Hello Myra

I deplore top-posting, but that's the way this discussion is developing,
so here's my input, written at the top...

If you're after a security stash of safe food, it could be worth keeping
Holland & Barrett in mind. <http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/> Despite
the splash of vitamins across their home page, they do sell other items
as well and their stores are numerous. You need to read the labels as
not everything is dairy free (and I couldn't say how much that is dairy
free might be labelled as being produced in a factory that handles milk)
but I enjoy their soya sausage roll and porkless pork pie from time to
time. I also use their litre containers of soya milk, which is now
called soya drink because of labelling laws. You can also get rice milk
and oat milk which are dairy free. You can probably get dairy-free Greem
& Black's chocolate there, too. <http://www.greenandblacks.com/uk/> Do
read the labels, as not all of their chocolate is dairy free. However,
all of the chocolate (and carob) produced by Plamil is dairy free and
they are proud of their factory which uses no animal ingredients and is
also a nut-free zone. <http://www.plamilfoods.co.uk/> Plamil tends to be
stocked in health food shops, but you can probably find Green & Black's
in regular supermarkets, although maybe not the really small "Tesco
Metro" type places.

I occasionally enjoy some Cheezly from time to time. This is a soya
cheese sold at most H&B stores which have a fridge. Cheezly is from The
Redwood Co: <http://www.redwoodfoods.co.uk/>.

I also enjoy "Ma Baker" giant bars, which are oat bars, most of which
are dairy free. They're a useful item to have in the bottom of one's bag
in case of an emergency. They tend not to come from H&B, but independent
health food shops may stock them. My supply usually comes from a
newsagent on London Bridge Walk.

The supermarket chains (Sainsbury, Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, ...) are also
useful to bear in mind, although you will need to read labels. I know
that I will eat Sainsbury's "Taste the difference" pastrami and Asda
pastrami but I have an idea that I won't eat Tesco's offering. Most of
them do small packs of roast beef which they manage not to pollute with
dairy ingredients, but you need to watch out for chicken and turkey
products and read the labels carefully as there are a few good ones and
a great many not-so-good ones. I couldn't comment on ham as I avoid pig
products as well as dairy products, but if you eat ham, you can probably
find some that is acceptable to you. You will also find acceptable bread
and most supermarkets offer an own-label dairy-free margarine and may in
addition sell "Pure" brand, which comes in sunflower, oilseed rape
(which you may know as canola) and organic, which is a mixture of
sunflower and palm oil. There's also Tomor kosher margarine, but I avoid
that and I can't recall why. I don't think it's dairy kosher, so it's
probably got some other nasty like maltodextrin in it, but I can't
recall what. You might find it perfectly acceptable.

Another product you might find in the supermarket freezer section with
icecreams is Swedish Glace <http://www.swedishglace.com/> which is a
pretty good non-dairy icecream - although whether you want a whole tub
of it if you're being a tourist is debatable! Some of the independent
health food shops also sell Tofutti, but it's more expensive. It's in
smaller tubs though, so could be do-able if you can share - or you have
access to a freezer so that you can have seconds later.

I don't know whether you have an interest in burgers, but the menu in
McDonald's and Burger King is fairly international. You can visit their
websites for ingredient lists, I think. McDonald's, although they don't
list a quarter pounder without cheese on their menu, will cook you one
if you ask for it. Burger King make a point of giving you a choice and I
enjoy a Burger King Whopper without cheese or mayonnaise. Do check to
make sure these products fall within your own limitations though.

I think that they are a few specialist vegan restaurants in London, but
I tend not to eat out much, as it's expensive, but it's worth searching
to see what you might come up with.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. It's different
actually living in London as I've got my own kitchen and can make things
for myself, but I survive here pretty well:-)

Helen


 >Thanks for the input. The last time I was in London I had no eating issues
 >and I'm a bit schizoid about going anywhere but Florida. I know not to expect
 >the 2nd Ave Deli but I always need a security stash of safe food in my
 >pocketbook
 >
 >Myra


 >Hi  Myra
 >
 >London's a big place best bet is the Golder's Green Area (north  West London)
 >Try Carmelli   Address:  128 Golders Gn Road,  Golders Green, London NW11 8HB
 >
 >Plenty of deli's round there but not  the US sort, Blooms will do saltbeef
 >chopped liver, etc but  costly
 >
 >Alan


 >Can anyone advise me as to a kosher bakery or a   deli-restaurant in London?
 >Thanks,   Myra
-- 
Helen Edith Stephenson  <[log in to unmask]>
Website:                http://www.wuronga.me.uk/helen/index.html
Blog:                   http://blog.360.yahoo.com/helenedithuk