BS: My mate Marmite

Subject: My mate Marmite
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 09:15 AM

The tea thread reminds me that Expats have recently bemoaned the lack of various favourite goodies. This from today's BBC News Online migh help
Marmite, Paxo stuffing and Bisto gravy are the things British ex-pats miss the most about living abroad, according to a new website.

The yeast extract paste and sage and onion stuffing came top of a list of things ordered from expatshopping.com since it launched on Monday.

Other favourites include spam, Heinz salad cream Fray Bentos steak and kidney pies, Robertson's strawberry jam and Bird's custard powder.

The website, set up by two former soldiers, lets them order up to 1,500 of their favourite brands.

Richard Finch and Simon Aldrich were both military policemen who had served abroad and understood the desperation of ex-pats for British "essentials".

They came up with their business plan when they met in a trench in the Territorial Army.

Global orders

"It's a service that I missed while I was abroad," Mr Finch told BBC News Online.

He said the site was attracting huge business. The biggest surprise was the way the site was attracting families, he added.

"We have had orders for Pampers nappies and one ex-pat in Slovakia who wanted to get nylon tights for his wife."

They have also had inquiries from British High Commissions across the world.

A £250,000 automated warehouse in Osbaldwick, Yorkshire, sends goods to 239 different countries from Albania to Azerbaijan and Zambia to Zimbabwe.

The company currently employs five people but following the success of the first week's trading that is set to increase.

"It's going to increase quite dramatically," Mr Finch said.

The goods cost the same as they do in the UK but orders include transport costs.

BBC News Online
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: sophocleese
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 09:34 AM

AAH Marmite. I was born and grew up in Canada, I live in Canada and I love Marmite. Picked up the habit as a child when visiting relatives in England and am delighted that our local grocery store carries it. Peanut Butter and Marmite sandwiches a truly cross-cultural delight.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 10:11 AM

Frank Harte sings a song where one of the mysteries of life is the fact that in supermarkets "The Bovril's with the gravy and the Marmite's with the jam"!

Regards

Anyone remember GYE?

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Bugsy
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 10:19 AM

I was brought up on Marmite and when we emigrated to Australia, we really missed the likes of, Sandwich spread, Bisto, Daddy's Sauce and Penny banana chews, etc. Now, with the exception of the Banana chews, which I don't think are even available in UK anymore, we get just about everything in our local Supermarket. Especially the range of Tesco products.

Now, I would find it hard to live without good old Aussie Vegemite. (even though it has been bought out by an American Company.)

Cheers

Bugsy.

By the way, we still don't bet PG Tips.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Áine
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 11:45 AM

Don't forget that our own MacGrath of Harlow has written a lovely song about Marmite called The Marmite Song.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Willie-O
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 12:46 PM

...?Marmite is something you EAT!!!???

Sounds like chewing on a countertop ta me.

Willie-O
Canadian and stationary

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 01:43 PM

I've been working in a molecular biology lab that uses yeast cells for most experiments, and one of my duties is to maintain the solutions for feeding these creatures and the media they grow on; various powdered yeast bits and proteins and agar. When first I was exposed to Marmite, I realized that the smell is identical to that of YPD (yeast-peptone-dextrose) or Luria broth. Needless to say, I didn't dare taste it.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Bert
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 02:12 PM

I like Marmite, but I can live without. You can often find it in Indian grocery stores over here. Paxo stuffing & Bisto are not a patch on real stuffing and real gravy so I always make my own ('cept when Tree does the cooking, which is most of the time, and then she makes her own).
Spam's American.
Salad cream can be made by adding vinegar and mustard (Colman's, or hot Chinese) to Mayonnaise.
We make our own steak pies (Tree doesn't like kidney).
Good strawberry jam 'can' be made. The secret is to pick your own strawberries and make the jam the same day and add juice of a lemon to every two pounds. Otherwise you'll have to add pectin.
I always make my own Custard. Tastes just like Bird's. Unfortunately I don't use a recipe, but here's the way it's done...

Heat the amount of milk you need with sugar, vanilla extract and yellow food coloring. Taste it to see if you've added enough of each. Before it boils add cornstarch (Mix it with cold milk first), the more cornstarch the thicker the custard.

Bert.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: BlueJay
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 02:29 PM

I have to agree with Willie-O: What the hell is Marmite? As an American, I'm not thourougly schooled in English Cuisine or explosives.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: TerriM
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 02:54 PM

I wonder about the combustible properties of marmite???Is this a whole new use of the product? We have an advertising campaign over here based on the fact that people either love it or hate it ( personally, I can take it or leave it but I've always been contrary).

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 04:27 PM

For those unfortunate enough not to have come across it, Marmite is a yeast extract with added salt, containing a number of B vitamins; it comes in little brown glass jars.  It's a smooth meaty-flavoured paste, dark brown to black in colour, and one generally spreads it on biscuits or toast, often over butter or margerine.  A classic application would be the "Marmite Soldiers" popular with children; strips of toast with butter and Marmite, which are dipped into the yolk of a soft-boiled egg.  Bovril is similar in taste and packaging, but is a beef extract and therefore unsuitable for vegetarians.  Both make good cold-weather drinks, mixed with boiling water.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: GUEST,saraj
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 05:39 PM

Marmite and alfalfa sandwiches YUM!

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 06:35 PM

Coo-er, almost shot my mouth off and said Marmite originally came from the 7th Day Adventist "Sanitarium Health Food Co" of NZ - but they started in Australia (1898) - Here's their Home Page

There's also Marmite FAQ for those who want to find more about the fine product.

It seems it was originally a French invention - I'll stick with my NZ version....;^)

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: The Shambles
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 06:58 PM

Spread the word (and the Marmite). Does your shop stock it next to the Bovril?

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Ely
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 07:16 PM

Does anyone watch "the Vicar of Dibley"? One of the characters is a batty old woman who makes strange things to eat (cake decorated with ketchup, etc). In one episode, she serves a piece of delicious-looking dark-brown cake to the vicar, Geraldine Granger [Dawn French].

"Oooh, how lovely!" says Granger, "Chocolate?"

"No," says the old woman, "Marmite!"

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 08:08 PM

GYE was Guinness Yeast Extract - Irish Marmite.

Regards

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 09:53 PM

"I have to agree with Willie-O: What the hell is Marmite? As an American, I'm not thourougly schooled in English Cuisine or explosives."

Careful there. Marmite is as central to the soul of people over here as guns are to Americans. I think the contentious terms "British Isles" should be ditched, in favour of calling the archipelago "The Marmite Isles", which I think has a much more melodious ring to it anyway.. (And to refer to "The Marmite Commonwealth" would make a lot of sense as well. Though I'm not too sure where the Canadians stand in this.)

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 09:57 PM

Hey Shambles,

Talking of spreading Marmite, do/did your Marmite bottles have the slogan

"Too much spoils the flavour"?

Our NZ ones did up until about 1969 - may have been the change from £.s.d to the money grabbing $ that brought the removal so's to increase sales.

Off-topic, but your "spread the word" reminded me of a slogan I saw painted on a backpackers bus round South Island roads some 20 years back.

The word is "legs" - Spread the word - (or vv)..;)

Sláinte - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Metchosin
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 10:30 PM

Gee, marmite, vegemite, Robertson Jams have always been available here and Bird's Custard Powder, how would we ever have made Nanaimo Bars without it? And I thought I was being facetious by saying we were the last outpost of the British Empire.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 04:19 AM

Oh, my Gawd,what have I started, Pandora is outta the box!
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 04:59 AM

Metchosin,

Wot part of the BE are you from?

The first (and last) POST in the "British Empire" is always played from Stewart Island (almost on the DATE line - sorry we're talking about Marmite)

We do it twice, just in case we have a cock up with the date of ANZAC day (25 April)......;^)

Who was the first to delare war in WWII? - Why, NZ - we fergit we were ahead of the rest of the World......

Tarrraggghhh...

And other war-like trumpetin'...;)

AND.....

"Roger the Skiffler".........

Trust you ain't got into Pandora's "box"...

Remember the "Adrian Mole" stories?...:)

Marmite?

Just remember "Yeast is yeast, and Vest is vest - and never the Twain shall twine"

And?

All this over a small jar of "Marmite"?

It brings on the urge for a song....

Ma might (or might not) cum home tonight....

Let's make MarMite the MudKite international provender..

Huzzah!

Geez Wayne, I'm still insane...;)

Sam

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Wotcha
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 05:24 AM

Well our Aussie and Kiwi Liaison officers love their Vegemite which, incidentally, is good for greasing the axles of tanks ...

I must point out that the Chemical Weapons Convention, as ratified by the pertinent parties, may preclude the use of either Marmite or Vegemite as legal weapons on today's PC battlefield. The only use, under reservation to the Convention, would appear to allow Marmite for the quelling of riots or the rescue of downed pilots ...

The defense of "filling orders" for Marmite has proven ineffective before international tribunals convened on this subject.

Marmite and Vegemite give new meaning to the saying: "life is a big S*** sandwich, and we're all going to have to take a bite ...."

Cheers,
Allahamdalla
Brian

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 05:30 AM

Marmite's OK and I can get it here in the Surreal Kingdom of Belgium. But what I can't get and what is seriously adversely affecting my playing is the catastrophic and totally unexplainable absence of

BRANSTON PICKLE

from Belgian supermarket shelves. I believe it is this that will finally drive me back to the Branstone Isles from this otherwise agreeable little country.

mcmoo

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Hyperabid
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 05:38 AM

Marmite and Cucumber toasted onion bagels with Lurpack butter. Only sex is better - and this dish requires less energy.

Hyp

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: sophocleese
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 08:10 AM

We're trying to set up a Transatlantic Branston Pickle for all the sufferers in North America. Perhaps you can add a diversion to the Chunnel? We can actually get it now but a few years ago most of my family mobbed anybody who was heading home from England. Personally I'm not a fan of it but I have seen the effects of Branston Pickle Deprivation at close hand.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 08:33 AM

Yes it's really frightening seeing a case of BPD up close...

mcmoo

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Hyperabid
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 09:03 AM

If you're really feeling deprived I can buy a crate at the local Tesco's and Fedex it over?

Hyp

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: BlueJay
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 02:24 PM

McGrath- My apologies. I simply don't know what Marmite is, much as The Shambles didn't quite understand "Yellow Legal Pads". Didn't mean to step on any toes. I guess we still have a ways to go to really understanding each other's cultures. I'll have to find some and try it sometime. I still don't think I fully understand: I'm hoping it tastes better than the yeast they make bread with. Are there any Marmite Songs? We have a song about Powdermilk Biscuits.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 02:49 PM

As an American who is not partial to guns, I am notheless not partial to Marmite though I tried it with the best intentions. Perhaps it is something one must grow up with. When I was a boy I drank and enjoyed 'clabber' with my grandfather in the Shenandoah valley. It is soured, milk fat and butter scooped off the top of raw milk. No doubt it would appeal to few people who hadn't loved the folks who introduced it to them. Ever seen an add for Clabber Girl Milk?

cheers Fortunato.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 03:38 PM

Seeing all this talk about Marmite persuaded me to buy a jar of it today. I haven't had it in years but to me, it tastes as good as ever.

Jon

PS, I agree with Bert that Paxo and Bisto are not a patch on the real stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Bert
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 03:38 PM

Wotcha Wotcha,

Re...good for greasing the axles of tanks...

Nothing to do with Marmite but you'll enjoy this story.
I was going through customs in Saudi Arabia and the officers had a couple of guys pulled over to one side. They were pointing to a few 4 pound cans which were unlabeled. As a home brewer I recognized them as cans of malt extract. Now it was highly illegal to bring in anything for making beer and they were having a crackdown on offenders. These guys were arguing that it was a special grease for use on the drilling rigs. I don't know if they got away with it, they were still arguing when I left.

Bert.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 06:59 PM

There's beeen links in the thread to a Marmite FAQ site, and also to a song I wrote about it. But there they are again to save time:

Marmite Facts and so forth

The Marmite's with the Jam

Incidentally, Marmite's the brand name, but most supermarket chains in England make their own variety of "yeast extract" which tastes the same. The Australians have an equivalent called Vegemite which is similar, but with a slightly different flavour, and they sell that in Tesco's as well, (also placing it with the jam, since you spread it on bread and it doesn't have any meat in it).

They key thing to appreciate if you ever try Marmite (etc) for the first time is that it might look a bit like chocolate, but it doesn't taste anything like it like it, and a little of it goes a long way. That may be where a lot of the confusion comes. Think peanut butter distilled to the strengtgh of chilis and you might approach the taste with the right mindset to enjoy it...(Not that it tastes like that either.)

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: oggie
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 07:06 PM

If it isn't proper, branded Marmite it just isn't the same.

I reccomend marmite and sugar sandwiches - white bread AND white sugar off course, or cheese and marmite sandwiches fried in butter - a great way to start the day when camping at Folk Festivals.

Cheers

oggie

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 07:20 PM

Oh yes it is. They just stick different labels on the bottles in the same factory.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 07:23 PM

There was a suggestion on the jar of Marmite that I bought today for using it in Eggy Bread as part of the mixture. I have never tried that but Marmite spread on top of eggy bread is delicious - try it. It is also one of the few ways I can eat an egg other that as part of a cake type mix without being sick - a real shame as my parents had free range hens for many years.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 09:23 PM

Marmite and SUGAR!!!

Frankly bizarre.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 09:29 PM

Thinking of black things, I wonder what a Scotsman would think of me liking porridge with black treacle, not to mention the sugar and the cream (or top of the bottle - the milk I get now never seems to have any of that).

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 10:10 PM

Nothing odd about that.  However much I've tried, I can only eat half a bowl of salted porridge; after that, I need JAM.  Mind you, I'm only Scots on my father's side.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Metchosin
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 12:28 AM

Billy the Bus, I said outpost not last post. Victoria, B.C. was known for its high number of British expats, particularly an area called Oak Bay (residents are known as living behind the "tweed curtain"). It's now done to death as a tourist come on.Click here and you'll get the idea.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Helen
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 12:50 AM

Jon,

Is Eggy Bread where you butter both sides of the slice of bread, cut a hole in the centre, put it in the frypan and break an egg into the centre and fry it up together? If so - that's my favourite way of eating eggs. My family calls it Toad in the Hole (a bit freudian I suppose) but I know that that is also the name of a sausage mince & egg thing as well.

I tried frying some bread with a spreading of butter and some Vegemite once and it tasted good.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:08 AM

Helen, that may also be called eggy bread but for the one I know, you beat an egg and dip the bread in the mixture and then fry the bread very lightly.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Helen
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 02:18 AM

Jon, we call that French Toast.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: roopoo
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 03:15 AM

Back to the Branston - when we lived in South Africa, there was a telegraph system in operation among the ex-pats whenever Branston Pickle, Sarson's Vinegar, Heinz products, Mars Bars or Weetabix were in any of the local shops. I would kill for Branston. Once for a friend's birthday gift I gathered a bottle of French wine, 6 Mars bars and a jar of Branston. She got the cheese out, and 3 of us scoffed the lot at one go! Now back in the UK, I like it and keep it in, but it must have been a case of forbidden fruit... I had a French student staying with me some years ago, and tried to introduce him to Marmite, which he said there was no way he was going to try. Then he discovered Twiglets... !

mouldy

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: roopoo
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 03:16 AM

Forgot to add - I have a marmite cookery book!

mouldy

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Jack The Lad
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:10 AM

In Israel,for years you couldn't get Marmite or anything else you enjoyed back home. One Kibbutz settled by expat Brits was lucky enought to find a generous"Uncle" who sent them large tins of marmite- placed on every table in the dining room. A whole generation of kibutz kids grew up loving the stuff- which is a shame- as Marmite is definately in the "All the more for me, then" catgory . It also reinforces the eccentric Englishman image- which I quite enjoy. Now Israel is part of the Global Village and you can get anything here- often at prices lower than in the country of origin.- There's no mystique anymore. Jack The Lad.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 06:01 AM

Custard without eggs???????

Custard WITH eggs, use free-range chickens' eggs, mmmmmm!

~Susan~

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 07:28 AM

Metchosin - you said "last outpost" (of the BE) - I just took the "out" out... Taraagghhhhh... MORE martial trumpets braying (or is it a cornet? - no, that's an icecream or fission'chip thread).

Mouldy - you've got a "Ma-Might-Cook-Errr-eee!!! BOOK"?

I hate to be negative, but cobber, no matter how Mouldy the book is, it's the wrong yeasty "mould" for Marmite.

Ye Gods - I hope I'm not too late, mate. Don't cook the book! Or, even worse... Ingest it!!!!!

1. "Ma might" get grumpy over losing the book.

2.You would never "cover" for the theft of the book.

3. Your pager would go off for every leaf you took from the book.

The mind boggles as to where "Mouldy" could lead a Marmite thread!

I'll go back to the "fortified" product..;)

Actually, I still do a grin, thinking back to where the Aust/NZ version of Marmite came from, a century back. Imagine - "God Botherers" taking the brewery cast-offs for "Sanctified" Sanitarium Marmite...;)

It's a worry..;)

And, futhermore.....

Wotcha Bert.....

Those "unlabelled cans" you saw being unloaded, may possibly have been "Maltexo" - another fine "health-giving" by-product of the brewers art. When I was a kid, we had it shoved down our gobs by the shovel-full. Just a bit like the UK "Cod-liver oil and the orange juice"..:)

CYA - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: sophocleese
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 08:26 AM

mouldy, When I was thirteen we spent a year travelling round Europe. Winter was spent on Crete. An elderly Canadian couple were nearby and they invited us to New Year's Celebration. They had Canadian Cheddar. For the first time in my life I realized how much I LOVED Canadian Cheddar. I ignored every sweet thing on the table and ate cheese. OH I can still remember the delight of it melting in my mouth.

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 08:57 AM

Malt Extract with Cod-Liver-Oil? Anyone else grow-up with this 'sticky' delight?

Subject: RE: BS: My mate Marmite
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 09:23 AM

My mother hated cod-liver oil, so we were spared it.  My only encounter with the malt/oil mix was some years ago, when my then-girlfriend made a batch of beer with some; she hadn't read the label.  It wasn't an unqualified success...

Malcolm