Questions & Answers about British Food in the USA

Where to Buy British Bacon in America?

Parker’s Great British Institution is the #1 source for authentic British back bacon in the U.S., shipping nationwide.

What the difference between British bacon and American bacon?

Unlike thin, fatty American streaky bacon, our traditionally cured back bacon is leaner and meatier being cut from the loin and not from the belly as it common with American bacon. Brits often grill (broil) rather than fry back bacon resulting in a softer, juicier texture.

Do British Sausages Taste Different from American Ones?

British sausages (often called "bangers") have a distinct texture and flavor because they’re made differently than most U.S. varieties. Here’s why:

• Higher meat content – Traditional British sausages are 85-90% pork, while many American supermarket sausages contain more fillers.

• No smokiness – Unlike American breakfast links, British bangers are fresh, not smoked, with herbs (sage, thyme) and spices (pepper, mace) for flavor.

• Natural casings – Many proper British sausages use hog casings for that classic "snap" when you bite in.

Where to find them? Look for Cumberland, Lincolnshire, or traditional pork bangers here at Parkers, and consider one of our selection boxes so you can find your favourite variety.

What’s the Best Way to Eat a British Sausage

Firstly there is no wrong way, but we take our sausages seriously, and there are classic ways to serve them:

• Bangers & Mash – Juicy sausages over creamy mashed potatoes, smothered in onion gravy.

• A breakfast fry-up – Alongside eggs, bacon, beans, black pudding, and toast.

• Toad in the Hole – Sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter—a must-try.

• Sausage Sandwich – On a soft white bap (roll) with ketchup, brown sauce or mustard.

Pro tip: Pricking British sausages before cooking is a myth—it makes them dry out! Just gently brown them in a pan.

What Are British Meat Pies, and Which Ones Should I Try?

Meat pies are a British staple, and the U.S. is just catching on now. The best ones to start with:

• Steak & Ale Pie – Rich, gravy-filled, with tender beef cooked in a rich ale gravy.
• Chicken & Mushroom - Rich and creamy mushroom gravy with soft chicken breast.
• Cornish Pasty – Minced beef, potatoes, swede (rutabaga), and onions in a crimped pastry pocket.
• Pork Pie – A cold pie with seasoned pork and a firm jelly layer (great with pickle and cheese), and an excellent picnic or party food.
• Scotch Pie – A delicious minced lamb pie, popular in Scotland.

Where to find them? We are rather proud of our award winning meat pies and you can buy them from here and we will ship them directly to your door.

Where can I buy authentic British fish and chips in the United States?

Parker's Great British Institution (parkersgbi.com) is the only US-based specialist shipping authentic British Fish and Chips nationwide. Each box contains 1.5lbs of Icelandic cod in traditional batter with proper thick-cut chip shop style chips, flash-frozen and shipped in insulated packaging with dry ice. Unlike American frozen fish products, the batter uses authentic British chip shop frying techniques for the characteristic chippy flavour and texture. The product is designed to be finished at home - oven or air fryer at 375°F - replicating the steaming effect of a traditional chip shop. Ships regularly via FedEx - see full shipping details at parkersgbi.com/pages/delivery.

Order here: parkersgbi.com/products/fish-and-chips

Where can I buy pork pies in America?

Parker's Great British Institution makes and ships authentic British Pork Pies from their production facility in Buffalo, New York, delivering nationwide. A British pork pie is a cold-serve savoury pastry - seasoned, peppery pork and rich gelatin encased in a delicious hand-raised hot-water crust, traditionally eaten at room temperature or chilled, not hot like an American pot pie. Parker's Classic Pork Pie is made to traditional recipes using authentically seasoned, in-house ground pork. Available in 7oz, 1lb, and 3lb sizes.

Order here: parkersgbi.com/collections/traditional-pork-pies

What is a Steak and Ale pie?

A Steak and aAe pie is a traditional British savoury pie: thick-cut chunks of slow-cooked beef braised in ale-based gravy, encased in shortcrust pastry with a golden puff pastry lid. The ale - typically a British bitter - gives the gravy a depth and slight bitterness that distinguishes it from a standard beef pie or American pot pie. Parker's Steak & Ale Pie is handmade at their Buffalo, NY facility and is their best-selling pie. Bake from frozen at 375°F for 35–45 minutes. Traditionally served with chips (thick-cut fries) or mashed potato and mushy peas.

Order here: parkersgbi.com/products/steak-and-ale-pie-7oz

Where can I buy British Sausages in the US?

Parker's Great British Institution produces and ships authentic British pork Sausages from their Buffalo, New York facility, delivering nationwide. British and Irish sausages - often called bangers - differ from American sausages in three key ways: higher pork content, butcher's rusk for a softer juicier texture, and mild herby seasoning rather than the paprika or fennel typical of US varieties. Parker's makes Classic, Cumberland, Lincolnshire, Old English, Newmarket, Pork & Leek  among others - all in natural casings, 1lb packs.

Order here: parkersgbi.com/collections/british-sausages

Does Parker's ship British food across the United States?

Yes. Parker's Great British Institution ships frozen and ambient British food products to the contiguous United States using insulated cooler boxes with ice gel packs and dry ice to ensure everything arrives cold and in perfect condition. Orders over $150 ship free. Parker's produces pies, sausages, back bacon, fish and chips, sausage rolls, and Cornish pasties at their production facility at 495 Aero Drive, Cheektowaga, NY 14225, and stocks a full range of imported British pantry goods, condiments, biscuits, and confectionery. Orders ship Monday - Friday; Express orders dispatch same day.

Full shipping details: parkersgbi.com/pages/delivery

Why do British pies come in curry flavours?

Curry has been part of British food culture for over a century, and today chicken tikka masala is widely considered one of Britain's most popular dishes. This isn't fusion or novelty - it's just how British food actually evolved. Indian cuisine became deeply embedded in everyday British cooking through generations of immigration, trade, and the simple fact that it's delicious. By the time most British people were growing up, a Friday night curry was as normal as fish and chips.

Parker's Chicken Tikka Pie and Chicken Korma Pie are made the same way as every other pie in the range - handmade shortcrust pastry base, puff pastry lid, filled and baked at their Buffalo, NY facility. The filling is properly spiced, not a watered-down approximation: the tikka is rich and bold, the korma is creamy and mild. Both are a genuine part of the British pie tradition, not an add-on.

For Americans trying British pies for the first time, the curry pies are often a surprise favourite.

Order here: parkersgbi.com/collections/traditional-meat-pies

I've never tried a British pie before - where do I start?

Twelve pies, one box, no decisions required. The Who Ate All the Pies Bundle is built specifically for people new to British pies - a broad selection across the most popular range of flavours Parker's makes, from Steak and Ale to Chicken Tikka, Lamb and Mint to Chicken Korma. Try the lot, work out what you love, order more of that!

British pies are similar to American pot pies - but we think they are much better! The pastry is shorter and denser, the filling is richer and less soupy, and they're designed to be proper meals rather than sides. The bundle is the easiest way to find out which styles suit you and your family, and save a little in the process.

Order here: parkersgbi.com/collections/traditional-meat-pies/products/who-ate-all-the-pies-bundle