Questions you always wanted to ask

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13-Aug-2008, 12:21 PM
Migflanker

Ok, this thread is for all those (travel related http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif ) questions you always wondered about but never had the nerve to ask. Since there are people from all over the world on this board, chances are someone will be able to answer even the most obscure question. So lets go, ask that question--What have you always wondered about?

1. Is the typical English breakfast really fried eggs, sausages, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and baked beans as English hotels and B&B's would have us believe? I always thought baked beans to be a little time consuming to fix, not to mention a little heavy for breakfast. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif Anyone?'

Edited post because 'obsure' wasn't exactly the word I wanted. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif
13-Aug-2008, 02:35 PM
29palms

I never had baked beans in England for breakfast. I never had BOSTON BAKED BEANS for breakfast in Boston. Nor do I remember having it in Boston anytime. I suppose its up to you what you want to eat. Come to think of it. I don't remember much of breakfast in England/Scotland. I remember eating alot of meat pies, cod, beaf and potatoes. Never any beans, grilled tomatoes.
Place that likes beans for breakfast is places like Nicaragua and Costa Rica. GALLO PINTO. Rice and beans, eggs, sausage, cheese, juice, coffee and toast. Lots of little things that add up. Heavy yes, but delicious.
13-Aug-2008, 04:08 PM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (29Palms @ Aug 13 2008, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

I never had baked beans in England for breakfast. I never had BOSTON BAKED BEANS for breakfast in Boston. Nor do I remember having it in Boston anytime.[/b]

My London hotel served what they called a "typical English breakfast" (sausages, grilled tomatoes, baked beans etc) every morning. After the first day I passed on the beans http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif
I've never had Boston baked beans in Boston either, although I have "ran a Boston- (bid whist) and had a very nice slice of Boston Creme pie there. I've also had some very nice Memphis ribs in Nawlins, but that's another story. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif
13-Aug-2008, 04:27 PM
mrs767er

I spent a lot of time in England when I was a young woman in love with abloke from Portsmouth and never did I have beans on a breakfast plate anywhere. Just those greasy eggs, fried bread (greasier--not buttery) and those nasty broiled squishy tomahtoes and the shrooms (I never understood how anyone could make a mushroom into dark things that looked like turds). I must say the yolks were the loveliest color of yellow-orange I'd ever seen and once you wiped all the fat off them, they tasted YUMMY. Oh, yeah, don't get me started about the sausages--what WERE they thinking when they extruded some of those meats into casings? Blood sausage--that's another one. Oh dear...
13-Aug-2008, 04:57 PM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mrs767er @ Aug 13 2008, 02:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

I spent a lot of time in England when I was a young woman in love with abloke from Portsmouth and never did I have beans on a breakfast plate anywhere. Just those greasy eggs, fried bread (greasier--not buttery) and those nasty broiled squishy tomahtoes and the shrooms (I never understood how anyone could make a mushroom into dark things that looked like turds).[/b]

http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif I' d forgotten about the fried bread. M767 I've got to go along with you about "English mushrooms" they aren't the most appetizing dish I've ever seen; at the time I thought it was just the way the chef at the hotel was preparing them....maybe not. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif
So if you've spend a lot of time in England and never had baked beans for breakfast, I'm thinking this whole beans for breakfast thing might be some elaborate hoax put on by the hotels for the tourists. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif

OK BRITSKI99...Paul, do you eat beans for breakfast? http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif
13-Aug-2008, 05:45 PM
29palms

From what I'm hearing here, I don't think I'd want to do English breakfast in England. I think I would pass on the breakfast and head on over to WHIMPY'S for a burger.
I had APACHE FRIED BREAD at the Inn of the Mountain Gods casino in Mescalero country near Ruidoso a week ago. Kind of like having a SOPAPILLA but thicker.
One thing I remember eating in England was KEBOBS.
15-Aug-2008, 07:31 AM
BRITSKI99

Too right I do .... well OK not every day as a full English takes time to lovingly prepare .. but often on a Sunday as its a great start to the day.

Time for a bit of cultural enlightenment ..

The Full English Breakfast consists of sausage ( proper fat sausage not those thin chipolata things ), bacon ( thats decent bacon with a good amount of meat on it and a little fat .. not the streaky bacon that unfortunately frequents most buffet breakfasts in the US http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/angry.gif ). fried eggs ( sunny side up ... complete with a touch of salmonella http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif ), grilled tomato ( need to have one of your five-a-day veggies http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif ), mushroom ( although I personally don't have mushroom I have a reaction to them ), baked beans ( these are British type of canned baked beans in a tomato sauce as opposed to refried beans or similar ) and of course a couple of rounds of fried bread ( absorbs all the fat and juices in the pan created by frying the other ingredients and makes the washing up easier http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif ).
These should be sparingly accompanied by Tomato and Brown sauce.

There are some regional variations on this... in t' north of England you may also find Black Pudding as part of the Full English and in Scotland you may find a wee haggis appearing on your plate.

P.S.
In respect of the aforementioned Kebab ... this is normally procured from a late-opening take-away when the munchies attack after an evening out partaking of alcoholic beverages .... normally as a speedy alternative to a sit down curry http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif
15-Aug-2008, 08:32 AM
29palms

You got me. You got it right. After a night out beer drinking WHITBREAD ALE in the local pubs, nothing like a KEBAB. I remember putting the tomato sauce or some sauce on the Kebab and watching the drippings splatter on the street as I shoved the Kebab down my throat.
I had WHITE PUDDING in Scotland. My ship was in KIRCALDY for about ten days. I especially enjoyed those FISH AND CHIPS that they put in these NEWSPAPERS to soak up the grease along with fries and a laced good with vinegar while waiting for my launch ride back to ship.
Can't forget the steak and kidney pies at the local taverns.
15-Aug-2008, 08:55 AM
imon32red

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BRITSKI99 @ Aug 15 2008, 05:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

The Full English Breakfast consists of sausage ( proper fat sausage not those thin chipolata things ), bacon ( thats decent bacon with a good amount of meat on it and a little fat .. not the streaky bacon that unfortunately frequents most buffet breakfasts in the US http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/angry.gif ). fried eggs ( sunny side up ... complete with a touch of salmonella http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif ), grilled tomato ( need to have one of your five-a-day veggies http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif ), mushroom ( although I personally don't have mushroom I have a reaction to them ), baked beans ( these are British type of canned baked beans in a tomato sauce as opposed to refried beans or similar ) and of course a couple of rounds of fried bread ( absorbs all the fat and juices in the pan created by frying the other ingredients and makes the washing up easier http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif ).
These should be sparingly accompanied by Tomato and Brown sauce.[/b]

Paul, sounds wonderful, although I don't quite understand the tomato. Not that I don't like tomatoes, I just have a hard time envisioning to tomatoes on my breakfast plate, but it sounds worth a try. Next time I am in Europe I will stop by for Sunday breakfast because it sounds like one I could really go for. I don't want to try the low fat cafe version this sounds like it would only be good home cooked. As for the eggs <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BRITSKI99 @ Aug 15 2008, 05:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

fried eggs ( sunny side up ... complete with a touch of salmonella http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif[/b]

how else would you eat them. I have tried to convince my wife for years that the only way to eat eggs is sunny side up, not overcooked.

My dad comes from Hawaii and so I grew up with rice in every meal especially with a heavy breakfast. For breakfast take a couple scoops of rice and flatten it out a little on your plate. Then take 3 or 4 eggs sunny side up with some of the runny stuff uncooked on top and place it on top. Every meal comes with meat and breakfast is no exception. Either a pile of portuguese sausage or a pile of bacon will do nicely. You can substitute the rice for fried rice as well if you have it.

My personal favorite for the "salmonella sunny side up egg" is with a waffle. Take the waffle straight out of the iron and heavily coat it with butter. Then add two sunny side up eggs on top of the waffle and soak the whole thing with maple syrup. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif
15-Aug-2008, 12:25 PM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Aug 13 2008, 09:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

1. Is the typical English breakfast really fried eggs, sausages, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and baked beans as English hotels and B&B's would have us believe?[/b]

Ok, assuming that Paul knows what he's talking about http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif , we will record the answer to question #1 as a yes! With the stipulations that a full "English breakfast" isn't an everyday thing and that Paul, because he has a "reaction" to them, doesn't have mushrooms with breakfast. Paul I have to say, I too had a reaction to the mushrooms served with my English breakfast. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/ohmy.gif

I will also assume a full English breakfast is served with a nice cup of breakfast tea. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8...fastxk3.th.jpg

Ok, on to question 2
2. What is Hawaii's fixation with SPAM? How much do Hawaiians love spam you may ask..... well Spam is served in McDonald's & Burger King and you can get Spam sushi at 7-11 (oh yeah) So I32red, do you have a clue...anyone?
15-Aug-2008, 03:51 PM
29palms

I lived out on Saipan and since the 1980's, I remember the Saipanese eating SPAM religiously. I have seen cases of SPAM stocked in most grocery outlets, little mom and pop stores all over Saipan, Tinian, Rota and even Guam. In fact, I have a can of SPAM I buy once in a while to make island style rice with Spam and eggs. I like to grill my SPAM like you would a burger or a slice of ham.

Here is my take on the FIXATION of SPAM on the PACIFIC ISLANDS. It's quite simple when you think of it. Keep in mind too that islands in the Pacific have not always had ELECTRICAL POWER generation or modernized infastructures as you find in the USA. Especially in the WWII days on up into the 1970's for alot of islands. Some islands are sparsley inhabited and some places don't have supplies reaching their islands on weekly or bi-weekly basis or even longer. So ISOLATION and LACK OF PROPER REFRIGERATION is KEY to SPAM on these islands. When you've grown up and all you see was SPAM cans in your thatched home, its aquired taste has kept the love for SPAM from generation to generation. So islands with power generation now and somewhat a little more modernized has not kept the love for spam from going out the window. Besides, just because there is power on these islands, POWER OUTAGES are quite common and strong typhoons will knock out power for weeks at a time, even longer.

1. It's very cheap compared to HAM

2. It's CANNED, requires no refrigeration, can have a long shelf life. The weather is tropical so canned products survive better in that enviroment.

3. Strong SUPER TYPHOONS knock out power on these islands occassionally, it can do it for weeks even months but SPAM will not spoil because its canned.

4. It taste very good, has alot of protien, easy to eat. Can cook it or eat it out of the can since it's all ready PRE-COOKED.

5. Goes great with rice, eggs, just a plain SPAM SANDWICH. TABASCO SAUCE is great on Spam.

6. It's almost like an MRE. Great shelf life, no refrigeration needed.

BUT REMEMBER THIS. MAN CAN'T LIVE ON SPAM ALONE.
16-Aug-2008, 01:50 AM
imon32red

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Aug 15 2008, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

2. What is Hawaii's fixation with SPAM? How much do Hawaiians love spam you may ask..... well Spam is served in McDonald's & Burger King and you can get Spam sushi at 7-11 (oh yeah) So I32red, do you have a clue...anyone?[/b]

I don't have a clue why it is still as popular today but I think 29palms is right. And I do have to agree with him that it goes very well with eggs and rice. Any time of day for that matter. I will say in this, if we suffer a natural disaster my daily spam intake won't go down, it might even go up! We are well stocked. I was just thinking today that a spam musubi (spam over rice wrapped in nori-the same as sushi) sounded wonderful and yes you can buy them at McDonalds, 7-11 etc. I am heading to Hawaii at the end of the month so I will have to wait till then...
16-Aug-2008, 08:08 AM
29palms

FRIED RICE with SPAM is common on Saipan. Instead of chicken or beef, or shrimp as the chinese restaurants do here, FRIED RICE in the islands are mixed with SPAM quite often. Don't forget. In WWII, alot of supplies got AIRDROPPED into isolated islands to win hearts and minds of the people and to patrol around for Japanese supply ships. There are many islands out in the Pacific.
16-Aug-2008, 01:49 PM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Aug 15 2008, 10:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Ok, on to question 2
2. What is Hawaii's fixation with SPAM? How much do Hawaiians love spam you may ask..... well Spam is served in McDonald's & Burger King and you can get Spam sushi at 7-11 (oh yeah) So I32red, do you have a clue...anyone?[/b]

Well it sounds like Palms & i32red are on to something, so I'm going with their answer---

Spam is inexpensive, has great shelf life, needs no refrigeration, etc, however I stand my ground at saying it tastes good;
no,no,no,nohttp://bestsmileys.com/nono/6.gif I am not a fan of SPAM!
I can kinda tolerate SPAM "heated", but "raw", just out the can, no-way, no-how, not even if I'm starving......well maybe then, but only if I'm staving. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif

On to question 3
When Palms mentioned Chinese restaurants, I had a thought - fortune cookies - so ....
3. Do Chinese resturants in England, Spain, Australia, China, (the world) serve fortune cookies (like they do in the USA) with their meals? I'm thinking fortune coiokies are a US custom, but who knows, do you? http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif
16-Aug-2008, 06:10 PM
29palms

I have been to Chinese restaurants in various places. In CANADA, PANAMA, Puerto Rico, Beijing, Chinatown San Francisco. Naturally, I have never seen the fortune cookie in BEIJING. They just don't give you fortune cookies in most places. I am not certain that some restaurants in Beijing offer fortune cookies. Maybe depending on the place. I know most fortune cookies in the states are made in NEW YORK. But they make them in places like San Antonio Texas and California. I ate in Montreal's Chinatown some Chinese buffet, and they had the fortune cookie. Didn't see it in Puerto Rico's OLD SAN JUAN in some locally owned Chinese food joint. Didn't see it in Panama, but I did see fortune cookies in San Francisco. So I'm willing to bet its mainly a U.S. thing but I also think it depends on which restaurants you go to. Here is a scene with CLINT EASTWOOD in movie "DIRTY POOL" on youtube about a fortune cookie during a robbery in Chinatown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv_bnDeqYQg
18-Aug-2008, 08:08 PM
Jumper

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BRITSKI99 @ Aug 15 2008, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

These should be sparingly accompanied by Tomato and Brown sauce.[/b]

*droools* Indeed. People don't understand that a hearty breakfast is a MUST when traveling in the UK... http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gif
15-Sep-2008, 03:56 PM
italgreco

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (imon32red @ Aug 15 2008, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Paul, sounds wonderful, although I don't quite understand the tomato. Not that I don't like tomatoes, I just have a hard time envisioning to tomatoes on my breakfast plate, but it sounds worth a try. Next time I am in Europe I will stop by for Sunday breakfast because it sounds like one I could really go for. I don't want to try the low fat cafe version this sounds like it would only be good home cooked. As for the eggs how else would you eat them. I have tried to convince my wife for years that the only way to eat eggs is sunny side up, not overcooked.

My dad comes from Hawaii and so I grew up with rice in every meal especially with a heavy breakfast. For breakfast take a couple scoops of rice and flatten it out a little on your plate. Then take 3 or 4 eggs sunny side up with some of the runny stuff uncooked on top and place it on top. Every meal comes with meat and breakfast is no exception. Either a pile of portuguese sausage or a pile of bacon will do nicely. You can substitute the rice for fried rice as well if you have it.

My personal favorite for the "salmonella sunny side up egg" is with a waffle. Take the waffle straight out of the iron and heavily coat it with butter. Then add two sunny side up eggs on top of the waffle and soak the whole thing with maple syrup. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif[/b]

..... Errrrr, The first time I visited Ft. Lauderdale in 19.... We won't go there, breakfast was presented to me with a slice of orange. If you can envision a slice of orange on a breakfast plate, or pancakes with syrup and bacon, then you must be able to envision a tomato !
Whilst still technically a fruit, it is more often that not an accompaniment to other savoury items, whereas the orange, pancake and syrup ........ Hmmmmm
16-Sep-2008, 11:10 AM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ItalGreco @ Sep 15 2008, 01:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Whilst still technically a fruit, it is more often that not an accompaniment to other savoury items, whereas the orange, pancake and syrup ........ Hmmmmm[/b]

Alright, I'll give you the tomato is a fruit, but you still can't explain baked beans at breakfast. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/ohmy.gif
16-Sep-2008, 02:28 PM
mrs767er

aw, c'mon mig--beans are on breakfast plates all over Guatemala and Brasil! They may not be bak-ed but a plate the would be naked...
Easy explaining--beans get you going in the morning!
16-Sep-2008, 03:29 PM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mrs767er @ Sep 16 2008, 12:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Easy explaining--beans get you going in the morning![/b]

No argument there, beans do get you going http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif , and trust me, you never want to eat beans before working out. But come on M767, cowboys never eat beans for breakfast. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif
16-Sep-2008, 05:26 PM
mrs767er

but even cowgirls get the blues