Victuals

[kerravonsen]

Because lizbee mentioned Graham Crackers in this post, I was reminded of all the US-style foods that I like which are not generally available over here.

• Graham crackers (I like the cinnamon ones)
  
• Cinnamon chewing gum
  
• Hot soft pretzels (the kind I used to get from street vendors in Berkeley)
  
• candy corn
  
• i-forget-the-name salty crackers which were constructed like woven-in-and-out shredded wheat
  
• California sourdough bread (the other stuff isn't the same)
  
• i-forget-the-name candy which is sort of like golden-brown jelly-beans only it doesn't taste anything like jelly beans, sort of a caramelly-sugary taste
  
• Root beer (we have Sarsparilla but it isn't common)
  

And to be fair, I shall list Australian foods that I would miss if I were living in the US:

• Tim-Tams
  
• cheeses that aren't dyed orange -- well, I guess that depends where you are as to how good a range of cheeses there are, but I'd still miss Coon and King Island Cheddar, and, the luxury indulgence of Timboon Organic Fresh Cheese Rolled In Herbs (which I tried once at the Show and have been addicted to ever since, even though it is expensive). {it is my opinion that the purpose of bread is that it is something to put underneath cheese..}
  
• Violet Crumble bars
  
• Mars Bars
  
• Blackcurrant cordial
  
• Ginger beer (but I would compensate with Root beer)
  
• Hedgehog slice
  
• Neenish tarts
  

Some American foods which have invaded Australia over the last twenty years:

• Corn chips
  
• (lemon) iced tea
  
• Oreo cookies (though we have our own version) {I really don't see what the big fuss is about Oreo cookies}
  
• m&m's (though we have our own version, called Smarties)
  

Comments

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We have all the Aussie foods you list here in NZ except for hedgehog slice. What is that? Presumably not roadkill. :-)

I see you have similar taste to me. I love cheese, Mars bars, ginger beer, and mmmmmm, Neenish tarts! Mind you, I've been known to keep a tube of condensed milk in the car for a quick squirt at the lights...



And I don't get Oreo cookies either--or Hershey's chocolate for that matter. Our stuff's so much richer and creamier, though Belgian is to die for. I'd much rather eat a Hokey-pokey Squiggle-Top or a Chocomint than an Oreo.

[kerravonsen]

except for hedgehog slice. What is that?

A sort of chocolate fudge slice that is made by crushing up plain sweet biscuits (cookies for you Americans) (especially things like Milk Arrowroot biscuits) and mixing them with a sort of chocolate fudge (sugar and cocoa and butter mainly) and letting it set in the fridge. I don't like the commercial versions as much as the home-made ones (though I haven't made it in years, I must track down the recipe) because the commercial ones tend to put nuts in as well, and I don't like nuts with my sweet things. And it usually has chocolate icing on the top.

I think I could probably survive without Hedgehog slice if I had some nice soft American Chocolate Brownies to make up for it.

I've been known to keep a tube of condensed milk in the car for a quick squirt at the lights...

Hmmm, no, I think I'd only be interested in that if they had chocolate-and-condensed milk tubes the way they have coffee-and-condensed-milk tubes.

And I don't get Oreo cookies either... I'd much rather eat a Hokey-pokey Squiggle-Top or a Chocomint than an Oreo.

Agreed. Or a Chocolate Royal, or Chocolate wafer bites or choc-caramel slices or especially the new Arnotts Kahlua Slice (like a Choc mint slice only with coffee-flavoured creme instead of mint creme). But maybe they don't have chocolate cookies like this because they'd have chocolate bars intead? I mean, if you consider all these chocolate-coated bikkies, they're almost like chocolate bars, I mean, what's a choc-mint slice but a chocolate bikkie with a pat of mint creme, all covered with a layer of chocolate? But it somehow feels more elegant when it's a bikkie than a chocolate bar. Well, I think Choc-mint slices look very elegant, in their round smoothness...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ah, hedgehog slice is what we call fudge cake (or in our family, favourite cake, because that was what my little brother named it.)

coffee-and-condensed-milk tubes

Waaaah! You have those? Why don't we? {Must look to see if we have; it's been a while since I gave in to my condensed-milk craving.)

the new Arnotts Kahlua Slice

OK, I'm definitely looking for that tomorrow when I go supermarket shopping! :-P

[kerravonsen]

I saw the coffee-and-condensed milk tube in a convenience store, actually. It's supposedly marketed as a convenience thing, especially for campers -- instant creamy coffee, just add hot water.

Supermarkets can be really frustrating, as to whether they stock things or not. My local supermarket had some imported Hubbards cereals for a little while, long enough for me to get addicted to Berry Berry Bubbles as a "treat" cereal, and then they stopped it without any reason. So there, there's an NZ export that I pounced on when I was there...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

My favourite Hubbards is 'St Clements', a citrus one. Very orangey--yum!--though I could do without the yogurt-coated raisins which are too sweet for me. Hubbard himself is a really innovative employer who cares very well for his staff.

I know what you mean about supermarkets. You get to love something then suddenly you can't buy it. At any of them in the case of frozen Pita brand felafels. Grrr.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I found some Arnotts Kahlua Slices at the supermarket today. Thanks for telling me about them; they're yummy. I like the mandarin ones too, but these are even better.

[kerravonsen]

Great! I was expecting you wouldn't find any, actually. I haven't tried the mandarin ones, maybe I should sometime.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_finn_/]

Oo.. I -do- like those marshmallow chocolate fish you can get in NZ...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they're great! At one place I worked, people gave them out as thank-yous for a job well done.

[reveilles.livejournal.com]

i-forget-the-name salty crackers which were constructed like woven-in-and-out shredded wheat

That would be Triscuits, I think. I love those. I have Garlic Triscuits at work right now for a snack. An excellent source of dietary fiber, and they taste good! :)

Mars Bars
Ginger beer

Hey--we have these! I just had a ginger beer last week. Admittedly, you can't find them in vending machines, but little sandwich shops in town have them...

Oreo cookies (though we have our own version) {I really don't see what the big fuss is about Oreo cookies}

Nor I. I think it is just the marketing campaign. Like Coca-Cola. No real big deal there, just brilliant marketing strategies. Did you know they've reached more places in the world than the message of Christ has?

[kerravonsen]

That would be Triscuits, I think.

Oh yes, that's it!

Did you know they've reached more places in the world than the message of Christ has?

That is soooo depressing.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_finn_/]

Hehe, was doing a search on Triscuits to get an idea of what they were, and on the DelawareWomanOnline's site...

"Brie cheese served with Triscuits is an elegant appetizer at any gathering."

Am I the only one that thinks that you have to serve water crackers with gourmet cheeses, otherwise it's tacky?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I agree. I prefer a cracker with no or little taste with my cheese so water crackers are perfect. Salty or spicy ones just interfere with the flavour.

[kerravonsen]

Especially spicy ones. Which reminds me how annoying it is when one can't find plain (corn) chips for a party. The flavour is supposed to be in the dip, not in the chip.

And anyway, I like triscuts just by themselves. Though I suppose they would be nice with cheese too.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_finn_/]

Doritos sell a plain dipper chip style corn chip, which is a nicely mini(chipsized)-tortilla shaped chip that's just salted, and perfect for salsas.

As for dip, the whole vegetable stick approach works well, normally =) (see? here's the celery conversation =)) Or go for toasted strips of turkish bread.

Actually, what's really nice is strips of fresh turkish bread fried lightly in olive oil til it's crispy. Served with some hoummus (sp?), numm..

[grumpoldusenaut.livejournal.com]

Ginger beer (but I would compensate with Root beer)

Bundaberg ginger beer is available in the SF Bay area (although somewhat erratically, the Oz ex-pats have this little game called "which import shop has it this week"). There are also some acceptable American ginger beers, although they're not quite the real thing. Of course, one of the local fake British pubs had to stop stocking one very good local brand just as I'd become addicted to it.

*head scratch*

[tptigger.livejournal.com]

I could've sworn I've seen Mars Bars over here. (Whether they're the same Mars Bars is another story.) Unfortunately, since they're milk chocolate, I haven't registered whether I've seen them recently (it's like OK, commercial chocolate--where's the junior mints? :)

I was going to say there's ginger beer in the grocery store here, but someone else said it's not the same. Having never had Aussie (or British) ginger beer, I'll trust their judgement. :)

Re: *head scratch*

[kerravonsen]

I was going to say there's ginger beer in the grocery store here, but someone else said it's not the same.

Well, there's ginger beer and ginger ale, two different things. Or it could be that it's "not the same" in the same way that Schweppes Ginger Beer isn't the same as Bundaberg Ginger Beer: the Schweppes version is ginger-flavoured, while the Bundaberg version is the Real Thing, brewed ginger beer and much stronger-tasting. Though I actually like them both, I just consider the Schweppes version something light to drink and a bit more thirst-quenching than the Bundie version, which needs to be sipped. (Note to self: next time you dig up that recipe for non-alcoholic Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, make sure you use Bundaberg ginger beer in it, not ginger cordial)

Re: *head scratch*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, Bundy Ginger Beer! The only thing as good is the locally brewed Mac's Ginger Beer.

Re: *head scratch*

[tptigger.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* It's Souix City Ginger Beer. Their Sasparilla's pretty good.

No clue on the ginger beer. :)

And if you dig up that recipe can you pretty please with cream and sugar on it email it to me? :)

Re: *head scratch*

[kerravonsen]

I've put the recipe up on LJ on my next post.

Re: *head scratch*

[tptigger.livejournal.com]

I saw! Thanks so much. ::tacklehugs:: :)

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to try cinnamon chewing gum.

Hell's Bakery sells San Fransisco sourdough, but I'm not sure if it's "real" sourdough. I used to live down the road from a specialist sourdough bakery, though...

And we of the House o'Squid usually hit Oktoberfest for the giant pretzels. You can get them in Adelaide, too.

Oh God, I want a giant pretzel...

[kerravonsen]

There was a brief time when there was a giant pretzel vendor in Indooroopilly Shoppingtown, back when I lived in Brizzie in the eighties, but it was only a very short time, alas.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

So near -- yet so far! *cries*

(*files knowledge away for when I finally write that time-travel back to '80s-Brisbane story*)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_finn_/]

There's a pretzel chain down here in Sydney that gives out pretty nice stuff (if you get them fresh, of course, if they've been sitting there for a while...Gnah... *chewchewchew*)

I'd miss Vegemite and Milo...

I tried a lot of the chocolates in Britain, and can't say I'm overly impressed, Aussie chocolate is so much better.

Oh and one thing that seems to be so much better here than anywhere else?

Coffee.

Proper Coffee.

I've yet to have any coffee anywhere in the world that's better than here.

I recall my favourite cafe having a sticker on the side of their coffee machine with "Real Friends Don't Let Friends Go To Starbucks" =P

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about coffee. I just got back from a holiday in the UK and the closest I came to a decent cup was Starbucks at Heathrow (which I went to so I could use up my coins). And that's sad.

Coffee in Australia and NZ I've found uniformly good. In the UK we couldn't find a flat white (or long black for Greg). I ordered lattes instead and they were wimpy.

Mind you, no wonder they hadn't heard of flat whites--according to this recent article in the NZ Herald:

"The flat white was invented in either Australian or New Zealand - it depends who you talk to. New Zealanders quickly tired of the over-fluffed faux glamour of the cappuccino and turned to coffee thickened with well-steamed milk."

Which is a nuisance as the puns I put into Vila Restal's E-mails about flat whites and long blacks (in only one place, luckily) will go down like, well, an instant.

[kerravonsen]

I'm afraid that coffee culture is a complete mystery to me. I just have iced coffee for my oral caffine intake (and I mean this literally -- I drink it when I need the stimulant).

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I drink it purely for the flavour--it doesn't affect me at all as a drug as I've found to my regret when I've tried to use it to stay awake at work. :-)

That article was very pretentious and about the sort of trendy people who get right up my nose, but it was interesting that they agree both nations have excellent coffee, which I've noticed on my travels. And it explained why people looked at me blankly in the UK when I asked for a flat white.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_finn_/]

Oh I agree. Coffee doesn't do anything for me... Well, I tell a lie... Coffee doesn't do anything good for me, it doesn't keep me awake as it should, it instead sends me into the jitters, and, if it's overly strong heart palpitations =P Which aren't fun, as I'm still sleepy =P

But for me, coffee is all about the taste =) I just avoid really strong stuff.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are a couple of strong bitter brands around which I have to sweeten then remember to avoid, but in general it's pretty good here. And the aroma ... mmmmm!

[kerravonsen]

And the aroma ... mmmmm!

Yes, the aroma of coffee is One Of Those Scents... but I'll have to class it along with the aroma of Peppermint Tea -- that it smells better than it tastes. (No, I actually do like the taste of coffee, as long as there's sufficient milk and sugar... but I'd rather have cocoa).

The other great aromas of all time, besides coffee and peppermint tea, would have to be the smell of bread baking, and the smell of steak cooking.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

it smells better than it tastes

I agree! In fact I put that into a story once (not B7, an original). They say you can sell your house by having a coffee or bread machine on when people come through.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_finn_/]

And any berry tea, like blackberry always smells divine, but has such disappointing taste =)

Oh and a fantastic smell? The smell of baking waffle cones at the specialty ice cream places. And the smell of baking gingerbread cookies...

[kerravonsen]

I tried a lot of the chocolates in Britain, and can't say I'm overly impressed, Aussie chocolate is so much better.

But you have to admit, surely, that nothing can beat Swiss or Belgian chocolate... so rich, so creamy...(sighs)

(shakes self) This is dreadful! Why can't we be talking about the joys of celery sticks with cottage cheese instead?

[mistraltoes.livejournal.com]

Sorry to chime in late; I was a bit tired when this went by.

Cinnamon chewing gum

??? You don't have any brand of cinnamon chewing gum? How strange! It's the only flavor of gum I like, other than bubble gum.

i-forget-the-name candy which is sort of like golden-brown jelly-beans only it doesn't taste anything like jelly beans, sort of a caramelly-sugary taste

Is that perhaps Sugar Babies?

Hm. We do have Mars bars, though they can be hard to find. And I agree with you that the cheese selection is tragic; most groceries (at least in western Washington) only have a half-dozen kinds, and for anything else, you have to go to a deli or specialty store (few and far between, except in the big cities).

{I really don't see what the big fuss is about Oreo cookies}

::boggle:: Fine. More for me, then. Mostly I can skip the commercially made cookies, but there's no duplicating the Oreo. And I do mean the Oreo, and not any of the similar cheaper brands. I think I will buy a package for my birthday treat. And maybe some Hershey's chocolate syrup to dip them in. ::wanders away muttering::