Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[tvguy]

Roadkill can be safe to eat as long as it's carefully checked and freshly killed. At least in California, part of the rationale behind having a legal chance to salvage roadkill is to make it available to food pantries, although many won't accept meat that doesn't come from a USDA inspected slaughterhouse. I did read a little bit about it, and some food pantries said their requirement has a lot to do with the possibility that roadkill could have stuff in it that's not safe to eat, including debris such as broken glass. A lot of deer end up impaling themselves in car glass.

The food pantry angle makes sense. The local Salmon hatcheries have been sending salmon to the food banks for decades after their spawn. But only the ones that aren't all beat up, which many are after they spawn.

 

[bcla]

The food pantry angle makes sense. The local Salmon hatcheries have been sending salmon to the food banks for decades after their spawn. But only the ones that aren't all beat up, which many are after they spawn.

Aren't they kind of, you know, dead after they spawn? I've seen nature documentaries, and they kind of look like they're dying out there. It's one thing to have a freshly killed deer, but something flopping around in agony for hours would seem to be less than desirable.

I have seen footage of bears just feasting on all the dying salmon. They kind of look like those fish I see sold at a discount at live fish markets because they're look like they're on their way out.

 

[tvguy]

It's interesting you mention the start and end times as well, an article I was reading showed "suggested times" from several cities around the US (again nothing I have ever seen here in BC) and Seattle suggests going between 4&7pm!! Now I don't know if this is a pandemic thing or what but don't show up at my door at 4pm, it's not even dusk In our neighborhood I'd say it generally starts around 5:30 because we have a lot of families with young, young kids so the babies and toddlers come out first in a trickle. I'd say it really gets going by 6-6:30 and is generally over by 8:30. Again, these are pre pandemic times. Last year we were not home (put a bowl of candy out) and chose to trick or treat with our friends who live in a more rural area and thus the houses are more spread out (no crowds). Will be interesting to see what our neighborhood is like this year.

I have had co-workers move here from other states and they seem surprised that Halloween is celebrated here on........HALLOWEEN. They came from places where trick or treating is usually moved to the Friday or Saturday nights so as to not impact kids school. 4 pm is way too early, sunset here isn't even until 6:07 pm on Halloween. It has to be dark to trick or treat IMHO. We get a few of the tiny kids about 6:30 to 6:45 pm, and the rush.....if there is one.....is 7 to 8 pm. Once in a while we get a few trick or treaters after 8 pm, but they are usually old enough to have driven over.

 

[tvguy]

Aren't they kind of, you know, dead after they spawn? I've seen nature documentaries, and they kind of look like they're dying out there. It's one thing to have a freshly killed deer, but something flopping around in agony for hours would seem to be less than desirable.

I have seen footage of bears just feasting on all the dying salmon. They kind of look like those fish I see sold at a discount at live fish markets because they're look like they're on their way out.

Yes, they die after they spawn. Not an issue, the fillets are still wholesome and nutritious.
EDIT: Here is some background, apparently it is a common thing. https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article186630758.html

 

[bcla]

Yes, they die after they spawn. Not an issue, the fillets are still wholesome and nutritious.
EDIT: Here is some background, apparently it is a common thing. https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article186630758.html

The article says they're not exactly marketable quality, but still safe to eat. They basically stop eating and the meat starts turning into mush. I've been reading up on it, and some say keep it if the flesh is still pink, but toss it if it turns gray.

Of course none of that matters to a bear, eagle, or vulture. They're just looking for something to eat and aren't going to be terribly picky.

 

[NAB]

I have had co-workers move here from other states and they seem surprised that Halloween is celebrated here on........HALLOWEEN. They came from places where trick or treating is usually moved to the Friday or Saturday nights so as to not impact kids school. 4 pm is way too early, sunset here isn't even until 6:07 pm on Halloween. It has to be dark to trick or treat IMHO. We get a few of the tiny kids about 6:30 to 6:45 pm, and the rush.....if there is one.....is 7 to 8 pm. Once in a while we get a few trick or treaters after 8 pm, but they are usually old enough to have driven over.

This is where we are too. Always see in movies kids out in the daylight . Heck some people aren’t even home from work until 6.

 

[tvguy]

The article says they're not exactly marketable quality, but still safe to eat. They basically stop eating and the meat starts turning into mush. I've been reading up on it, and some say keep it if the flesh is still pink, but toss it if it turns gray.

Of course none of that matters to a bear, eagle, or vulture. They're just looking for something to eat and aren't going to be terribly picky.

I volunteer at the food bank and less than perfect foods are what keep people fed. About 4 years ago the local grocery store chain launched a "less than perfect" produce campaign because of how much food we waste just because it isn't perfect. They claim they were tossing out 40% of their produce because of how it looked. And now of course there is Perfectly Imperfect Produce who will send you a box of less than perfect produce every week.

 

[chickapin parterre]

hedgehogs...whats up with chocolate hedgehogs

 

[fab1976]

hedgehogs...whats up with chocolate hedgehogs

I think you’re referring to Purdy’s chocolates and oh are they good! They aren’t as popular in the east as they are in the west, I was well in my 30’s before I heard of Purdys and I’m 45 now. Yummy hazelnut flavored middle surrounded by a chocolate “shell”. Delicious.

 

[E&Cmom]

I only heard of Purdy’s and chocolate hedgehogs when I moved to BC in my late 20s. Growing up in Montreal it was Laura Secord And no hedgehogs.

 

[prairie_girl]

I think you’re referring to Purdy’s chocolates and oh are they good! They aren’t as popular in the east as they are in the west, I was well in my 30’s before I heard of Purdys and I’m 45 now. Yummy hazelnut flavored middle surrounded by a chocolate “shell”. Delicious.

I’m in MB and have never heard of this.

 

[E&Cmom]

These are chocolate hedgehogs. Purdy’s is a BC based company but they do have some stores in other provinces. I have seen other brands of hedgehogs as well.

 

[Buzz Rules]

We have chocolate turtles here in the U.S.. We invented them, but you guys didn’t get to enjoy them until 1949. The horror of not eating them until then…

 

[bcwife76]

We have chocolate turtles here in the U.S.. We invented them, but you guys didn’t get to enjoy them until 1949. The horror of not eating them until then…

Mmmmmm I love Turtles

 

[Buzz Rules]

Mmmmmm I love Turtles

As an American, your welcome. Our states often have turtles as state reptile symbols.

 

[ronandannette]

These are chocolate hedgehogs. Purdy’s is a BC based company but they do have some stores in other provinces. I have seen other brands of hedgehogs as well.

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Lots of Purdy's stores in Alberta and they're also sold by other retailers like London Drugs. I'm not a chocolate person but you really can't go wrong with offering a box as a little gift.

 

[VandVsmama]

So I apologize if this one has been mentioned already, but apparently in some US states trick or treating does not always happen on Oct 31st but will be on another day??? In some states you can't do it if it's on a Sunday (like this year) and they will go out on Saturday instead? Please enlighten me because this is NOT a thing in Canada trick or treating is ONLY on the 31st of October, no matter what day it falls on, in every province and territory.

Here in AZ, trick or treating happens on 10/31 regardless of which day of the week it falls on.

 

[White Cat]

Lots of Purdy's stores in Alberta and they're also sold by other retailers like London Drugs. I'm not a chocolate person but you really can't go wrong with offering a box as a little gift.

The best chocolate to me is Rheo Thompson in Stratford Ontario. Mennonite ladies using very old looking equipment, I love visiting that place, it’s usually filled with buyers.

 

[fab1976]

I’m in MB and have never heard of this.

So the far west then, sounds like maybe BC and Alberta focused! I’m in Ontario, they aren’t prominent here but do have some locations.

 

[declansdad]

Please enlighten me because this is NOT a thing in Canada trick or treating is ONLY on the 31st of October, no matter what day it falls on, in every province and territory.

Not true, in fact there were communities in New Brunswick that did trick or treating last night. Communities are free to decide when they would like it to happen.