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 A HISTORY British cuisine. A sorry mix of pleasure-hating Protestant ethics, WWII rationing and an island mentality that treated any produce or ideas from abroad with suspicion. Once the American GI's stationed here in WWII took their stories home about British food from its period of heavy rationing, the islands reputation was set. British food sucked insane amounts of donkey cock. But during this period of culinary emptiness, deep in the heart of industrial England a man had a simple idea. A man named John Gregg was to open a bakery that offered something different, something that suited the needs of a nation experiencing the fast paced life of wartime. A bakery that delivered it's goods by bicycle. This wasn't just food, this was FAST food. Fast forward to the early 1950's and John Greggs' son Ian looked to bring his own ideas to the brand, to shake off the shackles of war and grasp the zeitgeist of post-war Britain. His great idea was the Store Bakery. Something between a franchise and a chain that could rapidly expand and meet the needs of a population hungry for progress. But there was more to Ian's vision than simple economic expansion. In 1967 Greggs held their first "'Pie n Peas' Supper Event" in Gateshead, something that was a lot more than a promotional event. It was also a way to give the ageing population of retired industrial workers a place to meet and to socialise. A calendar event to look forward to, something to help build community. As well as being a company looking to expand rapidly and gain a foothold in the lunchtime of every part of the UK, Greggs set itself apart early on as being a company with a strong focus on social responsibility, a company that wasn't just trying to wedge itself into every high street, it was also looking to transform the communities it touched, creating a better, fairer society. Progress was slow however. The spread of Greggs from the north-east of England was hampered by competition and the logistics of delivering pre-made products to bakeries further out in the country. By 1994 Greggs boasted 500 shops but they were mostly in the North East. Rather than cut corners or lose it's vision of being a community-minded business, Greggs stook to its guns and with time, was rewarded. As the new millennium brought a faltering economy, many of its competitors fell by the wayside. Greggs seized this opportunity and began opening more new bakeries than ever, all the while matching its success with more charitable initiatives. It's Breakfast Club project helped give thousands of children country-wide a decent breakfast, Hardship funds and Community Project funds were started by what was now The Greggs Foundation, a charitable foundation looking to make a difference at a local level. Which brings us to where we are to day. Those of you visiting from outside of the UK will surely notice the ubiquity of the humble Greggs bakery not long after you land on our fair isle and walk our city streets. There will be a queue. Some items will be sold out, but fear not a new batch is just browning in their ovens. This is fast food, British style. Uncomplicated, hearty and blessed with a rare social conscience that sets it apart from anything else you will find on a high street. WHERE TO FIND ONE  They are literally loving everywhere. If you're in a town or city just walk around a bit and look for the familiar blue shopfront, a queue and the enticing smell of buttery pastry. Or alternatively follow anyone dressed in work overalls, they're def going to Greggs. WHAT TO GET Now everyone has a different palate, everyone has different needs and the strength of Greggs is it's ability to please all of the people all of the time. From it's main staple, the humble Sausage Roll, to more restrained Salad Boxes, you'll find something there to wolf down on-the-go. SAUSAGE ROLL  The cornerstone, the foundation, the classic. Moderately spiced pork encased in flaky, buttery pastry that is gone in 4-8 mouthfuls. Unfussy, straightforward, instant satisfaction. Oh and if you're vegan, there's one just for you which is honestly probably the best vegan anything avaliable in the UK to date. SLICES  Called a "pasty" by some, Greggs tends not to use that term save for its Cornish Pasty out of respect for that particular delicacy. This is the Good poo poo, the main event where all tastes are catered for. From it's staple variations like the bold, no-nonsense Steak Slice to more artisan special-editions like the Katsu Chicken Curry and the seasonal Xmas Slice, there is truly something in there for everyone. Personally I'm a fan of the Chicken Bake, with its silky melt-in-the-mouth protein encased in an insanely brutal umami-rich white sauce, it's whiteness emphasising it's idealogical purity. SANDWICHES  From Baguettes, to rolls to wraps there's a whole world of choice here that will keep the noble Gregg's completionist busy for quite some time. While the Peri-Peri Chicken and Chipotle Steak Baguette offer a touch of the exotic, as with all things Greggs it's the basics where you will find real gold. For me their Tandoori Chicken Baguette sums up everything that is great about Greggs, nay Britain itself. A melting pot of British, European and Asian sensibilities that transcends its mish-mash of origins. On the other hand I will say the cheese and ham one is a bit rubbery, but gently caress it it'll do in a pinch if I've got a hangover to banish. SWEET TREATS  Normally you'd associate a bakery with a cascading front window of enticing sweetness, sugar glazes dripping like so much winter snow, sparkling fruits glistening like diamonds on a dreary Autumn morn. Yeah well this is Greggs bitch and we do things savoury here. Well, nearly. Donuts, muffins and brownies are all represented and p deece, and whose child could resist a Novelty Ring Bun, yes this little cupcake comes with a toy that you can wear on your hand. Insane. OTHER  There's also croissants, pasta salads, pizza slices, soups and more, so like I said you'll find something that will fill that hungry hole in your belly. Also the coffee isn't entirely poo poo. HOW TO EAT  Ok if you're visiting from abroad you're going to need to know a bit of etiquette before you embark on the first step of your Greggs Quest. Much like as if you received your first bowl of tapas somewhere in Cantabria and said loudly "is this it? it's loving tiny!", there are do's and don'ts. Firstly, this is fast food. As much as you will be stuck in a Great British Queue on entry you'll be expected to either grab what you want from the cabinet or have your order ready when you get to the counter. In the parlance of South London, Don't gently caress About. There's a hungry gaggle of workmen behind you who need to get right back to making the country great again as soon as possible. Secondly on completing your order you will be asked a question. It is one of those great ceremonial oddities that our country specialises in so very well. From the strange maces and robes of our Parliament to the eccentricity of Cricket we love our odd customs. And you will meet one face to face at the point of sale. "Eating in or taking out?" Literally nobody eats in. WTF. It's Greggs. I mean some do, but I don't look at those people, and I don't think anyone else does either, as human. It's like a massive betrayal of everything that holds our divided society together. You don't eat in, you don't stay. You walk. You walk with the rest of us, all of us, down that high street, wind blowing through its stone corridor, pushing you forward as if the weight of Empire itself is at your back, pastry in hand. You bite into your baked goodness, flaky crumbs flying behind you like the confetti of coronation. Yeah the innards are going to get on your fingers, that's part of the experience. That is the lifeblood of the country coating your hands, baptising you into the nations heart. Greggs isn't a cafe or restaurant, it's fast food, British style. You eat it on the go with the gray skies and light drizzle of an English afternoon swirling around you, as you move onwards, forwards, to a better tomorrow. FURTHER READING Website (inc menu) https://www.greggs.co.uk/ Store Locator https://www.greggs.co.uk/store-locator?lat=51.52276&long=-0.103841999999986 The Greggs Foundation https://www.greggsfoundation.org.uk/
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Feb 4, 2020 20:41
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| # ? May 27, 2024 20:52 |
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(reserved)
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Feb 4, 2020 20:42
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For twelve years, you have been asking: Who is Gregg?
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Feb 4, 2020 21:04
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Greggs sausage rolls are the best fast food sausage rolls in britain. There was a competitor called sayers where I went to uni and they ate poo poo compared to greggs, they were all fluffy and dry while greggs ones are pleasantly greasy
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Feb 4, 2020 21:31
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any local bakers' sausage rolls are gonna be better than greggs shite not that there's any independent shops left on the high street though so w/e
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Feb 4, 2020 21:32
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Nova69 posted:any local bakers' sausage rolls are gonna be better than greggs shite you still get a few. don't agree with you though. like the post right above you said, a lot of the time they're fluffy and dry. awful to eat, flakes and crumbs just go flying. too much loving pastry. also you can get the vegan ones now which taste better. i'm not a big greggs boy in general though. bakery makes you obese.
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Feb 4, 2020 21:49
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that vegan sausage roll is alright, but it could use brushing with pork fat
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Feb 4, 2020 21:50
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Sayers are a Liverpool thing. They used to be everywhere in the north west but got into some financial trouble sometime in the mid 2000s i think?
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Feb 4, 2020 22:11
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This is really drat good and I encourage people to make threads like this in addition to the shitposting, I legit found this very interesting.
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Feb 4, 2020 23:55
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i think newcastle has a greggs within about 100m of anywhere in the city centre you are and possibly even closer newcastle has a greggs that is open early hours of the morning for drunk people and even has bouncers lol
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Feb 4, 2020 23:57
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So after reading this is realized the German chain Backwerk is a Gregg’s knock-off. They do the sausage roll thing too, which is fairly unique in Germany.
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Feb 5, 2020 00:40
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Strange Greggs sidestory - A few years ago the popular human-psychology-antagonsier Dota2 introduced regional chat channels. The game put you in one by default and they were pretty silent, pretty dead. My friend noticed this and tried to think of a universally British topic that would get the conversation going and thought of Greggs. It took about a week until GreggsChat was self-sustaining. Within a few weeks it had spread to every UK based regional chat. A year or two later this happened. https://clips.twitch.tv/ProudHedonisticBoarDoggo
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Feb 5, 2020 01:04
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Jose posted:i think newcastle has a greggs within about 100m of anywhere in the city centre you are and possibly even closer
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Feb 5, 2020 01:26
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I went to London a few times in my teens and twenties and I loved your sandwich/baguette culture. Every corner store like Greggs has a big selection of all these premade sandwiches. And they were always pretty simple, though the Greggs ones seem to be getting more complicated. We have sandwiches in the US, obviously, but it's not nearly as ubiquitous or uniform as places like Greggs. Plus I love how salad sandwiches are named "tuna mayonnaise" and "chicken mayonnaise"
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Feb 5, 2020 03:22
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greggs dont even sell bread anymore, so now i only go to percy ingles also cuz you can say this ones a percy and ask for a rewind https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Percy%20Ingle
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Feb 5, 2020 10:21
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 Arrivals at Newcastle Airport. The most beautiful sight a weary traveller could behold
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Feb 5, 2020 11:17
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Feb 5, 2020 11:19
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track day bro! posted:greggs dont even sell bread anymore, so now i only go to percy ingles Yes they do
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Feb 5, 2020 11:50
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Jose posted:Yes they do get hosed oval office
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Feb 5, 2020 11:57
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Is this just how English people communicate what’s going on here?
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Feb 5, 2020 12:04
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Greggs as a company have no debt. Shows our love of baked poo poo I've been in England too long - can someone tell me, do you still get mango chicken sandwiches in Scotland? They've never had them down here And same question for macaroni pies?
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Feb 5, 2020 13:12
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Also, here is my Greggs story: My treat when I work from home is - at lunch time I take a walk up to the local Greggs. Either a tandoori chicken baguette or Mexican chicken oval bite to eat back at home, and a cheese and onion slice for the walk back And if I'm feeling bold, a 4 pack of cold sausage rolls to heat in the oven for the night's family tea (with frozen chips and beans) and a spikey Mikey for the wean And all that costs less than a normal lunch when I'm in the office...
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Feb 5, 2020 13:20
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There used to be a bakers called The Bakers Oven in Dundee. Its a greggs now but when I went there you could get a steak bake for £1. Changed days, let me tell you
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Feb 5, 2020 15:39
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Modrasone posted:Strange Greggs sidestory - I was in the stadium for that moment and it was glorious
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Feb 5, 2020 15:43
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We had a Bakers Oven in Clydebank too. I'm sure it used to sell chips. I think its probably still there
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Feb 5, 2020 15:51
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There's not many others near me, it's a total Greggs takeover. There is, however, this I would never eat anything from it but i love it. Everything you could ever want to know about that shop is right there in it's name. What they got? Sandwich. How much? Pound. It's the kind of succinct marketing you don't see outside of a cardboard sign saying "blowjobs $20"
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Feb 5, 2020 16:03
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nothing like burning your mouth with a greggs steak bake
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Feb 5, 2020 16:04
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got a chicken and bacon baguette from greggs for lunch today
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Feb 5, 2020 18:39
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HugeGrossBurrito posted:Is this just how English people communicate what’s going on here? americans getting upset about calling people oval office is strange
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Feb 5, 2020 18:39
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Modrasone posted:There's not many others near me, it's a total Greggs takeover. There is, however, this In a similar vein will you be starting a ‘Spoons thread or does their slow delivery disqualify then from this forum? I’d suggest leaving Tim Martin out of it due to the no politics rule if you do..
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Feb 5, 2020 20:29
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Barry White posted:In a similar vein will you be starting a ‘Spoons thread or does their slow delivery disqualify then from this forum? nah, not a fan. it's good for people watching but thats about it
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Feb 5, 2020 20:37
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Jose posted:americans getting upset about calling people oval office is strange It’s just used in a very hosed up way here. But as this is the Gregg’s Megathread I don’t see the problem
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Feb 5, 2020 20:46
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Their soups are often overlooked and underrated due to the iconic status of their bakes, I feel. I don't care how much sugar is in the tomato soup, it's great on a cold day, and I'll take it over a sandwich any time. I've also read somewhere that their vegan stuff, while comparable or even better tasting than the meat originals, is somehow more unhealthy. But I'll let people set their own priorities on that one.
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Feb 5, 2020 21:07
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The toasties are amazing from any motorway services, subpar on the high street. How?
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Feb 5, 2020 22:14
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Jel Shaker posted:The toasties are amazing from any motorway services, subpar on the high street. How? the high street machines get cleaned every day, whereas the motorway ones are free to develop a delicious patina like you'd get on cast iron pans e: i love a Gregg's now and then and will smash 2 sausage rolls easy. The mrs has gone all upmarket since we moved to london and prefers to seek out a pret a manger or whatever, so I'm forced to get my fix of buttered pastry and miscellaneous meat on my own, glancing furtively around like a lapsing alcoholic kecske fucked around with this message at 23:36 on Feb 5, 2020 |
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Feb 5, 2020 23:22
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greggs bought out my local family baking chain (birketts, rip) and replaced all the good poo poo with their bake-by-numbers bland textureless bullshit, they're just pret in a flat cap, don't be fooled by these gentrifying cunts lads
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Feb 5, 2020 23:51
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I have to rely on the Co-op hot food counter near work. Doesn't hold a candle, other than the caramalised onion sausage roll, which is immense.
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Feb 5, 2020 23:58
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Vando posted:greggs bought out my local family baking chain (birketts, rip) and replaced all the good poo poo with their bake-by-numbers bland textureless bullshit, they're just pret in a flat cap, don't be fooled by these gentrifying cunts lads they're still cheaper than pret
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Feb 6, 2020 00:03
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First thing that pops into my mind when i think of greggs is gentrification
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Feb 6, 2020 00:07
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Greggs is way better than Birds, Birds don't do anything vegetarian last time I was in there Not had the vegan steak bake yet though
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Feb 6, 2020 00:42
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