What Can you not find in Certain Countries While Cruising?

[JanetGroene]

Maple syrup except in U.S. and Canada. I make my own using 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and stir in 1 teaspoon of a concentrate called Mapleine. It's fun, though to try syrups found in other countries such as birch, Lyle's Golden and grenadine.

[JPA Cate]

Janet,

Canadian maple syrup is available in New Zealand, and both Canadian and made-in-Australia-from-imported-ingredients in Australia.

I actually think mapleine was invented as a cost saving item for folks who like the flavor but whose budgets did not run to "real" 100% maple syrup.

What rhymes with "purple?" Maple syrup'll.

A

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by JanetGroene

Maple syrup except in U.S. and Canada. I make my own using 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and stir in 1 teaspoon of a concentrate called Mapleine. It's fun, though to try syrups found in other countries such as birch, Lyle's Golden and grenadine.

I cannot and will not try to verify this but a female mod from Oz told me in confidence that Vegamite syrup on hotcakes was, and here I quote, "far better than maple syrup."

[Andrew Troup]

Throwing vegemite sandwiches is the Australian equivalent of throwing shoes in Afghanistan, or baring your bum in NZ.

Ask Julia Gillard.

And the kid who's currently probably banged up in a gulag somewhere beyond the black stump, despite semi-convincing protestations of semi-innocence...

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Blue Crab

I cannot and will not try to verify this but a female mod from Oz told me in confidence that Vegamite syrup on hotcakes was, and here I quote, "far better than maple syrup."

Crabby, it was actually tortillas not hotcakes I mentioned, but yes, vegemite beats maple syrup hands down on hotcakes too .

No secret I am a vegemite addict, not that I haven't tried to overcome this weakness. Rehabilitation attempts have sadly not succeeded.

Going cold turkey involuntaily when supplies ran out in the Med resulted in palpitations, tremors and difficulty breathing. In fact I experienced all the typical symptoms of withdrawal apart from the headaches .

Next came Motivational enhancement, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Relapse-prevention techniques, Spiritual support and mindfulness techniques & Relaxation and alternative therapies.

All these had no effect (the massages may have resulted in some temporary minor improvement, so I am persisting with those long term).

The Vegeconon Program and even the Thirteen Step Program failed miserably.

Simply resigned now to keeping up supplies and being a "Happy Little Vegemite" with a "rose in every cheek".

[Blue Crab]

"Well no, I haven't tried it but Vegamite and all the other goos are dead to me. " Tony Soprano

[svBeBe]

Originally Posted by JanetGroene

Maple syrup except in U.S. and Canada. I make my own using 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and stir in 1 teaspoon of a concentrate called Mapleine. It's fun, though to try syrups found in other countries such as birch, Lyle's Golden and grenadine.

I make the same syrup because could not find any kind of maple flavored syrup in Turkey. But I never heard of Mapleine. I use Maple Extract. Sold in the USA in tiny bottles on the same shelf as liquid Vanilla Extract. Use 1/2 tsp per batch of syrup. Lasts several weeks without refrigeration.

BTW, we got a huge laugh when in New Zealand. The supermarket cashier pronounced Maple Syrup an entirely new way to our ears. She called is "mapple syrup" -- as in rhymes with apple. And here I thought the entire world knew about maple trees and maple syrup.

Judy

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by svBeBe

BTW, we got a huge laugh when in New Zealand. The supermarket cashier pronounced Maple Syrup an entirely new way to our ears. She called is "mapple syrup" -- as in rhymes with apple. And here I thought the entire world knew about maple trees and maple syrup.

Judy

Judy, the Kiwi's, while generally lovable, sure do talk funny! Just ask one what you call a person who plays the saxophone... comes out "sex oftenest". Cracked me up the first time I heard that one!

Cheers,

Jim

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Back to Really Serious Deprivation: in Australia (and NZ and New Cal and VAnuatu and the Solomons) one is hard pressed to find Mexican food. There are the occasional restaurants labled "Mexican", and they often offer good, wholesome tucker, but no real Mexican food. In particular, the Tomatillo is not grown down under for some reason, and this makes construction of green salsas difficult. The Mexican types of chillis are being grown, but they mostly lack authority. I have actually eaten an Australian Habenero and lived to tell the tale...

We're in California right now, and it is fair to say that I have practiced gluttony since our arrival...

Cheers,

Jim

Sure you can buy Mexican groceries in Australia. Try these guys.

Shop

or here

http://www.montereyfoods.com.au/home.php

Both take online orders.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by savoir

Sure you can buy Mexican groceries in Australia. Try these guys.

Shop

or here

Monterey Mexican Foods

Both take online orders.

Thanks for those links, Savoir. I was vaguely aware of such sites, but hadn't followed up on them. The only issue for us is being somewhere to receive the goods. Sometimes not having a local address is a PITA!

And we still wish there was a source for fresh tomatillos... the canned ones are kinda disgusting! And real corn tortillas, not the cardboard ones in the long life packs.

Meanwhile, I think I have gained a few pounds here in California!

Cheers,

Jim

[MacG]

Watery or not, I do like Coors and particularly Coors "Banquette" .....

What I CAN find in Holland is bl**dy bad weather, rain and storm. Similar to last season. So I move to France Med next month. Ship is almost ready now/

[zeehag]

maple FLAVORED syrup sukks bad.. REAL maple syrup is awesome.

root beer needs ice cream then is awesome. that is what i miss--the float..lol

budweiser and coors as well as the other usa beers soooo sukk----

not having an address is cool except when i want a present from mom...lol

if yáll come sailing with me--please bring your own weird stuff.......

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Thanks for those links, Savoir. I was vaguely aware of such sites, but hadn't followed up on them. The only issue for us is being somewhere to receive the goods. Sometimes not having a local address is a PITA!

And we still wish there was a source for fresh tomatillos... the canned ones are kinda disgusting! And real corn tortillas, not the cardboard ones in the long life packs.

Meanwhile, I think I have gained a few pounds here in California!

Cheers,

Jim

I'm afraid I've never seen fresh tomatillos anywhere in Australia. The best salsa verde you can buy in Australia is Herdez which only comes in mild. A little habanero hot sauce can soon fix that. Habanero Tabasco is sold in Australian supermarkets as is Cholula.

[svpattyd]

Smoking tobacco in the Bahamas. My husband smokes a pipe and we could not find pipe tobacco. Cigars, yes and 'other' smoking material, but no loose tobacco.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by svpattyd

Smoking tobacco in the Bahamas. My husband smokes a pipe and we could not find pipe tobacco. Cigars, yes and 'other' smoking material, but no loose tobacco.

Sorry, can't resist an anecdote. On the ICW in Lusiana somewhere a pusher and several barges passed me, went down about a mile, stopped and started backing the whole shebang. When I pulled alongside, a deckhand hollered if we "had any papers?" Musta been the cut of our jib I guess, back in them good ol daze.