An American woman living in the UK has tried Greggs‘ food for the first time – and was instantly met with backlash for committing a faux pas while chowing down.
Stacey Gaw, 36, moved from Oregon, US, to Southampton this summer to be with her British husband, and has been documenting her experience of cultural differences – including taste testing foodie staples like the beloved bakery chain.
Recently, she dared to try her first Greggs, tucking into a sausage roll and a sausage, bean and cheese melt, documenting the experience on TikTok, where it garnered 49,000 views.
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But while she enjoyed many of the items she sampled, Stacey was trolled for the way she took the food home to heat up and serve on a plate.
One person insisted: “Greggs has to be eaten from the bag!”
Another user commented: “Normally eat Greggs out the bag the minute you get out the shop.”
Someone else wrote: “Nobody puts Greggs on a plate.”
“I’ve never seen anyone eat Greggs off a plate. Like ever,” said another critic.
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Another viewer added: “No no not on a plate.”
“I see tons of videos of people plating their chippies, so I thought it would be fine – it was not!” Stacey told What’s The Jam.
“A lot of people said it was silly that I put my Greggs on a plate, but I have seen so many people plate their takeaways, so I just did it.
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“In America, we don’t plate if we order takeout.”
In the clip, she can be seen tucking into some of the most famed items on the menu.
Speaking about the food, Stacey says: “Sausage here is different. Strange. Mushy.”
Stacey noted that she had to heat the food up, something her husband “hadn’t even thought” of doing.
Stacey said: “I give the bean and cheese melt a 6/10 and the sausage roll an 8/10.
“Not on video, I have had a chicken bake, and that’s a 10/10 all day, and the sausage breakfast baguette, that was a solid 8/10.”
On a second visit to Greggs, Stacey tried out this year’s festive menu too – rating the festive bake an 8/10, but critiquing the mince pie with a score of just 5/10.
Other favourites for the Yank include the pizza slice, gingerbread muffin and vegan lattice.
Stacey said moving to the UK has been like being in a “whole other world”, but notes that people have been welcoming.
She said: “It seems like they’re excited to tell me about their home and how things are done, how to eat things, and things I should try.
“That has been really fun and fulfilling.
“Sometimes when they’re unkind, I feel myself getting defensive, but I also remember that I am in another country and want to learn all I can.
“There are so many snacks and meals that we don’t have in America.
“Honourable mention [is for] Sunday roasts – they’re so delicious and having them every Sunday is such a cosy tradition.”
