Afternoon tea: a British view
Jul 5th, 2006, 04:41 AM
#22
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And while we're at it, "Americano" is a fairly recent concept in largely Italian coffee places. Not to mention the teeth-gratingly time-wasting queue for cappuccinos when all I want is a plain black coffee...
Having been brought up in the 50s and 60s on percolator coffee (no-one seems to do that any more - too messy I suppose), I can remember being surprised at how weak the coffee was in diners and such like on my first visit to the US in the 1980s. And as for the French domestic habit of re-boiling last night's leftover coffee for the breakfast café au lait....
Having been brought up in the 50s and 60s on percolator coffee (no-one seems to do that any more - too messy I suppose), I can remember being surprised at how weak the coffee was in diners and such like on my first visit to the US in the 1980s. And as for the French domestic habit of re-boiling last night's leftover coffee for the breakfast café au lait....
Jul 5th, 2006, 04:43 AM
#23
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Hi NO,
>I was distressed to come upon these words: "...the Americans have successfully McDonald-ised ..."
How bloody cruel.<
But, unfortunately, true.
We've done the same thing to saloons - chocolate Martinis!!!
>I was distressed to come upon these words: "...the Americans have successfully McDonald-ised ..."
How bloody cruel.<
But, unfortunately, true.
We've done the same thing to saloons - chocolate Martinis!!!
Jul 5th, 2006, 04:45 AM
#24
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> suppose that you read your fortune by where the leaves settled.
Unfortunately, I haven't got the key to it.<
Shame on you MissPrism! A lady who wrote a three-volume novel of more than usually revolting sentimentality should surely realise <whisper> - you make it up!
Unfortunately, I haven't got the key to it.<
Shame on you MissPrism! A lady who wrote a three-volume novel of more than usually revolting sentimentality should surely realise <whisper> - you make it up!
Jul 5th, 2006, 04:45 AM
#25
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Diner coffee was (and it) usually weaker than coffee house places because people were/are used to drinking several cups (free refills). Had you gone to the real coffee shops of San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia (south Philly in particular), New York, etc., you would have been served excellent coffee at "normal" strength--and then some.
Jul 5th, 2006, 04:48 AM
#26
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Yes, percolators are now museum pieces.
I have been through upteen ways of making coffee, pouring water onto grounds in a coffee pot as a student, stove-top and electric percolators, an elaborate contraption with a glass jug and globe thingy (each item was replaced at least twice), electric filter coffee.
I now have an espresso machine and a caffetiere. I suppose that I have returned to the beginning.
I have been through upteen ways of making coffee, pouring water onto grounds in a coffee pot as a student, stove-top and electric percolators, an elaborate contraption with a glass jug and globe thingy (each item was replaced at least twice), electric filter coffee.
I now have an espresso machine and a caffetiere. I suppose that I have returned to the beginning.
Jul 5th, 2006, 04:56 AM
#28
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f Paul Revere galloped about shouting "The British are coming", I'm a monkey's aunt.
The Union between Scotland and England happened in (1 think) 1707.
I bet that no Englishman or Scotsman or colonist would have described himself as British in the late 18th century.
The Union between Scotland and England happened in (1 think) 1707.
I bet that no Englishman or Scotsman or colonist would have described himself as British in the late 18th century.
Jul 5th, 2006, 04:57 AM
#30
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MissPrism, here is a link that has scans of pages of the book that came with one design of fortune telling teacup:
http://www.worldoftarot.com/teacup.htm
http://www.worldoftarot.com/teacup.htm
Jul 5th, 2006, 04:57 AM
#31
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This pesky site is playing up again!
Talking about Boston Tea Parties and all that, may I semi-revert to an earlier thread.
If Paul Revere galloped about shouting "The British are coming", I'm a monkey's aunt.
The Union between Scotland and England happened in (1 think) 1707.
I bet that no Englishman or Scotsman or colonist would have described himself as British in the late 18th century.
Talking about Boston Tea Parties and all that, may I semi-revert to an earlier thread.
If Paul Revere galloped about shouting "The British are coming", I'm a monkey's aunt.
The Union between Scotland and England happened in (1 think) 1707.
I bet that no Englishman or Scotsman or colonist would have described himself as British in the late 18th century.
Jul 5th, 2006, 05:17 AM
#33
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Hi CE,
>Ira, I'm afraid I do like chocolate martinis - to the extent of having bought white creme de cacao to make them at home !<
As long as you are mixing your creme de cacao with vodka, you are safe from the wrath of Bacchus, but PLEASE don't call it a Martini.
You might wish to look up recipes for Black Russian, White Russian, Brandy Alexander, Grasshopper, etc.
>Ira, I'm afraid I do like chocolate martinis - to the extent of having bought white creme de cacao to make them at home !<
As long as you are mixing your creme de cacao with vodka, you are safe from the wrath of Bacchus, but PLEASE don't call it a Martini.
You might wish to look up recipes for Black Russian, White Russian, Brandy Alexander, Grasshopper, etc.
Jul 5th, 2006, 05:22 AM
#34
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"safe from the wrath of Bacchus" 
Should have said I do like proper martinis too ! Having problems with an over-active freezer freezing my vodka & gin solid, though.
Had excellent Negronis everywhere in Naples & Ischia recently.
Should have said I do like proper martinis too ! Having problems with an over-active freezer freezing my vodka & gin solid, though.
Had excellent Negronis everywhere in Naples & Ischia recently.
Jul 5th, 2006, 06:29 AM
#35
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MissPrism, we are wandering off the point here, but actually there was a conscious attempt throughout the 18th century to create a "British" identity: remember "Rule Britannia"?
But since this particular bit of shouting was done in a poem written long after Paul Revere lived, you might be right. And lo and behold the Wondernet confirms:
http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/real.shtml
But since this particular bit of shouting was done in a poem written long after Paul Revere lived, you might be right. And lo and behold the Wondernet confirms:
http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/real.shtml
Jul 5th, 2006, 06:48 AM
#36
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This seems like the right moment to mention the "nice cup of tea and a sit down" website: http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/
Fun browsing -- and some true devotees of tea and biscuits...
Fun browsing -- and some true devotees of tea and biscuits...
Jul 5th, 2006, 07:02 AM
#38
Miss Prism, while it is completely off-topic, you are correct that the parliamentary union occurred in 1707. However, the term "Great Britain" began in 1603 when James VI of Scotland took over the throne of England upon the death of Elizabeth, becoming James I of Great Britain.
Jul 5th, 2006, 07:34 AM
#40
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Putdowns of Starbucks and its imitators are so common now, cliches themselves, that to continue to do so in article supposedly about tea makes the writer as much a "cod bohemian" as anyone.
