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]

You eat cakes and pancakes for breakfast English think that is strange as well.

I actually have quite got to like pancakes for breakfast but I still think of them as more early evening tea time thing or as a dessert after a meal.

The same thing with waffles and of course English muffins.

I think it is great that there are so many different types of foods and tastes and find it fascinating that what we take as the norm is completely different in other countries or even just other areas within the same country.

[snugs]

Look forward to your "list" - night Dolly sleep well.

[snugs]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it.

[ilovew]

Cold. DC is very cold. *sigh* I should've appreciated SC weather more when I was there...

[snugs]

It is a crazy PC world we live in

[A knight without armor]

Wow!

[rzeznikj at stout]

Two jobs for twelve hours.

And I get to do it again tomorrow.

[rzeznikj at stout]

That it is.

No offense against Chicago, but IMHO, everyone saw it coming.

[rzeznikj at stout]

It's worse here. I'd rather be in DC than up here.

The other day, Chicago got its earliest snowfall on record; there was blowing and drifting snow on the freeways around Milwaukee--and I had to scrape ice off my windshield the other morning. Unnngh.

Heck, you should be down by the lakeshore in the mornings. Cold lake breeze, and now the water's starting to be warmer than the air temps...

[radiohead]

Hi sweetie. I hope you are still enjoying your internship, despite the cold. Have you gotten out much?

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

OK. Sorry. My bad.

[snugs]

Night all - see you tomorrow - subject snacks

[TruthNtegrity]

Whaat? No Rowntree gels? If I remember correctly, they came in rolls, both hard and soft. Yum.

They also happen to be related to me!!!!

[ilovew]

Well, it's not snowing here yet....I just hope it waits until I stop wearing the Cam walker because I have a feeling I'm gonna fall on my face if I have to wear that thing in the snow.

[ilovew]

You mean besides going to work Monday through Friday and going to the Walter Reed FReeps every Friday night? :) I was so excited about having Columbus Day off. I went to Arlington Cemetery and then I went shopping. (*claps* My favorite activity!) My internship is going well...kinda boring but the people in my office make it fun :)

[Kate of Spice Island]

Well, that sure cleared things up.

I was wondering whazzup with this ground beef the first time I tried it...

I just don't recall ever seeing ground shepherd in the meat section at the local grocer.

[rzeznikj at stout]

You're still on that? ;)

[snugs]

By the way I forgot to mention for some reason we call jelly (jam) roll Swiss Roll have no idea why. I prefer the homemade variety (bought a new tin recently to make one - not got round it yet) and no cream synthetic or otherwise.

[snugs]

I went to a fairly posh restaurant when I visited the States back in 1997 and enjoyed the salad bar there. We have a chain in England that does that as well unfortunately it is about the only thing that I like on that particular chain's menu so do not go there often.

We tend to serve salad a side dish with a main meal or on the same plate.

[snugs]

Of recent time since the market moved out of town we now have more vendors in the High Street including French Farmers market stall. I quite like them it adds a bit of colour to an otherwise dying town centre due to so much out of town shopping areas.

It also gives a more small town feeling back to the area and reminds us that we are not far from the actual countryside.