What to take on self catering trip

[Sam]

Hi guys

A friend of mine is off to Disney in May this year for the first time and are going self catering in a villa. They asked me what they should take with them and I wondered if you guys had any tips.

As someone who takes everything but the kitchen sink I have given them some advice, but I'm sure many of you will have some better ideas of what to take. I do know someone who takes food with them from the UK, I'm not that bad.

[Britchick]

the only thing i would take from home myself is tea bags, the rest i'd buy out there. You can get tea bags but i think they're rubbish (sorry American friends!)

[Dawn]

We took a jar of Marmite last time and found one in the cupboard when we got to the villa. :doh:

Seriously unless you desperately can't exist without it then you don't need to take anything.

[Kate]

Id imagine its very different to staying in a caravan where you have to take everything - its kind of home from home isnt it? you just need to take the little things - i think i'd take tea bags and probably not much else actually!

[chief]

i take flash wipes to clean with, t bags, marmite and infacare. you can buy all your regular stuff in the foreign section of the supermarkets but it is very expensive, in march 2010 a small botttle of robinsons cordial was $7 !!!

[arkvilla]

Just take teabags if you like tea.

We provide a few dishwasher tables, soap powder ( liquid actually) bin liners etc to last a few days.

You will be able to buy whatever else you need once you arrive. It's really not worth taking it with you as you can pop to Walmart and have a good nosey about and pick up the bits you need while you are in there

Sandra

[Tink]

There is a very comprehensive shop on McLeod (just north of Universal Studios) called International Food Club. It's not a true club, and is open to the public.

If you need something you can't find in the international section of Publix, look there. They have tons of stuff and prices are quite reasonable (including frozen meat options like bangers and pies, ect.).

Tea? There are tons of imported teas here. PG TIps is one of our personal favorites, but if you have one you think you can't live without then bring it along.

Otherwise, simply enjoy the differences between the two countries and seek out some US foods that you will love and miss when you go home! (I have a huge list of Irish foods I can't wait to have again when I return).

[Tinkfan]

:wave: OK I have to ask, what kind of tea do you bring over ?I mean the brand name. We have an extensive Uk department at Wegmans although they are having difficulty with shipping at the moment but we have a huge selection of British and Irish teas. Do they sell Twinings in the UK or Bewleys? What am I missing that I should look for?

[Britchick]

I like Yorkshire tea, yes you can get it there but it's quite expensive, I'd love to hear you say bangers Tink lol:tongue:

[Keith]

I love my tea and I always used to take yorkshire tea or similar with me. I noticed though that the main failure of US tea making in restaurants hasn't normally been the tea rather the preperation. They tend to use hot not boiling water and as we tea drinkers know ;-) it must be made with boiling water. Then add half and half or, gulp, cream, rather than milk and you have a useless cuppa.

When made properly, even normal US lipton/nestea can be ok :yes:

Anyway I agree with everyone else, you don't need to take anything much since you'll be able to purchase it out there without it taking up room/weight in your luggage.

[arkvilla]

:wave: OK I have to ask, what kind of tea do you bring over ?I mean the brand name. We have an extensive Uk department at Wegmans although they are having difficulty with shipping at the moment but we have a huge selection of British and Irish teas. Do they sell Twinings in the UK or Bewleys? What am I missing that I should look for?

I like Cafe Direct Tink, it's a Fairtrade tea ( lots of them are now)

I also like the Twinnings everyday tea

Sandra

[Wendy]

I used to take all sorts of things, but now I don't take anything, not even tea. I like Twinings Irish tea so that's what I buy over there and it's not a bad price either.

I've got my list ready for Publix before we get there as we've got our favourite bread, food etc :lol: Yes I really do write a list on the flight over :D

[Keith]

I've got my list ready for Publix before we get there as we've got our favourite bread, food etc :lol: Yes I really do write a list on the flight over :D

Ah now... bread..... yes hmmm I've not figured that one out yet really.

I do love sandwiches but just can't get "normal" uk bread/butter out there :/

[chief]

i cant live without twinings breakfast tea:tongue:
nice and strong with one sugar please:wiggle:

[Wendy]

Ah now... bread..... yes hmmm I've not figured that one out yet really.

I do love sandwiches but just can't get "normal" uk bread/butter out there :/

What bread do you buy over here :unsure:

We were a bit like that in the beginning and now we have found one that we like. We tend to go for an unsliced fresh loaf as we've found the slices to thin if we ask them to slice it for us. I think without a doubt though, the best bread we have had was from Yalaha Bakery (I know I keep on about it, but I love that place :lol: )

As for butter if we fancy a treat we buy Kerrygold - but it is really expensive. Otherwise I buy Land 'O Lakes salted butter which is quite nice.

[Keith]

What bread do you buy over here :unsure:

Just warburtons normal white. I like it because it doesn't dry out as much as some of the others.



As for butter if we fancy a treat we buy Kerrygold - but it is really expensive. Otherwise I buy Land 'O Lakes salted butter which is quite nice.

ooo ok :)

[arkvilla]

I'm a saddo and take my butter with me ( just the Lurpak spreadable) I pop it in a tupperware sealed box and put it in my case. I also take some extra mature cheddar if we are going out for more than a couple of weeks :embarassed:

I checked the homeland securities site before bringing them and it's fine as long as it's hard cheese and not in hand luggage

Sandra

[uscwest]

What bread do you buy over here :unsure:

We were a bit like that in the beginning and now we have found one that we like. We tend to go for an unsliced fresh loaf as we've found the slices to thin if we ask them to slice it for us. I think without a doubt though, the best bread we have had was from Yalaha Bakery (I know I keep on about it, but I love that place :lol: )

As for butter if we fancy a treat we buy Kerrygold - but it is really expensive. Otherwise I buy Land 'O Lakes salted butter which is quite nice. Wendy I have to laugh because I was going to recommend Kerrygold myself, if you could find it and obviously you can. Yes it is expensive, normally more for 1/2 pound of that than a whole pound of regular butter, but if I'm not using it for cooking that's all I buy to put on food.

[Wendy]

Just warburtons normal white. I like it because it doesn't dry out as much as some of the others.



OK, so you won't like the bakery bread then :lol: Chris said you like plastic bread :lol:(I have slapped him ) I would have thought Publix's own pre-sliced bread that isn't baked in store would be ok, I'm sure Tink will know of something :yes:

[Kate]

I stay bread and butter free when we are in Florida!

[Slowhand]

I've got my list ready for Publix before we get there as we've got our favourite bread, food etc :lol: Yes I really do write a list on the flight over :D

I bet you even try to get your Tesco/Nectar points too when you do your shop. :lol:

[Keith]

OK, so you won't like the bakery bread then :lol: Chris said you like plastic bread :lol:(I have slapped him ) I would have thought Publix's own pre-sliced bread that isn't baked in store would be ok, I'm sure Tink will know of something :yes:

Well 'ang on a mo :lol:

I love fresh bread from the bakery and given the choice I'd have that every day :yes: so if you've some good suggestions where to get that in Orlando I'm up for it!

We eat Warburtons because we reckon it's the best out of the pre-sliced, throw a couple in the freezer pre-sliced stuff in the supermarkets.

I wouldnt eat warburtons over fresh warm bakery bread if given the chance :)

[Britchick]

The atlanta bread company does nice fresh bread- do they have them in Orlando?

[josh.p.]

Ah now... bread..... yes hmmm I've not figured that one out yet really.

I do love sandwiches but just can't get "normal" uk bread/butter out there :/
I found anything with 'Italian' in the title was much more like the bread we have here taste wise :yes: I used to get it at Walgreens because it didn't involve getting a ride off my neighbour to publix/target :yes:

I definitely prefer Publix, much more like the type of supermarket we have in the UK :yes:

[Wendy]

I bet you even try to get your Tesco/Nectar points too when you do your shop. :lol:

No I don't :taunt: I'm just organised :D



Well 'ang on a mo :lol:

I love fresh bread from the bakery and given the choice I'd have that every day :yes: so if you've some good suggestions where to get that in Orlando I'm up for it!

We eat Warburtons because we reckon it's the best out of the pre-sliced, throw a couple in the freezer pre-sliced stuff in the supermarkets.

I wouldnt eat warburtons over fresh warm bakery bread if given the chance :)

:lol: OK :lol:

Now if I was as bad as Terry I'd say :doh: dough :hide:

[Tink]

Keith, get thee to Whole Foods, for heaven's sake! They have several selections of nice butter there, Kerrygold, Lurpak, Plugra, and yes I do like Land O Lakes unsalted for a basic butter to cook with. For spreading there is a lovely goat's milk butter at Whole Foods and a super lovely butter from the Emilio Romana region of Italy.

Bread. Buy the bread from Publix bakery. You can get whole loves or sliced. Or, go to Yalaha where there is real bread. Real, honest to goodness BREAD. :yes:

Remember there is one on Orange Ave in downtown Orlando now too.

Panera tries to do a decent bread, but I don't care for it much.

Pre sliced packaged bread? Nature's Own. :yes:

[Keith]

Brilliant thanks! :) another post to print off :yes:

[Tinkfan]

I love my tea and I always used to take yorkshire tea or similar with me. I noticed though that the main failure of US tea making in restaurants hasn't normally been the tea rather the preperation. They tend to use hot not boiling water and as we tea drinkers know ;-) it must be made with boiling water. Then add half and half or, gulp, cream, rather than milk and you have a useless cuppa.

When made properly, even normal US lipton/nestea can be ok :yes:

Anyway I agree with everyone else, you don't need to take anything much since you'll be able to purchase it out there without it taking up room/weight in your luggage.


I think that the resorts and restaurants do not serve it at a boil because of insurance purposes. There was a large law suit involving McDonalds a few years back when a coustmer spilt her coffee on her lap and got burned.

[Keith]

I think that the resorts and restaurants do not serve it at a boil because of insurance purposes. There was a large law suit involving McDonalds a few years back when a coustmer spilt her coffee on her lap and got burned.

Nah I just think they just don't know they're supposed to. After all, we were at Ruth's chris who serve the plates at xhundred degrees and all those sizzling platters.

I just think a lot of them don't understand that tea is different from coffee in that way.

[josh.p.]

I remember my first trip to Walmart... I was at the Subway there getting a sub, and the British couple in front of me asked for a cup of tea... the guy (who, let's face it couldn't be bothered either way) handed them a paper cup and pointed to the tea (sweet, ICE tea!) they came back complaining that it was ice cold and that they wanted hot tea. So he filled it with tea and then put hot water in it from the coffee machine :rotfl:

I'm just thankful that I enjoy ice tea otherwise I couldn't have coped in Florida :rotfl:

[Tink]

Yes, I do think it's just ignorance on how to make a proper cup of tea. Coffee isn't made with water at the boil, so most people think it's the same for tea.

When I was a kid people understood, or maybe it was just because there were tea drinkers in my family. :unsure: But now, you have to actually tell them you want a pot of boiling (not hot, proper boiling) water... and hope.

[Keith]

we're getting much better tea over there now that we understand what we need to say :yes:

"hi there, 2 cups of tea made with boiling water not just hot and milk please"

Teabags we'll go for nestea/lipton/english breakfast or orange peakoe at a pinch.

I can't remember where we were but one poor server REALLLLLLY was confused. Asked LOADDDS of questions which is fine but anyway, she came back with a tray with cold water, hot water, lemon, honey, jam, milk, half and half, full cream.

Poor thing obviously just got everything she could find for the weird English people :lol: but still, fair enough, she got everything we needed so no problem

[Slowhand]

Now if I was as bad as Terry I'd say :doh: dough :hide:

You really used your loaf on that one Wendy! :lol:

[uscwest]

Wow, what an interesting discussion on tea. I discovered that my local Wegmans has Yorkshire tea this weekend.

As for boiling you are quite right. Most places here in the US do not realize that you must boil the water. My dad was from Canada and loved tea. Mom ALWAYS boiled the water, thus I ALWAYS boil the water. In most restaurants their hot water is normally only heated to about 200 degrees I believe vice the 212 needed for a boil.

[Johnie]

Just an FYI for tea drinkers and others who like fancy salts, sugars and spices, there is a new place inside the kitchen store (next to Earl of Sandwich) in DTD. It is called http://spiceandtea.com/ So many yummy things to smell! I found a tea that smells very similar to the Eros tea at GF.

[Wendy]

It looks very nice :) thank you Johnie :hug2:

[Johnie]

Oh it is! I had a great time in there!

[uscwest]

Isn't it great Johnie? We spent some time in there and walked out with a WONDERFUL spicy grind it yourself called Pirate Bite Wish we had picked up extras.

[Johnie]

I was leaning toward the pirate bite but didn't get it. The website says they have a location in Alexandria. You might be able to do mail order.

[Watchinherskip]

[QUOTE=Keith;270770] They tend to use hot not boiling water and as we tea drinkers know ;-) it must be made with boiling water. Then add half and half or, gulp, cream, rather than milk and you have a useless cuppa.

QUOTE]

Holy cow! My Cousin by marriage fancies himself a tea elitist (aka snob) and NEVER allows the water to boil. He even uses a thermometer to ensure it. He wouldn't be caught dead with boiled water as he says it scalds the tea. Now totally confused..oh well guess I will just have to keep drinking coffee!:yes:

[Tinkfan]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:What a turn this topic has taken!!!! We always boiled the water at home, I never thought of it really. Eateries are just lazy sometimes1

[josh.p.]

[QUOTE=Keith;270770] They tend to use hot not boiling water and as we tea drinkers know ;-) it must be made with boiling water. Then add half and half or, gulp, cream, rather than milk and you have a useless cuppa.

QUOTE]

Holy cow! My Cousin by marriage fancies himself a tea elitist (aka snob) and NEVER allows the water to boil. He even uses a thermometer to ensure it. He wouldn't be caught dead with boiled water as he says it scalds the tea. Now totally confused..oh well guess I will just have to keep drinking coffee!:yes:
If you're having green or herbal teas it is considered the norm to have it just off the boil, so as to not make it bitter. As for 'normal' tea, boiling water is preferred :yes: You don't scald it like you do with coffee :yes:

[Sam]

Well thanks for all the advice guys I'll pass it on, but I won't thank you for the big tea debate that has now started in this house. :yes:

[Sam]

Oh lord now they've started on about bread, I should have never read out the posts to them. That's it I'm getting my coat, I'm going shopping!!!!

[Wendy]

Oh lord now they've started on about bread, I should have never read out the posts to them. That's it I'm getting my coat, I'm going shopping!!!!

:lol: :lol: I learnt the hard way as well, now I hardly ever to read anything out to Chris :lol: :lol:

[Johnie]

:surrender: sorry Sam!