Food 'they' don't make any more

[Serial_Apologist]

Nescafé it would appear have stopped selling their Blend 37 brand in even the large branches of St Sprees and Tescles - a shame, given that it was always by far the best of the instant brands, and nearest in aroma and flavour to proper quality ground coffee, for people like me who live alone and can't be fished to go through the whole pesky rigmarole. Nescafé Gold, a later addition to the range, was never as good, and weaker in flavour so you had to spoon double the quantity - thereby artificially doubling the "demand". There is a Nescafe Gold Alta Rica which is nearly as good as the 37, so that'll have to be my choice. Supermarkets have a subtle way of hinting at when they're about to remove an item, which is by reducing the number of units and placing them where they are less easily found. Complaints are usually met with "Well we had no call for it". Not surprising if you hide it away and never advertise it! A few years ago Tesco sold a vegatarian Moussaka ready meal which was delicious, but removed within a few months; this often happens. They should have some easy means for customers to make suggestions or fill in quality questionnaires.

[gradus]

Beef dripping has entirely disappeared from my diet but was a mainstay in the fifties, quite tasty as I recall well-seasoned as a sandwich.

[Bryn]

Nescafé it would appear have stopped selling their Blend 37 brand in even the large branches of St Sprees and Tescles - a shame, given that it was always by far the best of the instant brands, and nearest in aroma and flavour to proper quality ground coffee, for people like me who live alone and can't be fished to go through the whole pesky rigmarole. Nescafé Gold, a later addition to the range, was never as good, and weaker in flavour so you had to spoon double the quantity - thereby artificially doubling the "demand". There is a Nescafe Gold Alta Rica which is nearly as good as the 37, so that'll have to be my choice. Supermarkets have a subtle way of hinting at when they're about to remove an item, which is by reducing the number of units and placing them where they are less easily found. Complaints are usually met with "Well we had no call for it". Not surprising if you hide it away and never advertise it! A few years ago Tesco sold a vegatarian Moussaka ready meal which was delicious, but removed within a few months; this often happens. They should have some easy means for customers to make suggestions or fill in quality questionnaires.

A favourite of my late father's, Blend 37 is shown as "unavailable" on most supermarket online listings. Those sites which do show it, ask rather inflated prices for what used to cost the same sort of price as Gold Blend. However: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nescaf%C3%A.../dp/B01B4ZEYSS

[cloughie]

Nescafé it would appear have stopped selling their Blend 37 brand in even the large branches of St Sprees and Tescles - a shame, given that it was always by far the best of the instant brands, and nearest in aroma and flavour to proper quality ground coffee, for people like me who live alone and can't be fished to go through the whole pesky rigmarole. Nescafé Gold, a later addition to the range, was never as good, and weaker in flavour so you had to spoon double the quantity - thereby artificially doubling the "demand". There is a Nescafe Gold Alta Rica which is nearly as good as the 37, so that'll have to be my choice. Supermarkets have a subtle way of hinting at when they're about to remove an item, which is by reducing the number of units and placing them where they are less easily found. Complaints are usually met with "Well we had no call for it". Not surprising if you hide it away and never advertise it! A few years ago Tesco sold a vegatarian Moussaka ready meal which was delicious, but removed within a few months; this often happens. They should have some easy means for customers to make suggestions or fill in quality questionnaires.

My instant coffee of choice has for some time now been Sainsbury’s Gold Blend in the morning and Gold Blend decaffinated of an evening.

[Petrushka]

My instant coffee of choice has for some time now been Sainsbury’s Gold Blend in the morning and Gold Blend decaffinated of an evening.

For instant, I prefer L'Or otherwise I get Julius Meinl Präsident coffee beans from Amazon. As it comes from Vienna I'm hoping, post Brexit, I can still get it. Currently have some that's a few weeks past its date but assume it'll still be ok.

Seems still available: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Julius-Mein...6-4c8c5c75905e

[vinteuil]

... by far the best of the instant brands, and nearest in aroma and flavour to proper quality ground coffee, for people like me who live alone and can't be fished to go through the whole pesky rigmarole..

... is it such a rigmarole? Surely it's not much more of a faff - just put some ground coffee in to a cafetière, add not-quite-boiled water, wait, press plunger - and there you are

.

[Joseph K]

... is it such a rigmarole? Surely it's not much more of a faff - just put some ground coffee in to a cafetière, add not-quite-boiled water, wait, press plunger - and there you are

.

That's what I thought. I also thought: what a shame I can't drink coffee any more.

[french frank]

... is it such a rigmarole? Surely it's not much more of a faff - just put some ground coffee in to a cafetière, add not-quite-boiled water, wait, press plunger - and there you are

.

I didn't like to say I never have instant coffee in the house I have a single cup metal filter gadget. Put a spoonful of ground in, pour the water on and let it drip through.

Re beef dripping. I've never been to a Harry Ramsden's, but I think they fry their fish in beef dripping. Always struck me as odd. I agree a beef dripping sandwich is/was tasty - but I have strange tastes in what I spread on bread: horse radish sauce, Hungarian paprika paste, Marmite…

[Bryn]

I didn't like to say I never have instant coffee in the house I have a single cup metal filter gadget. Put a spoonful of ground in, pour the water on and let it drip through.

Re beef dripping. I've never been to a Harry Ramsden's, but I think they fry their fish in beef dripping. Always struck me as odd. I agree a beef dripping sandwich is/was tasty - but I have strange tastes in what I spread on bread: horse radish sauce, Hungarian paprika paste, Marmite…

Well. I suppose the horse redish sauce and Hungarisn paprika paste might do something to mask the disgusting taste of the Marmite.

[Roslynmuse]

Reading about Blend 37 reminds me that that was my coffee of choice as a University student. Many jittery late nights spent with a mug of that, usually black (or white with fat globules...no fridges for the milk in those days!).

Nowadays I like Taylors High Voltage (strength No 7), but it only appears very occasionally and so I have to stock up. When I can't get it, I have the Hot Lava (No 6) which never quite tastes strong enough.

[Serial_Apologist]

That's what I thought. I also thought: what a shame I can't drink coffee any more.

How come? - if that's not being too intrusive.

[cloughie]

I didn't like to say I never have instant coffee in the house I have a single cup metal filter gadget. Put a spoonful of ground in, pour the water on and let it drip through.

Re beef dripping. I've never been to a Harry Ramsden's, but I think they fry their fish in beef dripping. Always struck me as odd. I agree a beef dripping sandwich is/was tasty - but I have strange tastes in what I spread on bread: horse radish sauce, Hungarian paprika paste, Marmite…

There are mahy fish and chip shops nowadays, including the one in our village, where beef dripping is the choice of fat/oil to ccok the chips!

[Joseph K]

How come?

Overactive bladder - a side-effect of some side-effect medication I started taking to stop oculogyric crises. Fortunately I guess this is one side-effect I had some power to stop simply by giving up caffeine and fortunately it worked (though it was some time before it occurred to me to give it up!)

[mikealdren]

Re beef dripping. I've never been to a Harry Ramsden's, but I think they fry their fish in beef dripping. Always struck me as odd. I agree a beef dripping sandwich is/was tasty - but I have strange tastes in what I spread on bread: horse radish sauce, Hungarian paprika paste, Marmite…

Dripping is still the fat of choice for fish and chips in Yorkshire and the North East. Having been brought up there, it's always a treat for my siblings and me when we visit mum. Dad was born in Lancashire and told me they prefer to cook their fish and chips in lard over there.

[mikealdren]

Blend 37 was my preferred choice of instant coffee until my heart consultant banned caffeine from my diet.