Comments on: The flowers acquired associations of decay and disease

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 05:18:32 +0000

In ‘Tramp Royal’ Michael Bruce, (Scots Bart, SA police, soldier Boer war and WWI, stunt man, fought Gestapo before WWII, otherwise kept busy) does some exploring in the Amazon and mentions the orchids he passed through (while suffering disease and exhaustion) were extremely disgusting.

By: Paul from Canada

Paul from Canada — Thu, 13 May 2021 08:32:03 +0000

When I was a kid, Marmite on toast and Bovril soup was what you got to eat when suffering from stomach flu or gastritis. My favorite way to have Marmite now is to spread it on top of cheddar cheese on toast.

I recall reading that during one of the sieges in the Boer War (Kimberly or Ladysmith), a local variant of Bovril called “Chervil” was made from dead horses.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Wed, 12 May 2021 04:29:29 +0000

Bovril, Marmite, and Vegemite are all staples of UK cuisine–A term which some would say should have air quotations around it, when used in reference to the UK…

Honestly, I’ve always liked them. The Aussie/NZ versions are a little different, but it’s all good. Which, I suppose, puts me deep into the “iconoclast” school of food taste.

I suppose I get it from childhood, where my exposure to various foods was eclectic, to say the least.

By: Dan Kurt

Dan Kurt — Tue, 11 May 2021 22:02:54 +0000

If bothered by the “extract of meat” in Bovril one can substitute another similar eccentric food (non-meat based) common to the British Empire depending on the location: Marmite or Vegemite. As a child I was served by an aunt as a treat wonderful white bread (crust removed) Marmite & lettuce sandwiches — little triangles about slider sized and oh so good.

I always have a jar of Marmite at hand to spread on bread or use as a seasoning, an umami bomb. Bovril makes a spectacular broth to drink on a cold rainy day.