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[FierceKitty]

American chocolate tastes like most American food; fatty, sugary and bland!

As for Cadbury's, since being bought out by Kraft, they have looked for ways to reduce cost by using cheaper ingredients (your Crème Egg is no longer Dairy Milk for example).

If you want chocolate however, you will have to look the continent.  I do not include Belgium though; too sweet.

French chocolate is superb and, if you're ever in Boulogne, I suggest you check out Chocolat du Beussent.

There are some very agreeable surprises in American food, actually. Certainly enough for it to be unwise for those in the glass house of English cooking to indulge in petroballistics.

[getagrip]

There are some very agreeable surprises in American food, actually. Certainly enough for it to be unwise for those in the glass house of English cooking to indulge in petroballistics.

The fact you use the term "agreeable surprises" shows quite clearly what the (your?) perception of American food is!

What's the difference between perception and reality?

[FierceKitty]

That Americans have persuaded the world that it's all fats and sugars, whereas in reality it's delicious hams, delicate frothy fruit creams, superb seafood, fragrant crusty bread. It was worth the trip to the US just to learn how much better the reality was than the common misperception.
Though there were other delightful discoveries too.

[Westmarcher]

I find it slightly irksome sometimes when American sitcoms denigrate British cuisine. This is quite rich (a case of the pot calling the kettle, 'black') having experienced American cuisine myself on the many occasions I have visited the States.

Whilst this may be partly due to what kind of food and tastes people have been brought up on, I suspect that part of the reason US visitors may not rate British food (and vice-versa) is that they don't know any better and where they eat is very much a shot in the dark. They have a short time in the country they are visiting, their choice of establishment is probably driven by budget and/or location and so they end up going to the wrong places to eat. As a visitor, I can think of a few poor food experiences in London and some great ones (with the amount of money you spend often, but not always, being a factor). When someone with local knowledge took me somewhere, the experience was usually better. 

I can also say the same about Rome and a lot of other places I have visited throughout the world. Often its just 'nice' (i.e., average) or disappointing, then, sometimes you stumble into a gem of a place where the food and value for money is superb. British cuisine can be excellent. You can get some lovely pub food at a great price, provided you go to the right places. My experience in America has often been hit or miss. But with a population of roughly 4 times the UK's, I would have thought the US would have been able to boast more than roughly 15 more Michelin Star restaurants than the UK (UK has roughly 170). There. Rant over.

[getagrip]

Good rant: 7.9

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I can also say the same about Rome and a lot of other places I have visited throughout the world. Often its just 'nice' (i.e., average) or disappointing, then, sometimes you stumble into a gem of a place where the food and value for money is superb. British cuisine can be excellent. You can get some lovely pub food at a great price, provided you go to the right places. My experience in America has often been hit or miss. But with a population of roughly 4 times the UK's, I would have thought the US would have been able to boast more than roughly 15 more Michelin Star restaurants than the UK (UK has roughly 170). There. Rant over.

You need to go to Ludlow in Shropshire, more Michelin stars per head of population than anywhere outside London!

[Matt J]

You need to go to Ludlow in Shropshire, more Michelin stars per head of population than anywhere outside London

Yes indeedy and we have famous sausages

[getagrip]

Yes indeedy and we have famous sausages

Why, what have they done?

[Matt J]

Ludlow sausage trail is world reknowned (apparently)

[getagrip]

Ludlow sausage trail is world reknowned (apparently)

Never heard of it and I'm a bit of a foody.

Might have to hunt some down

[Westmarcher]

Got any links?

[Matt J]

World reknowned in Shropshire is to be known about anywhere betwixt welsh border and Wolverhampton. We is an insular folk

[getagrip]

World reknowned in Shropshire is to be known about anywhere betwixt welsh border and Wolverhampton. We is an insular folk

Quite a few places like that

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

http://www.foodfestival.co.uk/page.php?P1=3&P2=27&P3&Plv=2

[Leman]

We have very famous World Renowned links in Merseyside, two of which are often used for the Open.