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| Chris Bowen |
Hi Nicey,
As Which seem to have got the mince pie survey side of Christmas covered this year will you be doing a group stollen test so that we can make informed purchasing decisions in that market during the forthcoming festive season?
I seem to recall that you have floated the idea in the past...
Cheers
Chris Bowen |
| Nicey replies: Chris you're right. I did make a special noise last night next to the stollen's in Tesco. I think this idea might have finally come of age as I have found myself gainfully employed once more which means I have many new work mates on which to road test such large tea time treats and therefore up the cake review bandwidth. |
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Barry Nield
Malted Milk Review |
Hi Nicey
With a new baby due imminently, we've been making all the necessary preparations for the birth (rusks etc). At an ante-natal class we were given a list of things to take to hospital. This included the item: "favourite biscuits." I'm sure like most of your readers, we have different favorites for different situations. I wonder if you have any suggestions what would be suitable? Presumably it's got to be good biscuit in a crisis -- something that offers plenty of energy in case of a long labour, but not one that will melt all over the bed sheets in the warmth of a hospital.
Many thanks
Barry
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| Nicey replies: Hello Barry,
Well it sounds like you are already on top of most of the important aspects of biscuit selection, although I would say crumbs are another aspect to keep in mind. What ever you bring along will probably be very welcome. To be honest I seem to remember that it was me who ate all the biscuits as Wifey wasn't really in a biscuit mood. I also seem to recall that I went out on a limb and brought Cadbury's Chocolate fingers, a very non-standard biscuit for us.
Thinking about it rationally and with hindsight I would have probably gone for some fig rolls, malted milks and possibly a small pack of digestives, although modern post-hydogenated fat Digestives are very crumbly. However, something that shouldn't be overlooked was the on tap supply of NHS tea and toasted sliced white with Golden Shred marmalade that was available when the YMOS made their debut.
I recent years we have taken to baking large NCOTAASD fruitcakes for our friends when the have their own younger members of staff. In fact Mr ad Mrs T are due YMOS No 2 in about 6 weeks time and Mrs T is already making space in her cake tin.
Another thing to watch out for is that fact that post birth you'll be all over the show and may well not be entirely capable of making rational biscuit choices due to excitement, warm fuzzy feelings, lack of sleep and confusion as the Wife sends you out to buy all sorts of strange things you've never heard of before down aisles of the supermarket you didn't even know existed. |
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Jim Fussell
Custard Cream Review |
Nicey,
Like the sound of the Credit Crunch biscuit idea. It could be made more authentic by selling it at normal pack price but then reducing the price over the following couple of weeks until consumer nervousness results in a limited edition rescue package being launched. Do you think the government would step in as readily should McVities or Fox’s become in danger of going under as they have done with the banking sector? I rather think not, however, the average Brit would probably just as concerned with a lack of Hob Nobs as they would with their savings being in danger....or is that just me?
Jim. |
| Nicey replies: Hello Jim,
Surely biscuits can ride out the consumer downturn. We have heard it widely reported that McVities are selling more Custard Creams than this time last year as people downsize from more extravagant biscuits. Personally I think this is terrific news. Obviously people have been buying biscuits beyond their means on credit for the last several years, where as now they are making wiser and more sustainable biscuit decisions. |
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Sally O'Hagan
Graham cracker Review |
Dear Nicey,
I stumbled across your website after googling graham crackers (what are they? I asked). It's a lovely website - I never dreamed there'd be an entertaining and informative forum such as this where I can indulge my unhealthy interest in packaged things in the biscuit line.
Having spent a little time doing just that, I have just had the life changing experience of finally finding out what graham crackers are... with actual photos and everything!
I live in Australia, and for at least 30 years (that's about three quarters of my life) I have wondered (quite often, quite regularly) what the hell a graham cracker square could be. I've come across so many recipes calling for GCQs - trying various substitutes, I knew in my heart that none of them were quite it.
I've quizzed American friends, but they're all so complacent about it (and frankly, not interested in cross-cultural biscuit exchange), giving vague answers like, You use them to make cheesecake bases (well, derr...).
I hardly know how to thank you... |
| Nicey replies: Glad to promote international biscuit understanding. |
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| Dean Anderson |
Gill Casey's point about the credit crunch is spot on, but it also got me thinking.....wouldn't this make an ideal name for a new biscuit in these troubled times? The Credit Crunch biscuit could be made of cheap and easily accessible food stuffs (I'm thinking oats mainly) and may even encourage a bit of home baking.
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| Nicey replies: Those Credit Crunches sound yummy.
Actually I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for BBC News 24 who seem to be unable to talk about anything else and are starting to look like their hearts aren't in it any more. What we need is massive global story about kittens and fluffy ducklings to give them a bit of a break. I think they should have made out that story yesterday of the little boy who got stuck in the Postman Pat kiddies ride outside a supermarket. The fire brigade who had been called in to release the boy who had become jammed between the end of Pat's giant conk and the windscreen treated it as a standard RTA and cut the roof off. When they still couldn't shift him they had saw the end of old Pat's snout. That's proper news. |
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