How Britain discovered a taste for Tapas
#1

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddr...for-tapas.html
M&S sell paella? Huh? Amazed too that Manchego cheese is selling in Tesco; plenty of good home produced cheese to choose from. However, for me the best import in UK supermarkets is not a food, but Cava.
The Spanish invasion is gathering pace. Several supermarkets report that paella, tapas and chorizo are outselling Italian favourites such as lasagne and prosciutto. And the speed of the change will be causing sleepless nights in Tuscany and Umbria: Asda says that sales of chorizo (as slices and sausages) are up 21 per cent on last year, with Parma ham up only 8 per cent; Tesco reports that Manchego cheese is growing each year by 9 per cent, while Parmesan plods at 1 per cent. At M&S, paella is now more popular than lasagne – not to mention British pies.


#2

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddr...for-tapas.html
M&S sell paella? Huh? Amazed too that Manchego cheese is selling in Tesco; plenty of good home produced cheese to choose from. However, for me the best import in UK supermarkets is not a food, but Cava.
M&S sell paella? Huh? Amazed too that Manchego cheese is selling in Tesco; plenty of good home produced cheese to choose from. However, for me the best import in UK supermarkets is not a food, but Cava.

Graham

#3

Well yes, but I can't see the point of UK supermarkets importing them when there are so many good British (and Irish) cheeses. I mean, I've often sought out chorizo or a nice jamon serrano, but I don't generally go looking for Spanish cheeses in the UK. Even Cabrales (for me the King of Spanish cheeses) - we already have Stilton, which is more than a match. Still, the Brits eat French or Italian cheeses, so why not?

#4
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Nothing new, I've been buying pork and olive oil for years.

#5










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was buying (and using) olive oil 15 years before I went to Spain.
can't understand why (in Granada) it isn't possible to get any olive oil based margarine type stuff. Sainsburys do a really good own label one but can't seem to get a home delivery for some reason.
can't understand why (in Granada) it isn't possible to get any olive oil based margarine type stuff. Sainsburys do a really good own label one but can't seem to get a home delivery for some reason.

#6










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Well yes, but I can't see the point of UK supermarkets importing them when there are so many good British (and Irish) cheeses. I mean, I've often sought out chorizo or a nice jamon serrano, but I don't generally go looking for Spanish cheeses in the UK. Even Cabrales (for me the King of Spanish cheeses) - we already have Stilton, which is more than a match. Still, the Brits eat French or Italian cheeses, so why not?
not too sure about the Stiltons with fruit and chilli in them - seems an adulteration
Generally seems to be Tesco who are pushing all these "foreign" cheeses - not that many people will come away from their usual plastic cheddar and it increases the carbon use in getting it to the UK
When in Rome etc - eat good local cheeses, they are much better for not having travelled a few thousand miles in chilled\frozen containers. What's next - cheese from the Philipines or some monastry up a mountain in Tibet ??

#7
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must agree about Stilton - a king of cheeses. And soaked in port for a month or so
not too sure about the Stiltons with fruit and chilli in them - seems an adulteration
Generally seems to be Tesco who are pushing all these "foreign" cheeses - not that many people will come away from their usual plastic cheddar and it increases the carbon use in getting it to the UK
When in Rome etc - eat good local cheeses, they are much better for not having travelled a few thousand miles in chilled\frozen containers. What's next - cheese from the Philipines or some monastry up a mountain in Tibet ??
not too sure about the Stiltons with fruit and chilli in them - seems an adulteration
Generally seems to be Tesco who are pushing all these "foreign" cheeses - not that many people will come away from their usual plastic cheddar and it increases the carbon use in getting it to the UK
When in Rome etc - eat good local cheeses, they are much better for not having travelled a few thousand miles in chilled\frozen containers. What's next - cheese from the Philipines or some monastry up a mountain in Tibet ??
You are wrong about cheddar. A good Cheddar is great. It's generally the imported stuff that's crap.
Soft cheeses are Ok but loads of snobbery about French cheeses.

#8










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My snobbery is cheese should breath, it is after all an organic entity, sealing poor quality "cheddar" makes it worse not better.
Many French cheeses are made from goat's milk which is a different taste entirely and can be stronger than cow's. I have found several versions of Camembert in the same supermarket.
Britain has had a number of really good cheeses but they are decades behind with the PDO|PGO system so all sorts of rubbish is being offered to an uninterested public.

#9
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My least favourite cheese is Edam that to me is so bland as to be pointless.

#10

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddr...for-tapas.html
M&S sell paella? Huh? Amazed too that Manchego cheese is selling in Tesco; plenty of good home produced cheese to choose from. However, for me the best import in UK supermarkets is not a food, but Cava.
M&S sell paella? Huh? Amazed too that Manchego cheese is selling in Tesco; plenty of good home produced cheese to choose from. However, for me the best import in UK supermarkets is not a food, but Cava.



#13
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#15

Many spaniards now living in UK so why should the country not import food them as well all the Asian Indian Polish markets etc
Spain does it for the British etc The british sellers need to learn more about the products they are selling though, they are mis selling Jamon in some stores.
Spain does it for the British etc The british sellers need to learn more about the products they are selling though, they are mis selling Jamon in some stores.
