Three Towns Forum

The Local => Ask a Local => Topic started by: Yorkie on March 31, 2011, 05:51:11 pm

Title: Food and drink
Post by: Yorkie on March 31, 2011, 05:51:11 pm
This afternoon I was cooking some steak and kidney mixture and used half a can of Guiness.  As neither the Mrs or I like Guiness the residue was poured away (sacrilidge I hear you say).  As I was about to throw the can away something was rattling inside.  A quick cut with a pair of scissors opened the can and out popped a small plastic ball, a bit like a half size ping-pong ball.  Does anyone know what it is for???
 Z**    Z**    Z**    Z**    Z**
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: brumbob on March 31, 2011, 05:53:27 pm
It's a widget

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget_(beer) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget_(beer))
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Yorkie on March 31, 2011, 06:40:23 pm
Well, well, well!   Now I know.   Anyone for (table) tennis?     L0L    Z**
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Fester on March 31, 2011, 10:59:26 pm
Yes... and there are glasses with an etched pattern which do the same job in pubs.
They keep the beer fresh and lively.

Ask for one in the Fat Cat or the Cottage Loaf .. maybe others.  I don't know how I survived without them.   Z** Z** Z**
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Trojan on April 01, 2011, 12:54:53 am
Seems a good place to display my favorite postcard again.  Z**

I often buy draft Guinness from the supermarket. It's actually brewed in Ireland as opposed to the stout I used to buy back home, which was brewed in London.
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: brumbob on April 01, 2011, 07:05:52 am
Yes... and there are glasses with an etched pattern which do the same job in pubs.
They keep the beer fresh and lively.

Ask for one in the Fat Cat or the Cottage Loaf .. maybe others.  I don't know how I survived without them.   Z** Z** Z**
I've heard that your beer doesn't 'survive' for long in your glass anyway  :laugh:
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: DaveR on April 01, 2011, 08:06:19 am
I often buy draft Guinness from the supermarket. It's actually brewed in Ireland as opposed to the stout I used to buy back home, which was brewed in London.
I believe they have closed the London brewery now and all UK/Ireland Guinness is brewed in Dublin.  $drink1$
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Fester on April 01, 2011, 11:23:12 am
Yes... and there are glasses with an etched pattern which do the same job in pubs.
They keep the beer fresh and lively.

Ask for one in the Fat Cat or the Cottage Loaf .. maybe others.  I don't know how I survived without them.   Z** Z** Z**
I've heard that your beer doesn't 'survive' for long in your glass anyway  :laugh:

Ha ha.... well, I do keep hearing that local pubs are suffering, so I like to do my bit for this noble charity  Z**   
It certainly won't be my fault if another pub closes!
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Trojan on April 03, 2011, 02:10:06 am
I often buy draft Guinness from the supermarket. It's actually brewed in Ireland as opposed to the stout I used to buy back home, which was brewed in London.
I believe they have closed the London brewery now and all UK/Ireland Guinness is brewed in Dublin.  $drink1$

Aye, the Park Royal brewery closed and was demolished in 2005.  :'(
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Pendragon on April 03, 2011, 06:33:18 pm
There is now a new way to serve Guinness called the Surger,  its a good idea for pubs as Guinness is not only one of the most expensive drinks to buy wholesale but unless you have a constant flow of sales the product can also quickly go stale resulting in poor quality.  Guinness can be a nightmare honestly.  So this little invention is ideal.  You can use cans and the device ensures excellent quality every time with no waste.

The Surger device sees bar staff pouring a special can of Guinness, which does not include a widget, into a pint glass. The glass is put on an electronic plate that releases soundwaves into the liquid and creates a creamy head.

Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Yorkie on April 03, 2011, 06:49:59 pm
You can do the same job with a Phillips Electronic vibrating toothbrush.  Or any vibrating device, whatever is handy at the time!    _))*
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Pendragon on April 04, 2011, 08:39:07 am
He he I can see it now,  Bar tenders armed with the the usual bottle opener and Braun Oral B or the Ann Summers RR  :o (if you don't know what the RR is, I'm afraid I'm not about to explain) either was the Surger is best  _))*
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: DaveR on April 04, 2011, 09:16:37 am
The Guinness Surger was originally developed for home use and was sold as a gift set of the surger unit and two special cans of Guinness. Unfortunately, it wasn't a great success and the special cans were withdrawn from retail sale, leaving the surger unit useless. Good work, Diageo!

I think part of the appeal of Guinness in a pub is the ritual of the barperson pouring it.  $sunny$
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Merddin Emrys on April 04, 2011, 09:26:48 am
I'll stick with the widget in the can at home, seems much easier!!  Z**
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Pendragon on April 04, 2011, 09:36:27 am
The unit is now coming into it's own with more and more outlets installing the device.
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Fester on April 04, 2011, 10:40:02 am
I'll stick with the widget in the can at home, seems much easier!!  Z**

I'd rather stick with Angie's RR to be honest...
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Trojan on April 05, 2011, 03:37:57 am
I'll stick with the widget in the can at home, seems much easier!!  Z**

I'd rather stick with Angie's RR to be honest...

 ???
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Trojan on April 05, 2011, 03:45:06 am
I remember some bars in Dublin "pre-pour" the Guinness, then simply top-up the glass when a pint is ordered.
Title: Re: Irish Ale
Post by: Yorkie on April 05, 2011, 09:30:51 am
CHICKEN:   "I thought I asked for a Buck-rarebit!"
Title: Food and drink
Post by: hollins on May 01, 2011, 11:14:13 am
Does anyone know anything about welsh whisky?
When we moved in to our house we found these bottles in the back of a wardrobe!
In case you cannot read the label from the photo it is called Royal Welsh whisky It says, "It is distilled with the greatest possible care from malt only and is absolutely pure. Connoisseurs pronounce it quite unique and as a wholesome stimulant it is very highly recommended.
Proprietor - William Owen. White Lion Royal Hotel, Bala, North Wales."
Title: Re: Welsh whisky
Post by: suepp on May 01, 2011, 11:36:59 am
http://www.celticmalts.com/journal.asp?cat=65&hierarchy=0|4|9 (http://www.celticmalts.com/journal.asp?cat=65&hierarchy=0|4|9)

The above links to the story of the original distillery which was sold in 1900 to William Owen
Title: Re: Welsh whisky
Post by: dwsi on May 01, 2011, 11:43:47 am
the disused distillery where these bottles came from, was the birthplace of the IRA http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/fron-go.html (http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/fron-go.html)
Title: Re: Welsh whisky
Post by: hollins on May 01, 2011, 11:48:16 am
Thank you so much. How fascinating!
Title: Re: Welsh whisky
Post by: suepp on May 01, 2011, 12:04:01 pm
My family goes back to Bala and my GGG Grandfather John Roberts was a publican there, I have been trying to find out which pub he ran!
Title: Re: Welsh whisky
Post by: Trojan on May 01, 2011, 09:27:37 pm
the disused distillery where these bottles came from, was the birthplace of the IRA http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/fron-go.html (http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/fron-go.html)

"Drink for your Daddy oh, there's Whiskey in the jar".  ;D 
Title: Re: Welsh whisky
Post by: DaveR on May 01, 2011, 09:51:27 pm
Proprietor - William Owen. White Lion Royal Hotel, Bala, North Wales."
The Hotel is still going strong today:
http://www.thewhitelionbala.co.uk/ (http://www.thewhitelionbala.co.uk/)
Title: Re: Welsh whisky
Post by: Llechwedd on May 03, 2011, 01:23:46 pm
Chwisgi or Welsh Whiskey is still avaialable.  They have a stand every year at the Abergavenny Food Festival.  it's very nice.  hic. ZXZ
Title: Food and drink
Post by: Yorkie on July 24, 2012, 11:45:06 am
Was in Tesco today and for some inexplicable reason decided to get a melon as a starter for this evening but I have never known how to tell if they are ripe.   Bingo, I found the Fruit and Veg Manager and asked him and he considered the easiest way was to rap it with your knuckle and if it sounds hollow and full of nothing, it is probably fully ripe and ready to devour!    ZXZ
Title: Re: Is Fruit Ripe?
Post by: Nemesis on July 24, 2012, 12:48:49 pm
I have always pressed the ends of a melon to test it's ripeness, or yanked a green bit out of a pineapple-- so I will rap the next one !
Title: Re: Is Fruit Ripe?
Post by: Llechwedd on July 24, 2012, 01:42:12 pm
Oh please don't start bashing them you'll bruise them.  You hold it in both hands and gently press the non stalk end.  If it gives it's ripe if it's as had as anything it's not.
Title: Re: Is Fruit Ripe?
Post by: Nemesis on July 24, 2012, 03:40:10 pm
Just what I have always done !
Title: Food and drink
Post by: Ian on July 24, 2012, 04:55:03 pm
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Title: Re: Food and drink
Post by: Johann on January 25, 2013, 10:17:00 am
I love my Guinness. Just sittin in the office for the next 5 hours but I cant wait for having my every-day-pint! :D
Title: Re: Food and drink
Post by: Fester on January 25, 2013, 11:48:40 am
Another Spammer in our midst?