As I slowly read my way through the many fine fictions on this site (Kathryn - you’re my No.1 favourite so far: kudos to MyGinevra too ) I’m finding a few food oddities I thought I’d share.

There are a number of food references that are confusing to my English eyes. A couple of strange vegetables (Baldrick would be proud):

Eggplant! This one, I had to look up! What’s an eggplant? – it’s an aubergine.

Zucchini! I thought this was a cucumber, I was close, it’s a courgette.

and a fruit

Blueberries – used to be bilberries but the mighty McDonalds and other US fast food outlets are beginning to corrupt my mother tongue.

I don’t expect authors to use English terms (especially as most of your reading public aren’t British) but it’s something for you to remember.

Breakfast

Vive la difference!
This appears to be an entirely different meeal in the USA

Pancakes: I’ve eaten pancakes for breakfast: in Florida! They weren’t pancakes as the British know them! They were thick, and served with maple syrup. British pancakes are thin (almost like crêpes) and are never eaten for breakfast.

Breakfasts are:

Cereal (Corn Flakes etc.)
English (lots of fried food) bacon, eggs, sausages etc. – many places serve an all day breakfast.
or
Continental (the healthy option?) croissants, rolls, ham, cheese etc.
(Some eccentric people eat Bagels for breakfast.)


N