It’s a British food(ie) invasion

They are here and have invaded a small storefront along American Alley, just off of Putnam Plaza in downtown Petaluma. 2 London Foodies has turned what was otherwise a dark avenue for deliveries and dumpster storage into a charming extension of our beloved downtown plaza.

To be honest, I never thought I would see the words “London” and “Foodies” in the same sentence. Other than some of the best curries and stir-fries anywhere on the planet, my visits to London have been met with universal cuisine disappointment, the crown jewel coming in the form of the worst fish and chips of my life, purchased just outside the Tower of London. The red flag should have been that the very touristy kiosk was touting itself as the “Best Fish-n-Chips in London.”

In fact, my British friends all had similar reactions when I told them about 2 London Foodies: A mixture of pain and disappointment came across their faces, as if they were just assaulted for the first time by the “Sonoma Aroma” coming off of Petaluma’s freshly fertilized fields. Then from between their downturned lips would come something to the effect of, “why would I bloody want to eat British food? I moved here to get away from that stuff!”

But then I mentioned that 2 London Foodies planned to stock United Kingdom specific goodies that British expats can’t normally find in the U.S - the real deal, straight from England, like UK produced Cadbury chocolates, Heinz Beanz, digetives, Yorshire tea, and lemon curd. Hearing this, their faces would unclench and brighten. Inevitably they would ask something like, “Oh! Will they have Marmite?” (…or “Branston Pickles?” or “Salad Cream?” or “Irn Bru?”) With my primary exposure to Brits coming by way of Benny Hill, Monty Python,and the blokes on the BBC’s “Top Gear,” I had no clue what they were talking about. But that would change after my first visit to 2 London Foodies.

Sisters Sue Grixti and Kate Neubig had toyed with the idea of a British tea shop for some time. Their mother hailed from Scotland; their father from Malta, so British blood runs in their veins. Additionally, they spent most of their childhood in England, after a few years here in the United States. Neubig, a British citizen, was born in Malta. After the remodel at 2 London Foodies, she returned to England where she helps take care of the English side of the imports. Her background is in hospitality, having owned a café and sandwich delivery service in England, as well as consulting on food presentation for several airlines.

Grixti was born in the U.S. and holds dual citizenship. She has worked as a midwife since 1983 and has spent most of her life traveling the former British Empire, living in Australia, Canada, England, and Malta. Grixti travelled to Sonoma a few years ago as a nurse, loved the area, and stayed. She claims that her background in food is “eating it!”

“We chose Petaluma because of its diversity - the people are supportive, welcoming, and adventurous. They have all been supportive, and the business community of Putnam Plaza and the surrounding area have been very welcoming,” states Grixti. “In the three weeks since opening, I’ve learned that there are a lot more expats here than I would have guessed. There are regular customers who have either visited the UK or want to. They like to talk about their ‘English’ experience and how fond they are of the ‘goodies’ on our shelves, which remind them of the UK. It’s a trip down memory lane for a lot of people. I’ve even learned things about England that I didn’t know before.”

The sisters spent four months cleaning out and updating their space across the alley from Petaluma Pie Company, which used to host a tattoo shop. The vision for 2 London Foodies parallels that of a traditional English tea house. “English tea houses cater to the working class in the morning, and then host tea time in the afternoon,” says Grixti. Currently, 2 London Foodies offer sandwiches and salads, espresso, tea, and all sorts of tempting British treats appropriate for dipping into a hot drink. Sandwiches start at $4.50, and don’t get much above $5, a cappuccino comes in at less than $3, and snack treats, such as “crisps” (British “chips”), shortbread wafers, and small cookies and candy bars are $1 or less. Three of us had sandwiches, cookies, and espresso drinks, and the bill barely passed $20. The portions are tasty, filling without being super-sized, and are priced appropriately. This is definitely an affordable alternative for those that work downtown, but might not have the means to eat out all the time, or for an afternoon snack to tide you over before dinner.

Designated as a “take-out” business by the city (so no kitchen), the Foodies can and will offer afternoon tea, once the dust settles. (“Afternoon tea,” “high tea,” “meat tea,” and “tea time” mean different things depending on the region, and whether the terms is used by the posh or the working class.) This particular tea service will include finger sandwiches and other snacks. Currently, you can hire 2 London Foodies to cater tea services for parties and events. How posh!

Clearly local expats have missed the biscuits, spreads, and drinks from their home isles. During a recent visit I witnessed one shopper after another cleaning the shelves of items such as Jacob’s Cream Crackers, Birds Custard Powder, Lyle’s Golden Syrup, Gales Lemon Curd, Soreen (a malted loaf touted as “Deliciously squidgy energy”), Cadbury’s Fingers, and an impressive array of McVitie’s crackers and Frank Cooper’s Oxford marmalades and jams, and even HP Sauce.

HP Sauce is a “brown sauce” although Scotsmen refer to it simply as “sauce” or “chippy sauce.” Similar to steak sauce, it is usually used on savory dishes. The Brits are never shy or subtle with their marketing, and this one claims to be “a sauce of manliness.” If that isn’t a challenge, I don’t know what is. But if you aren’t ready to commit to a full bottle, Petaluma Pie Company currently offers HP Sauce as a condiment choice.

Marmite is a spread made from yeast extract (a byproduct of the beer making process), and is either spread on toast or added to hot drinks. It is described as a less salty counterpart to the Aussie’s Vegemite, although after tasting Marmite, I find that hard to believe. But I don’t give up easy, especially when it comes to salty snacks, so I will continue to experiment with it. With a slogan like “Love it or hate it,” it’s understandable why Brits use it as a metaphor for something that polarizes opinions. Marmite is considered an acquired taste, but is clearly popular as I saw more than one jar purchased during my visit to the cafe.

As a fan of everything pickled, I can’t resist the “Branston Pickle and Cheddar” sandwich on every visit. Celebrity fans of Branston Pickle include Catherine Zeta-Jones and Naomi Campbell, and after tasting it there is no wonder why Branston sells 28 million jars of this pickle chutney. I was lucky enough to witness the delight on the face of a young bird from Cheshire as she nabbed the last jar off the shelf…her “mucker” from York grabbed a jar of Marmite and digestives (a type of cracker.)

Irn Bru is Scottish for “Iron Brew,” I’d guess, and is called “Scotland’s other national drink.” Some claim it is “superb” when mixed with Scotland’s first national drink - Scotch whisky. (The Irish and American stuff can be called “whiskey” but don’t make that mistake when talking to a Scotsman about scotch.) The soda has been described as everything from “Scottish rust” to “ginger and bubblegum” to “putting a 9V battery to your tongue” to “fizzy orange coloured niceness.” We Scotsmen can’t do anything easy (we invented the caber toss, curling, AND golf, by the way) so I’m sure to cave shortly and give it a try. How can I resist something that the manufacturer claims is made from “nails and girders”? Apparently, “Irn Bru will get you through!”

On the less experimental side, patrons can sample toasted crumpets, various sandwiches and salads, scones, “builder’s tea,” and a variety of British candy bars, such as Tunnock’s Caramel, Tunnock’s Mild Chocolate Mallow, Penguin cookies, and Galaxy and Ruffle bars. Builder’s tea is brewed strong enough “to hold up a fork,” and 2 London Foodies carries two of the more popular brands, Yorkshire and Barry’s. And I learned that it’s not a cup of builder’s tea, it’s a “mug.”

The biggest hit so far has been the sausage rolls. A savory pastry snack, sausage rolls have been a working class favorite around the British Empire since the mid-1700s. “Upon arriving in London my first stop is at Greggs for a mug of builder’s tea and a couple of sausage rolls,” says Grixti. (Greggs, a popular UK bakery chain, sells over 2 million sausage rolls per WEEK.)

2 London Foodies’ sausage rolls seem to be just as popular on this side of the pond and sell out daily. During my recent visit I met expats from Penngrove and Santa Rosa who were disappointed to find an empty sausage rolls shelf. Grixti jokes that she will retire on sausage roll sales alone.

For those looking for a simple, filling and affordable lunch, 2 London Foodies and their English sensibility and hospitality are hard to beat. Instead of a smoke break, or simply working straight through from lunch to dinner, try something a bit more civilized by stopping in for afternoon tea. Whether you are adventurous and go with a Branston Pickle sandwich or Marmite on toast, or opt for something a bit less risky, visiting 2 London Foodies is like taking a brief holiday to England, only without the crummy weather.

(Visit Houston Porter’s blog at http://rivertown.blogs.petaluma360.com)