Job Discussion Forums

[Mouse]

I was just sitting here in the sun, surfing the net and waiting for my next class to begin, when a chance word in an email from a friend sparked a craving: right now I would love a cheese and onion pasty. They have some foods here which are similar, but dare I say it, not the same thing.

This got me to thinking what I would like to add to Spain from the places I've lived and visited, to make it an even nicer country (for me). Cheese and onion pasties are definitely in this list, shipped straight from Wales, as is good lamb and authentic pubs where people actually sing when a popular song comes on the jukebox. I'd also like some more of the fascinating history and ruins from Sicily (and their ice-cream and pizza wouldn't go amiss, either). The New Zealand attitude to travel and new places, and the way they make the most of the great outdoors, would have to be added...

What'd you contribute?

[lozwich]

Oh lordy lordy!

This morning as I was sauntering through the university on my way to another day of enforced sitting in my office for hours on end doing nothing other than surfing the net, reading books, and "professional development", I swear I could smell sausage rolls cooking. Now, being largely vegetarian in more normal circumstances, there's no way I'd eat a sausage roll in Australia, but what I wouldn't give for one right now, covered in tomato sauce. MMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Pasties are good too (Australian spelling..), although I've never had a cheese and onion one, they sound GREAT!!

I'd contribute Vegemite, of course!

And the typically Australian way of giving hugely understated compliments that mean oh so very much.

The Mexican tendency to just look at you with a quizzical look on their faces when you're screaming and having a complete thrombo about something that isn't really that important, which suddenly makes you realise that nothing is worth getting that upset about.

Again, a Mexican thing, public toilets in government offices, shops, by the side of the road, anywhere you might need one, and the understanding that sometimes you have to go right now

Or are those things already in Spain??

L.

[Mouse]

[Teacher in Rome]

I'd give a lot for a pasty. In fact, I was thinking only this morning how pasties must be the best value meal in the UK. Filling, nutricious.... mmmmm

You can get really nice pasties from railway stations in London, and there are also "West country pasty shop" franchises all over the place. My favourites are leek with cheese, and also chicken and vegetable.

Lozwich - behave! It's Marmite, not that pale imitator "vegemite". The two don't even compare...

Anyway, I miss baked beans and a good English fry-up. I occasionally try to cook a breakfast in Rome, but I can't get decent English sausages or bacon and have to do with those poncey healthy pure sausage "luganega".

And I miss blackcurrants and gooseberries from my Dad's garden...

I suddenly feel homesick

[lozwich]

A list:

1. How do you pronounce 'pasty' or the more correct spelling, 'pastie', if you're from England? In Australian its "Paahhstie. Mate."

2. You're right TiR, they don't compare! You see Marmite was a bizarre experiment that went wrong, and Vegemite is proof that there is some kind of supreme being...

3. I made my own baked beans the other day!!! It was brilliant!! First, you take a tin of frijoles enteros bayos and add tomato, garlic and the piece de resistance, a good old splashing of Valentina mesquite sauce! Absolutely flipping brilliant!!!

4. What do you mean you can't get frijoles enteros bayos and Valentina in Europe??!!??

5. I don't know what gooseberries are, but I do remember walking around in London in the early 90's eating the biggest, fattest, juiciest, deliciousest rasberries I have ever tasted in my entire life that cost one pound a punnet.

6. Have a great day!

Lozwich.

[lozwich]

[grahamb]

Lozwich, you'll find plenty of Latin American produce in Madrid, be it frijoles or fresh chillis. An ex-student of mine recommended a Mexican restaurant called Orale compadre (near Alfonso XIII Metro station).

[lozwich]

But I'm not going to Madrid! Well, maybe to buy groceries!

I read a whole book on the weekend (get a life Lozwich!!) from England, and as a result have a couple of things to add to the list of scrummy food items..

1. Ginger biscuits. Oh ginger biscuits!

2. Vietnamese cold spring rolls. You know the ones made with rice paper and filled with noodles. mmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Teacher in Rome]

I absolutely adore Vietnamese food, and we're blessed by "Castroni" in Rome - an import food shop which has all sorts of things - including the rice paper you need for spring rolls. I make them from time to time. Any time you come to Rome I'll cook you some!

You can also buy ginger biscuits from Castroni, as well as proper orange marmalade. Still looking for bacon though. And pasties...

[lozwich]

Well, TiR, since you put it that way, if I make it to England before Spain, I'll bring you a pastie (or even an Australian one!) but it might be a bit soggy by the time I get it there...

[jamesll]

For me it would have to be Indian food, oh the thought of it!... Chicken Vindaloo, pilau rice, poppadoms, pickles, Peshwari nan, that music, the morning after. Of course this is just a foolish dream since I live in a small town in South East Spain whose people consider pizza adventurous and have serious problems understanding the concept of putting a combination of meat and vegetables on the same plate.

I would also add adult students with personalities and interesting things to say about life to the list; teaching here would definitely be more interesting. Can you believe I've got students in their thirties still living with their mummy and daddy! No wonder they haven't got anything to say. They also seem to have picked up this strange dialect. I, of course, learned classical Spanish. Basil! Stop it!
J

[Hector_Lector]

As any fule kno, chicken vindaloo is a non-Indian dish, invented for crap English people living with their mummies and daddies.

[jamesll]

Thanks for that Se�or Hector, much appreciated.

Thinking about it, I would also add a good sense of humour. That seems to be lacking here as well.

J

ps I'm afraid we've just run out of Waldorfs.

[lozwich]

Hiya JamesII,

Let me say welcome to the Spain forum! As the newest contributing member, your initiation involves reading the entire 'movies in english' thread, and writing an insightful summary...

Have a great day!

Lozwich.

[stillnosheep]

from Trafalmador of course I'd bring some women!