Joy and Austin: Switzerland to the Backwoods of Arkansas

[allthegoodnamesrgone]

4 minutes ago, Four is Enough said:

On that same trip to great Britain, Anna was worried about "toad in a hole" fearing that there would indeed be a toad for her breakfast. Is anyone really that stupid, and why wouldn't you ask about "toad in a hole" before you ordered it??

She didn't want to "look stupid"?  I've mostly stopped being surprised at just "how stupid" people can be.  There have been many people I've met where I wonder who tied their shoes for them, or how they are even capable of walking upright.  This family is full of world travelers who have no clue about the world beyond their front door. It takes a lot of effort to see that much and know so little.  

[geergirl]

On 6/26/2017 at 4:51 PM, viii said:

No way! I am also from Saskatchewan! 

Hello fellow 306'ers!  I grew up in a tiny town in SK and moved to AB for University.  I've been away for more than 15 years now but somehow still manage to hear a bunch of the gossip.  Such tiny towns are a strange beast.  Everyone knows your business and that's annoying sometimes but the sense of community is amazing.

[Darwinesque]

2 hours ago, melon said:

The Duggars have traveled as a family a lot.I remember once they went to all of Great Britain.They tasted several different dishes,I don't remember all,but Joy said her favorite was Bangers and Mash.Isn't that made with sausage?I am asking because I thought they don't eat pork.On another episode Josiah was making turkey bacon.Anna was making "cows in a blanket" instead of pigs in a blanket.

 

As a Brit, I can't tell you how much that episode wound me up. 

I'm partial to a good pub - I live in an old pub, I socialise in pubs, pubs are a really special part of the UK (can you tell I love them?!). Why the production crew would send the Duggars to a British pub, where people mostly go to drink alcohol and where at least 25% of the menu is going to be pork and act if it's some sort of strange British freak show, is beyond me. The food the were given was very simple fayre, made with ingrdedients you would find in the Duggar pantry (excluding the pork) but they still screwed their noses up at it initially. Still not as rude as the very ungracious Japan trip - that was just downright obnoxious.

 

[Glasgowghirl]

2 hours ago, Darwinesque said:

As a Brit, I can't tell you how much that episode wound me up. 

I'm partial to a good pub - I live in an old pub, I socialise in pubs, pubs are a really special part of the UK (can you tell I love them?!). Why the production crew would send the Duggars to a British pub, where people mostly go to drink alcohol and where at least 25% of the menu is going to be pork and act if it's some sort of strange British freak show, is beyond me. The food the were given was very simple fayre, made with ingrdedients you would find in the Duggar pantry (excluding the pork) but they still screwed their noses up at it initially.

 

Same here, I was pissed watching it too, the probably got beef sausages and the food wasn't that strange. I wish when they were in Scotland they could have tried haggis and other Scottish dishes that would have made great TV.

[MadeItOut]

12 hours ago, Lurky said:

@backyard sylph @Fluffy14 Whenever I talk about my partner getting into Vineyard as a teen, and it really hurting her (esp the "spiritual counselling" to de-gay her) , someone will come around and say "but Vineyard isn't even slightly Fundy!  You don't know what you're talking about!" - but I'm always fascinated by her stories of her church being full-on 'Slain in the spirit', barking like dogs and all that stuff.

I've listened to the tapes (that dates me!) of the big national UK youth stuff my partner went to, and it's really, really strange.  The worst part was in this huge tent, the preacher asking women (specifically) to come forward if they were victims of sexual abuse, and once they did, have hands laid on them...  and then chiding the young men in the audience for not touching the women.

That stuff was seriously scary! A group tried to get into the area when we were younger. Pretty squarely rounded on by the schools and all the community groups, so they moved on, but the phew months they were around... 

PLEASE tell me they've died out!

[SapphireSlytherin]

2 hours ago, Darwinesque said:

The food the were given was very simple fayre, made with ingrdedients you would find in the Duggar pantry (excluding the pork) but they still screwed their noses up at it initially.

American here, married to a Brit. The British pub food is VERY GOOD, but I will say that British sausages are NOTHING like American sausages. I can't eat a Full English because of that. It's a huge difference in texture, and a slight difference in taste. I'm also not a fan of fried tomatoes and baked beans mixed with my eggs. lol

[MadeItOut]

14 minutes ago, Glasgowghirl said:

I wish when they were in Scotland they could have tried haggis and other Scottish dishes that would have made great TV.

For those who don't/can't do pork (I can't have retinol/offal - thyroid meds), a vegetarian haggis is a truly beautiful thing - akin to eating a sunset!

[AudreyE]

Forgive me for being stupid, but why do the Duggars avoid pork?  I thought that was a Muslim practice.

[MadeItOut]

5 minutes ago, SapphireSlytherin said:

American here, married to a Brit. The British pub food is VERY GOOD, but I will say that British sausages are NOTHING like American sausages. I can't eat a Full English because of that. It's a huge difference in texture, and a slight difference in taste. I'm also not a fan of fried tomatoes and baked beans mixed with my eggs. lol

Sounds like you've experienced bad UK sausages - I've noticed ours are either awful, or wonderful - not much in between. A good sausage, by a craft butcher - totally awesome. Sadly too many eateries settle for cheaper ones that are mostly rusk.

Himself and me will 'do our dance' if we order breakfasts - we switch the sausages and beans to his plate, the bacon and mushroom to mine. Folks always stare, but if we've earned a meal out, we deserve to enjoy it however we like.

1 minute ago, AudreyE said:

Forgive me for being stupid, but why do the Duggars avoid pork?  I thought that was a Muslim practice.

Some really strict adherents will not eat pork or fish, shave or wear certain fabrics. A lot of fundie denominations like aiming at some of those at least.

Given how dangerous pork can be if not cooked properly, perhaps it's as well for them to steer clear?

[allthegoodnamesrgone]

@Darwinesque As an Anglophile I love the pub culture you have over there. I love a good British pub here in that states.  I've never been to England (or anywhere outside of North America and couple Caribbean Islands, but went to 1 pub here with a couple of Brits who said the food was very authentic but the atmosphere was much more Americaninzed.  I'm a sucker for some good fish & chips, Yorkshire pudding, shepherds pie, toad in the hole, bangers & mash, I even like mushy peas. 

I've never understood people going to different places countries and eating the same shit you can get down the street from your house. Hubby and I have done a couple all inclusive resorts where we've tried things like escargot frog legs, lamb, rabbit and the only thing we didn't like was the lamb, they are great for trying really expensive foods with out any risk if you don't care for it.  I love trying local cuisines everywhere we go in the states, Canada, Caribbean, Mexico.  My siblings  won't eat it if it doesn't come on a bun with a side of fries, or mac 7 cheese or pasta w/ basic marinara sauce (brother won't even at that, (NOTHING w/ tomato base). No BBQ sauce, onions, peppers, most veggies are out sister will eat green beans and that is about it. brother throws a toddler fit if his food touches on the plate, my sister will pout if we try a restaurant that doesn't serve basic American food.  They make the Dugggar's look sophisticated, these are 40+ year old adults that won't try new foods, and act like toddlers when they eat. 

[SapphireSlytherin]

2 minutes ago, MadeItOut said:

A good sausage, by a craft butcher - totally awesome.

Nope. Totally NOT awesome. lol

I've tried a huge variety of the sausages, but they're just... well... gross.  On the rare occasion I order  a Full English, DH gets the beans, tomatoes AND mushrooms. I'm ok with the eggs and the (weird) bacon. And toast in a toast rack? I about DIED the first time I saw that! Plus, the toast arrives ahead of the food instead of with it. lol

[Bad Wolf]

I asked my sister to make toad in the hole last time I was back. The altitude here is not good for Yorkshire pudding. Last time I tried, they were like hockey pucks.

[MadeItOut]

13 minutes ago, SapphireSlytherin said:

Nope. Totally NOT awesome. lol

I've tried a huge variety of the sausages, but they're just... well... gross.  On the rare occasion I order  a Full English, DH gets the beans, tomatoes AND mushrooms. I'm ok with the eggs and the (weird) bacon. And toast in a toast rack? I about DIED the first time I saw that! Plus, the toast arrives ahead of the food instead of with it. lol

I was just about to suggest sticking to the scrambled eggs, but that reminded me of this tiny little guesthouse in Cornwall that was full of all these rules. One was, scrambled eggs MUST be ordered during a harbour window the morning before. There were a family (American as it happens, but that doesn't really matter) and the teen son had a rough night - it was lurgy season and he'd evidently caught the edge of something. He didn't have any appetite and politely asked if he could just have some soft eggs and toast. The Lady proprietor fair nearly exploded and huffed off. The girl that helped around the place happened to be just coming in and rescued the poor lad. Made him something simple to eat and explained that the strict day ahead ordering process was because the pan is kept on top of the cabinets and they have to ask the grocery delivery guyto reach it down when he comes in.

20 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

I asked my sister to make toad in the hole last time I was back. The altitude here is not good for Yorkshire pudding. Last time I tried, they were like hockey pucks.

Tray of water in the bottom of the oven while the oil is heating should help that (MIO has a friend who's a Yorkshire put fan living in NM) - and not moving around too much in the kitchen the first 15 mins while it's still reacting to the scalding oil.

[Lurker]

34 minutes ago, AudreyE said:

Forgive me for being stupid, but why do the Duggars avoid pork?  I thought that was a Muslim practice.

It is part of their Jewish cultural appropriation.  Jews who observe kosher dietary laws do not eat pork, because pigs neither chew their cud nor have cloven hooves      as required in Leviticus.

[BlessaYourHeart]

1 hour ago, SapphireSlytherin said:

Nope. Totally NOT awesome. lol

I've tried a huge variety of the sausages, but they're just... well... gross.  On the rare occasion I order  a Full English, DH gets the beans, tomatoes AND mushrooms. I'm ok with the eggs and the (weird) bacon. And toast in a toast rack? I about DIED the first time I saw that! Plus, the toast arrives ahead of the food instead of with it. lol

I can't help but get the impression that you're being very condecending towards britsh costum,, particularily food. 

I eat British sausages from my butcher all the time and they're beautiful. I prefer them 100 times over any American sausage I've ever tried (except maybe one which tasted exactly the same as ones I eat at home).  I guess it's down to personal opinion and which sausages you actually try. 

How on earth is the bacon weird? Last I checked bacon is bacon. 

The point of the toast is that you eat it before the fry or it gives you time to butter it before the fry comes. Most brits treat toast as an appitesier before the breakfast. Also it's in a rack (or sometimes a basket) because it's far easier to serve it that way - the toast is prepared, put into the rack and is there for a server to lift when it's needed. It also takes up less space than an additional plate on the table. 

 

[SapphireSlytherin]

1 minute ago, BlessaYourHeart said:

I can't help but get the impression that you're being very condecending towards britsh costume, particularily food. 

I eat British sausages from my butcher all the time and they're beautiful. I prefer them 100 times over any American sausage I've ever tried (except maybe one which tasted exactly the same as ones I eat at home).  I guess it's down to personal opinion and which sausages you actually try. 

How on earth is the bacon weird? Last I checked bacon is bacon. 

The point of the toast is that you eat it before the fry or it gives you time to butter it before the fry comes. Most brits treat toast as an appitesier before the breakfast. Also it's in a rack (or sometimes a basket) because it's far easier to serve it that way - the toast is prepared, put into the rack and is there for a server to lift when it's needed. It also takes up less space than an additional plate on the table. 

 

Oh, I'm sorry you inferred that. I was seriously flummoxed by the toast rack and its early arrival the first time it happened. Now I know to expect it.

And bacon is not bacon. English bacon is more like ham. American bacon is what's called "streaky bacon" in England.

The whole point of my post was to (somewhat) commiserate with the Duggars who were confronted by familiar-yet-unfamiliar food. Those who haven't experienced food outside of their "comfort zone" may not know of the subtle (or drastic) differences in foods that have the same names.

Now I'll go eat my scotch egg.

[VelociRapture]

I've traveled to three other countries - two when I was a teen and one on my honeymoon a year and a half ago. I enjoy trying new foods be didferent cuisines, but I'm going to be honest... sometimes I just want something that's a little bit more familiar to me. Especially when I was a teenager traveling out of the country for the first time ever. Unfortunately, that meant McDonald's (which I haven't had in years because I can't stand the taste.)

6 minutes ago, SapphireSlytherin said:

The whole point of my post was to (somewhat) commiserate with the Duggars who were confronted by familiar-yet-unfamiliar food. Those who haven't experienced food outside of their "comfort zone" may not know of the subtle (or drastic) differences in foods that have the same names.

I'll never forget the look on my little brother's face when he ordered a Hamburger in Paris. He thought it'd be like a normal burger from the states. They brought out a cooked hamburger patty with a cooked egg on top. He was one seriously confused 11 year old. 

I synpathize with the Duggars to a very limited extent because it can be confusing at times. They should of just asked politely for clarification though. And they probably shouldn't have tarnished the beautiful country of Japan with their rudeness either.

[BlessaYourHeart]

19 minutes ago, SapphireSlytherin said:

And bacon is not bacon. English bacon is more like ham. American bacon is what's called "streaky bacon" in England.

 

Ok the bacon and ham thing has really got me interested . 

Ok so to me ham is like sandwich ham (like thin slices) or the ham you get with turkey (I think also referred to as a gammon joint?). 

I think of bacon has either backed bacon (which I prefer) or streaky bacon but both still as bacon. It's not just an English thing it's the whole of the UK. Brits tend to eat more backed bacon, 

I'm interested on how you see backed bacon as ham because to me bacon and ham are so different! 

I cant believe I'm so fascinated about bacon and ham 

 

[HarryPotterFan]

I'm just glad Dwreck isn't in Israel. There are stray cats everywhere in Jerusalem, and that asshat should have faced animal cruelty charges. The cats are adorable though. When my family went to Israel my brother gave a good portion of his dinner to a hungry kitty one night. He just couldn't resist that face. I also saw two cats mating in the middle of the day, out in the open, for all to see. The Duggars would be appalled at their lack of modesty. And lack of marital vows  

[KelseyAnn]

3 minutes ago, HarryPotterFan said:

 I also saw two cats mating in the middle of the day, out in the open, for all to see. The Duggars would be appalled at their lack of modesty. And lack of marital vows  

 

Don't you mean marital meows? 

[HarryPotterFan]

1 minute ago, KelseyAnn said:

Don't you mean marital meows? 

 I laughed at this harder than I should have.

[Glasgowghirl]

1 hour ago, SapphireSlytherin said:

Nope. Totally NOT awesome. lol

I've tried a huge variety of the sausages, but they're just... well... gross.  On the rare occasion I order  a Full English, DH gets the beans, tomatoes AND mushrooms. I'm ok with the eggs and the (weird) bacon. And toast in a toast rack? I about DIED the first time I saw that! Plus, the toast arrives ahead of the food instead of with it. lol

Depending on which part of the UK you go to breakfasts vary, some places serve toast with a meal others don't. I don't eat beans tomato or mushrooms, that's considered the full English. In Scotland ours have potato scones, square sausages and black pudding. Both back and streaky bacon are still bacon. 

[FloraKitty35]

13 minutes ago, KelseyAnn said:

Don't you mean marital meows? 

I am glad that I am not the only person who makes bad cat puns.  

[sawasdee]

For those confused by square sausage - it's sometimes called Lorne sausage, and it's lovely! I make it regularly: it's very easy.

http://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/food/a-history-of-square-sausage-including-a-recipe-for-making-your-own/

I use a mixture of beef and pork.

[KelseyAnn]

1 minute ago, FloraKitty35 said:

I am glad that I am not the only person who makes bad cat puns.  

Of course not. If it involves a cat, I'm gonna try and make a comment about it