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Michael Asbridge
Kölln Cakes Review |
Dear Sir/Madam
I was visiting my German relatives recently and was given a present of some german biscuits.
They came in all shapes and sizes. Some covered in dark or white chocolate and some not.
Unfortunately, upon trying several of them in turn, I realised that all german biscuits are, infact, gingerbread.
This is a matter of some concern to me as, for example, british bisucuits may be shortbread or digestive or any number of varieties.
I would be very interested to find out if Germany has a more complex taxonomy of biscuits than a single, large set called 'Gingerbread'?
I can't ask my relatives directly lest they take offense at my ingratitude to their sincere generosity.
Yours gingerly,
Michael Asbridge |
| Nicey replies: Well yes a great many traditional German biscuits are essentially Gingerbread and we would hope so from the country that brought us Hanzel and Gretel. However, over the years we've had all sorts of things out of Germany that weren't Ginger bread. Follow this magic link into our review archive and scroll down to Germany. |
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Sue Northcott
Cadbury's Fingers Review |
While on the hunt in Lidl Pontardawe for some nice, but cheap chocolate for a chocolate fountain for my daughters birthday party I stumbled upon the Mister Choc Biscuit Minis range. We were particularly taken by the Westminster, which is a mini version of a Cadbury's Chocolate finger, only even nicer. You didn't think that was possible, did you? Well I didn't, anyway.
The biscuits come in 150g blue and red bags, emblazoned with attractive photos of the biscuits and a little union flag peaking out from behind their name. Each biscuit is about an inch and a half long, and much finer than the Cadbury version. The actual biscuit is a lovely crisp shortbread. The packet states that they are 48% chocolate, and wonderful chocolate it is. When we opened the packet it was completely empty within 5 minutes.
I had to go back to Lidl for cat food last night, and somehow 2 more bags of Westminsters found their way home with me. I've hidden one in the kitchen and the other has come to work to help me and my colleagues through a prolonged and hairy disaster recovery exercise. I'll save them for that moment of crisis in the wee small hours when chocolate is always most appreciated. |
| Nicey replies: Yes the MisterChoc stuff does seem to be very good. Lots of people are very impressed by their Jaffa Cakes too. I will have to get a pack of Westminsters next time we are in a Lidls and try and banish the thoughts of last Lidls aberration we suffered. |
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| Rosie Stephens |
Dear Nicey,
Was reading all those wonderful ideas of movies in which a starring role is awarded (at least briefly) to a good old cuppa tea. Did you know that the UK working title for the recent film "Shaun of the Dead" was actually "Tea-time of the Dead"?
And then there's the early Doris Day film "Tea for Two". ...and right now, that sounds about perfect so I shall stop writing emails and go and put the kettle on - we have a proper one for on the stovetop which whistles and everything, and I'm sure it makes a better cuppa that the standard electric jobbie that I use at work. Which is nice :o)
Brilliant website! Super book! Cheers
rosie stephens |
| Nicey replies: I was not aware of that, but I just made a new icon, which is my cue for a cuppa too. |
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Richard O'Hagan
HobNob Review |
Dear Nicey,
Please help. I am trying to persude my American fiancee that there is a difference between hobnobs and digestives. Seeing as we have neither in the house [just some of her delicious home made chocolate chip cookies] this is proving rather difficult. Can you give me a definitive explanation of why they are not the same thing at all.
Thank you |
| Nicey replies: Richard,
No I can't help as she has obviously gone beyond the point of all reason and rational thought. However, just go and get some then feed them to her, if she still can't tell the difference then check to see if she really is not only American but also an earthling. |
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| Revd. Stephen Day |
Hi, Nicey,
I must confess to not noticing tea in films much, perhaps having a cup of tea is just such an obvious thing to do that my brain skips over it, like it does when I lock the front door when I go out then I'm blowed if I can remember doing it and have to worry about uninvited guests all the time I'm out.
Anyway, the two I can remember are the 'flying tea party' scene in Mary Poppins, and the bit in Toy Story where Buzz Lightyear gets tired and emotional on cups of tea.
Steve |
| Nicey replies: Nice one on Toy Story. Actually that bit has an extremely 'in' Computer Graphics reference. Toy Story being the first entirely computer generated movie would have to have the Utah Tea Pot, which was one of the first digitised 3D computer models. CG pioneers like Alvey Ray-Smith used to render teapots to test out their ray-tracing software back in the 1970s.
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