Molly the cat brought international attention to Myers of Keswick, a British food shop in the West Village. "Let Meow-ut" purred The New York Post while Myer's mouser was stuck inside a wall of their landmark building for 14 days in April 2006.
"In a purr-fect ending, a miner with a heart of gold searched until he rescued Molly," reported the New York Daily News.
If meeting Molly isn't enough to make you visit Myers, how about the Walkers mince pies and Christmas crackers? Or, yes, spotted dick -- the Heinz pudding -- makes a silly stocking stuffer for someone on your list. They also sell Typhoo and PG Tips teas, a wide selection of Wilkns and Sons jams, Colman's mustard, Branston Pickle and other British favorites.
They make and sell their own sausages including bangers and chipolatas (as requested in some stuffing recipes or when making a Full English breakfast), Scotch eggs and meat pies. Citysearch suggests that the meat pies make Myers "an offbeat lunch stop."
While the government limits what Myers can import, if you don't see a UK "favourite", ask an employee and they can tell you if they have plans to carry the item soon. Unfortunately, they no longer have Mr. Kipling's pies. Apparently lard in Kipling's crust makes them illegal for export.
If you haven't tried these every day British staples yet, save the Yankee jokes about the food of Britain until you give some of this a try. You might pop in to Myers for the candy bars like the Curly-Wurly and the Yorkie ("It's not for girls," the wrapper oddly claims) and some lemon curd.
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
Don't forget my favorite dishwashing soap -- 'Fairy Liquid' -- makes a great housewarming present!
And can't get enough of McVities biscuits!
As an ex-pat living here for some time, I cant begin to explain the feeling I get when I enter the store. A veritable Christmas stocking, I get all caught up in the chocolates, biscuits, jams, teas, crisps etc - not to mention the Marmite, baked beans, salad cream and of course the Branston and pickled onions. Before you know it, Ive bought my usual array of childhood memories and comfort food to sustain me through the next few weeks.
A staple for many ex-pats living here, it does more than carry amazing homemade pies and sundries its a little touch of home and comfort in NYC. I highly recommend a visit.
Woo! I'm down to my last couple of PG Tips and I was starting to think I wouldn't find more easily.
Oh, man -- I just read Rich's comment. If they stock prawn crisps, I may just have to ask Santa for some bigger pants this Christmas...
Kristen, yes they have Walker's Crisps too! I've also seen them in Blue Apron in Brooklyn, but I'm not sure what flavors they have.