The ***OFFICIAL*** Weekend Singles' Thread US/British food and confectionery (October 13-15, 2006)

13th October 2006 | Snugs

[snugs]

Winston Churchill famously said that American and Britain were 2 countries divided by a common language nor more so is this true than when it comes to food. We can eat the same sort of things but at completely different times of the day and serve it with completely different type of food.

A dessert in Britain is often looked upon as a breakfast dish in America.

American cookies are similar to British biscuits, American biscuits are similar to British sconces.

What is called a grill in England is a broiler in America.

A stove is a cooker and a cook book is a cookery book in England.

I thought it might be interesting to look at foods and confectionery that are identified with both countries, where they overlap, where they are different and personal tastes and traditions that have over the years shaped what we eat and when.

I posed the following questions to some American freepers and the following graphics reflect their answers.

1) What would you consider to be typical English food
2) What would you consider to be a typical English meal
3) What sweets (candies) do you identify with England

4) What would you consider to be typical American food
5) Would you consider to be a typical American meal
6) What candies do you consider are American

I have also compiled graphics from an English point of view regarding the above points.

Come and take a look at the food remember favourites from yesteryear and add your own thoughts and tastes. Lets make this an interesting, fun thread full of great memories of the past and present and that friendly homely feeling that familiar food conquers up. The memories and warm feelings of giving and sharing with the festivities that go with it or simply the pleasure of well cooked meal at the end of a busy and tiring day.

Food is also associated with different seasons and events such as Easter, Thanksgiving (US) Bonfire Night (UK) Christmas, New Year and of course birthdays and family traditions.

These events for singles can be fun time when they get drawn into a larger group plus made to feel part of a family but on the other hand often it can be the reverse. Christmas, New Year and Easter and of course for Americans Thanksgiving can be very lonely times for singles not fitting into any particular group and also sad for those who in the past have been part of family groups at these particular times of the year.

Below are Dolly's thoughts on this very point

[snugs]

Great to hear from "Stephen" that has reminded me I owe him an email

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The Irish probably consider it as much their type of food as we do. I always get irritated when a resturant serves shepherd's pie made from beef how many shepherds do you know that have a flock of cows LOL.

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Looking forward to the Christmas thread we need to "talk" nearer the time as to what ideas we have.

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Have you heard anything more about the injured player from last night?

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Half of this I do not even recognise let alone name

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One thing I notice that American cakes have much more decoration you do not seem to have just plain cake with a flavour such as plain cake with coconut in it or lemon juice.

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The 2 cakes I baked earlier as you can see they are just plain cakes and I will not decorate them they are flavoured with caraway seeds.

[radiohead]

Why? why? why??

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I knew you could not resist that one with your hatred of beans on toast I could say the same to you why why why LOL

[A knight without armor]

They look good!

I didn't know jelly roll type cake was British. I very much like jelly rolls.

Yes I like the American cakes but I've got to say I'm tired of muffins. Time was when muffins were a treat but now they are so ubiquitous I'm sick of them. In delis and coffee shops they seem to have replaced donuts. I think when muffins started out they were deemed to be healthier but now I am turned off by how greasy and huge they are. I am no a scientist but I doubt the typical coffee shop muffin is much better than the donut they replaced. By the way, I never grew tired of donuts.

[Hoodlum91]

We're in DC this weekend. OH next weekend and PA in three weeks.

It IS nuts!!!

[radiohead]

Things that freaked me out about English food when I lived in London as a student:
1. meat sold out on the street
2. bees/wasps flying around the baked goods in the shop window
3. students drinking beer in the student cafeteria
4. the incredibly small amounts that passed for a 'serving'
5. learning that cream is not milk and it makes tea taste a lot different than the way you drink it at home
6. no sliced bread (this was the 70s, tho my Norwegian friend says they still don't pre-slice the bread over there)
7. yes, there is actually such a thing as cucumber sandwiches

Things I liked:
1. Pastries
2. Pate (I could buy plenty, even on a student budget)
3. Pub food

Things I worry about:
1. Getting mad cow disease from eating the meat in the 70s and a trip in the 90s.

[snugs]

I think you will find that if you have a plain donut with jam (jelly) in it is about half the calories of the huge muffins which are just and more fat ladden than the donuts.

I prefer English fairy cakes (cup cakes) to muffins they have a more cake taste. I like a ginger flavoured one with lemon icing on top.

[Churchillspirit]

The Cheese Board - as it is known in the UK is a great favorite as an alternative to dessert. I really miss that in the US.

Can't beat a good selection of cheeses and a nice tawny port if there's one going.

[ilovew]

You're in DC? Why wasn't I notified? :P

[Hoodlum91]

I'm always in DC. I live here!

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When you say meat sold on the street do you mean from trader in a van. We have one in Ashford each weekend but to me they follow the same hygiene as shops so does not bother me.

Yes understand the bees/wasps thing - most cake/baker's shops have the fly electric zap things now so does not occur as much but I do occasionally see one at our local bakers. Do they not display the goods in the US bakers then?

Never heard of students drinking beer in cafeteria - in the student union bar yes but not the cafeteria or did the cafeteria double for the bar?

Your large servings freaked me out in 1997 LOL

The cream and milk thing confused me in the States, we only say cream if it is cream, milk is milk and cream is cream. We do not really put cream in coffee that much anymore used to more when I was younger but most people use normal milk.

The sliced bread thing confuses me because I cannot remember a time before sliced bread we definitely had it in the 60s - Mothers Pride was the big name in those days. Nowadays our local baker has a machine that slices the bread so you can buy proper baker's bread and yet have it presliced.

I love cucumber sandwiches.

Re mad cow disease 70s and 90s I would say OK it would be the late 80s and maybe very early 90s that it was around but most of it has been traced to very cheap cuts of meat and cheap burgers.

[Churchillspirit]

Now THAT has made me hungry!

Great thread, Snugs. Thanks.

I started carrying British food in my store, mainly for the convenience of ex-Pats., but I have been surprised how many Americans love the sweets. (candy)

[snugs]

And a good selection of crackers as well. I like Cornish wafers or butter puffs though the old fashioned cream cracker is not bad.

I actually like marmalade on a buttered cream cracker or Cornish wafer.

[ilovew]

Lol yes but I didn't know you were here THIS weekend...I didn't get updated on your schedule :P