Cultural differences

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,880]

I loved the post that Neil made about how life was in the U.S. in the 1950's, and it got me to thinking about a story.

 

In the early 1970's a friend of my fathers made friends with 2 absolutely beautiful flight attendants from the U.K.  Something happened to their flight and they were stuck in the U.S. for a couple of days with no where to stay.  Somehow my father talked my mother into hosting these 2 ladies for an evening which we did.

 

I suppose that it's exciting for anyone to host someone from another country for a night as it was for us.  My family was like so many in the U.S. having very little exposure to anyone from another nation.  My mother was very excited to have these women and she wanted them to feel at home so she went shopping for food that they would be familiar with.

 

Among other things she went and bought a package of Thomas English Muffins and she was very happy to do so.  The stewardess's slept in that morning while my mother prepared them their breakfast with the muffins, english tea and other things.

 

When the women came down stairs they were so grateful for the prepared meal, and then they asked her what it was!  Mom was astonished that they didn't know about ANY of the foods that they had (except for the tea) as it turned out that things like the English Muffins and such were completely unknown to them.

 

My first job was working for a company with a large presence in the U.K. and I got to speak very often with my over seas counter parts.  It was always so interesting hearing about things (mostly consisting of Alcohol) and the differences.  I now understand that beer is NOT served warm in the U.K., but it is "cellar" temperature which actually isn't all that bad.

 

 

[neil 2,410]

Im glad that you liked the Topic of the 1950`s . Karl

 

English Muffins ,  well i can honestley say that i dont know of anyone that eats them here in UK . although the English are well known for drinking lotsa tea , i have been known to drink around twelve cups of tea a day .

 

English food is quite a complex menu really . It is common knowledge the us Brits have a national dish of  Fish & chips (French Fries) which was traditionally eaten out of old  newspaper  & sprinkled with lots of salt & vinegar  & is also traditionally eaten on fridays .

Back in the 60`s fish & chips were the only form of fast food that we had here in UK  & every town had a local shope that had a fish n chip shop .

It was around the early 70s that Wimpy hamburgers came to UK followed  by Mcdonalds a few years later , & now that britain has become multicultural there are many different nationality fast food outlets .

 

As for the two Absolutely beautiful flight attendants That stayed with you . 

Did you get their address  

 

 

The UK also has regional dishes,  by which i mean that different parts of the country has there own form of local delicacy, such as :-

Traditional  London dish that was eaten in the East End of London  was called Pie & mash & jellied Eels .  which was minced lamb pies with mash potato with a parsley sauce again with lots of salt & vinegar applied  , the Jellied eels were salted jelly with diced eels,   along with other shell fish , shrimps , prawns , mussels , crab, cockles, winkles , welks etc . 

 

Liverpool has a dish of what is called scouse which is  a kind of stew made up of all the leftover meats from the weeks other meals .

Lancashire hot pot  ,  is a kind of shepherds pie which again is mice lamb with mash potato over the top & then baked in the oven

Cornish pasties , is a kind of pastry filled with mince lamb , potato & vegetables.

Haggis, scottish delicacy made from oats & offal & then placed in a sheep stomach lining & then cooked , an aquired taste .

& many more local dishes.

These were all cheap foods that were used to feed families way back when food was very scarce & families were poor .  

 

Alcohol is a big thing here in UK , as many younge teenagers get totally smashed on beer or larger  or cider .

I fell quite ashamed of some of the younge culture that get drunk nowadays as Alchohol is sold way to cheap in the supermarkets .

Sadly due to high taxes on Alchohol here in Uk alot of the pubs are dying & shutting.

We do have quite a few real ale beers that a brewed here that a just wonderful to drink

One drink that is allways popular here is the Irish stout Guiness , A nice thick drink that should be drank really cold .

[meadowfield 2,740]

Neil,

Whilst you covered some of your southern diet, you missed Yorkshire puddings and curry - a northern delicacy, Bradford being the curry capital...

Not to mention, pork pies, black pudding, dripping...

And along with muffins there are some oddities with bread:

Baps, tea cakes, rolls and flat cakes all names for bread that we use to make sandwiches or butties!

And yes real ales the north is where you need to be for those too...

Within 5 miles of my house we have naylors and Timmy Taylor's, 10 miles old spot and saltaire brewery. 25 miles away theakstons, black sheep, Sam smiths and John smiths.

Mark

Edited December 2, 2013 by meadowfield

[Anglo Traction 761]

Good story Karl, Just brings back a lot of good memories. Best days of my life from '74' - '88' working for British Caledonian Airways and being surrounded by female Cabin Staff on every departure I dispatched and met on arrival , as well as many other World Airlines we handled over the years. The all night parties, Double shifts in between them seemed to erode our Cultural differences. It was like one giant family of thousands.

Had a lot of friends from the various North American and Canadian Airlines like Pan Am, Delta, U.S Air, Capital, ONA, North West, Canadian.

So the world became a much smaller place for me.

 

Oh English Muffins !. great hot with Crunchy Peanut Butter.

[wallfish 18,070]

We here in New England eat Fish and Chips most Fridays. There are MANY places that only offer it on Fridays and some do all week long. Not sure about the rest of the country.

 

Guiness is available here in the states. I'm not much of a beer drinker but do enjoy a Black & Tan every now and then. 1/2 Guiness 1/2 Bass Ale.

[Coadster32 793]

Cool post. Kind of like Chinese food here in America is really their festival type food that you wouldn't eat every day.

 

I thought a Black and Tan was Guinness and Harp?  (Bass is used here a lot because of availability)

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,880]

I worked for Diageo for a spell and enjoyed a few Guinness (for free of course).  If I recall, the Black and Tan is another American thing, I remember my old UK folks saying something about beer with (lemon aid or 7-Up) on top?

[wheeledhorseman 579]

There was a time, up to the early sixties perhaps, when the stereotypical ‘Englishman’ refused to eat anything that wasn’t ‘English’. These days it would seem that we probably actually eat more foods with foreign origins than traditional English fare and restaurants offer food from pretty much all corners of the globe.

 

Re ‘English Muffins’, I had to look up what these are and despite my age I can honestly say that I’ve never had them for breakfast or at any other time of day for that matter. I did wonder if you were referring to ‘Crumpets’ but research revealed that, whilst similar, there are some differences in terms of ingredients. As we are on the topic of GB / UK cultural differences it is perhaps worth mentioning that both ‘Muffin’ and ‘Crumpet’ have alternative meanings in slang here.

 

If I go to my local store and buy ‘muffins’ they will be sweet cake like things with fruit in the dough e.g. ‘blueberry muffins’ i.e. the American variety. A tasty snack at most times of day but I’m not certain that they’re ideal for breakfast. Also available at supermarkets and even local stores in the bakery section are ‘bagels’ by the ‘New York Bagel Company’ which is actually here in the UK. I love the plain ones, cut through then spread with Lurpak (or Norpak) unsalted butter – very good for breakfast or any time of day. I’m not sure what guys from NY would think of what we get sold here as bagels but they sure taste good – yum yum!

 

As a kid I never came across pecan nuts in anything and I remember a reference to ‘pecan pie’ in a book I was reading and wondering what it was. We had nuts like walnuts, almonds etc on and in cakes but what were pecans? Today I can bring back freshly baked pecan pastries from the local store and again – yum yum! However, before you think we’ve become completely Americanized – Nah! I try to avoid too much high octane / cholesterol fuel these days but still love the occasional steak pie and chips with a couple of pickled onions from the chip shop and, as a real treat, some of the fried black pudding that Mark mentioned for breakfast. White pudding (aka Hog Pudding) is also good – a West Country thing I think.

 

About beer (traditional English bitter that is) with a splash of lemonade on top - that is known as a 'bitter top' i.e. bitter topped with lemonade. 50 / 50 mix would be 'bitter shandy' though actual proportions vary. What's sold in cans as 'shandy' is classed as a soft drink in supermarkets and stores as it contains so little alcohol. I've always understood 'black and tan' to be a dark stout beer mixed with a pale ale or even  a larger. I'm no UK barman though so feel free to correct.

 

Great topic!

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,880]

The black and tan here wouldn't be mixed, but layered, and for the "true" Guinness folks would be Guinness and Harp!
 

 

Here in the U.S. lemon aid is a non-carbonated beverage made with lemon juice, sugar and water.  I was under the impression that the lemon aid on top of the English bitter was a carbonated lemon flavored beverage which is more of a soda from a bottle or a can?

 

Now English Muffins are no more a muffin than a bagel is.  It's more of a bread which gets toasted and topped with Jam, butter, peanut butter or anything that can be spread.  The quality of our Bagels vary greatly.  Grocery store varieties are usually, in my opinion, not very appetizing, however there are many local bakers who specialize in Bagels which are fantastic.  Make mine an everything bagel with Cream Cheese, I know what I'm having tomorrow now!

[wheeledhorseman 579]

Sure, lemonade used to 'top' bitter is the carbonated stuff from a bottle or one of those awful dispenser things mounted on the bar. I doubt anything with real lemon in it would go well with English bitter. When I grew up if you looked old enough to be served then you were and bitter top was a way of getting used to the bitter nature of the beer until your palate developed.

 

Larger beer (more like standard American beer I guess) does get topped with lime juice cordial (undiluted). Personally it seems pointless to me now as it destroys the taste of a good continental larger. Again, I used to drink it as a kid though. As I mainly drink English real ale or continental larger there's nothing I'd want to add to it! If I can't drink because I'm driving I'd rather have pints of 'lemonade (the carbonated stuff) and lime (cordial) with ice than non-alcoholic beer or a couple of 'shandies'.

[64s 83]

"Guiness , A nice thick drink that should be drank really cold ."

 

My mouth is watering.      

[sorekiwi 761]

My 2c from a colonial (having lived in both the US and the UK)

 

Lemonade in England and its colonies is a clear soda like Sprite or 7 up.

 

Cider in England is served cold and is alcoholic.  Non alcoholic cider would be apple juice!

 

English breakfast is the best meal of the day - bacon comes in slices even bigger than Canadian bacon.  "Black pudding" is awesome, as long as you don't know what it is.

 

Pumpkin pie is a waste of a good pie.  Pumpkin should be roasted and served with the main course.

 

I worked as a bartender in the UK for a while (imagine that a Kiwi bartender in the UK!).  Heinekin was the beer you drank when you were trying to sober up.  It certainly didn't have the same image it has here in the US. 

 

I'm sure a few more will occur to me if I think about it.

[Anglo Traction 761]

Guinness and Blackcurrant was another UK favourite in the 60's-70's. Wasn't my preference very often. Tended to drink the Beers/ Real Ales and Cider. Never could stand the bland gassy Lagers. Some of the European Abbey Beers are ok, but not in any quantity.

Down here in the south east of England,  there are not many Traditional Breweries left. Harvey's are still going in Lewes and there are a few small new-ish ones around .

So many Pubs have closed around this area now,  all boarded up, Demolished or turned into Indian Restaurants. Many of these Pubs had been around since the 1500's or earlier. The end of a social gathering place for many. Last time I was in one was when Mark ( Meadowfield ) stopped by for a visit..... 5 months?.  

 

Crumpets and Pikelets are made without yeast, both are the same except size and shape. I have to have good old Anchor Butter on them and the English Muffins (like Karl says - dough mix with yeast) .

Like the occasional Tea Cake and full fruit Blackcurrant Jam with a large Tea in my Big Mug from Monteray Bay.

I steer clear now of the old Full English Breakfasts and restrict myself to one a month.

 

Blueberry Muffins....first encountered back in the 70's when treated to a 'surplus' of 1st Class Breakfast items by Pan Am Rep on an Inbound Flt.

Muffins, Pancakes/Maple Syrup, Scrambled Eggs, Crisp Streaky Bacon etc. Very nice,........ as I needed the energy then. 

 

Paid a visit to the States in the late 70's (Houston Tx) with the Lads (n Lassies) from work. Needles to say we had a few 'Pitchers' and 'All-you-can Eat' Steaks for $8. while we were there and a few   beers at Gilley's in Pasadena  . .     

 

 

 

[roscoemi 245]

Cool reading  these stories!

 But, Guiness is like drinking roofing tar! LOL, I can't drink dark beer. A friend of mine drinks a local dark that as he says" tastes like burnt toast and goes down like mashed potatoes".

 Lime is used to neutralize the taste of beer to make it appealing to non beer drinkers.

 Like the Brits, we have localized food favs depending on where you live in the country or even state so I can only speak of some of mine. Pig roasted over oak with a couple beers poured on about halfway, beef tenderloin seasoned and cooked over a wood fire, smoked salmon marinated in salt water and dark brown sugar, sliced pork tenderloin coated in spiced Italian bread crumbs pan fried in olive oil.

 I'd love to try some of the British favs, maybe others not so much!

 What is black pudding? Pickled onions?   White pudding?

[neil 2,410]

For those that have queezy stomachs you may want to switch off now

 

Black pudding

 

Black pudding is conjealed pigs blood mixed with oats. pigs fat ,onions  & it comes in sausage like form  , can be eaten cold or hot , normally cooked for English Breakfast

 

i remember my grandad gave it to me as a child & i loved it until he told me what it was ,

i still eat it now though ocasionally

[neil 2,410]

Tripe & onions  

A lancashire dish of ox stomach lining  cooked with onions

pigs trotters ( feet )are often boiled & eaten

Brains

ox Tounge

hearts

liver

Kidney

 

Many of these foods  were eaten by poor people years ago , as they could only attord the cheapest cuts of meat or meats that knowone else would eat

[meadowfield 2,740]

For those that have queezy stomachs you may want to switch off now

 

Black pudding

black_pudding_16x9.jpg

 

Black pudding is conjealed pigs blood mixed with oats. pigs fat ,onions  & it comes in sausage like form  , can be eaten cold or hot , normally cooked for English Breakfast

 

i remember my grandad gave it to me as a child & i loved it until he told me what it was ,

i still eat it now though ocasionally

I love black pudding!!! there's a restaurant I go to that serves it as a starter with petit pois and a poached egg...

[wheeledhorseman 579]

For those that have queezy stomachs you may want to switch off now

 

Black pudding

black_pudding_16x9.jpg

 

Black pudding is conjealed pigs blood mixed with oats. pigs fat ,onions  & it comes in sausage like form  , can be eaten cold or hot , normally cooked for English Breakfast

 

i remember my grandad gave it to me as a child & i loved it until he told me what it was ,

i still eat it now though ocasionally

Thanks for the pic Neil - now I've got to go out and buy some - mouth's watering already!

I'm not fussy about what goes into things like this if it tastes good! I seem to recall that it's trotter and brains that goes into a traditional pork pie and they taste good as well. Seems there's not much of a pig that you can't use.

[Stormin 9,984]

  I used to have steak/suet pudding and chips quite often down home in Lancashire. Unfortunately very rare up here in Cumbria. As for black pudding, as a very young lad in Southport, my mother used to get some once a week off the market. Instead of slicing and frying it, she would boil the complete sausage and serve complete. .

[Coadster32 793]

Boy...thank Black and Tan sure looks good!! 

 

Do they still make Cafferies and Caledonia beer over there? I haven't seen them in the states for quite a number of years now.

[meadowfield 2,740]

Thanks for the pic Neil - now I've got to go out and buy some - mouth's watering already!

I'm not fussy about what goes into things like this if it tastes good! I seem to recall that it's trotter and brains that goes into a traditional pork pie and they taste good as well. Seems there's not much of a pig that you can't use.

Yum, pork pie...

Another northern delicacy, this was my dad's breakfast on his 70th birthday

[meadowfield 2,740]

Boy...thank Black and Tan sure looks good!! 

 

Do they still make Cafferies and Caledonia beer over there? I haven't seen them in the states for quite a number of years now.

Yes caffreys and Caledonian bitter still available. Pub over the road actually sells deuchars (same brewery)

[Anglo Traction 761]

Cool reading  these stories!

 But, Guiness is like drinking roofing tar! LOL, I can't drink dark beer. A friend of mine drinks a local dark that as he says" tastes like burnt toast and goes down like mashed potatoes".

 Lime is used to neutralize the taste of beer to make it appealing to non beer drinkers.

 Like the Brits, we have localized food favs depending on where you live in the country or even state so I can only speak of some of mine. Pig roasted over oak with a couple beers poured on about halfway, beef tenderloin seasoned and cooked over a wood fire, smoked salmon marinated in salt water and dark brown sugar, sliced pork tenderloin coated in spiced Italian bread crumbs pan fried in olive oil.

 I'd love to try some of the British favs, maybe others not so much!

 What is black pudding? Pickled onions?   White pudding?

Those foods sound very appetizing and we have Pig/Hog Spit Roasts at village fairs and large organised Barbeques. Often doused with Honey and Cloves pressed into the salted skin as well.

 

Pickled Onions are Shallots, sized at about 1.1/2" dia and preserved in Malt Vinegar. Very nice with Cheddar Cheese in a Ploughman's Lunch or with Fish and Chips as a side serving.

Then there are Silver Skins,  small white onions 5/8-3/4"dia preserved in White Vinegar, used with a few Cocktail drinks and as an appetizer food with small cheese cubes, grapes etc impaled on Cocktail Sticks.  

White Pudding is the same as the Black one without Blood....never had that either.   

[neil 2,410]

I went to New york a few years ago &  i can honestly say that the most memorable part of my trip was the quality of the food

The first night that we arrived we went to Time square & went into a cafe/ diner  & i ordered a Calzoni & my partner order  a pizza , well this calzoni was the size of the rear wheel on my GT14 & the pizza was almost as big . like a fool i ordered French Fries with it & oh my god . By the time we had finished the was enough left over to feed another two people , so yes Round 2 followed at Breakfast the following morning

One other thing that i found odd was that i ordered a coffee & i was getting some strange looks when i poured Milk into the cup  ( dunno why that was )

Another thing that i found was cool, was that when you bought a coke or a coffee & you wanted another cup , it was refilled for free . Here in UK you would have had to pay for a second cup

Although i did think i got ripped off by one of those dudes that sells pretzels on the streets in New York  $12.00 i think it was if my memory serves me well .

 

One thing i wanted to try whilst i was in New york was a Twinkie/ twinky , but i couldnt find anywhere that sold them .

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,880]

Neil, depending on when you visited, Hostess (Twinkies) went out of business.  They have just recently come back in stores so on your next visit you can get a box.  NYC has some of the best food on the planet, and authentic from any nation in the world.  Of course if you're visiting, getting some authentic NY foods are the best, but I would keep away from the pretzel vendors on the streets, never know that you'll get there. Many restaurants will offer free refills, but some do not.  Unfortunately that only applies to soft drinks and coffee  

 

Milk in coffee is so common here that it's called "regular coffee" which is coffee, milk and sugar. 

 

Now if you really want something, Red Robin (A gourmet hamburger chain) has "bottomless steak fries" which are thick cut french fries (chips).  Empty the basket, and they'll bring you more for free!  Similar to Olive Garden (a chain Italian restaurant) where they serve unlimited salad and bread sticks.

 

Humm.... now I wonder why us Americans have packed on a few too many pounds?

 

Maybe we'll have to put together a care package for your next meet and greet which has "English Muffins, Twinkies, and anything else that'll survive the trip"