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Post by adco on Jul 21, 2008 21:22:29 GMT
You have a British section in your grocery blackopal? Perhaps CVG and I should move south! We are lucky to have a Mexican section in our supermarket and that's only been in the last few years when we've had a bit of an influx of Mexicans in our area. ;D We do have Wheetabix though.  |
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Post by blackopal on Jul 21, 2008 22:10:57 GMT
You have a British section in your grocery blackopal? Perhaps CVG and I should move south! We are lucky to have a Mexican section in our supermarket and that's only been in the last few years when we've had a bit of an influx of Mexicans in our area. ;D We do have Wheetabix though. Yes it made me very happy to see it, 'cause I figure if there are British groceries around, then there must be actual Britons in my vicinity buying the stuff! I don't know where they hide though. The last time I bought Weetabix (just a few months ago), they had changed the packaging so as to remove any overt signs of Britannia. What's that all about? I miss the lovely photo of Glastonbury Tor that used to be on the side panel. |
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Post by Wyvern on Jul 21, 2008 22:24:37 GMT
They had photos of Glastonbury Tor on Weetabix packets? I managed to miss that. That probably has something to do with my aversion to cow juice, but even so  Spent a very happy weekend at the foot of Glastonbury Tor for my 20th birthday. I don't think the other people on the campsite were quite as happy, but my bf and I had a very good time. And today I've just discovered that my parents still have the digeridoo he bought me. I meant to bring it home but I didn't get around to it. I'm so pleased though, as well as being a memento of a very entertaining weekend, I thought it had been lost when they moved house about 10 years ago! |
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Post by cantervilleghost on Jul 21, 2008 23:03:40 GMT
Maybe James and Oz will quaff some barley wine in their new series, "Drinking Britain Dry" LOL Great title for the show! Adco-- We don't even have an ethnic section in our 2 grocery stores here. The nearest we have is a small section with Kikkoman sauces and Taco Bell mixes. I've never seen Wheatabix. |
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Post by maibee on Jul 21, 2008 23:21:26 GMT
Never seen Weetabix - here you go!  |
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aaurora
Filthy Mayhemer
I object to the beige
Posts: 592
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Post by aaurora on Jul 22, 2008 0:02:28 GMT
We have WeetBix in Australia - it is missing the 'a' as Australians are known for their inability to decipher anything over three syllables. I'm surprised it's actually quite a popular choice for breakfast - it can't be cooked on the BBQ.
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Post by blackopal on Jul 22, 2008 14:25:20 GMT
The packaging on the Weetabix sold in N. America is a bit different:  For some reason, it seems they're trying to downplay the Britishness, and emphasise the organic healthfulness. Whatevah! I got the last bottle of barley water at the store last night; it's very nice & refreshing. I also got a packet of biscuits called Jammie Dodgers or something like that, but haven't tried them yet. |
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Post by maureen on Jul 22, 2008 14:45:33 GMT
I read my post and realised I had a moment of dyslexia in my last sentence. (Feeling sheepish). I meant drinking and sailing. Sorry.  |
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Post by Wyvern on Jul 22, 2008 15:29:40 GMT
Ooh, Jammie Dodgers - I like those  |
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Post by adco on Jul 22, 2008 18:57:12 GMT
We have the "new Organic" Wheetabix here too. We have the opposite problem Blackopal, British people but no British section in the store. We have Taco Bell, but it's only walls at this point. We do have lots of good Chinese and Mexican restaurants because, well we have lots of good Chinese and Mexican people! Actually our best Chinese place is owned by Koreans and staffed by Mexicans.  Small towns are odd sometimes all of the time. |
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Post by cantervilleghost on Jul 23, 2008 13:11:42 GMT
I see I misspelled it! Oops! Sorry about that! From the photos Weetabix looks like what we call Shredded Wheat.
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Post by maibee on Jul 23, 2008 13:35:30 GMT
No, CVG. Weetabix is not at all like Shredded Wheat. We have that too. Shredded Wheat is like cushions of strands of wheat. Weetabix are oval shaped biscuits of wheat flakes. Shredded Wheat more or less retains its shape when soaked in milk. Weetabix dissolve and this becomes a thick goo if you don't eat it quickly enough as all the milk is eventually absorbed by the wheat flakes. Here pictures of the dried varieties of Shredded Wheat followed by Weetabix, shows the difference in composition.   |
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Post by cantervilleghost on Jul 23, 2008 13:40:47 GMT
Ohhh, ok! I understand now! ;D Sounds like I'd prefer my shredded wheat. Actually, my fave is Frosted Mini Wheats. Unless I have Rice Crispies and bananas. I love cut up banana in my Rice Crispies! YUM! I think we've hijacked the DT thread! LOL
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Post by maibee on Jul 23, 2008 13:43:25 GMT
Well we're always hijacking one thread or another, CVG! But it all does stem from James' comment on sweets! Seems someone on the actual column page from your side of the pond needs educating about American Hard Gums. Hopefully someone will reciprocate and tell me what precisely English muffins are!  |
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Post by cantervilleghost on Jul 23, 2008 13:51:38 GMT
Hmm, how to describe an English muffin? Have you ever had an egg mcmuffin at McDonald's? If so, THAT is an Elngish muffin! It's a dry type of bread, that tastes best toasted. It's circular and has a little corn meal sprinkled on the outside. That probably doesn't help much huh? LOL
Regarding American Hard Gums, do you have Dots over there? Cause to me, Dots are similar to AHG, only they aren't sugar coated.
What do you want to bet that the one comment James will reply to this week, will be the American who hasn't heard of AHG?
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Post by Wyvern on Jul 23, 2008 14:03:59 GMT
Maibee, English muffins are what we English call 'muffins' The round bready breakfast delight that is particularly wonderful split and toasted and then spread with butter (and in my case, Marmite). We've been so invaded by the American variety, which is just a big cupcake really, that these days a lot of people don't seem to remember our muffins at all  Mind you, it does get very confusing. A biscuit is something different over there too. According to my Elvis cookbook, "Are You Hungry Tonight", they are something you have with gravy, and they sell them to go with your chicken in some branches of KFC! AND their KFCs sell mashed potato. It's just not fair! PS: Am now sulking at the global unfairness of KFC. They even sell pies! So if I drop into one here, I have to have a lump of chicken coated in spicy sawdust and fried, with a side of polystyrene fries. I can't even find fries on the US KFC website! Over there, I could have chicken pie, mashed potato, gravy and green beans  |
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Post by maibee on Jul 23, 2008 14:13:45 GMT
Oh yes, Wy, had forgotten those, not that I think I've ever had them. I prefer to have crumpets, though not with Marmite (I'm in the negative category here). I like my toasted crumpets spread with either a butter substitute or with a herbal mixture called Zaatar in Arabic (a dried thyme and sesame seed mix, made into a spread with olive oil - particularly good spread on a thin pizza dough type base, or better still, if you have a Lebanese 'fourn' - bakery with special oven - nearby, get them ready made, they're called Mneesh).
You're right we only think now of those big overflowing cup cakes, responsible for the term used for the unsightly stuff that overspills tight jeans! (LOL don't get the impression from this that maibee is in any shape or form svelte!)
Sounds a bit like the biscuits my cats get to absorb the gravy in their food if it's too runny! Yuk!
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Post by Wyvern on Jul 23, 2008 14:20:11 GMT
Biscuits look OK, actually, they seem to be more like scones than anything else, but a bit flakier. Zaatar sounds interesting though.
I like Marmite on my crumpets too. Actually, I just like Marmite full stop. I like peanut butter, too, though not with the Marmite, I hasten to add. If anything goes with peanut butter, it has to be my home made strawberry jam - as I can never get grape jelly, and my experiment to create some using Welch's grape juice was not entirely successful.
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Post by maibee on Jul 23, 2008 14:36:51 GMT
Hmm, how to describe an English muffin? Have you ever had an egg mcmuffin at McDonald's? If so, THAT is an Elngish muffin! It's a dry type of bread, that tastes best toasted. It's circular and has a little corn meal sprinkled on the outside. That probably doesn't help much huh? LOL Regarding American Hard Gums, do you have Dots over there? Cause to me, Dots are similar to AHG, only they aren't sugar coated. What do you want to bet that the one comment James will reply to this week, will be the American who hasn't heard of AHG? Sorry, CVG, I didn't see this. I google-imaged Dots and have seen what they look like, but we don't have them. Do you have Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles? These are relatively soft, chewy, fruit-flavoured round sweets covered in sugar. American Hard Gums are similar but they have a domed top and are much, much harder (and you really get the impression they could do serious dental damage). These are what hard gums look like -  |
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Post by Shortie on Jul 23, 2008 14:40:32 GMT
Yes, you are right, American biscuits are like unsweetened scones - you get them with chicken or bacon, stuff like that. It's a shock to the cultural system first time you eat them! Good, though, when you know what to expect.
My husband could beat anyone at Marmite eating. He likes a really thick layer of it on toast etc. In fact, one of my nephews sneered at his father and said that he wasn't anywhere as strong as my H because he didn't have as much Marmite on his bread. I suppose it's nice to win at something, even if you don't know there is a competition going on! He has withdrawal symptoms in the states and just has to imagine it, but in Australia he got almost as keen on Vegemite. We had to sing the song to go with it, though ...
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Post by blackopal on Jul 23, 2008 15:02:55 GMT
Do you have Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles? These are relatively soft, chewy, fruit-flavoured round sweets covered in sugar. American Hard Gums are similar but they have a domed top and are much, much harder (and you really get the impression they could do serious dental damage). These are what hard gums look like - I wonder why they're called American Hard Gums - they're not popular over here. Maybe at one time, but not now - they're considered old-fashioned; it's something you'd see in your grandma's candy dish (gathering dust). But I must try this Marmite you speak of. Maybe I can order it online. It was the same way last year when folks on a messageboard were discussing their love for Jaffa cakes: I had to track them down. See, this thread is doing its bit for the spread of international understanding and unity, don't you think? |
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Post by dutchdiva on Jul 23, 2008 15:07:27 GMT
I think we have them over here in holland but I'm not sure. Do they appear in different sizes? I think we got them also very big here
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Post by Wyvern on Jul 23, 2008 15:36:52 GMT
The really unusual thing about the AHG is that unlike most jelly type sweets, it contains no gelatine and is therefore usually suitable for vegetarians. Because they are gelled with starch instead of cows, it does make them incredibly sticky, though. My favourites are the white ones. To give an idea of scale, here's something I posted on the Feline thread... Look! I've found the reason for the Great American Hard Gum Shortage...  |
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Post by Shortie on Jul 23, 2008 15:37:31 GMT
But I must try this Marmite you speak of. You are very brave. My father, who was from Canada used to call it 'That black stuff you people like'. He never did get used to it. It's very salty and savoury, but addictive. The more you use it the more you need ... |
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Post by maibee on Jul 23, 2008 17:00:11 GMT
I wonder why they're called American Hard Gums - they're not popular over here. .../... See, this thread is doing its bit for the spread of international understanding and unity, don't you think? All I can say in answer, Blackopal, is why does any nation add a foreign country's name, as a kind of sobriquet that sticks, to a product to make it sound exotic, or alluring. We do the same with French. French toast, French kiss, French skipping, French knitting (plus one I'm avoiding, folks, I haven't omitted it through oversight!) Can't imagine they do the reverse! I can't think of any, apart from Creme Anglaise for custard, which makes sense. And there's douche ecossaise (for a shower that alternates between hot and cold water, which now has a more figurative sense meaning contrasted behaviour, i.e. for someone that blows hot and cold for example) Maybe you can think of some products that you call English or British such and such, without thinking, and I bet they won't mean the same thing to us as they do to you! |
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Post by maibee on Jul 23, 2008 17:04:53 GMT
It's very salty and savoury, but addictive. The more you use it the more you need ... Or alternatively, it's something to avoid, one tiny speck on the tongue will have you swallowing gallons of water to get rid of the taste. It's now become a by-word for something that splits people into two distinct groups - you either love it or hate it. There's no in between. People now talk about 'marmite moments'. |
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Post by xjsarah on Jul 23, 2008 17:28:47 GMT
With regard to Marmite, I'm definitely in the 'love it' camp. I absolutely adore the stuff, and have done for as long as I can remember! ;D
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Post by lindenchase on Jul 23, 2008 17:34:36 GMT
How would you call this in Britain? in Holland it's called Engelse drop, English liquorice.  |
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Post by lindenchase on Jul 23, 2008 17:38:38 GMT
And then there are:
Engelse sleutel (literally English key, but meaning screw wrench) and Engelse ziekte (literally English illness, but meaning rickets.)
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Post by xjsarah on Jul 23, 2008 17:41:22 GMT
That sweet is known as the Liquorice Allsort. That used to be one of my Grandad's favourite sweets. I'm afraid I never liked liquorice very much.  |
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Small towns are odd 
