Tuesday 6 August 2019

RIP Spud-U-(no longer)-Like.


                                 Résultat de recherche d'images pour "spud u like"

Anyone who knows me would know that I would never have entered a Spud-U-Like restaurant, but this does not stop me from regretting its sad demise.

However, that name makes me despair; and as for those green plastic 'things'......

The gastronomic delight illustrated is (I think) a baked Potato filled with Coleslaw, and cost £3.99. The one in the background appears to be a simple unsullied empty baked Potato, and probably cost much the same.

The small chain of 37 'restaurants' began in Scotland (home of the deep-fried Mars bar) in 1974, and put the humble baked Potato on the gastronomic map. Most popular (I believe) was the baked bean filled spud; a steal at £3.84. I must admit to having eaten these myself at home, but my homemade version cost about 20p.

So, that's it. Goodbye Spud-U-Like. You served the nation well, but tastes have moved on!


26 comments:

  1. Had never heard of it although I suppose a baked potato would be healthier than many fast foods. The "coleslaw" does not look very healthy though.

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    1. You're right. The coleslaw doesn't look too healthy; nor was the price!

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  2. I have never heard of them. I would never go out and pay money for a baked potato. I associate them with bonfire night. Baked potatoes and sausages and cold noses.

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    1. A baked potato is something you make at home, when you haven't anything else in the house, and the woodburner is alight. Good winter food for eating by the fireside.

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  3. It doesn’t look very tempting ..... i’d rather have a salad or a sandwich ! Still, it’s a shame to hear about any business folding. XXXX

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    1. These days it's all Chicken shops, Kebabs, and Pizzas. I think people like to think that some work has gone into their take-away meal; not just shoved in an oven.

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  4. I must admit to having several spuds at a local branch when I lived in London in the mid 90s. At the time it was a quick, healthier option and hot meal on the way home.

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  5. It illustrates the ridiculous price people are prepared to pay for fast food. No wonder everyone is living in 'poverty'.

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  6. Never heard of Spud-u, remember how the Brits loved their spud back in the 90s when I worked at a pool bar. Spud in the microwave, heat up the canned beans, ever favourite. Can't remember how many drachmas it sold for but bet it was top of the price list.
    Spuds, full English breakfast and somewhere down the line came tuna salad smothered in mayo and only occasionally greek salad.
    Actually I think they all eat healthier now. Greek salad seems to be the most popular....

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    1. We had a Greek Salad for lunch today. Lovely; better than Spud-U-Like.

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  7. It's worse than that. I believe it is a baked potato filled with cottage cheese - the non-vegan version of tofu.

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    1. Looks a bit like Dulux thick white emulsion.

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  8. The tray set up looks awful. The colours are bizarre. Eat a spud? No thanks, think I need to lie down in a darkened room.

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    1. The tray is a disaster from beginning to end; even little children aren't given such horrors for their school lunches.

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  9. That is a funny name. We don’t have that chain here but a I think it was Wendy’s that had loaded (sour cream, bacon, and chives) baked potatoes on the menu. I eat mine at home with butter and salsa. I love baked potatoes.

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    1. We eat them in winter. I bake them under our woodburner; wrapped in foil.

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    2. Wendy's still do them. There is something comforting about the Chili potato on a -40C day.

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    3. I've never experienced a -40 C day, but I'm sure a good baked spud would help. In the past I have gone on frosty day walks with the dogs, with a couple of baked spuds in my pockets. They warm your hands, then warm the rest of you when you eat them. Lovely.

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  10. I love Jacket Potatoes (especially when I could do them in the Aga) and still have them for lunch occasionally if I can't think of an alternative.

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    1. We use either the ash tray in our woodburner, or our (poor man's) Aga when it's lit; which is not too often.

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  11. Given the massive choice of restaurants in cities like Glasgow I am astonished how many do survive.

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    1. I've not been to Glasgow, but Edinburgh had some wonderful ones.

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  12. The name id a hoot !
    I love cooking potatoes for a long time in the oven till the outer skin is crunchy and the insides are fluffy . Perfect.
    parsnip

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    1. The variety I buy here in France is called Agata, and it makes the most delicious baked spud. The flavour is simply stunning.

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