Every try something new as a result of reading an old book?

JeremyZ · 10-08-2009, 05:56 PM

I was reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens last week. It is set in 19th century London and Paris. One of the characters is a drunk, and he drinks port. (a type of wine)

When grocery shopping, I normally go right by the cheaper domestic wines and go right to the Italian, French, and German stuff.

Last time though, I bought a bottle of port, because I was curious about it from the book. It was OK. Pretty sweet, but OK.

Previously, I read about mead in a fantasy book; I think it was Lord of the Rings... So I looked it up, saw that it was a wine made from honey, and I decided to try it. It was GREAT. (but hard to find these days)

The only two examples I have are alcohol, but I'm curious what you all have tried as a result of seeing it in an old book.

Ea · 10-08-2009, 06:36 PM

I tried a kind of wine on the suggestion from a book - and it was horrible - more later...

But first, as for the port... Don't know what you ended up buying, but an aged, Portugese, port is definitely worth it, both red or white - not so sweet either. In my experience, a sweet port is "cheap" - a decent port would cost at least close to the equivalent of 20 USD a bottle in Denmark, or better 30 USD, but I suspect a good deal less for you

A good quality mead should be about the same. Real mead is honey wine, but I have seen a lot that have been fortified with stronger liquors, especially brandy - not bad either.

As for that horrible wine that was suggested by a book: I read about priest in the middle ages who LOVED a white wine he was served when travelling on the road in Italy. He exclaimed "Est, est, est!" - and that became the name of the wine. I came a across a wine in the supermarket called that shortly after. I couldn't not buy of course! I have not tasted anything as sickeningly sweet - enough to make your teeth sing. Eeew! Just horrible. I have tasted meads that were flat, ports that were sweet, whisky's that were boring and snaps that were too benign - but nothing as bad as this wine. Not even the worst Liebfraumilch.

Superlucky · 10-08-2009, 07:06 PM

When I was a kid I loved the book Harriet the Spy. I tried spying on my neighbors after that, but I quit when I realized that they were all super boring.

carlobee · 10-08-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superlucky

When I was a kid I loved the book Harriet the Spy. I tried spying on my neighbors after that, but I quit when I realized that they were all super boring.

Haha. sounds great!

After reading The Da Vinci Code, I wanted to go to Paris.. just wanted to.. has not yet happened.. i hope I will be able to soon!

LDBoblo · 10-08-2009, 11:32 PM

Nope...I'm not an alcoholic.

darylbrayman · 10-09-2009, 02:44 AM

I forget which book, I think one of Jeffery Archers, all about the British upper class. Well I just had to try Brandy and soda. Horrible.

Regards, Daryl

Sweetpea · 10-09-2009, 02:47 AM

I've tried to climb alps ever since I've read Heidi...

Crowl · 10-09-2009, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darylbrayman

I forget which book, I think one of Jeffery Archers, all about the British upper class. Well I just had to try Brandy and soda. Horrible.

Regards, Daryl

"I forget which book, I think one of Jeffery Archers, Horrible."

Fixed your post for you.

poohbear_nc · 10-09-2009, 09:17 AM

After reading the Martha Grimes "Richard Jury" series, I tried drinking Old Peculiar ale- turns out it's a wonderful dark dark Yorkshire ale - looks like motor oil, incredible drinkability, and a whale of a punch! If you like Guinness and such, find this on tap for a wonderful taste experience.

Ea · 10-09-2009, 09:23 AM

Reading old English mysteries as a child, made me sugest to my mother that we tried to make kidney. Had to order it specially from the butcher. I think I fried it. I can't say I cared that much for it, but it wasn't worse than liver or heart.

HarryT · 10-09-2009, 09:25 AM

"Steak and Kidney Pie" is a classic British dish. One of my favourites!

ahi · 10-09-2009, 09:37 AM

Anyone knows where to get Kumis in North America? Got it from a movie, not a book though... and definitely want to try!

- Ahi

montsnmags · 10-09-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

"Steak and Kidney Pie" is a classic British dish. One of my favourites!

...mine too, but without the kidneys.

Cheers,
Marc

kenmark · 10-09-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahi

Anyone knows where to get Kumis in North America? Got it from a movie, not a book though... and definitely want to try!

- Ahi

I haven't seen Kumis but I have seen Kefir in my local IGA. Not the brand mentioned in this blog, but something similar.

ahi · 10-09-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenmark

I haven't seen Kumis but I have seen Kefir in my local IGA. Not the brand mentioned in this blog, but something similar.

Oh, I've no difficulty getting Kefir in Toronto. Kefir's pretty much just a special Kind of yoghurt to me though.

Maybe I need to try to hit up the Mongolian community around here... if there is one.

- Ahi

10-08-2009, 05:56 PM	#1
JeremyZ Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 1000702 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Device: Nook ST, Kindle 2, Samsung Galaxy Stellar phone	Ever try something new as a result of reading an old book? I was reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens last week. It is set in 19th century London and Paris. One of the characters is a drunk, and he drinks port. (a type of wine) When grocery shopping, I normally go right by the cheaper domestic wines and go right to the Italian, French, and German stuff. Last time though, I bought a bottle of port, because I was curious about it from the book. It was OK. Pretty sweet, but OK. Previously, I read about mead in a fantasy book; I think it was Lord of the Rings... So I looked it up, saw that it was a wine made from honey, and I decided to try it. It was GREAT. (but hard to find these days) The only two examples I have are alcohol, but I'm curious what you all have tried as a result of seeing it in an old book. Last edited by JeremyZ; 10-09-2009 at 10:26 AM.

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10-08-2009, 06:36 PM	#2
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I tried a kind of wine on the suggestion from a book - and it was horrible - more later... But first, as for the port... Don't know what you ended up buying, but an aged, Portugese, port is definitely worth it, both red or white - not so sweet either. In my experience, a sweet port is "cheap" - a decent port would cost at least close to the equivalent of 20 USD a bottle in Denmark, or better 30 USD, but I suspect a good deal less for you A good quality mead should be about the same. Real mead is honey wine, but I have seen a lot that have been fortified with stronger liquors, especially brandy - not bad either. As for that horrible wine that was suggested by a book: I read about priest in the middle ages who LOVED a white wine he was served when travelling on the road in Italy. He exclaimed "Est, est, est!" - and that became the name of the wine. I came a across a wine in the supermarket called that shortly after. I couldn't not buy of course! I have not tasted anything as sickeningly sweet - enough to make your teeth sing. Eeew! Just horrible. I have tasted meads that were flat, ports that were sweet, whisky's that were boring and snaps that were too benign - but nothing as bad as this wine. Not even the worst Liebfraumilch.

10-08-2009, 07:06 PM	#3
Superlucky Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 5952 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-350	When I was a kid I loved the book Harriet the Spy. I tried spying on my neighbors after that, but I quit when I realized that they were all super boring.

10-08-2009, 11:32 PM	#5
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	Nope...I'm not an alcoholic.

10-09-2009, 02:44 AM	#6
darylbrayman Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 1944308 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Device: Kobo, Mini, Glo, Aura and Aura H20	I forget which book, I think one of Jeffery Archers, all about the British upper class. Well I just had to try Brandy and soda. Horrible. Regards, Daryl

10-09-2009, 02:47 AM	#7
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I've tried to climb alps ever since I've read Heidi...

10-09-2009, 09:17 AM	#9
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,798 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	After reading the Martha Grimes "Richard Jury" series, I tried drinking Old Peculiar ale- turns out it's a wonderful dark dark Yorkshire ale - looks like motor oil, incredible drinkability, and a whale of a punch! If you like Guinness and such, find this on tap for a wonderful taste experience.

10-09-2009, 09:23 AM	#10
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Reading old English mysteries as a child, made me sugest to my mother that we tried to make kidney. Had to order it specially from the butcher. I think I fried it. I can't say I cared that much for it, but it wasn't worse than liver or heart.

10-09-2009, 09:25 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	"Steak and Kidney Pie" is a classic British dish. One of my favourites!

10-09-2009, 09:37 AM	#12
ahi Wizard Posts: 1,790 Karma: 507333 Join Date: May 2009 Device: none	Anyone knows where to get Kumis in North America? Got it from a movie, not a book though... and definitely want to try! - Ahi

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