable.

I used to be a chocolate fiend, the dark 72% quality stuff. Had a friend bring me some over early this year and I could barely stomach it, seem to have lost my taste for sugar, sad.

And maybe you can get this in Bangkok, but never found in places I've been here - good cheese, not the processed plastic in slices, good dry tasty cheddar.

Wensleydale, Gromit?

Funny..i was just sitting here tonight thinking, what will cook up tonight..i think i,ll go start and chop an onion to sautee with a nub o butter and a crushed garlic clove, and then throw on the nice big wedge of inch think ANGUS RIB FILLET, take it out whilst still a little pink in the middle, and then dump a can of baked beans in the juices..i know; sad is,nt it? but then again you blokes have to suffer all those things that ..WE..who loiter on the sidelines get to enjoy


whoops...forgot the pepper

^ bastard!
as bad as my brother currently in UK with his drop-by-drop descriptions of various dark ales he has been sampling. That should be on my list.

[QUOTE="Diatonic"]chile in can (or frozen)[/QUOTE

Originally Posted by Diatonic

real pork chops w/ bone (never have seen them in Thailand)

You can get both at Foodland. I buy both every week. The chile is Hormel, and right now they only have pork but its damned good. Pick up some Danitos flour tortillas as well.

The chops I get run about 250 grams each.

Originally Posted by nedwalk

nice big wedge of inch think ANGUS RIB FILLET, take it out whilst still a little pink in the middle, and then dump a can of baked beans in the juices..

Jesus Fuckin Christ.

Deli style sliced turkey breast
Kosher pickles
Thomas's English Muffins
Rye bread

Again Humbert they are not as good at Thomas's but you can get English Muggins at Foodland. I think I may have been here too long.

^They fall apart in the toaster cuz they have been frozen and refrozen so many times. And yes, I have been here too long.

I doubt I miss anything
however when I go back I do enjoy a loaf of bread, cheese and ale

Originally Posted by Humbert

^They fall apart in the toaster cuz they have been frozen and refrozen so many times. And yes, I have been here too long.

The ones I buy are baked by Foodland and have never been frozen. I agree they are not as moist as the real thing.

This thread has cheered me up a little

I am flying out to EU tonight for business, first time back in the west for over ten years, and it has given me inspiration for meals to eat I have not head this millennium.

Lots of great responses thus far.

The comment about the great steak........TORTURE

I had no idea you could get "real pork chops" and Hormel chile at Foodland. Thanks for that tip.

Interesting that Ghengis61 does not like the beef in Thailand......me too. I can't eat it. Can't even get close enough to smell it (barf).

I forgot to add to my list: Frito lay corn chips (never have seen them in Thailand, but did see them at Lucky Food in Cambodia).

Got munchies? One can Hormel chile, chopped onions, pour over frito corn chips, top with cheddar cheese.........that is so good it probably should be

One more thing: simple pie shells (for American pie, not the Brit stuff).

Originally Posted by nedwalk

Funny..i was just sitting here tonight thinking, what will cook up tonight..i think i,ll go start and chop an onion to sautee with a nub o butter and a crushed garlic clove, and then throw on the nice big wedge of inch think ANGUS RIB FILLET, take it out whilst still a little pink in the middle, and then dump a can of baked beans in the juices..i know; sad is,nt it? but then again you blokes have to suffer all those things that ..WE..who loiter on the sidelines get to enjoy


whoops...forgot the pepper

Only an inch thick?Should be twice that.Strewth, i bet it's crap Aussie meat too??

How can you destroy a steak with baked beans?

you wont find Fritos but you can get a damn good corn chip from Danitos. I am doing just what you suggested tonight. I have half a can of Hormel chili, have a bag of Danitos chips, cheese, and some diced onions. Its all going in together. Then under the broiler for long enough to melt the cheese.

I am 53 and left home at 17. I have worked all over the world and the only thing you want for is what is not available where you are ( If that makes sense) and I have got over it.

Craving?..Not quite, but occaissionally I would love a few half pints of draught Tanglefoot.

Generally speaking though, when I have given my sons a list of things I have wanted them to bring me on their annual visits the items have ended up not meeting my expectations and so I have stopped asking.


Perhaps craving for certain foods is a subliminal message for some..

Haggis. Nowt better than a nice roll with sliced fried haggis and brown sauce.

Originally Posted by Jeremia

Perhaps craving for certain foods is a subliminal message for some..

dont think its that deep. Hunger is more likely.

Originally Posted by aging one

Originally Posted by Jeremia

Perhaps craving for certain foods is a subliminal message for some..

dont think its that deep. Hunger is more likely.

If you are hungry you eat what is available...To be able to choose the food we eat is something we should be gratefull for. To have multiple choices of food available and yet want something else is indeed something else..

Originally Posted by aging one

Originally Posted by Jeremia

Perhaps craving for certain foods is a subliminal message for some..

dont think its that deep. Hunger is more likely.

Agree with that.....it is not so Freudian......just missing foods that you grew up eating....Mom's cooking, even better Grandmom's cooking.

I think Thais no doubt feel the same way after they move abroad.

So, you are making a feast tonight: Hormel chile, onions, cheese, corn chips....warmed up to perfection.

Serve it under glass with a rose and the best champagne

Now that I know where to get Hormel chile, it might be out of stock in the future.

Hormel also makes tamales. They are not delicious, but will do when desperate.

You can dump hormel chile on top of the tamales, top that with cheese and onions.

There is a pattern here.

[quote=Diatonic;1533152]

Originally Posted by aging one

Originally Posted by Jeremia

Perhaps craving for certain foods is a subliminal message for some..

There is a pattern here.

Redarding my original post..


Yes I agree. You haven't cut your Mother's apron strings and you are incapable of fully integrating into whatever society exists wherever you may live..

A lot of the things on the list you can just make, especially the canned stuff. And it will probably taste better

Originally Posted by Diatonic

grits,
Cant help you there

beef stew in can,
Make it

beef stew spice mix,
Not sure what that is but you must be able to get the original spices and then mix them, Makro have a great Spice Room

polenta mix,
I think I've seen that in Carefour

cornbread mix (not Jiffy),
Make it from a recipe

ready to bake biscuits,
You can get loads of biscuit mixes in Tops

tamales in can (or frozen)
Not sure what that is

chile in can (or frozen)
Make Chili

Saltine crackers
Sure you can get them at Villa or Paragon Food Court

corn meal
You can get that, think I have some

chocolate/vanilla pudding mix
Tops

really good beef (not Thai beef that sucks)...top quality ground beef, steaks, etc. real pork chops w/ bone (never have seen them in Thailand)
They have loads of good imported meats at Villa, The sukhumvit branch is a bit smelly but the newer ones have great meats

For me, I really missed Jelly Bellys but yesterday 22 400g boxes got delivered to my place. I thought it was a fantastic mistake by the delivery guy but it turned out to be for a Canadian Embassy party. They gave me a box and on the back it says Product of Thailand so now I'm sorted for them

Originally Posted by Jeremia

Yes I agree. You haven't cut your Mother's apron strings and you are incapable of fully integrating into whatever society exists wherever you may live..

what is your trip? Someone does not agree with you and you get vindictive? I am older than you at 58, left home at 18 so lets consider it square, you dont have to be nong to me.

I get hungry for the same things as diatonic. If you grew up in a warm family and enjoyed the preparation and eating of a big meal it was fun. Especially at the holiday when your inlaws and grandparents were around.

You have your theory eh mate? Dia and I have another. Having a crab curry, with sun dried and baked pork as a side dish, and a dish of mixed veggies as well tonight.

Now when I go back to the states for a longer stay I crave that as do my kids. I have a hunger for it is just another way of saying craving. Your thoughts on craving to me are more like for drugs, something you need. I dont need it dude. Went years without because the ingredients werent here. Well now they are. Cool?

Originally Posted by aging one

you wont find Fritos but you can get a damn good corn chip from Danitos. I am doing just what you suggested tonight. I have half a can of Hormel chili, have a bag of Danitos chips, cheese, and some diced onions. Its all going in together. Then under the broiler for long enough to melt the cheese.

Sliced Jalapenos would really make it great.