What you can't get in Canada
Oct 18th 2007, 3:12 am
#212
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Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: What you can't get in Canada
DOnt much care...I can live without it, in fact I only seem to ever eat it when I'm about to come down with some hideous disease anyway.
Oct 18th 2007, 3:17 am
#213
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Okotoks, Alberta
Posts: 179
Re: What you can't get in Canada
Sorry I must say I resent that comment. Marmite and I go way back........
Oct 18th 2007, 3:19 am
#214
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Joined: May 2007
Location: Newmarket, Ontario
Posts: 142
Re: What you can't get in Canada
OK, I think the direction this thread has taken for now (Sorry about that) has made me finalise on what I will have for dins tonight... I can taste its salty Marmitey goodness right now.
Oct 18th 2007, 5:36 am
#215
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Location: British Columbia
Posts: 1,371
Re: What you can't get in Canada
It was Vegemite that was banned and you couldn't get it in Canada for at least a year. However, I see it's in grocery stores again, but with the Kraft UK address on the back of the label!
As for tea, regular grocery store tea (Red rose orange pekoe) is standard, but depending on where you live, you can find amazing little tea shops selling much better tea than you can get in grocery stores. I'm particularly fond of Murchie's here in Vancouver and Victoria:
www.murchies.com
Murchie's has the best black currant scones by the way! (Complete with clotted cream and raspberry jam!)
Steeps (http://www.steepstea.com) has a few locations in BC and Alberta.
T (http://www.tealeaves.com/tea) is another shop I've recently discovered. They even have pyramids!
My point to this is, you have to look beyond your regular grocery stores if you're seriously looking for true quality tea, or at least the variety of tea you might be used to.
As for tea, regular grocery store tea (Red rose orange pekoe) is standard, but depending on where you live, you can find amazing little tea shops selling much better tea than you can get in grocery stores. I'm particularly fond of Murchie's here in Vancouver and Victoria:
www.murchies.com
Murchie's has the best black currant scones by the way! (Complete with clotted cream and raspberry jam!)
Steeps (http://www.steepstea.com) has a few locations in BC and Alberta.
T (http://www.tealeaves.com/tea) is another shop I've recently discovered. They even have pyramids!
My point to this is, you have to look beyond your regular grocery stores if you're seriously looking for true quality tea, or at least the variety of tea you might be used to.
Last edited by Lychee; Oct 18th 2007 at 5:42 am.
Oct 18th 2007, 5:53 am
#216
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Posts: 4,234
Re: What you can't get in Canada
Wow, Esme, you sound bitter - but I disagree almost entirely with everything in your post (sorry 
)
English chocolate is just as crap as North American, it's just a different kind of crapness. Our local Superstore does a good line in 70% cocoa stuff that's pretty good - I'm sure you could find it in Niagara as well. Or is it the English crap you're craving?
I find quite the opposite to you regarding fruit and veg - and milk. It lasts way longer here than it did in the UK, we find we throw away much less of the gone-all-squidgy-in-the-bottom-of-the-drawer-in-the-fridge yuckiness here, although I suppose that may have more to do with more careful planning and shopping than we did in the UK.
Are you talking M&S food when you say "value for money"? I absolutely don't equate M&S food with value for money - it was always a luxury to go in and buy a few bits & pieces there for a special occasion rather than the usual Sainsbury or Tesco shopping. I wouldn't have contemplated buying any basic ingredients from M&S, the extra cost simply wasn't worth it.
Can't comment on your vegetarian woes though - I've never really been able to see the point of becoming vegetarian and then craving things that look, feel and taste like the meat you've given up. I'm with Gerard Depardieu on that one. What did you do before Quorn was invented? It's only processed mould, after all...
)English chocolate is just as crap as North American, it's just a different kind of crapness. Our local Superstore does a good line in 70% cocoa stuff that's pretty good - I'm sure you could find it in Niagara as well. Or is it the English crap you're craving?
I find quite the opposite to you regarding fruit and veg - and milk. It lasts way longer here than it did in the UK, we find we throw away much less of the gone-all-squidgy-in-the-bottom-of-the-drawer-in-the-fridge yuckiness here, although I suppose that may have more to do with more careful planning and shopping than we did in the UK.
Are you talking M&S food when you say "value for money"? I absolutely don't equate M&S food with value for money - it was always a luxury to go in and buy a few bits & pieces there for a special occasion rather than the usual Sainsbury or Tesco shopping. I wouldn't have contemplated buying any basic ingredients from M&S, the extra cost simply wasn't worth it.
Can't comment on your vegetarian woes though - I've never really been able to see the point of becoming vegetarian and then craving things that look, feel and taste like the meat you've given up. I'm with Gerard Depardieu on that one. What did you do before Quorn was invented? It's only processed mould, after all...
I have found the fruit and vegetables to be poor quality but my comment on M and S makes me think its because I am now relatively poor and so shop in No Frills. Maybe if I bought the more expensive stuff it would be better?? I will investigate next time I shop.
I never liked Quorn tho, nor the idea of any meat substitutes. You can eat very well as a veggie using real food, - pulses, legumes, etc without having to eat unnatural food such as quorn. The two dont go together in my mind. I was vegetarian for 15 years and am now a born-again carnivore. The only thing I used to crave when a veggie was black pudding. Yummy
You can get good choccie here, such as Lindt, Valrhona, its more expensive but worth it as a treat. Shoppers Drug Mart have a good selection.
Oct 19th 2007, 2:25 am
#219
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Joined: Sep 2005
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Re: What you can't get in Canada
you've never tried it??? well indeed its time you did or changed that avatar!
You have to start with a little and then move up to thick marmite on toast. Maybe try a twiglet. ot mix the marmite with butter before spreading on bread so you dont get a huge bit to start with.
Its like many good things in life you need to practice to be perfect at it
You have to start with a little and then move up to thick marmite on toast. Maybe try a twiglet. ot mix the marmite with butter before spreading on bread so you dont get a huge bit to start with.
Its like many good things in life you need to practice to be perfect at it
Oct 19th 2007, 2:33 am
#220
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,457
Re: What you can't get in Canada
you've never tried it??? well indeed its time you did or changed that avatar!
You have to start with a little and then move up to thick marmite on toast. Maybe try a twiglet. ot mix the marmite with butter before spreading on bread so you dont get a huge bit to start with.
Its like many good things in life you need to practice to be perfect at it
You have to start with a little and then move up to thick marmite on toast. Maybe try a twiglet. ot mix the marmite with butter before spreading on bread so you dont get a huge bit to start with.
Its like many good things in life you need to practice to be perfect at it
Its true what the advert says, you either love it or HATE it!
Guess what category I'm in
Oct 19th 2007, 2:54 am
#221
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Okotoks, Alberta
Posts: 179
Re: What you can't get in Canada
you know if this thread continues I can see marmite accusing a lot of you with spread-racisim. Its part of our life and therefore we need to all live together with it. Marmite is one of those things that make life complete. 
My niece gets cross cause I eat it off a spoon. I love the rush of burning on me tastebuds.
My niece gets cross cause I eat it off a spoon. I love the rush of burning on me tastebuds.
Oct 19th 2007, 4:13 am
#223
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: Newmarket, Ontario
Posts: 142
Re: What you can't get in Canada
I love it when forum threads get all Marmitey
Oct 19th 2007, 4:17 am
#224
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Joined: Oct 2007
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 1,371
Re: What you can't get in Canada
It tastes like burnt beef bouillon.
I'm not kidding!
Has a tar-like consistency too.
The idea is you use it sparingly. Don't spread it like peanut butter. Spread it like you're spreading the thinnest dab of butter on a dieting model's piece of bread. The bare scraping is all you need.
I personally enjoy it on toasted bagels with a bit of melted butter. It makes whatever food you're eating more savory and flavourful, but it is definitely an acquired taste.
I'm not kidding!
Has a tar-like consistency too.
The idea is you use it sparingly. Don't spread it like peanut butter. Spread it like you're spreading the thinnest dab of butter on a dieting model's piece of bread. The bare scraping is all you need.
I personally enjoy it on toasted bagels with a bit of melted butter. It makes whatever food you're eating more savory and flavourful, but it is definitely an acquired taste.
Oct 19th 2007, 4:24 am
#225
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
Re: What you can't get in Canada
It tastes like burnt beef bouillon.
I'm not kidding!
Has a tar-like consistency too.
The idea is you use it sparingly. Don't spread it like peanut butter. Spread it like you're spreading the thinnest dab of butter on a dieting model's piece of bread. The bare scraping is all you need.
I personally enjoy it on toasted bagels with a bit of melted butter. It makes whatever food you're eating more savory and flavourful, but it is definitely an acquired taste.
I'm not kidding!
Has a tar-like consistency too.
The idea is you use it sparingly. Don't spread it like peanut butter. Spread it like you're spreading the thinnest dab of butter on a dieting model's piece of bread. The bare scraping is all you need.
I personally enjoy it on toasted bagels with a bit of melted butter. It makes whatever food you're eating more savory and flavourful, but it is definitely an acquired taste.
