Blooming onion in London?

[uniqueusername]

If anyone knows, chowhound will know... Where in London (or anywhere even vaguely close to London) can I find a blooming onion? One of the deep fried cholesterol ridden beauties? Any ideas?

[sunshine842]

My impression is that they're becoming something of a dying breed in the US, too -- seems like fewer places offer them. Outback of course, because it's one of their signature items -- but I didn't see too many of them on menus when I was in the States this winter.

[Kake]

I had one at the Texas Embassy Cantina a few years back: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2483194575/ but (a) it was pretty terrible (still raw in the middle) and (b) it doesn't seem to be on their menu any more: http://www.texasembassy.com/foods.html

However it might be worth asking them!

[uniqueusername]

Thank you, I will check it out in any case. My friend is just about ready to book flights to the US just to get one!

[Keith_ell]

They also used to do them as a starter at the Black and Blue chain of steak places, although they were called a "flowering onion" (my flatmate loved them). However; I think they changed the menu fairly recently and I don't think they made the cut.

http://www.blackandbluerestaurants.com

[uniqueusername]

oh no, so sad! Thanks for letting me know though, I'll keep an eye out for it there - you never know, there might be a special one day!

[FarleyFlavors]

This isn't going to help either, but they had them on the menu at Outback steakhouse. I just checked online and it seems the last of the U.K. branches closed last year.

[uniqueusername]

That was actually what sparked the conversation with my friend - we were planning a mission to Outback and then found out they were all closed!

[FarleyFlavors]

You'd probably have been disappointed in any case. They always seemed to have trouble securing large enough onions.

[sunshine842]

I was wondering about that...I've seen some big onions on this side of the pond, but nothing the size you'd need to make a Bloomin' Onion.

[Harters]

What's a blooming onion, please?

I'm assuming that you're using the word "blooming" in a sort of floral sense, rather than as a polite swear word?

[sunshine842]

Heehee -- yes, it's a large sweet onion cut and soaked in cold water so it "blooms", somewhat resembling a chrysanthemum. It's a specialty of American chain restaurants, and looks like this:

http://bestcopycatrestaurantrecipes.b...

I think finding on in London is going to be a Herculean task.

[Harters]

Thanks, sunshine. Now I've seen the photo, I'm sure I've eaten one on a trip to the States years back.

[uniqueusername]

Hrm, maybe my best bet is to make one! Or perhaps I should petition MeatLiquor to put it on the menu...