One thing that surprised me was that eggs are not refrigerated in the stores, and are usually placed on a back counter or shelf. I also noticed that some ingredients are a bit harder to find here. I still haven’t found a nice chicken broth.
The food I tried in London is prepared in many different ways depending on where it comes from. There are stricter food regulations here, which help make sure everything is safe and high quality. Many restaurants and cafés prepare food fresh each day. At coffee shops like Blank Street Coffee and Frequency Coffee, drinks are made fresh by baristas and pastries are baked daily. Quick places like Pret A Manger prepare sandwiches, soups, and salads fresh every day, and there's a lovely 3 for 5 pounds ($6.65) meal deal at Tesco where you can access fresh fruits and vegetables plus a sandwich daily. I haven't worked up the nerve to try the prawn sandwich yet, but before I leave, I'm going to!
Yes, much of the food I tried in London is connected to the local environment in different ways!
Many cafés and restaurants try to use fresh and locally sourced ingredients when possible. For example, traditional British foods like tea with scones and cream often use dairy products that come from farms in the United Kingdom, and usually the label will say if it's farm fresh or locally sourced. Grocery stores such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, and Waitrose also sell many foods that are produced in the UK, including vegetables, dairy, and baked goods.
