Are standards slipping?

[Brianwarnock]

The wine is to compliment the whole dish, therefore is effected by the dressing/sauce only unknowing snobs insist on white with white meats and fish.

Brian

 

[ColinEssex]

The wine is to compliment the whole dish, therefore is effected by the dressing/sauce only unknowing snobs insist on white with white meats and fish.

Brian

You are sort of right. It's ok to have red with a meatier type of fish like tuna, but a good white with less meaty fish enhances the palette so the fish can be complimented by it.

I suppose I made a bit of fuss, but I was still annoyed at the peasants not having dressed properly for evening dinner.

Col

 

[ColinEssex]

You are sure he wasn't norwegian. They always have red wine with cod there.

Typical peasant foreigners. If you have cod and chips with battered cod then a beer (not lager) is much better, the beer needs to be a decent bitter not supermarket swill.

Col

 

[John Big Booty]

Talk of peasants always brings this scene from the Holy Grail to mind

 

[RainLover]

Talk of peasants always brings this scene from the Holy Grail to mind

Well that just made my day. I clicked on the link then another and another.

I have just spent over two hours trying to get out of UTube.

ROTFLMAO

 

[ColinEssex]

Back in the hotel again for a few days.

On Sunday, the restaurant was rather full for breakfasts. I was asked if I minded sharing a table with ordinary people, I said I would try it and was offered a place with a family from up north. They were from Newcastle Sunderland ( same place I think).

Anyway, they tried to make conversation, but failed as I was unable to understand too much.From what I understood, it was their first venture to the South and London.
I pointed out it must be a culture shock to have inside toilets and a bath not full of coal. They moaned about the lack of black pudding, deep fried mars bars and other unspeakable things.

Isn't it odd how people from a deprived area like the north would even contemplate a trip to the affluent south.

Col

 

[Brianwarnock]

Col must be desparately bored to write such a load of bullshit.

Brian

 

[Vassago]

I don't think I've ever seen that sort of response from Brian.

 

[Vassago]

Deep Fried Mars bars? That sounds awful.

 

[ColinEssex]

I don't think I've ever seen that sort of response from Brian.

Brian is from the north so deep fried mars bars and outside toilets are the norm.

Sunderland is like a suburb of Newcastle, they are next to each other so basically the same.

Black pudding is dried blood fried, which northern people have for breakfast.

Northern people are very territorial, maybe Brian is feeling that way

Col

 

[Brianwarnock]

I used to enjoy bantering with col but now a days it is like listening to an old cracked record, repetitive , the humour and wit has gone.

The worry is that some might believe him. I remember a couple of years ago during an exchange I said that it was great lying in the tin bath in front of a coal fire in winter, and either Tess or Cindy was shocked that I didn't have a bathroom, I had to post a picture of my bathroom to convince here that it had all been a joke.

If col had really told a couple from either Newcastle upon Tyne or Sunderland that they were the same place I would fear for his safety, they are two major cities in the North East, hell they are not even on the same river, and they have a fierce rivalry.

Deep fried mars bars are a Scottish delicacy, so I believe, but I have never seen them or met anybody who has had one.

Black puddings were mainly a. Lancashire creation and indeed were a staple part of a fry up, but I haven't seen them on display in the local butchers or supermarkets in recent years.

I doubt that Col is really as ignorant as he pretends to be, but then I don't know when he last ventured north of Watford Gap.

Brian

 

[ColinEssex]

Ok Bri, you got me! As you well know.

I was joking for the most part. I did share a table, but as you say wouldn't dare say Sunderland to a Newcastle person.

It does get repetitive here but remember we have been here years but it can be new to some people here

I went to Sunderland for an interview in the 1980's, I also went to Grimsby where it smelt of fish and I went to Yorkshire. I also went on a conference to Stirling, so my command of "oop north" is quite extensive.

As you said yesterday it can be very boring here, I like to try to stimulate conversation but these days that also fails miserably.

Col

 

[RainLover]

Col

Should we tone down the language so that you can understand us better.

You must find our technology a bit daunting.

We eat indoors with Knives Forks and Plates Usually at a table with chairs. And sometimes we even kill and cook or food before eating it.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

Back in the hotel again for a few days.

On Sunday, the restaurant was rather full for breakfasts. I was asked if I minded sharing a table with ordinary people, I said I would try it and was offered a place with a family from up north. They were from Newcastle Sunderland ( same place I think).

Anyway, they tried to make conversation, but failed as I was unable to understand too much.From what I understood, it was their first venture to the South and London.
I pointed out it must be a culture shock to have inside toilets and a bath not full of coal. They moaned about the lack of black pudding, deep fried mars bars and other unspeakable things.

Isn't it odd how people from a deprived area like the north would even contemplate a trip to the affluent south.

Col

I used to enjoy bantering with col but now a days it is like listening to an old cracked record, repetitive , the humour and wit has gone.

The worry is that some might believe him. I remember a couple of years ago during an exchange I said that it was great lying in the tin bath in front of a coal fire in winter, and either Tess or Cindy was shocked that I didn't have a bathroom, I had to post a picture of my bathroom to convince here that it had all been a joke.

If col had really told a couple from either Newcastle upon Tyne or Sunderland that they were the same place I would fear for his safety, they are two major cities in the North East, hell they are not even on the same river, and they have a fierce rivalry.

Deep fried mars bars are a Scottish delicacy, so I believe, but I have never seen them or met anybody who has had one.

Black puddings were mainly a. Lancashire creation and indeed were a staple part of a fry up, but I haven't seen them on display in the local butchers or supermarkets in recent years.

I doubt that Col is really as ignorant as he pretends to be, but then I don't know when he last ventured north of Watford Gap.

Brian

Black pudding was on the starters menu of every posh restaurant a few years back, its also in a full english breakfast. The local tesco sell bury black pudding amongst other - and I am sure any half decent deli - has a many a variety.

Indeed the first place I checked to test the point , its was on as a main course - Ramsey at Claridges http://www.toptable.co.uk/rest_profile_menu.aspx?rid=80200

I have used it in the last few years to make http://www.lunya.co.uk/recipe.php?recipe_id=42 which is easy to do twist on an old favourite.



I do wonder about Cols knowledge of the north OR the south. Or indeed the posh hotels he claims to visit - and spain for example which he claims to tour?

Cols uttering of the North are of course a joke yes , but a dangerous manifestation of attempted negative slurs also. Hes not alone in that - a few well known media outlets delight in it.

 

[scott-atkinson]

I'm and Essex boy living in the Midlands, and I love Black Pudding, compliments any morning fry up

I do agree with Col about dressing for Dinner... if your staying in a nice hotel, hell at least make the effort... you can always wear your designers jeans for Breakfast anyways...

 

[Vassago]

Col delights in negative rhetoric no matter who the target is. I wonder how many people believe the things he says about America. For someone who admittedly will not visit here, he sure does seem to "know" a lot about us. The irony of course being that he bashes America for not "wanting" to visit Europe.

 

[MrsGorilla]

I remember a couple of years ago during an exchange I said that it was great lying in the tin bath in front of a coal fire in winter, and either Tess or Cindy was shocked that I didn't have a bathroom, I had to post a picture of my bathroom to convince here that it had all been a joke.

Hmmm. I don't seem to remember that. It must have been Tess...

 

[Brianwarnock]

Yep a quick search found it and it was Tess, but my memory let me down, nothing new there, we were actually discussing outside toilets, interestingly the thread started as a celebration of 4th July !!

Brian

 

[rodmc]

Deep fried mars bars are a Scottish delicacy, so I believe, but I have never seen them or met anybody who has had one.


Brian

they are indeed, but I dont know about a delicacy right enough, more a dentists/cardiologists nightmare

 

[Vassago]

they are indeed, but I dont know about a delicacy right enough, more a dentists/cardiologists nightmare

I thought it was only Southern US that fried random things. I've seen Snickers bars, Twinkies, Oreos, and even Kool-Aid (to flavor dough with it) available in fried forms. I've TRIED the Twinkie. It was ok, but certainly not something I would make a habit of ordering. I'm not a big fried foods fan. I like to taste more out of my food than oil.