Food

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Hi JJ et al,

Haggis and neeps - starter
Mince and Tatties - Main
Whisky and a bloody good punch up - Sweet

Classy regional dishes, I expect that if they were French would have the TV cooks drooling.

Sláinte mhaith,

lang mae yer lum reek

I know it's a bit of a cheek as I am not 100% scots but I do love the vernacular

Bob

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When we meet - beside Kipling - I will bring you some books on Alba's Mither Tongue.   I buy them for my brother who suffers from "withdrawal" as he lives in Buckingham...

There must be as large Scots' Community in Penang and KL >>>  is it hard to track them down for a blether?

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For you  sasanachs out there

Translation

lang mae yer lum reek

Means  - Long may your chimney have smoke -

Or

Have a long life

CFS

No problem - Petrol in the islands now £1:40 a litre - and I do cry when I go and fill up, I am always thinking of you lucky sods out there

Donohue

Love the French - just could not eat a whole one

There is probably more Scots in any part of the world than there is in Scotland - We will be below 5 million in a few years -and one less as soon as my business hits the magic number

But - I did shoot, grallock, skin a Roe deer a few days ago, the liver was still warm when it went in to the pan, I will miss some parts of here - (but not too many)  (Had to get a food mention to keep the topic on track)

Cheers all

Hoots mon

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Nice one djoerk....I will copy that one to the 'funny bone corner'

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Hi
I was reading a fascinating article in the New York Times on Beer in Vietnam. Sounds like they have a real lively micro brewing industry not to mention beers that are peculair to regions.
The one aspect that fascinated me was the story of the beer that lasts only for one day in Hanoi. Very popular apparently. Here's an  extract: 

No beer tour to Vietnam would be complete without heading to Hanoi to sample the ultimate people’s beer, bia hoi. Consumed in frightening quantities by everyone from Vietnam’s newly rich to its hard-working street vendors, bia hoi, sometimes called fresh beer but literally meaning gas beer, is an unpasteurized, unpreserved brew made before the sun rises, and often imbibed before the sun sets. All throughout the day, motorcycle deliverymen can be seen carting the grog around in everything from 100-liter drums to smaller plastic jugs. Much of it comes from three huge breweries, but scores of smaller mom-and-pop operations flourish as well.

Walking around Hanoi’s narrow, warrenlike streets, one sees bia hoi joints on just about every corner — with locals quaffing the low-alcohol brew (2 to 4 percent) as early as 8 a.m., after which time, some locals say, the peak flavors are already in decline. The décor at these places is a remarkably consistent mash-up of the children’s section of Ikea and the ultimate in street-life voyeurism: stands of shin-high plastic tables crammed right up to the curb and matched with semicircles of knee-high plastic chairs, all facing the road. Food venders are always nearby hawking the perfect complement to a tipsy evening: grilled meats, dried squid, pork buns, noodles.

The best bia hoi places in Hanoi serve a crisp, cold beer with a clean taste suggesting rice and an almost subliminal whisper of something like hops. Daytime visits to these chatty, casual settings are a great way to strike up a conversation with a local resident. But at night, patrons at many of the locals-oriented spots may be too consumed with their conversations to notice a wandering tourist.

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with locals quaffing the low-alcohol brew (2 to 4 percent) as early as 8 a.m.,

Gosh, sounds just like Phuket.

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Bia hoi also only costs less than 30 US cents a glass (5,000 dongs)!  The cheapest beer one can buy in Viet Nam or just about country.

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Rather coincidentally, I got a facebook newsfeed for the aforementioned Troquets this morning.  They are still going strong on every Friday night in Penang.  RM 50 for members, others RM 60.  Tonight's menu:  Cold Tomato soup with lemongrass, Herb and Vinegar Chicken with French gratin potatoes, Gateau au chocolat.   Buy wine there or bring your own (no corkage charge).

http://pg.alliancefrancaise.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=68

It seems like a very reasonable price for a 3-course meal.  Gratin potatoes - yum yum.  Has anyone tried this venue?

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Hi Papya
when I raised the topic of French cooking you will see that I was howled down by some well known foodies who still lust after spotted dick and the like. Didn't hear about anyone having attended then but perhaps you will get a "bite."

Hi Hue,
what does the daily beer taste like? I had fedderwein in germany once which is freshly fermented grape juice. It was fantastic. Sounds like I will have to visit Hanoi to try their beer.

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Ah I think they were all tongue-in-cheek comments.  I think I shall definitely give the French place a go after we have moved and I shall report back on here.  Hope you don't have to speak French though 

Spotted Dick and custard - I don't think I ever tried it - it always looked like some horrible mess to me.  I have been known to wax lyrical about Cullen Skink which is just fab - and I have no Scottish blood whatsoever in me.

I also have to confess, on the last Malaysian trip, after getting thoroughly noodled out (usual story) I had a very nice Fish n Chips in a Georgetown pub, and a plate of Liver n Bacon n Mushy Peas    in a KL pub (not had that in donkeys years).  You can't eat noodles every day.

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Has anyone tried this venue?

We are going there tonight, I will let you know.
As for beer in the morning, that was quit commen in Europe in the 19 hundreds.
They didn't trust the water . The beer had a low alcohol percentage though.
BTW The Alliance Française is ( in their own words) a unique association that aims to promote both French language and Culture all around the world.
Wonder if there is a Scottish equivalent.

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Wonder if there is a Scottish equivalent.

Ooooh I shouldn't think so 

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As for beer in the morning, that was quit commen in Europe in the 19 hundreds.
They didn't trust the water . The beer had a low alcohol percentage though.

The Scots drank Whisky - the English Gin.  In Scotland, the wealthy drank Wine.

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Ooooh I shouldn't think so 

We are "more civilised" than you think !   
The Scots have had many connections with France dating from 1295 - in particular the famous "Auld Alliance" (military, commercial, culture and language).    De Gaulle described the alliance between Scotland and France as "the oldest alliance in the world”. In 1995, celebrations were held in both countries to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the beginning of the alliance.   The original Alliance that granted dual citizenship in both countries was eventually revoked by the French government in 1903 – as a result the Scots close connections with France have faded into distant memory – but there still seems to be a particular liking within the “upper echelons” for Claret.   

p.s. Dot is in Phuket.  In UK just now for family celebrations.  Have told her you are still there.

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In defence of Scottish food I must confess that one of my most memorable meals was in Edinburgh. I must also confess to enjoying the hagis on the one occasion on which I found it on the menu.

Of course the single malts are a world of their own!!