biggish data

I'm a Nigerian American, has both Nigerian and U.S. passport respectively. I reside in U.S and I believe under the commonwealth law, U.S. Citizens has the right to enter UK for six months to visit family.

Is the U.S. a commonwealth?
and what law?

Commonwealth Law is now defunct.

It was that a citizen of any ONE Commonwealth Country (all of which were British ruled during at least part of 19th century, some also part of 20th) could enter another for up to six months as visitor--with NO visa. This system broke down in 1970's/early 1980's:

visitors from poorer Commonwealth countries (India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Guyana, etc) decided to stay on (as immigrants) in more prosperous ones (Canada for example) by marrying citizens of the latter--analogous to the oft-described situation of coming into US on B-2 with intention of marrying a USC and adjusting status
also, some ex-citizens of India (naturalised to Canada) decided to use the same Commonwealth Law for promoting insurgencies in India; India's response was to ask for a mutual visa policy--implemented in 1984.

US was NEVER a member of Commonwealth of Nations. The closest you got of anything to do with "Commonwealth Law" was that Canada PR's who were citizens of Commonwealth Countries (India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Guyana, etc) could visit US without having to apply for B-2 while Canada PR's from elsewhere (post-1971 Pakistan--as it voluntarily left Commonwealth in January 1972 till reinstated in 1990, Venezuela, Brazil, Burundi, Zaire, etc) had to get B-2's. After 9-11, the only Canada PR's who DON't have to get B-2's to visit US are USC's and VWP visitors.

What you thought of as "Commonwealth Law" to allow up to six months visit to UK is actually "reciprocity VWP".

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-04-04 07:04:00

sriniv

Yor reply makes no sense....

Kezzie

What I said was that a dual US/UK citizen should be allowed to re-enter US with either passport, not restrictively with US one.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-04-03 11:34:00

So you would agree with the statement that Americans have no more right to be in the US than thw 10,000 illegal immigrants?????

Kezzie

I would agree that being born in (or naturalised to) a country, and NOT having renounced citizenship thereof should give intrinsic rights to be present in said country.

Don't agree that you should not be able to enter a country of which one IS a citizen on another country's (of which one is also a citizen) passport (read "I know US doesn't allow Americans to enter on UK/Canada/etc passports--I'll abide by it, but I don't agree with it").

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-04-03 11:26:00

ESPECIALLY true about the resumes.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-30 14:10:00

I got pulled over, grilled and searched at Alabama airport...and I am white and British and was just trying to leave.....

Were you in transit THROUGH US?

(unfortunately, North American airports are NOT transit-passenger-friendly generally)

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-08 08:46:00

They, like any country, dont HAVE to let you in. Thats it. period.
Unless you are UK resident or by birth you have no 'right' of entry.
If you were unhappy with the service I suggest you write and complain, but as the UK has a HIGH rate of entry fraud one expects to be checked heavily (same with USA).

Exactly what I stated earlier. I have guaranteed entry rights in only two countries--Canada (since 1982) and US (since last April); any other country (including India) has the right to decide on its own (even if I have a valid visa to go there) whether to permit me to enter.

Edited by sriniv, 07 March 2006 - 02:10 PM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-07 14:09:00

You can only get a working holiday visa if you are a commonwealth citizen. You can get a 6 month one if yo uare a US citizen if you are a full time student, or within6 months of completing your course.

Last I checked, Nigeria was the fourth biggest nation in Commonwealth.

Edited by sriniv, 06 March 2006 - 01:08 PM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-06 13:07:00

I just had the most terrible experience I could ever imagine travelling overseas. I'm a Nigerian American, has both Nigerian and U.S. passport respectively. I reside in U.S and I believe under the commonwealth law, U.S. Citizens has the right to enter UK for six months to visit family. I got to UK and the next thing was UK immigration grinding me for over 4hrs reason why I'm in U.K. I told them coming to visit and I was holding my return ticket. Even despite that they spoke with my family in UK at the airport to verify my visit. They refused my entry. They claim that I have my resume (CV) in my folder, that means I'm coming in to work in UK. This is sound too absurd for me, not to mention money spent already.

I just want to know if there is any lawyer that can help me with this issue. I'm very furious right now.

(1) Which passport did you show them?

(2) If you DID have a CV, it was not a good idea. I got refused entry into US once (long before I got my first TN-1) for just this reason.

BTW, it's not "commonwealth law" (as US was never part of the Commonwealth) but Visa Waiver reciprocity.

Unfortunately (I know this sounds callous), the only guarantee of entry permission into UK is to have a British passport.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-03 15:20:00

Sumfink funny for a change!

This topic has been closed per the request of the original poster. Thank you for your understanding.
Ewooooookie wokie, I fink you are fibbing! (taken from-http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4424)

Okay for once in a very long time, I got a laugh in the UK forums!

UM, yeah, I noticed that too since it was ME who asked to have the thread closed, and I was definitely not the OP on that thread!!! Made me laugh too, but thank God that thread can never be resucitated again!!!!!

Ok, I see why it was locked so fast (about 5 minutes) after I PM'ed Ewok. You're right though, it's funny!!! :lol:

I noticed that, too - the OP hadn't been 'seen' (according to their profile) in about a year, had they?! Maybe it just took Captain Ewok a while to get round to acting on the request...

Doubtful; I remember a failed poll-thread I started. When I asked Ewok to lock it, the thread was locked within 24 hours.

Edited by CherryXS, 26 June 2007 - 10:37 AM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-26 10:38:00

UK Consulate in NYC

Yu&Dan, there's already a pinned thread about getting UK passports in US.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-27 08:58:00

VWP is different.

I know, zyggy already informed me that had the refusals that I got been under VWP, I would have needed to apply for visitor visa for any subsequent "just visit" trips.

Based on this thread, I doubt that Deony is dual Canuck-Limey (as there would have been a rather obvious and simple solution in that case).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-29 11:50:00

Thank you all very much for the advice, I'm going to sort something out short term instead and see where I go from there. Certainly don't want to put the K-1 or the Waiver at risk, so am going extremely carefully.

Thanks all!
It is theoretically possible to obtain a L Visa in your circumstances, depends on the details. May be something to pass by your Employer. They will need to refer it to their Immigration Lawyers.

That may have been better to do in the first place (instead of the K-1). AOS can be done from L-1 as well

The worst case scenario for a B application is that they say no, you would then have to declare a refused visa when using the VWP, and that tends to produce a grilling. Not always, but usually.

I've even been asked more than once (while I was on TN-1) at the PFI whether I had been refused entry into US (two complete refusals, plus one "delay due to improper TN-1 offer letter). And this was as a Canadian who can usually simply "try again"--so I can see that it could be much nastier for VWP.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-29 10:26:00

Deony, does the US company you contract for have a Canadian branch?

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-29 08:20:00

B1 is not a work visa.

Actually, it is--as business (the basis of this visa) is never going to be accomplished without work.

But, it is really meant for short-term (few days, to maybe a week), not six-months at a stretch.

What about the "outside-box" approach I suggested (of Deony doing the visit to Canada instead of US)?

Edited by CherryXS, 28 June 2007 - 12:13 PM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-28 12:10:00

You B visa chances may be higher than nil, but we do take working over here without authorization very seriously.

Eh, B-1 visa is actually business (work) visa; unfortunately, all-too-oft confused with B-2 (plain-jane visitor nonwork).

HOWEVER, that said, I would research more if I were you. We're not necessarily work visa experts here, since family visas are a different world. If you truly would be simply checking in on your UK work while physically here in the US, that might not be an issue. But I don't know.

The short trip to Mexico probably won't re-start your time in the US. A trip all the home may. A friend of ours was here on a B visa for 6 months, went home for a bit more than 2 weeks, and came back. He got a load of ####### at the border ("how come you think you get to come back here!?") but was eventually let back in. Not all are so fortunate however, and please, trust me when I say that losing your visa waiver program privileges (which you will lose in a heartbeat if you screw up) WILL NOT HELP YOUR RELATIONSHIP.

Visas are granted for Brits to come for longer than the 90 period, but I think a wiser thing to do would be to come under the VWP for 90 days, and then go home for a bit. Protect that VWP access!!!!!!

We certainly didn't appreciate what a luxury it is the freely travel between our countries until one of us couldn't anymore.

There is also another option, though not headache-free. Do the visit in Canada (though Deony will need to check into the issue of working there freelance). No effect on VWP access, so long as Deony doesn't cross into US.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-27 14:52:00

Where do UKC's buy furniture in the US?

Since H_A beat me to the Ikea suggestion....

In DC area, "luxuriously" Ikea'd -- one in Springfield (VA) and another in Beltsville (MD, near beltway).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-19 20:39:00

Where do UKC's buy furniture in the US?

There are some stores that sell unfinished (fully-assembled, of unfinished wood--which you can add stain to later) furniture. Those usually are excellent deals.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-19 20:31:00

Renewing UK passport in the US

Ahem, you've heard of "Notary Public"?

Almost every bank-branch has someone who is authorised to give a N-P stamp.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-15 07:13:00

The World’s Best Candy Bars? English, of Course

Harry's Farmers Market (metro Atlanta based--and I suspect entire) carries some Brit products including those from Sainsbury's.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-17 12:08:00

The World’s Best Candy Bars? English, of Course

I'm drooling big time over here u lot. You lot are evil talking about choccie bars from home, evil i tell ya evil

Came across a Cadbury's dairy milk the other day and i was like ' ohhhhhhhh yeahhhhh' so when i got home i put my choccie bar into the fridge as i always do. Couple hours later i went to get coz i had the munchies real bad for some good ole UK choccie. Took a bite and i was like.... this doesnt taste like 'Cadburys'..read the back of the wrapper and to my horror i saw that i was made by Hersheys so i wrapped it up and threw it in the bucket it was vilest tasted Cadbury's i ever tasted. Wont ever buy "Fake" Cadburys again thats for sure

So, i'm either going to have to either do without or pay through the nose for some decent British Choccie @ an online British store that sells 'genuine' british choccie. 'No More' fake choccie for me

Maria

Looking at your location, not too many desi grocers in area--which makes one less option of how to get actual Brit Cadbury (and actual Brit Smarties).

But you can get either the Brit candies from BritishDelights or their Canadian equivalents (AFAIK, not made by Cursey's) from CanadianFavourites (the later has a unique brand Nielson, which kick's Cursey's backside in Canada; also, the high-quality Laura Secord)

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-17 10:41:00

The World’s Best Candy Bars? English, of Course

I would kill for a Hobnob right about now!

July 11, 2007
The World’s Best Candy Bars? English, of Course
By KIM SEVERSON
A TELEVISION news producer from Atlanta recently made a deal with her boss, who was traveling in London. The producer promised she would submit her script for an investigative story ahead of deadline in exchange for two British Kit Kats and a Curly Wurly bar.

The woman, who did not want her name revealed for fear of being teased endlessly by her colleagues, so loves her British chocolate that she takes an extra suitcase when she travels to London just to bring back a haul.

â€œShould I admit I am carrying two U.K. Kit Kats with me in my briefcase right now, just in case I get into a bind on my trip?â€ she e-mailed this reporter from the road.

At this point, it would be easy to take a long, clichéd side trip into a discussion of the relative inferiority of British food. But for the rarefied palate that can appreciate the soft, immediate pleasure of an inexpensive candy bar, it’s not difficult to give the edge to sweets from the realm of the queen.

That’s why Malcolm Smart takes his son, Rowan, for a stroll to Blue Apron in Park Slope, Brooklyn, twice a week for a proper British candy bar. Rowan is 6 years old, and tends toward the mint Aero bar.

Mr. Smart, who grew up in Birmingham, England, home of the chocolate manufacturer Cadbury-Schweppes, is a Flake man himself. The Cadbury Flake, a crumbly bar of compressed ribbons of chocolate, was invented in 1920. It is thrust into swirls of soft ice cream at parks all over London, creating a dessert called a 99.

Alan Palmer, who is an owner of Blue Apron, said the British candy bars have been strong sellers since he opened the shop five years ago.â€œAnybody who went to school there or had any kind of business or family connection over there is totally addicted to them,â€ he said.

Mr. Smart, who has lived in the United States for 25 years, learned early on in his life here that British and American chocolate bars are different, even if they share a name and a look.

â€œOne day I was eating a bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk and I thought, this has absolutely no flavor,â€ he said. â€œI looked at the label and saw it was made by Hershey. I was outraged.â€

Cadbury Dairy Milk is the iconic British candy bar, the one most likely to be tucked into the suitcase of a Yankee tourist looking for an inexpensive souvenir. Versions are filled with caramel, whipped fondant, whole nuts or pellets of shortbread cookie.

It’s a different bar from the Cadbury bar available in the United States. According to the label, a British Cadbury Dairy Milk bar contains milk, sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, vegetable fat and emulsifiers. The version made by the Hershey Company, which holds the license from Cadbury-Schweppes to produce the candy in the United States under the British company’s direction, starts its ingredient list with sugar. It lists lactose and the emulsifier soy lecithin, which keeps the cocoa butter from separating from the cocoa. The American product also lists â€œnatural and artificial flavorings.â€

Tony Bilsborough, a spokesman for Cadbury-Schweppes in Britain, said his company ships its specially formulated chocolate crumb — a mash of dried milk and chocolate to which cocoa butter will be added later — to Hershey, Pa. What happens next accounts for the differences.

â€œI imagine it’s down to the final processing and the blending,â€ he said. After consulting with chocolate manufacturers in each country, Cadbury tries to replicate the taste people grew up with, he said. In the United States, that means a bar that is more akin to a Hershey bar, which to many British palates tastes sour.

Kirk Seville, a spokesman for the Hershey Company, declined to explain the manufacturing process, saying the company preferred not to take part in a discussion about the manufacturing differences between a British and an American Cadbury bar.

For people here with a taste for British candy, no explanation is necessary. Their opinions are already formed.

â€œHershey’s tastes like ear wax,â€ said Kevin Ellis, an Alaskan-born designer with Adobe Systems in San Francisco. Mr. Ellis, who says Canadian and British chocolate bars are comparable, anticipates with delight the boxes of imported chocolate bars his wife's family sends.

The appeal of British chocolate is powerful. When the Ellis family moved not long ago to another Bay Area house, a burly man from Birmingham who was helping to haul the sofa spied a box.

â€œDo you mind if I have a Curly Wurly?â€ he asked with the tenderness of a hopeful child.

The Curly Wurly, a thick strip of braided caramel covered in chocolate, is a sibling to the discontinued Marathon bar, which any American who was in high school when Jimmy Carter was president will remember fondly.

The Curly Wurly is not as popular in Britain as the Crunchie. With its crisp honeycomb interior, it’s what a Butterfinger might be if it went to finishing school and married up.

But neither rivals the Mars bar, the prom queen of British candy bars. About three million of them are made daily in Slough, just west of London. It’s like a less sweet version of the American Milky Way, rather than the almond-stuffed American Mars bar. The smart set in London melts it over ice cream for a fast dinner party dessert. Mars bars are also fried in the same sort of batter used to coat cod.

And then there is the television producer’s beloved Kit Kat, invented in York, England, in the early 1930s and available in versions that match the tastes of, variously, Japanese, Germans, Australians, Canadians and Americans.

Nicky Perry has sold chocolate bars from her home country for more than a decade at her store, Tea and Sympathy, in Greenwich Village.

Her theory is that the bars from the United Kingdom are made from a better recipe, containing fewer stabilizers. They melt more quickly than a Hershey bar, which is why she cuts back on the amount she stocks in summer.

â€œI can’t afford to keep the A.C. on all night or a chocolate bar would cost $10, wouldn’t it?â€ she said.

At the London Food Company in Montclair, N.J., about 17 percent of the store’s sales are British chocolate bars, said Samantha Codling, the owner.

Ms. Codling, who is from Essex, offers a range of Cadbury Milk bars, including the mint crisp, whole nut and Turkish delight with rose jelly. The British Smartie, which resembles an M & M but has a thicker shell, and the Malteser malt ball, also sell well.

â€œAll the ex-pats definitely know the difference already and the Americans soon figure it out,â€ she said.

Bryn Dyment, a Web developer in the Bay Area who grew up in Canada, said he was shocked when his parents took him to a candy counter in the United States. He found out that not every child in the world was eating the same chocolate bars he was.

It wasn’t until he moved to the United States as an adult that he realized just how vast that divide is.

â€œYou get in these religious arguments with people,â€ he said. â€œI haven’t met a Canadian who likes a Hershey bar, but Americans think you’re crazy when you say that, because they think everyone loves a Hershey bar.â€

http://www.nytimes.c...amp;oref=slogin

I'm a little surprised that you didn't try for Canuck (such as the high-quality Laura Secord or the reasonable-for-everyday Nielson) instead. :lol:

:lol

It can be Galaxy, Nestle, Cadbury or Mars for me......none of the Hershey stuff thanks

Hershey's isn't termed "the curse of the chocolate world" inaccurately. IMO, Nielson (Jersey Milk, Rosebuds) always trumps Curseys.

Edited by CherryXS, 16 July 2007 - 01:01 PM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-16 13:02:00

Oh, the sadness

You may be able to get some of the "feel" of George with a 1960's Valiant (slant-6) or Falcon.

Is George a 948-cc or 1100-cc?
He's a 1098cc car who thinks he's a lot bigger! Bruce has his eye on an Oldsmobile Toronado from the mid- to late 60s, I'm sure the first of a string of old American cars to enter our lives. But hmmm...yes, I do like both the Valiant and the Falcon myself.

Guess he thinks he's an Oxford, eh? :lol:

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-18 11:47:00

Oh, the sadness

Wow your first car....why arent you bringing him with you???

George is not coming because there are two other great British cars coming -- a 1971 Triumph Spitfire and a 1980 MGB GT LE (Last Edition -- one of the last 100, I think, must ask the boy) coming with us. Poor old Georgie couldn't justify the expense of shipping. I love him but I must look to the great American cars of our future -- the boy is a petrolhead and I'm sure there's some domestic fun coming soon!

You may be able to get some of the "feel" of George with a 1960's Valiant (slant-6) or Falcon.

Is George a 948-cc or 1100-cc?

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-18 10:03:00

Some uncomfortable truths

Simplest answer is that Bruce can wait till eligible for US naturalisation, naturalise, get US passport and then conveniently "forget" to renew Brit one.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-20 08:52:00

jJust spotted on the baggage carousel at JFK...

What about loose-leaf tea for iced?

(more time-intensive than Lipton's admittedly, but tastes way better)

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-23 07:56:00

Proper Back Bacon

The problem with the common US designation of "Canadian bacon": contrary to the Wiki entry, much of what is sold in US as "Canuck bacon" is actually just ham with a raised pricetag (as anyone who's frequented the Grasmick Forum can state--even one such as me who detests pork).

It is quite legal to bring meat into US so long as it is in a shrink-wrapped, thermocol tray.

Edited by CherryXS, 20 July 2007 - 12:45 PM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-20 12:45:00

What about my luggage while waiting for immigration

Your luggage is rather unlikely to be "lonely" given the limited number of carousels at most POE's (especially JFK, Hartsfield, O'Hare or DFW); when they offload later flights, they'll have no issue in using that carousel and providing it some company till you pick it up to take through customs.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-24 10:30:00

prescription drugs

Reading a slight tangent to it: if the medication is prescription in US but not in the country where obtained, then it is OK to bring it in (so long as it's not also banned in US) for personal usage.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-27 09:07:00

question about VWP

unfortunately, up to discretion of USCIS official; assume "yes"
Yes

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-26 10:07:00

Has anyone flown from gatwick to milwaukee via chicago??

hi all,

I'm looking to fly from gatwick to milwaukee via chicago, the thing i'd like to know is weather you go through the customs at chicago or do you just get straight on a plane to mke and then go through the customs there? I've flown to chicago loads but they always give me hassle there, please help if you can.

many thanks

Unless you're flying into US from a Customs/Immigration PFI (such as the 9 Canadian airports; Dublin and Shannon are immigration-only), you will clear customs at the first point in US where you land (which will be your POE).

One solution may be to fly to Minneapois (MSP) or Detroit (DTW) instead.

Anyway, it's almost a waste to take a flight to Chicago, then to Milwaukee (Milwaukee is only 137 km/85 mi from Chicago, closer than Rockford) as your US SO could drive to O'Hare, pick you up and drive back within the "layover time" easily.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-30 10:16:00

And CherryXS... LB...?!

(edited... never mind, I just worked out as I clicked 'post' that you're using 'LB' due to the lack of a £ key on American keyboards...! I'm a bit slow this morning... )
Just to be really picky though, "LB" is a measure of weight and cannot be used to mean Pounds Sterling.

For future use CherryXS, please cut and paste here: £££££££££££££££££££££££££

PS I typed those on an American Mac Keyboard (Option-3).

Yeah... didn't feel like being super-picky and pointing that (that lb is a measure of weight not an abbreviation for pounds sterling, I mean) out, but... GBP would serve better than LB if you can't find any ££££ signs about to copy and paste (or can't remember how to get one on an American keyboard)!

Dr_LHA... Camino's habit of playing 'hide the cursor' when I'm trying to reply to posts here is driving me to distraction. I hope your Safari/iPhone combo is behaving better!

Eh, it's because "lb" means "pound" as weight unit (I learned, "unlearned" and "relearned" this in 36 years of living in North America) that I decided to use "LB" for the currency.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-31 12:13:00

I was able to find an inclusive total fare of LB 278 return LHR/JFK on BA (a good LB 34 less than Zoom) for (arbitrarily picked dates) departure end-of-August, return mid-September.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-24 09:28:00

The thing is i cant do anything other than a direct flight because i need to be able to get the EAD at JFK
Otherwise i would fly aer lingus and just connect in dublin...thats always dirt cheap!

But is not a direct flight from Gatwick to JFK acceptable (disclaimer: unfortunately, it sounds like I'm making a pitch for Zoom--but other airlines may give you somewhat cheaper from there)

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-24 06:33:00

I weent to Zoom Airlines, the no-friller to check.

The lowest fare (without added tax/surcharge) I got was LB 158; but it adds LB 107 for the LGW->JFK (more than the fare that way!) and LB 47 for the JFK->LGW, for a total fork-out of LB 312. Serious baggage restriction of 20 kg (44 lb) TOTAL, 2 pieces

For "Premium Economy" seating, the fare was LB 218 with total forkout of LB 412. Still restricted baggage of 30 kg total, 2 pieces.

Of course, as Zoom is no frills...

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-24 05:35:00

Getting married in USA

QUOTE (English Muffin @ Jul 8 2008, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't imagine anyone accepting a foreign license as ID, you'll need to use your passport until you get a US license.

Eh, Canuck licences are generally accepted as ID in US--so long as you're not trying to cash a cheque.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2008-07-08 12:56:00

Well I have had a couple of pataks here in the US and I thought it was pretty good. The korma was hotter than and not as creamy as I would have expected. And certainly much easier than making it from scratch!

One can also buy Shan Korma Masala (powder rather than sauce) quite easily. The other ingredients: well, you're gonna have to cook the onions/vegetables/meat(s)/eggs used anyway, so that would probably be just as workable.

(BTW, I can guarantee Shan as cent-percent desi; it's made in Lahore)

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-13 13:21:00

Maybe the tamarind used in almost all Pataks I've seen sold here?
(as acids such as vinegar and that contained in tamarind are known to dampen "hotness").

Is that a sweet ingredient? because the sauce was definately sweeter than in the UK. even my father in law tried some (a country Texan who doesnt like trying new stuff haha) but he didnt like it either because it tasted too sweet.

Tamarind itself is not sweet--and in excess, it is horribly sour (according to an old Tamil proverb, excess of tamarind can be lethal). Tamarind ("imli") chutney in restaurants contains brown sugar or molasses to give it both its "sweet-and-sour" taste as well as its texture.

A refresher of jr. high chemistry for you: "all acids are sour, and most bases are bitter".

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-10 08:02:00

Yeh the Pataks stuff is not as good as at home. I think it's made for a US palatte so they've toned it all down as the poor buggers can't cope with real food

I gave up and make it from scratch with all the proper spices. Of course it takes longer, but it tastes sooo much better. We also have a good Indian take out and I ask them to make it English hot rather than American hot and they get it just right now
Isn't the Patak's sold in US and Canada imported from UK?

Yes, but it's definitely different ingredients and different curries. I've even done a comparison with one bought in the UK

Maybe the tamarind used in almost all Pataks I've seen sold here?
(as acids such as vinegar and that contained in tamarind are known to dampen "hotness").

that reminds me... we live in texas, and my husband likes all the hot chilis such as haberneros, sorrentos etc (i dont know which are the hotter ones)... i wonder if he will find a vindaloo hot or not in england considering hes used to hot peppers here. Isnt there a hotter curry than a vindaloo? (im determined to get him to try the hottest thing there is england!)

Yeh, the Phal is hotter than a vindaloo. Way hotter in my opinion but I guess it depends where you get it. You were in the curry capital of the UK. Lucky you

Best yet, try a desi grocer there and see if they stock Tezpurs (there ain't a hotter pepper than that).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-09 13:13:00

Yeh the Pataks stuff is not as good as at home. I think it's made for a US palatte so they've toned it all down as the poor buggers can't cope with real food

I gave up and make it from scratch with all the proper spices. Of course it takes longer, but it tastes sooo much better. We also have a good Indian take out and I ask them to make it English hot rather than American hot and they get it just right now

Isn't the Patak's sold in US and Canada imported from UK?

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-09 12:37:00