European Delight

I think I am a European girl at heart. I love the atmosphere over there, I love the food culture (with the exception of some of the British food), I love the architecture and I’ve always just felt so drawn to the overall European lifestyle. Last Sunday as I was enjoying one of my first days off at home, I just may have been sucked into a little show on the Lifetime Channel called “William and Kate”. Arrrrggh….it has always cracked me up how the quality of the Lifetime movies is not so good but we all have found ourselves getting caught up in them from time to time. I recall several weekends in college doing Lifetime marathons and this last Sunday pleasantly brought me back to those days. Anyway, after watching the “intriguing” story on how Prince William met his now wife, Kate, I had to proceed to watching the Oprah show that Sari had recorded on the day of the Royal Wedding. I loved living in London back in 2002 and it gave me such an exciting feeling to see Buckingham Palace, hear the accents, and remember everything from the time I spent there. On Oprah, it just so happened that one of the retired Royal Chef’s was a guest that day and, for the audience, he had made the Chocolate Biscuit Cake that was a replica of Prince William’s groom’s cake. This chef had made that cake in the palace several times for when the Queen would have afternoon tea and cake with the boys and it is said to be one of the Prince's favorite childhood desserts. Being the cultural foodist that I am AND a European at heart, I have decided I am going to try making that special cake just like millions of other vewiers and crazy Royal staulkers. Don't worry I won’t be making any nutritious ingredient substitutions. First step….gathering ingredients.
Yesterday I made my way up to this cool little European Market called Gene’s Sausage and Delicatessen where they sell several European goods and products. The Chocolate Biscuit Cake calls for Rich Tea Biscuits so I figured they might have something of the sort. (In England, biscuits are cookies, not big fluffy muffins that you eat with gravy for breakfast.) I found a small package of them and they really were called Rich Tea Biscuits; I love it when products just go ahead and state the obvious. Cake creation will begin soon…stay tuned.

I also have been haveing a craving for this senf (mustard) that we always ate when I was in Germany. I thought I would explore my options while I was there. GUESS WHAT!!!!

I found the exact one! I was sooo excited! Even though I’m sure I paid double for it, I can now enjoy the flavor and be reminded of where I first had it.

So with Thomy senf and Rich Tea Biscuits in hand, I left the little shop and returned back to America once again.