Someone at the library asked me the other day if there were any foods I miss from the States. I thought about it for a while and this was the list I came up with:
- Sweet Potato fries and the cajun mayo from Hemingways
- A La Zeez's chicken schwarma
- a frozen yogurt from yogun fruz
Ironically, all of these things come from specific places in Toronto. I have been thinking a little harder for an AMERICAN food that I miss and I came up with Root Beer: for root beer floats, called spiders here.
But, Australian food, now there's a thing or two that I've become attached to. If you've known me in the past 5 years, you know that I am obsessed with Tim Tams and Cherry Ripes. I still am. I think that the US needs to get on the ball and start importing them so I can satisfy my fix.
I've also become obsessed with wedges with sour cream and sweet chili sauce. Wedges, are bigger than chips and season to perfection. Dipped in sour cream and sweet chili sauce, it is the perfect meal...whenever. After a few beers, for lunch, to satisfy PMS. Best food ever.
Meat pies. Aussie meat pies are so good. I can't explain to you how good they are. Just watch our for the steak and kidney. I thought it meant kidney beans, but it means kidney as in the organ. I will just stick the original Aussie meat pies. You can't go wrong with them.
Lamingtons. Such a good dessert. It's a sponge cake covered in chocolate and coconut. So good. It's scary how good it is.
Nutri-Grain. Possibly the best cereal on earth. And actually healthy for you. No breakfast is complete without it.
I'm going to feel empty without these things. I will have to look for other substitutes when I get back. Or else just plan to relocate until I have my fill of these things.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
How to Speak Like an Aussie: Part I
A few weeks ago Jenny expressed her worry that I would come back and be speaking "Aussie speak." In light of this travesty, I thought I would include a translation guide--in case anyone else was worried they wouldn't be able to comprehend me when I return.
Most people have heard about putting "chooks on the barbie," meaning "chickens on the barbecue". If you haven't, now you have. Almost everyone that has spoken to me in the past 8 months has heard that "heaps" has replaced "a lot." But here's a list of some more that I might throw out in conversation.
Bottle-O: replaces the term liquor store, but that same thing. Although many Bottle-Os have a drive-thru. That's something the USA certainly doesn't boast...and we have drive-thru everything else.
Rock up: Instead of saying "show up." For example, "They might rock up later" or "she rocked up at the bar later." For a long time I thought it was "ruck up" and thought it was a term that came from rugby...
Dunny: The outdoor toilet and heaps of them exist. I used one all weekend in KI. I had a great view of the water as I did my business.
Biscuit: It is used for crackers and cookies. Sometimes shortened to "bickies." Don't make the mistake of saying cookies again....
Bogan: Our version of the term "hick." These kind of people are from the back water. You know the kind I speak of.
Tea: Not just what you drink, but also replaces the term "supper" or "dinner." I am often confused with this one.
Dero: A derelict or bum. You can also call "wiggers" deros or pretty much applies to any loser. Generally they are broken or run-down in some way. As Shannon says, like a derelict building.
Yiros: Gyros. Why they write it differently...I don't know.
Mackers: What they call McDonalds for short. Much like our Mickie D's or Mac Do's.
Chips: This applies to fries. But there are also large chips called wedges. Potato chips are either called chips or crisps...depending. Chips are way better than fries and wedges are HEAVEN.
Barrack: What we would say "to root" when we root for our favourite team. Here "root" means "sex" so things get a little messy if you use the work. Stick to barrack. I barrack for Port. Thanks to Shannon.
Chuffed: HAPPY
Stuffed: used for tired. I'm pretty stuffed right now actually.
Servo: The place where you go to get PETROL, not "gas." Much like our "gas stations," you can get all sorts of other goodies at the servo, like gourmet coffee.
Salvo: Salvation Army. Sounds similar to Servo so sometimes I get a momentarily confused.
Chemist: You don't go to the pharmacy or drug store. You just DON'T.
Capsicum: Green pepper, red pepper. We often call them bell peppers. Yeah, those.
Sultanas: Sultana Bran? We'd call it raisin bran, but not here. It's strictly all about sultanas, though they are the same thing. The name doesn't change the taste in my opinion.
Chuck a spaz: Throw a "shitfit" or just throw any kind of fit actually.
So much for English-Speaking being the same....
Most people have heard about putting "chooks on the barbie," meaning "chickens on the barbecue". If you haven't, now you have. Almost everyone that has spoken to me in the past 8 months has heard that "heaps" has replaced "a lot." But here's a list of some more that I might throw out in conversation.
Bottle-O: replaces the term liquor store, but that same thing. Although many Bottle-Os have a drive-thru. That's something the USA certainly doesn't boast...and we have drive-thru everything else.
Rock up: Instead of saying "show up." For example, "They might rock up later" or "she rocked up at the bar later." For a long time I thought it was "ruck up" and thought it was a term that came from rugby...
Dunny: The outdoor toilet and heaps of them exist. I used one all weekend in KI. I had a great view of the water as I did my business.
Biscuit: It is used for crackers and cookies. Sometimes shortened to "bickies." Don't make the mistake of saying cookies again....
Bogan: Our version of the term "hick." These kind of people are from the back water. You know the kind I speak of.
Tea: Not just what you drink, but also replaces the term "supper" or "dinner." I am often confused with this one.
Dero: A derelict or bum. You can also call "wiggers" deros or pretty much applies to any loser. Generally they are broken or run-down in some way. As Shannon says, like a derelict building.
Yiros: Gyros. Why they write it differently...I don't know.
Mackers: What they call McDonalds for short. Much like our Mickie D's or Mac Do's.
Chips: This applies to fries. But there are also large chips called wedges. Potato chips are either called chips or crisps...depending. Chips are way better than fries and wedges are HEAVEN.
Barrack: What we would say "to root" when we root for our favourite team. Here "root" means "sex" so things get a little messy if you use the work. Stick to barrack. I barrack for Port. Thanks to Shannon.
Chuffed: HAPPY
Stuffed: used for tired. I'm pretty stuffed right now actually.
Servo: The place where you go to get PETROL, not "gas." Much like our "gas stations," you can get all sorts of other goodies at the servo, like gourmet coffee.
Salvo: Salvation Army. Sounds similar to Servo so sometimes I get a momentarily confused.
Chemist: You don't go to the pharmacy or drug store. You just DON'T.
Capsicum: Green pepper, red pepper. We often call them bell peppers. Yeah, those.
Sultanas: Sultana Bran? We'd call it raisin bran, but not here. It's strictly all about sultanas, though they are the same thing. The name doesn't change the taste in my opinion.
Chuck a spaz: Throw a "shitfit" or just throw any kind of fit actually.
So much for English-Speaking being the same....
9-10: Clare and Barossa Wine Valleys
Before heading back to Adelaide, Shannon's parent took the two of us on a wine tasting trip through the Clare and Barossa wine valleys. Most people have heard of the Barossa. South Australia makes famous wines and many of them are at your local liquor store, so go support South Australia now and buy a bottle or four. I enjoy SA shiraz very much. I'm learning to like it almost as much as chianti classico.
On our first day we stopped at Sevenhill winery in the Clare Valley. The winery was started by some Jesuit priests in 1851. They make good wine. And there's a church on the site. It was too busy for wine tasting, so we spent our time walking around.
Inside the church, there were some people practicing Gregorian chants. So amazing. And you know churches have good acoustics, so it's bound to send chills down your spine.
Ah, the Barossa, amidst some rain clouds. But who doesn't love to see acres of grape vines and lush green grass? The view was just as amazing as all the wines we tried. And we ate some great cheese as well.
The last winery we went to, Grant Burge. It had amazing gardens.
There are heaps of ruins throughout the countryside. So many beautiful abandoned old homesteads. This wasn't the most beautiful, but I liked it because it was nestled among the grape vines.
I really love wine tasting. Free wine and I improve my palette. Not to mention, I just have the opportunity to learn what I like and what I don't. And did I mention free wine? As my first wine tasting experience, it was certainly a wonderful time. And through incredible country. This certainly beats the Napa valley in my opinion. I am a fan of the rich tasting reds that come from South Australia.
On our first day we stopped at Sevenhill winery in the Clare Valley. The winery was started by some Jesuit priests in 1851. They make good wine. And there's a church on the site. It was too busy for wine tasting, so we spent our time walking around.
Inside the church, there were some people practicing Gregorian chants. So amazing. And you know churches have good acoustics, so it's bound to send chills down your spine.
Ah, the Barossa, amidst some rain clouds. But who doesn't love to see acres of grape vines and lush green grass? The view was just as amazing as all the wines we tried. And we ate some great cheese as well.
The last winery we went to, Grant Burge. It had amazing gardens.
There are heaps of ruins throughout the countryside. So many beautiful abandoned old homesteads. This wasn't the most beautiful, but I liked it because it was nestled among the grape vines.
I really love wine tasting. Free wine and I improve my palette. Not to mention, I just have the opportunity to learn what I like and what I don't. And did I mention free wine? As my first wine tasting experience, it was certainly a wonderful time. And through incredible country. This certainly beats the Napa valley in my opinion. I am a fan of the rich tasting reds that come from South Australia.
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