I just wanted to do something that generally spoke about food since my Aunt Robin asked me about it. The food here is just like the food in America, but a little different. Like, the ketchup is a little sweet. It tastes like there are cloves in it or something. I like it, but most of the people from America don’t. I already explained that bacon is ham here. The only cereal they have is corn flakes, frosted flakes, bran flakes, and other stuff I don’t usually eat. I do like the Special K cereal they have here; it has cranberries in it. It’s pretty tasty, but, I SWEAR, the box is half empty. There’s only enough cereal in the box for three little bowls of cereal. It makes me mad. There is also "Jungle Oats." The apple cinnamon flavor tastes just like the apple cinnamon Quaker Oatmeal at home.
Food spoils very quickly here, because it doesn’t have all the preservatives they put in our food in America. You can’t try to come back to something a week later; IT WILL BE SPOILED. I have starting freezing my milk and bread; at first, it seemed like the next day, my bread would taste a little stale. Now, after I use it, I immediately put it back in the freezer. It is a hassle to thaw, but it tastes fresh everyday.
My favorite South African chips (chips are called "air crisps" here) are “Nik Naks,” which are VERY cheap (they are 1Rand for a bag) and taste like crunchy Cheetos. I also like the Sweet Chilli Doritos. Sweet Chilli is as popular as Ranch dressing is in America. (Nope, they don’t have ranch dressing here.) You can get sweet chilli flavored EVERYTHING! Every snack has a “sweet chilli” flavored version, and the shelves of the grocery store are full of different brands of sweet chilli sauce.
There are certain items that seem like you can get them anywhere at any restaurant at any time of the day. Toast is served just about everywhere. Like, I can go anywhere and get some toast and jam. I’m so sick of toast. I don’t think I can even look at a toaster when I get home. You can get an omelet anywhere and at anytime. They are always pretty tasty, but they make you pay for each topping so it gets expensive if you’re like me and want all the vegetables and cheese in it. Some kind of icecream dessert is served at every restaurant. KFC, which has like 1 little cake dessert in America, has like 10 dessert options here. They have this thing called an Avalanche; it is icecream, chocolate syrup, and brownies. It is so good. I’ve only had one, because I don’t want to get addicted to them. You can get a hot chocolate, coffee, or tea at any restaurant at any time of the day. By the way, KFC only has mashed potatoes (which is called mash, and has too much gravy on it) and slaw. They don’t have any other sides. Also, they don’t have biscuits here. They call cookies “biscuits,” but they don’t have real biscuits like we have.) You know how sometimes you go to a restaurant, and their hot chocolate isn’t that good. NOT HERE. Every restaurants’ hot chocolate has been delicious. I also enjoy hot Rooibos tea. They bring the little kettle out right to you. It makes me feel classy.
I know this is stupid and weak of me, but I think that because I am here, once I find something I like, I get addicted to it. Like, I was eating Chocolate Choc Almond ice-cream EVERYDAY for like 3 weeks. The people who worked there automatically knew what I wanted. It was so good though. I stopped going though, because it was breaking my bank account, plus I was a little ashamed that the employees there always knew what I wanted. I also quit going because I found a new addiction.. Fizz Pops. They are suckers that have this little powder in the middle; the fizz is weak compared to the things we have in America (like Pop Rocks.. remember those?!), but the candy is tasty. I don’t even suck the sucker; I basically just bite it and crunch on it. I was going through like 5 Fizz Pops a day. They are cheap, but still, I have never eaten candy like that. I had to stop that. I think when I first got here, I was addicted to Coca Cola; I don’t care what anyone says, I can taste the difference. Their Coke is made with sugar and not corn syrup like America’s Coke. They are also in bottles. They are so delicious. It’s hard not to drink one.
Speaking of drinks, the only restaurant that has a soda fountain is McDonalds. At every other restaurant, if you order a drink, they literally bring the can out to you with a cup of ice. I’m like, “DANG, I COULD HAVE DONE THAT MYSELF!!” hahaha. And also.. THERE ARE NO FREE REFILLS HERE AT ALL! That’s the biggest difference. Once you drink up your drink, unless you want to pay for another one, you are out of luck! In addition, they don’t automatically bring out ice water like they do at some restaurants in America. You have to ask for it every time.
When I eat meat at restaurants, as much as they claim to have “100% Beef,” it’s something a little fake about it. I do NOT like Steers or Wimpy’s (do not eat at Wimpy’s forreal, it’s nasty.), fast food burger joints in South Africa. The meat seems too well grounded up or something and they always put some kind of sauce on it. Fries are called “chips” here and even though there are only a few places that have good chips, the chips that they have are the best. When they’re good, they’re great! When they’re bad, they are REALLY bad.
It’s kind of messed up though, because I can only eat at restaurants. It’s like if someone visited America; if they didn’t have an American to cook them food, they’d think American food was just Burger King, McDonalds, and restaurants like that. That’s what’s happened to me… I don’t have anyone to cook me traditional South African food, so I can only eat at restaurants.
There are a few things I will definitely miss here. Nuttikrust cookies are so delicious. I was addicted to them too at a point in time. They are like a mix between oatmeal cookies and graham crackers. They are delicious. Also, I am going to miss No Name peanut butter. I am THE ONLY PERSON that likes this. I don’t know why I like this off-brand peanut butter; I just do. It’s literally called “NO NAME.” hahaha. I will miss the Fizz Pops, Nik Naks, Sweet Chili Doritos, and Coke. I have fallen in love with grilled cheese sandwiches with a slice of tomato in it. I cannot wait to eat those in the comfort of my home. There are a few restaurants I will miss too. I will miss Java CafĂ©, which has delicious White Hot Chocolate and a weird but tasty Bacon, Banana, and Cheese sandwich. I will miss Binnenhof, which has ½-off pancakes (which are more like crapes) on Thursdays. The caramel on the dessert crape tastes like Lucky Charms and has bananas, icecream, and nuts on it. I also like the mushroom, chicken, and cheese crape. I will miss Debonairs Pizza, which has a great cheese pizza with sun dried tomatoes on it. (Cheese pizzas are called “margherita” pizzas in South Africa). I will miss Cubanas with it’s delicious drinks and “FI” chicken wings. I mean, that’s the only word to describe those wings… “FI.”
Hopefully, I will be back someday, and I can eat all of these things again!