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Bird's custard. A British tradition it appears. Like Watties tomato sauce in New Zealand or vegemite in Australia. You can't live without it. Well, you can, but you dream of it's taste, and miss the comforting familiarity
I was discussing these things over coffee last week with an english friend and it occured to me that xmas is coming and Santa delivers in different ways these days.
I googled 'Bird's Custard Greece'. Of course there are half dozen places, in Athens , that will very happily courier the delicacy to me to xmas wrap for my friend.
I ordered the custard and the owner of the business phoned me and told me in his soft burrrr (english, scottish??) about his site and all the goodies he provides. Including he said, fresh parsnips. He had just returned with a few kilos after a trip to the UK. I declined the parsnips. Not my favourite vegetable.
I thought I had better take a closer look at the site. OMG he has real sausages and pies, christmas crackers, hob-nobs, cheeses, mince pies and puddings. At a price, but not an exorbitant price.
I shan't be ordering more just now. Xmas is expensive enough already but early next year I'll be getting some of those sausages, for me and my kiwi-greek daughters.
Just thought, Easter! He will have real hot cross buns. Crumpets!
I'll be like a kid in a toy store, or a chocolate factory.
BIRDS CUSTARD
The original powdered, egg free, imitation custard powder. Created by Alfred Bird in Birmingham, England. Ingredients, cornflour, salt, colouring, flavouring.
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What a find! I hope you enjoy the goodies when you get them.
ReplyDeleteHaving lived so many years without them I'll probably be disappointed. Memories and reality differ. Worth a try though
DeleteWe always had Brown and Polson custard powder, my mother said it was better than Birds. Now I just buy ready made Devon custard. It tastes just as good.
ReplyDeleteDevon custard sounds the best, if only because of the reputation of it's clotted cream!
DeleteBill Wyman when he moved to France said he missed Piccalilli from Blighty. I miss English bitter like Newcastle Brown Ale.
ReplyDeletePiccallili. Now that is something I found in a supermarket here and tried. The taste of it was very different from what I remembered. Newcastle brown used to turn at Xmas here. Years ago I remember buying some for a friend.
DeleteMy daughter came back from London and brought me the mince pie I asked for. I wanted to know what this thing was that I thought I had never tasted. It turns out that it is very similar to our cookies here that we call it by a different name and have nothing to do with Christmas. But it's delicious.
ReplyDeleteIt's like a spicy fruit cake in a pie. Glad you got to taste this seasonal delicacy. Wish I could taste some of your food!!
ReplyDeleteI just made eggplant according to one of your recipes.
DeleteHope it was good
DeleteI use this all the time. It’s sitting in my pantry right now. So easy to make. I make it in the microwave and I never have any lumps.
ReplyDeleteGlad your able to enjoy it again Maybe you could convince hubby to take you to Athens once every few months so you can stock up on all the goodies
I use a Greek custard powder. Tastes fine to me but to someone English it's just not the same
DeleteHaven't been into Athens for years. Too much temptation lol we do go to small cities which are closer but no British shop
As a child it always fascinated me that it was a pink (if my memory serves me right) powder and turned into yellow custard. When I came to New Zealand I missed Heinz baked beans,. Watties just weren't the same. By the time I eventually got some Heinz ones I found I preferred the Watties.
ReplyDeleteYou do get used to local products. I'm not sure the originals would taste now
DeleteYears ago I would visit a ‘special shop’ to buy Robertsons Fruit Mincemeat to make mince pies. That’s what I used in England and that’s what it had to be. Shop closed, it’s now available on supermarket shelves but blow that don’t make them anymore. Buy by the dozen from the local bakery….they all taste the same wherever they come from😊
ReplyDeleteI'd buy mine from the bakery too, if I could .
DeleteLady M asked if we will be having roast Parsnips with the Turkey; I said "NO".
ReplyDeleteI've lived quite happily without parsnips for many years. Would like some proper pumpkin, not squash
DeleteAll those kiwi favourites we take for granted, you should send me your address on instagram and I"ll put together a NZ goodie box for you.
ReplyDeleteOh Amy, a year ago I would have said 'Yes Please !!' But now we have to pay exhorbitant import tax on anything, even a small calendar, that comes in from outside the EU
DeleteI guess you’d have to try it, or grown up with the custard to find it appealing! From the ingredients, it sounds awful. So sorry to say it though. :-)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely something you have enjoyed from childhood. The taste of home!!
DeleteOh I love Edmonds Custard Powder and I presume Birds is similar. Nothing like it on Christmas trifle or over chopped bananas with whipped cream.
ReplyDeleteEdmonds Custard definitely for us kiwis!!! There is a Greek equivalent which I like but apparently it's not the same as Birds
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