A Gift Of Language – SNACKIES

The British have a wonderful way of saying things. Americans tend to forget that English is their language. There is a famous quote attributed to Oscar Wild that explains difference between the British and American English “Two people separated by a common language”. Our daughter Jennifer learned the differences when she lived in New York City with her friend Amy Robjohn who is from Weybridge in Surrey England, just south of London. A few samples of the simple differences included:

  • Running shoes were “trainers”

  • Lining up for coffee at Starbucks was “standing in a queue”

  • Soccer is “football”

When Amy first came to visit us in Memphis, Jenn took her to Costco. Amy loved Costco’s sampling program and appropriately call the samples: “SNACKIES”.  The handle has stuck. For example, the Kenny family rejoiced when “SNACKIES” reappeared after Covid. As it turns out, Amy claims that the term SNACKIES isn’t a British thing, just and Amy thing. To us it is simply a language gift.

Amy told us that the trendy British handle for SNACKIES is “Picky Bits”. Picky Bits are the English equivalent of tapas. Nearly half of Brits refer to British-style finger food as ‘Picky Bits’, with 52% choosing it as the meal of choice in warmer weather. (WalesOnline)

Amy came out to visit us in Westhampton recently and “SNACKIES”, became the appropriate theme for a light lunch. Past the catchy name, who doesn’t like snacks, that can also be called appetizers.

The menu:

The menu is interspersed with special local ingredients:

  • Royal Red Shrimp harvested in the very deep water off of the coast of Long Island.

  • Mom mom’s Herbs, picked from the herb garden outside the kitchen window that my mom nurtured for 40 years.

  • Heirloom tomatoes from the local farmstand.

  • Boar’s Head Mortadella a cousin of the bologna that was a staple of my youth

A smiling  Amy

Deviled Eggs with Royal Red Shrimp and Smocked Salmon

Mortadella & Peperoncino Crostini Bites
Fresh Ricotta & Heirloom Tomato Crostini Bites

Ham & Mortadella Roll-ups

Melon & Berries

Peaches and Banana’s with Brie and Blackberry Jam

Whether you call them SNACKIES or Picky Bits we have to thank our friends from across the pond for the perfect name for a quick/delicious meal. And, the Kenny family gets to thank Amy for a language gift and a fun time whenever we get together

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

 

Fifty Years In A Flash

My sister Joan and her husband Brian are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. How can that be? We were there when they got married, but it seems like yesterday. They say that time flies when you are having fun, so yes, we must have been having a blast.

One explanation of  the 50th wedding anniversary for people so young, is that Joan and Brian were 12 when they got married. Well maybe I exaggerate a little, but they were only 21. I recently asked my mother, who is 100 years old, how she and my father let them get married so young. She said it wasn’t exactly her choice, but she knew they were in love. Fifty years later, one might say, getting married so early wasn’t such a bad decision.

Susan and I followed Joan and Brian at State University of New York at Plattsburgh. When we got to Plattsburgh, they were the old married couple. Here is a picture of the two young hippies in their garden just outside of Plattsburgh.

Joan & Brian in the early 1970’s

The crops from this garden were the ingredients for the first Supper Club. The fact was, we didn’t have the money for much more. It didn’t matter. Joan and Brian had rented a little house out in the middle of an apple orchard. We had many good times and too many good meals there.

For one of our early Supper Clubs, we hosted a group of our college friends at Joan and Brian’s on a meal centered around bountiful crop of late harvest zucchini. We made a dish that our buddy Ron Iles aptly called: Seeds Parmesan”. It didn’t matter, like most of the meals at Joan and Brian’s table, it was consumed with relish. It is amazing how a little wine can mask over a slight culinary imperfection.

Fast forward over the next 50 years there have been so many great times.

  • Summers in Westhampton watching our kids grow up together.
  • Holidays between New York, Virginia, New Hampshire and Memphis.
  • Most recently, visits to Bayside Island in the Thousand Islands, where Joan and Brian have restored what was Brian’s Great Grand Parent’s vacation home.

Joan & Brian’s Island in the Thousand Island today

To celebrate the anniversary, Joan and Brian’s children, Katie and Emily, hosted a party at the island. Emily created a wonderful meal that centered around a beef roulade that would be the delight of any Supper Club. Both Joan and Brian are better than good cooks and some would say that apples don’t fall far from the tree.

Emilie’s Culinary Masterpiece for the anniversary party

Fifty years have gone by in a flash. Some things change and some things remain the same. Our definition of culinary excellence has changed from Seeds Parmesan to a Barefoot Contessa quality beef roulade. The cornerstone of love that justified getting married fifty years ago is still a cornerstone today.

To Joan & Brian …congratulations on your 50th Wedding Anniversary

 

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

 

California Crisp Fried Wontons