Your ViewsKeep your e-mails pouring in, it's good to know that there are lots of you out there with views and opinions. To help you work out what is what, are now little icons to help you see biscuit related themes. And now you can see at a glance which are the most contested subjects via this graph (requires Flash 6.0 plugin). Please keep your mails coming in to nicey@nicecupofteaandasitdown.com | If you like, you can use this search thingy to find stuff that matches with any of the icons you pick, or use the fantastic free text search, Yay! | Your e-Mails |
Mark Darbyshire
Wagon Wheel Review |
Dear Nicey
Firstly may i congratulate you on your truly magnificent website. In these modern times we are bombarded by advertising from unscrupulous manufacturers eager to rob us of our hard earned cash. Its great that you have set up this beacon for biscuit eaters - providing reviews to guide us on the right path to biscuit heaven.
So, onto my chosen subject - Waggon wheels. Phil's review of them does admirably extol their virtues. However, i do think that the quality has worsened over the years. In particular, dont you think that the makers have craftily shrunk the wheel from waggon-like proportions to a size more akin to a transit van? These biscuits were a personal favourite because they were a meal in themselves. Now they are not even a mouthful.
I would appreciate your views,
Mark. |
Nicey replies: Mark,
Most people think that Wagon Wheels have gotten smaller over the years, even quite contemporary biscuit eaters. As we said in the review, this is probably a natural effect of the aging process. If somebody at Burton's does know I bet its a sacking offense to discuss it. |
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Angus McLeod
Tim Tam vs Penguin Review |
Regarding your Penguin v Tim Tam debate I offer you the following article from the Sydney Morning Herald in which the original creator of the Tim Tam, Ian Norris, says that after searching the world for an idea for a chocolate biscuit he happened across the Penguin: "I thought that
was not a bad idea for a biscuit... we'll make a better one." And they did.
Here's the full story
Angus McLeod
Sydney, Australia |
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Maddalena Feliciello |
My dear Nicey and TW
I was intrigued that such areas of research as the optimum dunking capability of a biscuit and teapot spout dribbles have indeed merited the scientific communitys' attention via the IgNoble awards
further, that there are those who would experiment in the re-evaluation and representation of early biscuit species at no point have I found reference to the combination of those essential pre-cursors of optimum enjoyment as proposed by your good selves. Hence one might assume that you indeed lead the world in your quest.
Hoorah!
M
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Nicey replies: Hoorah indeed. Ahh bless, they look sweet don't they.
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Alex Wrottesley |
Nicey
Visited your lovely website today for the first time, and was truly impressed. Surely, no man before you has sacrificed his time so freely for so few. I am one of those few.
And I have a story to tell...
... a story about a biscuit shrouded in mystery: The Chocolate Garibaldi.
It appeared in our biscuit tin (a lovely square 50s job with a rosy-faced young boy on the lid) in the early 80s when I was a just a lad. No more than 2 or 3 packets.
I can taste them now... the crunchy shiny garibaldi biscuit, the "squashed flies" that got satisfyingly stuck between your teeth and the thick layer of milk chocolate that melted so deliciously in a steaming cup of milky sweet PG. Ahhh... happy memories indeed.
And then just as quickly as they appeared, they were gone...Those halcyon days lasted but a fleeting moment...
Imagine the tears - the *sorrow* - that filled my young heart. Imagine if you will the desparate mother searching every aisle of every supermarket, minimarket and local corner shop for just *one more packet*.
But alas... they had gone for ever. A homemade batch was produced but they
were never the same, the secret formula eluded my mothers efforts.
Were they real? Were they biscuits from another (more perfect) dimension? Were they part of an evil plan formulated by vengeful biscuit makers? Why, for the love of God, why were they sent to earth? To enlighten? To torment? Alas I fear we shall now never know.
I know I am not alone -- google refers to two other "chocolate garibaldi". But there the trail ends?
If you could help me to trace this mystery of my childhood I would certainly be a happier, better adjusted person.
All the best
Lex
PS. An autobiographical aside: Biscuits in the blood. My great-grandfather was a director of Huntley and Palmers in Reading, perhaps one of the greatest biscuit factories of the 20th century. Check out this lovely little ditty from the Reading Collection website
Huntley & Palmers song: "For Every Mealtime There's a Biscuit"
"First stop Reading, Take your seats please!"
We're off to Reading, Hooray, Hooray
At Huntley and Palmers to spend the day
We're longing to reach this wonderful town
To taste their biscuits so crisp and brown.
All hot from the oven before us displayed
We see how these world famous biscuits are made
And now for our breakfast, dinner and tea
The biscuits we must have are H and P. |
Nicey replies: I have only had chocolate covered Garibaldis once, and that was back in the mid 1970s, and I think they were home made. Even so they were possibly the most exciting and impressive biscuit I had experienced up until that point, which is how come I can recall it. It was at a village fate.
Alas I haven't ever seen them in packets. Perhaps Crawfords could do some that would be good!!
Good stuff about the now departed H and P, of course Reading is better known nowadays as that Berkshire town just outside Microsoft and Oracle. |
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Sarah Ward
Jam Sandwich Creams Review |
Dear Nicey,
Would you be able to settle an argument between my colleagues re the Jammy Dodger?
Faction 1 states that the original Jammy Dodger was made by Burtons and does not contain a layer of cream and the jammy bit that sticks out of the hole is not sugared.
Faction 2 states that real Jammy Dodgers have both cream and sugar.
And another thing - one of the numptys from Faction 1 has just told me that Jammy is spelt Jammie (does this tell you where my loyalties lie?).
Are you able to adjudicate?
Yours hopefully
Irate Faction 2 Member.
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Nicey replies: Sarah,
Fraction 1 are of course 100% right. Fraction 2 are deluded and badly informed in the ways of biscuits, as they thinking of Jam Sandwich Creams. |
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