European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Today I ate donuts for the first time.

I don't know how the stuff I ate compares to a genuine American cop meal, but the combination of fat and chocolate/syrup was... strange.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:17:48 PM EST

Breakfast Flamewars 2.0 (4.00 / 3)

You ... put syrup on your doughnuts?

Oh boy.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:32:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Breakfast Flamewars 2.0 (none / 0)

Nnno, that was a bad attempt at naming the amorphous substance chocolate becomes when mixed with bits of sugar in liquid form and poured on the donut to freeze. E.g. something like:

Can't say I liked it... then again, comparing the thick fat stuff Budapest street vendors sell as "pizza" to the original Italian restaurants make, it may be that what Chief Wiggum got so fat on is actually much less fatty.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:43:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Breakfast Flamewars 2.0 (4.00 / 3)

I think the generic term would be "frosting."

They are rather sweet if you're not used to them.

by lychee on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:53:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Breakfast Flamewars 2.0 (none / 1)

Yes - frosting. Not all "American" donuts have frosting or filling. I like the ones covered in powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. They are very dense, cake-like. They are good with milk, and I eat them when I am sick. I don't know why. They've no nutritional value, but I crave them when I am sick. I also like the kind filled with custard and covered in chocolate. They're basically a very low-end eclair. mmmm... custard...

Of course, I will take a croissant over a donut any time. And after the elections, I could happily never see another box of Dunkin Donuts (worst crap for food offenders ever) for the rest of my life.

Home-made donuts are good. I guess I am surprised, because my mom made home-made donuts when I was a kid, and when I went to Russia, lo and behold, they made identical donuts there. I just assumed everyone ate donuts! lol.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:02:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

When I am sick (4.00 / 2)

Animal fat and sugar can be helpful when you are sick. Nutrition isn't everything.

Depends in what way you are sick. But I am an advocate of the idea that in unusual circumstances (like being sick) then listen to your body, because it knows.

I am a war puritan child. There was no sugar when I was a kid. Thus my behaviour never became disordered ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:14:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When I am sick (none / 1)

Ive been cured by v mild diabetes. Almost never eat anything sweet. I can't cope with raw sugar rushes so avoid such things. I can only eat a doughnut if I can intercept the maker and stop them rolling it in the sugar.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:48:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When I am sick (none / 0)

I was always wary of salt. I would always cook and put out the Maldon Sea Salt for people to adjust my creation to their own taste.

But then I had all these routine tests and discovered I was a bit short in the salt department. So I've had a packet of 'Kartano' (Manor) kettle-cooked crisps every Friday and really enjoyed it ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:27:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When I am sick (none / 1)

They have "artisinal" kettle cooked crisps over here. I like it when they say hand-made or hand cooked; does that mean that somebody took each crisp and dunked it in the hot fat with their bare hand ? Or do we mean a human hand pressed the switch that lowered several tons of machined potato into a cauldron of boiling oil ?

These things are never clear

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:33:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

LOL (none / 0)

I liked the idea that Pringles escaped some court case or other, because their industrial chips are not made of potato as such, but some kind of starchy 'massa' unrelated to potato.

Marketing...Oh, I am going to hell and I love the thought of it.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:40:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LOL (4.00 / 4)

Back during the mercifully short period when I was pretending to be an engineer, we were shown a project which counted fruit distributions in fruit salad. (Really - people were being paid good money to consult on this.)

Some of the fruit is bleached. For other strategic fruit marketing destinations, such as pie and doughnut fillings, it may also be pulped and reconstituted into square-ised pseudo-cube lumps.

The natural colour of the bright red cherries in tinned fruit salad was zombie-grey. They only became lipstick red after they'd been marinated in colouring for a few hours.

Things may have changed now, but I'd guess that a lot of what comes out of food processing factories is still rather disturbing in its naked state.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:02:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LOL (none / 0)

Breakfast Oatmeal comes with several types of dried "fruit" including apple, "peach," "strawberry" etc. But neither strawberries nor peaches would hold up for the process while apples would do so just fine. So they take apple chips, dye them red or yellow and add artificial flavors that make them taste remarkably like peach or strawberries. My palate cannot tell the difference. The clue is on the ingredient list. Fortunately I am quite satisfied with apple and cinnamon as my standard fare.

If sanity be culturally normative, then by the norms of this culture I claim insanity.

by ARGeezer on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 09:18:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Breakfast Flamewars 2.0 (4.00 / 6)

My first job after graduate school, was as assistant donut baker at the Eagle Bakery in Tuscon Arizona in the summer of 1966, so I got to learn all about donuts. They come in two basic varieties: raised donuts and cake donuts.

Raised donuts are made from dough. My challenge was learning how, in one week, to prepare a 20 gallon tub of yeast based dough, let it rise, roll it out, cut it into donuts and fry them in hot oil. This was done in a rectangular pan about 2'x 3'x 1'deep containing hot cooking oil. Into that was placed a "flipper" which was a steel device with a series of vertical blades attached to a handle with which one could, at once, turn over all of the donughts in the pan.

While the dough was rising, I made the cake donuts, my favorite. They were made from a cake batter with baking soda as a leavening agent. We had a container on an articulated arm that could be moved over the fry pan. I mixed the batter and poured it into the container. The container had a crank handle which, when turned would drop a ring of cake batter into the fry pan. This arrangement allowed me to drop rings quickly into the pan. This was done without using the flipper. As the cake donuts cooked and needed turning, I would use a wooden stick to flip them over and then to extract them.

While the donuts were still warm some would be placed alternatively on each side in various pans containing sugar or sugar and cinnamon. Alternatively there were warm pans of various icings which came from five gallon containers. I would grab two donuts, dip them in the icing and then set them on a drying tray.

We had another machine that was used for jelly filled donuts. It had two hollow tubes about 3/8" diameter that tapered down at the ends to the 1/4" inner diameter. These were the terminations of a jelly container into which various flavors of jelley filling would be placed. There was a foot switch which, when placed would dispense a set amount of jelley. Grab two donuts, slide them over the tubes and press the foot switch, repeat as required.

My only real mishap was when I lost my grip on one of the handles of the flipper while extracting it from the fry pan and it slipped back in, sloshing hot oil over my abdomen and hands. Fortunately quick action by more experienced bakers led to getting all affected skin quickly out of danger and cooled off by water. I only suffered first degree burns and, while allowed to leave early, was back at work the next night.

The only real perk was that, as a baker, I was allowed to take home a loaf of my choice, or its equivalent, each night. I developed an appreciation for Rye, Pumpernickel, Khala and other specialty breads that remains.

If sanity be culturally normative, then by the norms of this culture I claim insanity.

by ARGeezer on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:43:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Breakfast Flamewars 2.0 (none / 0)

Fascinating! And I mean that most sincerely ;-)

Always ask the person that stands by the machine about how to make it better...

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:58:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Doughnuts? (none / 0)

Good grief! Obesity virginity!

Some close friends of mine market this brand

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:42:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

So you market it, too? ;-)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:43:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Doughnuts? (4.00 / 2)

I do NOT!

a) I do not market 'consumer' products (though I did in the 80's)

b) I use the' Ogilvie method'. If you wouldn't use the product or service yourself, then don't market it.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:48:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

By "marketing" I meant giving the link.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:27:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Doughnuts? (none / 1)

Aaah - that is much more nuanced...

The thing is, that by expressing an interest in a phenomenon, are you supporting it? ;-) i.e by making it visible, are you complicit? Well, unfortunately, by being born human, we are all complicit.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:12:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

So that brand is even a phenomenon? Smart, very smart viral marketing ;-)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:16:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I would agree with you if I was getting a cut ;-)

But all effective marketing is perceptually 'phenomenal' with the target audience. It doesn't work otherwise.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:23:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Also, I thought doughnuts, donuts, whatever, were rather universal. They vary by culture, but most I've known have some version of a sugary fired doughy treat.

You've never had ponchiki, pączki, gogoşi...? Gah. Leave it to Germany to name a food "Krapfen."

Anyway, I can't believe you've never had a donut.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:48:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thursday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

Yeah, but if you put jelly in 'em you they're called a Kennedy.

Or something similar.

"Ideas or the lack of them can cause disease." - Kurt Vonnegut

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:15:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Heh... you caught me.

Looking at the variety and pictures in Wiki, I recognise the stuff known as Krapfen in South, Pfannkuchen in East and Berliner in Northwestern German. Something like that is sold in Budapest since the middle of the nineties -- and when I looked it up in a dictionary, I found my bécsi fánk translates to "Viennese doughnut"...

Though the dough tastes similar, and "Viennese doughnut" also combines fat and sweet, for lack of hole and frosting, I failed to make the connection. "Viennese doughnut", is like what you describe (and, now I notice, like the second donut on the very picture I posted...): thin powder sugar on top, and maybe filled with vanilla or chocolate pudding. (Can't say I am too high on that, either, but less strange than with the frosting.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:46:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I note that the Hungarian equivalent of doughnut as per my dictionary, fánk, when applied with qualifiers other than "Viennese", look (and taste) totally different.

csörögefánk ( = c. clinking doughnut):

rózsafánk ( = rose doughnut):

képviselőfánk ( = [parliamentary] representative's doughnut):

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:06:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh, the top kind can be found in different French regions under different names. In the South-West they call them oreillettes.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:30:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The rose doughnuts look similar to glazed doughnuts in the U.S., except instead of powdered/icing sugar on top, they're dipped in a sugar glaze, with a slightly less intricate cut "pattern." (Those were my favorite, but I haven't wanted to eat them for the past few years. My tolerance for sugary things has lessened over time. I don't know how I was ever able to eat the Halloween candy I would get as a kid all in a couple of days-- eek.)

by lychee on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:44:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh, I just realized that was jam or jelly in the middle of those. None of that in glazed doughnuts here....

by lychee on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:46:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"parliamentary representative's doughnut"

LOL.

We call it a cream puff or profiterole.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:40:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

DoDonut.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:11:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Are you saying I am nuts!?

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:14:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, you would know... ;)

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:31:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

(Sigh) Well, somebody's got to say it (4.00 / 3)

You hang out with us, don't you? <ducks, runs>

by lychee on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:08:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Did you have it with a cup of coffee (black) the strength of industrial cleaner? Because if you didn't, you aren't approaching a genuine cop meal. :)

by Maryb2004 on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:59:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Disagree. American coffee is the weakest, worst in the world. Though I won't debate it tastes like industrial cleaner.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:04:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Bottomless Cup (none / 1)

It is no problem to offer endless refills when you serve coloured water. I thought yanqui coffee to be the worst I have ever tasted. The best was at Copacabana beach - 2 centiliters in a gold quasi-tasse that had your hand quivering just paying for it....

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:18:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thursday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

American coffee tastes like diluted industrial cleaner...

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:06:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Try English.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:20:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

{reaches into back pocket for well-worn gripe..}

You think the english do bad coffee. Can I ask about the calculated insult presented by the rest of the europe to the english as tea ? Why is that the major drinkers of tea are the english, but in most of the only tea available is german ? German !!?? Have any of you tasted german tea ? Of course not, nobody drinks it, not even the germans. It's not meant to be drunk. It's just a joke brand made in a sawdust factory for europe to give to us as a way of saying "ferk off and take your sausages with you"

Seriously in Paris. Paris, now famously a couple of hours from London by jet propelled french railways, doesn't do english tea. Now I'm sorry, but that's got to be deliberate policy set down by government.

No wonder all brits carry PG Tips teabags around with them.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:41:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Heh. I got PG Tips bags here from the Pakistani store one block down. They're even 50 percent sustainable now.

As to why, I don't know. The Dutch make the best cocoa, and also sell the most. I guess the English were never much for producing and selling stuff to the mainland, that queer market of 400 million people that uses these strange measures.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:52:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's more that the British seem to have a genetic defect which prevents them appreciating high quality tea.

They'll drink bark-shavings and lawn-clippings like PG Tips and like it.

It took me nine months of dedicated research, trying everything from local supermarket slop to oh-so-little-finger-posh Knightsbridge exclusives, to find a breakfast tea that was acceptable to a somewhat more discriminating palette.

The best tea I ever had was in a slightly arty cafe in Barcelona.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:09:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I have to reply. Admittedly the choice of teas is restricted in Finland. PG Tips in 'pyramid' tea-bags can be found in the Indian, African, Arab ethnic stores on Hämeentie. The reason being that it is a workers cup of tea - a strong brew - not some effete Wiltshire sommelier's idea of tea drunk with a finger toward ceiling cat.

Tea is relative. And compared to the ubiquitous Finnish Liptons, anything is an improvement. But spare a thought for your colonial brothers. PG is where it at.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:18:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well - the problem with PG is that it's not nearly strong enough.

Two effete Wiltshire sommelier's tea bags steeped for half an hour should put most people on hyper for the rest of the day.

That's why I drink it, anyway. That and I quite like the taste, too.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:21:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Donuts, Tea and the Demise of ET (4.00 / 3)

apropos several comments this evening:

"There's one thing in this whole wide world,
i sure would like to see,
that's when that little love of mine,
dips her donut in my tea."

The Band

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:15:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

BTW I had some Argentinian tea once, sucked thru a silver 'straw' like the gauchos love it. It scared the bejesus out of me.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:32:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Argentinian "tea" (none / 1)

It's not tea, it's Mate. They sip it in the south of Brazil, too.

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:38:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Argentinian "tea" (none / 1)

Mate has certain similarities with tea, especially, green tea. It's closer to tea than, for instance, Coke - in spite of the caffeine.

But we use multi-lensed POVs here. Are we talking cultural, chemical, physiological or semantical? To describe something as 'tea' is merely a limitation upon categorization. 8 -)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:37:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

There tends to be good tea in little boxes in the more extensive Indian corner shops...

Call me biased, but the best tea I ever had was in Darjeeling.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:18:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes, I used to like Darjeeling a lot untilsomething happened to my taste buds nd I suddenly wanted great big tannin hits.

Question is, what sort of Darjeeling ? single estate ? Blend (consistent) soth facing, north facing. Believe me, go to Harrods food hall and you can buy such diversity and they're very interesting (s facing slightly more floral - n facing more body and tweak of bitterness)

But I moved towards Assam hits for everyday drinking. My perfect breakfast tea is Orange Pekoe/Keemun tea mixed with Lasang suchong and left to brew for about 20 - 30 minutes. That's a wake up call.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:06:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Tannin be where it at. That's why I love my red wine. I need that dose.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:33:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Who'd have thought it? Exposed to opium, heroin, THC in all forms, coke, mushrooms and things speedy - I get hooked on tannin....

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:35:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

<ducks> You're quite right about tea. Here they think it's a bag of perfumed hay dipped in a cup of hot water.

<raises head above parapet> I used to get decent tea from Marks & Spencer's Food Hall, but then they decided to close all their foreign operations so that was shot. Recently it's become easier to get direct imports from England in the supermarkets, Typhoo or PG or Taylor's of Harrogate. The thing is it must be packed in England and not have a word of French on the pack.

Just like there shouldn't be a word of English on the coffee... <ducks again>

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:06:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

teabags are the lowest quality form of tea. Really. It's sawdust.

With that, I'm off to Dunedin.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:10:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

elitist ;-p

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:18:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Agreed. (none / 0)

American coffee is bad. English coffee is liquefied evil.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:03:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Agreed. (none / 0)

Hah. Someone who understands.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:11:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Agreed. (none / 0)

I always mix grounds of soft South American or sometimes African (50/50), with tart arabica.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:37:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Try cake doughnuts

by paving on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:04:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thursday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Donuts are the food served at the top of Pikes Peak. When you get off the cog railroad you brave the 100 kph wind and -10 C temperature and struggle breathlessly to the shop/terminal building. Inside you can buy touristical trinkets, coffee, hot chocolate, and fresh donuts.

They are disgusting. They're cake-style, but do not have much shape, and taste of grease and sugar. I suspect that they are served because a deep fat fryer is a cooking tool that still works at 4300 meters altitude. However, they do provide the calories that your body is searching for--especially if you're one of the crazies who instead of taking the train or road has decided to hike.

by asdf on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 07:05:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Donuts are amazing and wonderful. I love donuts. Then again, I grew up in the Donut Capital of the USA, Los Angeles.

It's odd, really. It's not part of the image at all. But it's true. LA has tons and tons of donut stores, mostly little independent places. They often have distinctly different styles, and little variations or specialty donuts. One that I often went to near my old house, Star 999 Donuts, was run by Koreans, and they but blueberries in almost all their glazes and frostings, and in several of their batters. Another, USA donuts, was Armenian, I think, and had this unusual volcano-like donut. It was like a conical buttermilk bar, with a dollop of jelly filling at the top. I still love those things.

People who move to LA comment have made puzzled comments about the ubiquity of the donut stores, as it's just not something one expects. I, on the other hand, was shocked by the lack thereof when I moved to Michigan. Where are all the donut stores, I wondered? I was further demoralized by the fact that the only donuts available widely were Tim Hortons and Dunkin Donuts. Tim Hortons seems to focus on cremes and filled donuts, of which I'm not a huge fan, and Dunkin Donuts is just kind of average in everything, with a focus on mediocre novelties.

As a result of my residence in donut paradise, I never got the Krispy Kreme thing. They're decent glazed cake donuts, yeah, but so what? This was not helped by the fact that they use a touch of maple syrup in their frosting, enough that it carries the awful bitter metal aftertaste that all maple gives me.

Recently, Donut Plant from New York has become popular with more upscale places for their interestingly flavored cake donuts. Starbucks carries their donuts. They know how to make good frostings and glazes, I'll give them that, but they flub the most basic part, the cake. Far too oily, dense, and heavy. However, they are the best donuts available in Japan. :-(

by Zwackus on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 07:11:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The original dunkin donuts, the odd-shaped cake donuts with the "handle" and a slightly cinnamon taste, are my favorites. Unfortunately the franchise can apparently only make them correctly in Massachusetts, as the three DD shops here in Colorado Springs sell something that is completely wrong...

by asdf on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 07:13:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

French socialists vote today (none / 0)

'Socialist Left factions in dire straits in Paris'
France's opposition Socialists vote Thursday for a new leader after a fierce contest laid bare deep divisions and threatened to scuttle their chances of building a challenge to President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Former presidential candidate Segolene Royal is putting her political survival on the line as she squares off against rivals Martine Aubry, the architect of France's 35-hour work week, and leftist Euro-MP Benoit Hamon.
The vote by the party's 233,000 members -- which could head into a runoff on Friday -- comes on the heels of a party congress that ended in disarray at the weekend after delegates failed to agree on a consensus candidate.
The stakes are high for France's main opposition party.
After three consecutive defeats in presidential elections, the Socialists have been bogged down in internal squabbling and unable to score any points off Sarkozy since he took office last year.
http://www.france24.com/en/20081120-french-socialists-vote-new-leader-reims-royal-aubry-hamon

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:29:21 PM EST

What is the political bent of France 24? They write like the Murdoch press or IHT, forgetting the result of local elections...

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:33:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I haven't been watching it, but it may interest people to know my local uber-lefty PBS station (that's public a.k.a. socialist tv for those who don't know) has replaced its broadcast of BBC World News with France 24 and some other show.

Francolphiles rejoice - you've defeated the Brits! or are just selling cheaper tv. Don't know. Anyway, your propaganda is in American homes.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:39:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Cheaper for sure...

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:43:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

NYT: `Worldfocus' Replaces `BBC World News' On Some PBS Stations

Oh wow - this is a real story. This is like, genuine ET-worthy material.

I looked up the name of the other show that has replaced the BBC; it is World Focus. I've watched bits of it, and I have to say, ouch. Really, they have those "let's dress up and pretend to be journalists" production values of Russia Today and Deutsche Welle's Journal. Hurts to watch this stuff. But I guess they've positioned themselves as the primary competition for the BBC in America:

"For 10 years, the BBC has largely had to itself the American market for television news that is not United States-centric, thanks to its distribution deal with public television and its cable network BBC America. That changed on Monday with the start of `Worldfocus,' a half-hour nightly newscast being produced and distributed by the New York public broadcaster WLIW, Channel 21," Elizabeth Jensen reports.
"The new competition, available in about 85 percent of the country, brings an extensive juggling of the station lineup for "BBC World News" on public television nationwide. In the New York metropolitan area, the half-hour BBC newscast will no longer be seen on WLIW and its sister station, WNET, Channel 13, where it occupied plum evening spots; the program garnered on average some 60,000 viewers per night on WLIW alone. Instead, viewers will find it on the less-viewed New Jersey Network, at 6:30 p.m., Eastern time."

Here in Chicago, I believe the same has happened. Another PBS station will now air the BBC World News, and at some crazy hours: 5:30 am and 11:30 pm. Previously, on the other station, it was in the prime news slots at 6 pm and 10 pm.

It kind of sucks. I liked the BBC World News. They have soothing voices and make some attempt at professionalism. World Focus ... ooh, it's painful to watch.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:28:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

There will be a price war. The BBC can afford to loss-lead for a couple of years and wipe out all opposition. But now they were caught in their pompous pantaloons.

They will be back.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:49:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

In general it seems to me to be pretty middle-of the road or "balanced", reflected in their press reviews, e.g. on the local elections:

Libération (Paris)
According to French leftist paper Libération "Spring is in the air" - this refers to the progress made by socialist candidates in the local elections. The Sociality Party may not have received the tidal wave of support it was hoping for, but the article points out it should be happy it has managed to destabilize the ruling UMP party to a certain extent. The paper says this may have been partly down to the fact the socialists had a joker card to play with - President Nicolas Sarkozy himself! Sarkozy's recent bad press and the country's economic slowdown encouraged some voters to publish [sic - punish] his party in the local elections.
Figaro (Paris)
Right-wing paper Le Figaro publishes an article pointing out that while the socialists made progress the UMP party did better than expected in the elections. There was no sudden come back from the left and there is still a long way to go. The paper likens the elections to a football game, explaining some of Sarkozy's supporters may well have wanted to issue him with a warning - or a yellow card. This doesn't mean, however, they've changed their political tendencies and they are unlikely to go all the way in the second round of voting, giving him a red card.
http://www.france24.com/en/press-review/734980

They have some quite extended debates on important issues with left and right represented. What I like about it is that unlike BBCworld, there is far less about business and sport and a lot more on culture in general. Thus it might be a welcome change for US viewers and seem more "European" :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:11:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What I meant is not their past coverage of the local elections, but that in this article, they frame the leadership contest as a disaster in a party still under the shock of Ségo's defeat to Sarko, without even mentioning the PS's victories in the more recent local elections. Exactly like the Torygraph (or was it the Times?) article quoted in a Salon a week ago or so.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:11:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes, I got your point - I just wouldn't make too much of one print summary in relation to their general coverage as a TV news service.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:14:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It is now under the direction of Christine Ockrent, wife of Foreign Affairs minister (and former PS member) Kouchner...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:36:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Ah. The wonderful left-dominated French media...

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:49:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

She has already fired a journalist who had previously made a sarcastic portrait of her husband..

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:10:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Details?

(And my I note the lack of coverage of French domestic politics by our diarists recently.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:21:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hmmmm (none / 0)

I note the lack of coverage of any kind on ET lately. The site is dying.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:36:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Huh !! (none / 1)

Apart from a few poorly attended OTs in the last week I've felt we've been quite healthy. Lots of diaries are running through, faster than I can keep up with at times. And I'm sure you reported recently that the economic focus attracted a lot of attention so that page visits were through the roof.

We've always struggled on european domestic politics. I worry that there's too much attention on UK & US nonsense so sometimes I hold back, but apart from French politics, the rest of europe seems to be be de gondi for Italy and Dodo for everywhere else.

We're a bit thin I grant you. But it's not new. So why are we dying ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:50:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Huh !! (none / 0)

For me, it is about the what-iffing versus the nailing it down. I like to run with ideas to see where they will lead. Brainstorms have been my MO for 40 years, and brainstorms require an ability or acceptance to make mistakes in finding the edge.

It's a bit like fucking really, you don't want people pointing out your inadequacies in the middle of the act. It tends to put a damper on development.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:02:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hmmmm (none / 0)

Oh, now that's the spirit!

I am going to have to invoke the old bit of wisdom about "If you have nothing nice to say ..." aren't I?

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:09:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I will (4.00 / 2)

follow your bit of wisdom.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:25:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hmmmm (none / 1)

I've been doing my best to get a few more European and French topics discussed recently :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:16:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hmmmm (none / 0)

I don't think it is dying, it is museifying. Ideas, however good, should never be embalmed. Science just gets better, but it is never right.

What is this rush to be right?

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:45:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Dead Sea of Life (4.00 / 4)

Ebb and flow... ebb and flow
over and over
like waves on the shore.

Who's ready to write the diary on the effect of the breakdown of global societal institutions? Is depression par for the course? If we step back a bit, aren't we all affected a bit more than we let on?

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:56:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dead Sea of Life (4.00 / 2)

Comment of the month award goes to Crazy Horse.

Your reward is this youtube:

The best bit is between the start and 4:30 or so.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:20:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A great reward! (none / 0)

I really loved that. BB has always been a favourite, but this went one step beyond. I disagree about the 4.30 cut-off. To me, what followed was much braver, although perhaps a bit more colonial (re: leading and following) ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:38:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A great reward! (none / 0)

Ok, I'll bite.

Brave in what respect?

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 07:15:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A great reward! (none / 0)

The first piece was a direct reference to a commonly revered musical sequence in a movie, that was evidence of culture C - whereas cultures A and B were actually in conflict but subservient to Culture C.

The second piece is a basic A culture piece with B culture backing. i.e. colonial. Much riskier to bring off without appearing patronising ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 07:27:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dead Sea of Life (4.00 / 2)

Danke Metatone, that's really cool. I've never seen (not that i'm one to be on top of cultural breakthroughs) an electric sitar. Hindi Deliverance! Man!

Of course, the point remains: How much we are affected and don't admit (or even know.)

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:43:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dead Sea of Life (none / 0)

I was thinking about writing a diary on this as I was sat in traffic this morning. Maybe something will come out in a day or so.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 07:12:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dead Sea of Life (4.00 / 2)

CH -right as usual. We have to meet up sometime....

Many of us suffer from post-natal Obamaism. A great wrong has been partially righted. A lot of psychic energy has been invested. PND is inevitable.

It will take time before the next perceptional cause is identified...

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:26:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hmmmm (none / 0)

A late Huh!? from me, too. Like Helen, I don't see the lack of activity you see, and your previous alarmedness after one single low-traffic OT was strange, too. Is this some post-Obama blues? (Where I note that if you want to see some true post-Obama slump, check BooMan Tribune.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Fri Nov 21st, 2008 at 09:58:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: French socialists vote today (4.00 / 3)

Ulysse Gosset's contract not renewed because of lack of audience. The thing is, France24's audience is possibly too low to be measured... The real reason being, of course, a TV show a bit too harsh about Kouchner. "Fired" is a bit too strong a word, as Gosset will be going back to France Television.

A problem about blogging French politics is that all the juicy bits are found in the Canard Enchaîné which doesn't have a website...

And, of course, that nepotism in SarkozyLand is "dog bites man" type of news...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:38:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Has anybody noticed much of a difference ?

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:56:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

France 24 is centre-right.

It does appear that Royal is taking over the PS. That of course is a "disaster" according to some press.

by paving on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:05:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Beaujolais Nouveau today (none / 0)

Beaujolais Nouveau: History Behind the Third Thursday in November
By Brad Prescott
At one past midnight on the third Thursday of each November, from little villages and towns like Romanèche-Thorins, over a million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey through a sleeping France to Paris for immediate shipment to all parts of the world. Banners proclaim the good news: Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! "The New Beaujolais has arrived!" One of the most frivolous and animated rituals in the wine world has begun.
By the time it is over, over 65 million bottles, nearly half of the region's total annual production, will be distributed and drunk around the world. It has become a worldwide race to be the first to serve to this new wine of the harvest. In doing so, it has been carried by motorcycle, balloon, truck, helicopter, Concorde jet, elephant, runners and rickshaws to get it to its final destination. It is amazing to realize that just weeks before this wine was a cluster of grapes in a growers vineyard. But by an expeditious harvest, a rapid fermentation, and a speedy bottling, all is ready at the midnight hour. By French law, Beaujolais Nouveau is to be released no earlier than the third Thursday of November.
http://www.intowine.com/beaujolais2.html

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:42:24 PM EST

http://www.wineweekly.com/wine-basics/beaujolais-nouveau-answers/

Perhaps French members are too busy celebrating to report on it here :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:45:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

nah (4.00 / 4)

Beaujolais Nouveau is terrible wine.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:12:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: nah (4.00 / 2)

One of the fantastic things about drinking Beaujolais Nouveau is that wine snobs won't come within 50 feet of it. So, you have the pleasure of performing all sorts of wine sacrilege on it. Drink it on the rocks, out of a plastic cup, with a straw, straight out of the bottle if you want. There's a whole website devoted to drinking the "wine without rules", including tips on throwing a Beaujolais Nouveau arrival party.
http://www.wineweekly.com/wine-basics/beaujolais-nouveau-answers/

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:24:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

barf (4.00 / 3)

Me, a wine snob? I can't tell a Bordeaux from a Bourgogne and don't care if people know that. But I can tell Beaujolais Nouveau is disgusting wine.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:26:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: nah (none / 1)

Avoiding to drink bad stuff doesn't make you a wine snob.

It's this anti-elitist trick again: every time you refuse to consume the rubbish one wants to sell you, some clever marketer comes up saying you're a snob.

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:38:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: nah (none / 0)

This isn't a BN marketing site - it does seem to be one that's a bit irreverent:

"Beaujolais Nouveau is not a wine to sniff, swirl, and contemplate; it's a wine to pour and party with."

I just had some - no worse than a lot of French wines I've paid a lot more for - yes, I know, I should seek better advice each time. Often I just choose an Australian wine :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:09:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nope. It always used to be more of a big deal in London than in France. And, though I'm sure Melanchthon knows where to get his mitts on the really good stuff, most of what is sold is overpriced crap.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:16:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

BN has the negative that it is 'thin' in the extreme. It's for thin people.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:20:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I've never had it, but I'm going to a french wine show tomorrow so it's likely I'll taste some.

I've always imagined it's like the better of the home-made wines I had in Bulgaria. Bought from the covered market in Sandanski for 6 lv for 2 litres (3 euros to you). It was effectively alcoholic grape juice, but if made well was distinctly more-ish. A couple of times I drank the full 2 litres with only vague damage the next day, so I assume it wasn't that strong. And before anybody says anything, 2 L of the normal stuff would leave me close to death.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:28:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

My limited experience of Bulgarama is that thinness is not an issue. Alcohol content and thinness are not directly related.

Bouquet, impression and length are parameters we judge in a lot more than wine - friends for instance.

Alcoholic inebriation is essentially a spin-off of the porocess.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:35:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That's funny - there were some distinctly non-thin people drinking it - maybe I should have told them - :-) but we were all having a good time getting slightly drunk and listening to some jazz.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:11:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Beaujolais Nouveau today (none / 1)

Is there such a thing as "good BN"?

"Ideas or the lack of them can cause disease." - Kurt Vonnegut

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:31:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Melanchthon should tell us...

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:13:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Beaujolais Nouveau today (none / 1)

Some of us like any excuse for a party :-) - and I went out tonight, forced myself to drink some - but found a little bohemian bar with a jazz duo - very pleasant.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:28:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Beaujolais Nouveau is pure marketing (4.00 / 2)

As goes the story:

"Have some Beaujolais nouveau!"
"Thanks, but I'd rather drink some wine!"

Beaujolais nouveau is an awful stuff. The vinification process is accelerated to produce a beverage that can be sold within a few weeks, thus generating cash much sooner than if you wait for real wine to develop. The biggest consumers of Beaujolais Nouveau are Japan and the US...

Beaujolais (the normal one) is highly overrated except for some good ones like Moulin-à-Vent or Morgon (we had a nice Morgon the first time Helen came to Lyon), but you have to know the good proroducers.

By the way, my mother's family came fron Romanèche-Thorins.

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 04:20:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Beaujolais Nouveau is pure marketing (4.00 / 3)

<clue>

The biggest consumers of Beaujolais Nouveau are Japan and the US...

</clue>
Brouilly (neighboring Beaujolais) also quite nice, especially those from a good producer. Did an occasional "field trip" in the region when I was going to college in Lyon...

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.

by Bernard on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:23:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The British approach :-) (none / 0)

Beaujolais Nouveau on 11/27 - beyond polemics
Postby AlexR on Wed Nov 19, 2008
Of course, there are trends in wine just like everything else.
Even among the more staid, bourgeois wine drinkers among us ;-).
A recent trend is to knock Beaujolais.
Indeed, the press has not been kind to the appellation and sales have suffered.
Saying you like Beaujolais these days is like admitting to having seduced the babysitter.
However, let me speak up in defense of Beaujolais on 2 counts:
- Beaujolais Nouveau is simply fun. It's cheap and cheerful, and is one of the minor events on the calendar I look forward too. To a certain extent, quality is not the paramount attraction at this price point. It's the ritual of the thing. Many of the labels look good, and some of the better known shippers/producers put out a very honest product.
So, color me a hopeless romantic, or fool, or babysitter seducer, but I always buy Beaujolais Nouveau at least once in November - not expecting a Clos de Vougeot, but a fun, fruity, little wine.
...
Let us take Beaujolais Nouveau for what it is (and what it costs), and have a nuanced judgement of the appellation as a whole.
Best regards,
Alex R.
Postby David M. Bueker on Wed Nov 19, 2008
AlexR: "Saying you like Beaujolais these days is like admitting to having seduced the babysitter."
Huh? Where's the problem? :twisted:
Anyway, this is a strange forum to post a defense of Beaujolais. There's a ton of Beaujolais fans here.
As for Nouveau (and isn't the release date 11/20), I really consider it a different beast. It's a party. To consider Nouveau indicative of the region would be the rough equivalent of considering fermenting samples of Entre-deux-mers to be the flagship of Bordeaux.
http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20148&start=0

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:50:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Beaujolais Nouveau today (none / 1)

I once did a paid-for documentary about the arrival of the Nouveau in Southern Ireland, involving sports cars, helicopters, and motorbikes. I was stoned at the time - it was interesting in that the extra appreciation one has for the bizarre in such a state, makes one root for it.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 01:54:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I was in Montpellier one year on the third thurs in Nov and was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more going on in the centre. Then as I strolled back to the hotel I came to a small square where there was a band in fancy dress and a crowd of happy drinkers - very nice ambiance. I got some BN in one of the bars and stayed till early morning - not cold though Nov. (it's in the south too).

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:05:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"Give the people something to look forward to". It always works ;-)

I am listening to Finnish electric kantele band Avertere at the moment - not as bad as it sounds.... I was just remodelling their press releases...

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:19:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well I don't really need any excuses - but it's quite nice when there's something fun going on while one imbibes :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:16:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Beaujolais Nouveau today (4.00 / 3)

I can't stand the stuff. It's like the American coffee version of French wine.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:32:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well at least it got us off US domestic politics speculation for a while - and I went out and had a nice time :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:31:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Holiday Gluttony (4.00 / 3)

Every year I go home for Christmas and every year my sister makes dinner and every year I feel compelled to share it with you. This year...

Our menu is:
Starters
-Christmas Caipirinhas
-Chile-Roasted Almonds
-Piquillo Pepper Cheese Crostini
-Roasted Butternut Squash & Apple Salad
Main & Sides
-Standing Rib Roast, Spinach-Porcini Stuffing, Irish Whisky Gravy, & Horseradish Cream
-Potato-Mushroom Gratin with Truffles
-Cheddar & Chive Yorkshire Puddings
-Sherry Vinegar- & Molasses-Glazzed Carrots
-Broccolini with Pecan Brown Butter
Dessert
-Chocolate-Coffee Gingerbread with Hazelnut Poached Pears

Mind you, all this goes down after the huge casual Christmas Eve dinner and the even more huge formal Christmas Day breakfast. I'm full just thinking about it.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:37:31 PM EST

That sounds good.

What time should we show up? ;)

"Ideas or the lack of them can cause disease." - Kurt Vonnegut

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:50:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

12/25 6:00 pm

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:06:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm curious about what makes a "Christmas" Caipirinha?

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:50:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Lemme guess (none / 1)

You add a twig of holly?

by Nomad on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:58:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

To answer that I'd need to know what a "Caipirinha" is.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:06:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Chirstmas Caipirinhas

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:12:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hmm, must try that.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:21:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Caipirinha with ginger ale! Blasphema!

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:42:37 PM EST
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If Caipirinha is like dark rum, then it would go well with ginger beer. (Homer moment - Dark and Stormy mm mm mm ), but ginger ale is the devils claw and will ruin anything it touches.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 05:50:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I buy my Jamaican Ginger Beer from the same place I get my PG tips. I never mix it with anything. It is perfect as it is.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:12:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Ginger is very good for you. Theoretically, if you get blotto on Caiprinhas or whatever they are, along with ginger ale, you should not be throwing up along with your hangover. :)

I'll put ginger ale in almost anything, probably.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:20:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's a popular drink in Brazil (allegedly)...

Muddle up some Muscavado sugar with some lime wedges, throw some crushed ice on top then apply liberal quantities of Cachaça.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 03:14:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I survived two months in the Matto Grosso,with Cachaça as a nightly companion, while my Tzukhamai protectors shot rats in the dark.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 06:14:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Mmmm, Sounds great. Tho, maybe skip the starters, let's just go straight to the ribs.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:54:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sounds like something to go home for.

If sanity be culturally normative, then by the norms of this culture I claim insanity.

by ARGeezer on Thu Nov 20th, 2008 at 02:57:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]