Hey All

Having a really great recci here in Toronto !

One question, does anyone know if you can buy White Cabbage in Canada. Have looked in about 4 supermarkets and 3 grocers and none sell it.

Rob

lol i dont know, why you like it hehe?

Did that post really make you laugh out loud? Is there some sort of euphemism I'm missing here?

Yep! You can buy it here (in Alberta at least); except in my experience they call it "Green Cabbage"

I don't know. But I've arranged to meet Rob and his friend on Wednesday. I'll ask them to clarify.

As Calgal said, White Cabbage = Green Cabbage.

Also coriander = cilantro

and capsicum = bell pepper.

There are some other differences in vocabulary when it comes to food and meal times.

In Canada, the morning meal is breakfast, the noon meal is lunch, and the evening meal is supper or dinner, but never tea.

Canadian cutlery (or flatware, as Canadians call it) usually does not include a fish knife and fish fork. If you order fish in a restaurant, you almost certainly will be expected to eat it with a standard knife and fork.

Thanks for that! To save you having to wait I have a coleslaw fetish ! Cant get enough of it !!! I make a better amazing one and it would be a sorely missed part of my diet !!!

Rob

BTW - How much are we loving Toronto!

Judy, just for info, in England a fish knife is considered rather vulgar. The type of thing that someone putting on airs might use but no-one else. I havent seen one in years - apart from in junk shops.

The word capsicum isnt used in England, its just pepper, red, green, or yellow etc.

I used to say supper at home, and only inviting people for "dinner" if it was going to be joined up eating, three courses, napkins, best china. When I refer to supper here (Ontario) I get strange looks, the locals think it as the meal before bedtime.

The savoy cabbage here is lighter and less bitter than the savoy at home. It makes great coleslaw. You might want to try that

its hard to explain.....

Heh heh.

The cutlery set that we received as a wedding present in South Africa, just over 34 years ago, includes fish knives and fish forks. That was totally standard in the South Africa of the day (and still is, based on more recent visits).

When we reached Canada, we were gobsmacked that Canadian cutlery sets didn't include them.

I am amazed to hear that the use of fish knives and forks is considered vulgar in England. Be that as it may, I have no intention of relinquishing the use of my fish knife and fork. I find that the sharper points of the fork's tines and of the knife end make it much easier to cope with fish bones.

My recollection of Australia (July 1997 - January 2000) was that fish knives and forks were standard there too. My memory on that point is a bit fuzzy, but I seem to recall Australian restaurants having fish knives and forks. I have a vague recollection of remarking on it to my husband on one of the first occasions on which we went to a restaurant in Melbourne. It was one of the small but numerous aspects of Australian life that were similar to South Africa and that, in combination, made Australia feel like home to us.

Don't get me wrong. This isn't a make or break issue. I'm not going to throw my toys out of my pram because of differences in food, cutlery, etc. I'm just making an observation.

Aussies call it capsicum. I thought Britons did too, but I was wrong about that. Thanks for the clarification.

I've been confused by references to capiscum. I thought it was the spice, so its just the fruit/vegetable itself??

On the topic of cutlery, does your canteen have sauce spoons? We went to a fancy french restaurant in England and one of the bits of kit was a large shallow flat spoon. As we are peasants we didnt have a clue what it was for, so we asked, and its a sauce spoon. Specially designed so that you can scoop up your gravy. What a country France is, they think of everything to to with eating well.

Heres a picture along with a fish knife and fork

Yes, Aussies refer to the fruit as capsicum.

No, I'd never heard of sauce spoons till you mentioned them.

Heh heh. If I'd been in your position, I too would have been a "peasant."

We still have/use fish knives here in London - didn't realise they were "vulgar"

I don't think they are either - just a practical utensil for eating fish!