The Devil's Picnic

[Goliath]

Hey, I've had expensive Hot Chocolate. I'm a rogue! I'm edgy! I'm kickass!

Whoa! Careful with those gateway drugs, man--you're playing with fire!

I wish Hoser would come back and tell us about his experience with Epoisses--apparently, it smells so bad that you're not allowed to eat it on French public transport.

 

[Holdfast]

I recently read a very interesting book by Taras Grescoe entitled The Devil's Picnic.

Sounds good.

--Marks & Spencer Savoury Crackers (prohibited in Singapore, for their poppy seeds)

Well, some sort of poppy seed cracker anyway. Eh, what to say, they're crackers.

--Epoisses de Bourgogne (one of the smelliest cheeses in France)

Tasty. Not that bad a smell really. Just strong in an enclosed space. Try it with a nice red burgundy and a crusty white baguette.

--Absinthe Suisse (making a comeback after a hundred years of prohibition)

Witness to a failed attempt to make absinthe by steeping Pernod through what was thought to be artemisia wormwood.

--Chocolat Mousseux (fine hot chocolate from the town of Bayonne)

I've drunk nice hot chocolate somewhere in France, does that count?

And is there anything on this list that you wouldn't try? I might have to nerve myself to eat the bull's balls, but otherwise, none of the items on Grescoe's itinerary held any terrors for me.

I don't think I'd have teh coca tea. At least not without a chemical analysis to know what else is in there and in what concentration. The coca on its own, in low concentration, OK... but there are likely to be lots of other toxins in there I suspect.

 

[Kemaiku]

I haven't tried any of those but they do sound interesting, about the closest thing is my imported Absinthe's that either I or my friend have. Then theres the "ordinary" stuff at round 55% proof thats dead cheap lol.

 

[Goliath]

Witness to a failed attempt to make absinthe by steeping Pernod through what was thought to be artemisia wormwood.

 

[Holdfast]

Witness to a failed attempt to make absinthe by steeping Pernod through what was thought to be artemisia wormwood.

Yeah. Pretty much. It WAS green though (with a bit of brown).

 

[Super Grover]

You mean there are people out there who haven't had calf fries/rocky mountain oysters/Criadillas/whatever??? Strange.

I've had them.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Hey, I've had expensive Hot Chocolate. I'm a rogue! I'm edgy! I'm kickass!

Whoa! Careful with those gateway drugs, man--you're playing with fire!

First it was Milk Chocolate... then it was Dark Chocolate....

 

[JoeZhang]

Hey, I've had expensive Hot Chocolate. I'm a rogue! I'm edgy! I'm kickass!

Whoa! Careful with those gateway drugs, man--you're playing with fire!

First it was Milk Chocolate... then it was Dark Chocolate....

I was having that conversation with someone day - I occasionally make chocolate treats and snacks for parties. The brits are so used to weak milk chocolate (only 20% coco) that I have to remember to make some with that, they pull faces when I use proper chocolate.

 

[Goliath]

So, I just got back from the grocery store, where I decided to thumb my nose at the Singaporean government, and buy a box of Carr's poppy & sesame crackers.

Take that, nanny micro-state!

Mmm...forbidden crackers...

*munches*

Kind of bland, actually.

*adds tapenade made with artichokes & asiago cheese*

Much better.

 

[MetalPants]

Was it smelly asiago cheese?

 

[Goliath]

^Not particularly.

I'll have to check the cheese counter more closely, the next time I'm at the store. I'm sure I can find something suitably offensive.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Whoa! Careful with those gateway drugs, man--you're playing with fire!

First it was Milk Chocolate... then it was Dark Chocolate....

I was having that conversation with someone day - I occasionally make chocolate treats and snacks for parties. The brits are so used to weak milk chocolate (only 20% coco) that I have to remember to make some with that, they pull faces when I use proper chocolate.

I never buy Milk Chocolate anymore. I only eat it if somebody gives it to me. I love Dark Chocolate.