The Skiathos Bulletin Board

biblia · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject:

Well, I really stuck my hand into a bee's nest today...

When I get my house built on Kahlivia next year, you and I can start the Marmite Culture Wars, a battle that may leave all the minimarts on the Ring Road unsafe for ingress!

To my way of thinking, Americans are the WORST for insisting on satisfying the hankerings of home while on holiday. "What? No diet Sprite? What kind of place is this?" So my gripe about Marmite, I don't think, comes from an American culture bias. I hope not. Rather-- and I have lived as an expatriate for several years in Zurich, having raised and schooled two kids there for a time, so I know about the hankerings of which you speak-- it comes from the observation that too many tourists miss out on the full adventure, the full pleasures of a holiday in a different culture (the "when in Rome, do as.." philosophy, which Geof ofter cites).

It seems to me that for a week on a package tour in a foreign culture-- or even for two weeks-- a culturally sensitive person could put a lid on his or her hankerings for home during those few days-- and that would include processed foods like Marmite.

Kirie Al Okle: I hope you now recognize that my quibble is not with the expat's Sehnsuchte (spell check on Deutsch, please!) for Marmite, but on the oblivious tourists who won't let go for a few days of their old eating habits. If all you are after is sea, sand, sun and Diet Sprite soda, you can go to Disneyworld where all your cultural inhibitions will be maintained.

So far, Skiathos is not Disneyworld. Knock on wood. The danger is always there.

Okay, Al, let's you and I thoroughly debauch this Vegetarian Forum Topic by talking about ... lamb on the spit! Do you have your own spit, or do you go to friends' spiti. Please refer to my earlier message entry to Lisa on the subject, which shocked Do you, like the Skiathos aborigines I know, leave the head on? Last Paska, the papous in the family offered me the roasted testicles, which was something of an "honor" (in a mocking, jokey kind of way). And it was gooooooooood!

Now for the real question: Do you make koukoretzi for Paska? You're entitled to all the Marmite on Skiathos, if you eat koukoretzi at Paska! Last year I helped the yiayia of this family string the koukoretzi bits on two other spits. I remember the "food" bits (yes, I have chosen to use quotation marks for the moment) kind of dangled on the spit and weighed it down so much the metal rod began to sag in the middle. It reminded me of a decorative swag you would put in front of your window sheers.

But, of course koukoretzi is not for decoration. It's falls under the broad category of Beige Food. When you eat it you can actually feel the bad cholestrol building its sledge in your veins. Mmmmmmm.

I went to a Greek wedding a week after Paska last year, and at the feast they served, among other delights, koukoretzi leftovers. Mmmmmm.

Kali Paska. SKIATHOS MOY LEIPEI POLY.

Foxy · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:

Testicles!! Oh my God Shocked

Actually......I remember a holiday in Spain one year & a memorable meal in a traditional Spanish restaurant.

I noticed a dish on the menu & asked for "Bull's Fries" and was presented with two huge meatballs. They were delicious & I asked the waiter for the recipe. He informed me that after the bullfight, they get a sword & slash off the bull's testicles. Although I was a little perturbed, I had to admit I enjoyed the meal.

Later that week I returned to the same restaurant as I fancied the fries again. I was presented with the same dish only this time the meatballs were much smaller.

I queried this with the waiter & he informed me "Senór - sometimes the bull wins"

Confused

Elle · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:25 pm Post subject:

here in the wild west 'mountain oysters' are still a delicacy, cooked up on the spit, at calf weaning/vaccination/castration time.
Blech.
One of the many reasons I am a vegetarian. Had to watch that process too many times.
I have no trouble eating veg. in Greece - or anywhere for that matter - Though I've not yet made it to the heart of Tibet or the Mongolian Steppes.
_________________
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
- HH The Dalai Lama
--
modern folk music
http://www.cdbaby.com/all/kammmac
http://www.myspace.com/paulkammandeleanoremacdonald

HippyChic · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject:

should we start a Marmite Fan Club?????? I love the stuff on hot buttered toast

adrianxw · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:28 am Post subject: