I have a lot of English in my blood: my Mum and her family came to Canada on boats when she was 13 – except aunt Marg, she got to fly! but that’s another story – and my grandparents on my Dad’s side were both English…so along with a love of football (or soccer if you prefer), I’m adept at providing ‘translation’ for Joel when he wants to make a Jamie Oliver dish (aubergine?), I think Monty Python and Little Britain are HILARIOUS (Joel leaves the room)…. and I have a small obsession with the Royals. I have a good memory of being dragged out of bed when I was 8 to watch Diana (who was only 12 years my senior!) marry Prince Charles with her awesome hair and that big cream puff of a dress.
So…If you’re going to haul your arse out of bed for 3am (Toronto time) like I am….to watch all the pomp n’ circumstance of this Friday’s Royal Nuptials plus all of the ensuing news coverage you’re going to need some provisions. Call it ‘breakfast’ or a ‘late night’ snack who cares! This is the “Wedding of the Century” and I’m here to help. The photo above shows my carefully curated spread for the occasion (minus a bottle of champagne!)….it’s not organic and it’s sure as heck not local…
1. Chocolate is essential! None of that dark chocolate…it’s got to be “milk chocolate”….
• Cadbury Flake “the crubliest flakiest milk chocolate”
• Nestlé’s original Yorkie…it’s “not for girls” because it’s marketing strategy circa the late 70s was to make a chocolate bar for men. I rebel against 1970s marketing strategy!
• York Peppermint Patties are actually from York Pensilvania…oops…but they’re yummy anyway
2. Candy!
• Walkers’ nonsuch Treacle Toffee – just ‘whack unwrap and enjoy” (your emergency trip to the dentist), or switch the words around a bit and…Honeymoon! (okay, the mum’s might be reading this…sorry)
• Polo Mints – Britain’s best selling mint! Don’t eat too many, I wont be held responsible.
3. Tea and Biscuits
• Red Rose Orange Pecoe…was my grandmother’s favourite (both of them I think) – it’s actually a Canadian brand, but we’re part of the common wealth so it counts (I say so…and my english grannies would too). They had a commercial where the tagline was “Only in Canada you say?….pity.” (If you’re about my age and Canadian you might remember it)…I also used to pinch the little Wade ceramic figurines from the box when it was first opened if I had a chance.
• Social Tea biscuits…for dunkin’ in the Red Rose….good and soggy.
4. Breakfast
• Crumpets…really, Tea and Crumpets…it’s a given. (I might be able to find some homemade jam to slather on there I think).
• Gin and Dubonnet…the Queen Mum’s favourite cocktail I hear, she was a ‘legendary drinker’ and quite the Lady…
A fitting spread for the big day, laid out on my best (tarnished) silver platter (Value Village 5 bucks!), complete with a rusty ol’ lucky horse shoe for the Bride and Groom (snagged 3 of them at my new favourite store Chief Salvage, Cody is awesome) and an ‘official’ Royal Wedding Collector mug for my ‘tea’. I’ll raise that mug for Rose & Jim, and Myrtle…who might have watched it with me if they were here…and of course Diana and the Queen Mum who would have liked to have been there I’m sure.
Fun post – I was in England for Charles & Diana’s wedding – purely by luck, bad or good. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything like the enthusiasm of the Brits for that stuff!
I went with low expectations food wise and came back to America a changed eater. No more processed American lunchmeat for me – British sandwiches were on REAL bread with REAL meat, slathered with REAL butter & watercress!!
The soft ice cream cones with I assume Cadbury flake pieces for garnish – the whole Cadbury line of candy @ sodas was completely different (and a gazillion times better) than the ones we had in the US.
I’m totally hooked on that Cadbury honeycomb bar – I forget what it’s called….
I feel a little bit bad about Kate’s big day being so dominated by Diana….. but she knows what she’s taking on….
Congrats on the Ocean Wise win BTW – you guys make me feel like a total slacker!
Thanks Auburn Meadow (Jackie)!
The Cadbury chocolate in the UK is indeed different – even has the royal seal. I smuggle some home from Dana each time I am there and it’s out of this world (and I’m not a chocolate guy)…
j
Love, love, love! Great comprehensive guide D, can’t wait to watch it with you and Shaeff. And I’m sure Joel will make an appearance. Wondering if we should include some Pimm’s as well!?!?! Tiaras are packed…
I am now totally jealous that I will not be watching with you two Ladies in Waiting. Have an awesome morning and remember when drinking the gin and dubonnet clink the glass and say: “chin chin”!
Why is Kerry not joining?! I have an extra tiara for you!!
Oh, and the Red Rose commercial – love it! Forgot about that one…pity!
Pimms! that’s Fun…Hey Kerry…come on over. We might ‘start’ the evening with a Royal Canadian tradition (ahem…plaid?).
Thanx Auburn Meadow! It was a fun post (and will be fun to eat it..haha). Most of the chocolate in England is far tastier as they tend to leave out things like Carnuba Wax that the north american companies think of as an ‘ingredient’.
I love English food…the good, the bad and the ugly.
Oh! I love a Yorkie! My favorite is raisin/biscuit. I hoard those and Hula Hoops when in England. When I lived in England I had a rather steady diet of Cadbury Dairy Milk bars. At one point I believe I made a school book cover out of the wrappers =)
What ever happened to those figurines in the Red Rose box? I have such fond memories of them. Oh! and crumpets are delish, the holey holes make perfect pools to fill with melted butter! Have fun.
My guess Laura is that eBay happened to them
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Love this! My Mum was born on the Isle of Man, and my husband is from Formby… we celebrated with pork pies for breakfast and a packet of Real McCoy’s Cheese and Onion crisps (they’re my all time favourite British crisp). Not healthy, but oh, so delicious.