izzi81

Weird question! I'm going back to the UK for a visit in a couple of weeks. My dad visited us last year and was very happy to find, and eat, clam chowder. He spent a year in the US when he was a student and loved eating it. So I'm wondering if I'd be able to take a it back to the UK with me as a silly present? I've searched online and can find nothing about soup, or tinned products. Any ideas?

BristolUK

A quick google shows a few options available on Amazon UK and a version available in Waitrose and Sainsburys.

Not the same as a Canadian Tin as a gift, admittedly, but it's available.

BritInParis

Depends how you pronounce it.


https://www.gov.uk/bringing-food-ani...s-into-uk/food

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...ug_2014_v4.pdf

izzi81

I looked at both those links, neither of them really answer the question (I suspect I'm going to have to phone Defra to get something definitive). They say you can bring in clams, so that doesn't seem to be an issue, but what's not clear is the 'dairy' part. They say no dairy products at all, but chocolate is fine so I've no idea what their definition of 'dairy' is.

BristolUK - I'd rather bring him back something 'authentic' if I can, than buy a Sainsburys version... it's not quite the same!

BristolUK

Yes I understand. I was just thinking that if he misses it from his time in the US, he needn't.

If all else fails, buy a Canadian tin, clean it up and take it with you. Then transfer the contents of a Sainsburys tin and pretend you just opened it.

Pizzawheel

A campbells clam chowder is about $2 a can; so I'd just pack half dozen and if the guy decides to get picky, just bin it.

Canned foods are normally considered OK but there is meat/ fish in chowder...

withabix

Perfectly acceptable versions are available in the UK - better than Canadian Campbells varieties (regular or chunky). That seems to be full of MSG or something - it has the same effect on me anyway.

Freshly-made clam chowder doesn't.

Oink

Yes, tell him to make his own or get someone to make it for him. Its a piece of wee to make if you get quality ingredients.

izzi81

"Hi Dad! Great to see you! I haven't seen you since you visited back in October last year. Sorry you've not been well, but I'm glad you're feeling better and hope you had a good birthday last week. Part of my present to you is to say *make your own clam chowder!*"

hmmm yeah that'll work, how nice

scilly

just as a matter of interest ............ which clam chowder did he have in the US?

the white creamy one or the tomato broth-based Manhattan Clam Chowder

We came across the latter more often in the US in the late 60s

izzi81

It was the white creamy one. He spent a year at university at Cornell, so I'm guessing that's close enough to New England to get the New England style!

Oink

You're welcome.

Sainsbury's do a seafood chowder. Get a case of it delivered to him.

orly

Buy some here. Remove the labels. Buy some in the UK. Replace the labels.

BEVS

So where did your Dad buy the clam chowder that he so enjoyed?

When you make or purchase a chowder to eat , each one is a little bit different. I am not talking tinned versions here.

It is possible to buy your own fresh clams in the UK and so make your own chowder for him. Is this not an option ?