Food like it used to taste... a HUGE discovery...

Alan_Cross

This won't make a lot of sense to those much below 50, anyone truly committed to diehard food budgeting or addicted to processed food/ready meals.

I've just been through a revelation. Invited today to a neighbour's for lunch.

Heavenly hams/cold meats. Vegetables with the kind of distinctive flavour I remember from my youth. EVERYTHING mouthwatering.

Where had she bought it all?

The local Polish shop...

Dear God, I shall never grace Tesco, Lidl or even the local British greengrocer with my presence again. All they serve up is the low grade pap they reckon they can put across the docile, unquestioning Brit consumer.

I'll be going Polish from now on...

thriftwizard

We bought some food in a Polish store in York when DS3 was sizing up universities. Next day, we went back & bought lots more! Delighted to say we've found some down here now.

Caterina

I find some of the Turkish shops rather good, too. But will try a Polish one. Good prices?

Alan_Cross

Caterina wrote: »

I find some of the Turkish shops rather good, too. But will try a Polish one. Good prices?

I went to my local Polski sklep this afternoon and did a price comparison with Tesco where I shop most often. I reckon it was about 15% higher on average, depending on exactly what you're buying.

I reckon that's a small mark up to pay for a gigantic difference in flavour and quality.

All of it's imported from Poland and I mean all - even quite minor items.

Experimentally I've bought a few things and I'm already swooning over the pate and ham.

It seems weird to say this, I know, but even absurd things like garlic taste different and better... the bulb I bought was about 50% more expensive than in Tesco but it packs a punch at least twice as powerful so it'll last twice as long...

Bathory

We have a polish shop nearby so will definitely check them out. I've only ever tried the chocolates that a polish lady once brought into work at Christmas and they were divine, especially the dried plums coated in chocolate. I think they're made by Wedel.

Alan_Cross

Bathory wrote: »

We have a polish shop nearby so will definitely check them out. I've only ever tried the chocolates that a polish lady once brought into work at Christmas and they were divine, especially the dried plums coated in chocolate. I think they're made by Wedel.

You won't believe this but I did buy some Wedel chocolates there. They're huge, liqueur (vodka?) filled things. I've just had one and it was absolutely fantastic. The rest, sadly, will have to wait for Christmas!

Caterina

Thank you, will definitely look out for one. Especially now that you are recommending the boozy chocolate (what's not to like?)!

WantToBeSE

I've always liked the idea of trying things from the Polish Shop. Are they quite friendly and do they mind you buying from there if you aren't Polish?


Sounds like a silly question but I have always wondered.

Alan_Cross

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I've always liked the idea of trying things from the Polish Shop. Are they quite friendly and do they mind you buying from there if you aren't Polish?


Sounds like a silly question but I have always wondered.

All I can say is that I had no trouble at all. 'My' shop is more or less laid out like a mini-supermarket so there's not much speaking to have to do!

The vast majority of their customers are Polish but there was one English lady in there at the time I was in the store. She winked at me and, indicating the stuff on display, said something like 'it's fantastic, isn't it?'

I couldn't agree more - and I suspect they'll be more than happy to gain a larger clientele.

Lizling

I'm pretty sure the girl in my local Polish shop is equally sullen with everyone. They do a nice cheesecake though, so I don't care.

Charlton_King

I've become a regular at our local couple of Polish shops. I buy quite a lot of our food there - for the reason mentioned by the OP - but still use the supermarkets for household essentials: loo rolls, toothpaste etc.

I'm afraid I've lost all faith in British shops to sell decent tasting basic ingredients for meals. Yes, that includes the German discounters.

Polish shops every time. The tomatoes and carrots might be all knobbly and misshapen - but they taste wonderful.