Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[bcla]

An interesting thing about golden syrup - it is a very British and Canadian thing and there is apparently no American equivalent unless you count corn syrup, which is quite different. A baking and tabletop staple since the 1800's; it may be the reason we dodged the HFCS bullet. Due to our climate, corn has not historically been grown as a cash crop in Canada so our sweets are made out of actual sugar.

It's just a different name for HFCS. And most of it is imported from the United States.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Also, calling it a washroom instead of restroom.

An interesting comparison I found:


At least according to the above y'all are using something taken from America (not fact checked) and we're using something taken from when we left.






FWIW around here it's restroom or bathroom both used frequently enough, never seen washroom.

 

[ronandannette]

It's just a different name for HFCS. And most of it is imported from the United States.

What is that the label for? Coke? We weren't talking about pop, we were talking about syrup.

 

[bcla]

What is that the label for? Coke? We weren't talking about pop, we were talking about syrup.

OK then. But something like Karo syrup isn't HFCS. It's a glucose syrup which isn't as sweet. But "pancake syrup" could contain any number of different sweetness these days.

Even then, I remember back in the 70s when fructose wasn't a bad word. I saw granulated fructose for sale in a bulk bin at Safeway, and the claim was that it was fewer calories for the same level of sweetness.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Probably how polite we are. Also, calling it a washroom instead of restroom. I mean, when you use the facilities you wash your hands but who actually rests in there?

IDK.... my husband has his hunting magazines in his bathroom and can spend an astonishing amount of time in there....maybe he does rest, lol!!!!

Now for me, it functions as a washroom. In and out, haha!

 

[Buzz Rules]

IDK.... my husband has his hunting magazines in his bathroom and can spend an astonishing amount of time in there....maybe he does rest, lol!!!!

Now for me, it functions as a washroom. In and out, haha!

A college professor of mine once said he put a flat screen in his bathroom because his wife put a waterproof radio in the shower. I’m actually glad not to be able to afford such a luxury.

 

[SCCNJ]

Thank you to those that shared chain restaurant ideas. We have some of them like Chipolte, Popeyes, Qdoba, but others we don't and I think a few are going to make the list in 2022. As for BBQ, we were going to go to Scott's BBQ near Charleston when covid hit and we turned around and came home. My husband is very into BBq so it's a must stop on our next trip.

 

[Moliphino]

Canadian French is different than European French from what I’ve heard. Is that true?

Just as American English is different from British English or Spanish Spanish is different from Mexican Spanish. To my ear, French Canadians sound a bit like ducks compared to people from France.

 

[Princessclab]

I always think of apples as a west coast crop. I guess half all the apples are grown in Washington State.

Lots of apples grown in MN too.
We have a large agricultural aspect at the U of MN that develops new varieties all of the time. Think Honey Crisp....can't remember the most recent one.

 

[Moliphino]

Lots of apples grown in MN too.
We have a large agricultural aspect at the U of MN that develops new varieties all of the time. Think Honey Crisp....can't remember the most recent one.

There are apples everywhere in New England, but more often smaller family run orchards. We used to have two orchards in my small town, but one of them is now just a farm stand/breakfast/ice cream shop after the family sold the land a while back.

 

[Judique]

Thank you to those that shared chain restaurant ideas. We have some of them like Chipolte, Popeyes, Qdoba, but others we don't and I think a few are going to make the list in 2022. As for BBQ, we were going to go to Scott's BBQ near Charleston when covid hit and we turned around and came home. My husband is very into BBq so it's a must stop on our next trip.

We have a chain BBQ restaurant in this area that is starting to spread to other states.

It's called Mission BBQ.

I enjoy it from time to time.

 

[Aladora]

An interesting comparison I found:
View attachment 614020

At least according to the above y'all are using something taken from America (not fact checked) and we're using something taken from when we left.

View attachment 614021

View attachment 614022


FWIW around here it's restroom or bathroom both used frequently enough, never seen washroom.

Interesting, every other site I can find has "washroom" as an almost uniquely Canadian term.

I was in Seattle many years ago and I asked the server at a coffee shop where the washroom was. He gave me directions and then asked me what part of Canada I was from!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Interesting, every other site I can find has "washroom" as an almost uniquely Canadian term.

I was in Seattle many years ago and I asked the server at a coffee shop where the washroom was. He gave me directions and then asked me what part of Canada I was from!

From the various sites I read the term comes from American English but is not widely used in the U.S. (except Chicago that kept coming up and probably a few other places).

So I don't think you're wrong that it's used in Canada heavily in comparison to the U.S. we've apparently decided to relinquish that term lol in favor of bathroom or restroom some time ago and now predominately Canadians are the ones who use washroom.

 

[luv2cheer92]

I always think of apples as a west coast crop. I guess half all the apples are grown in Washington State.

I live in an area with a nickname of Apple Valley, in northwestern VA. Lots of apples here too.

 

[tvguy]

I live in an area with a nickname of Apple Valley, in northwestern VA. Lots of apples here too.

I live down the freeway from "Apple Hill" in California. https://applehill.com/

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, any legends or ghost stories from your towns/cities?

 

[declansdad]

Canadians, any legends or ghost stories from your towns/cities?

Current starting goalie for the Montreal Canadians lives down the road.
Willie O'Ree, first black player in the NHL is from here.
Louis B Mayer grew up in the province, Donald Sutherland and Walter Pidgeon were born here.

These are the people who come to mind quickly. There are many ghost stories from New Brunswick as well.

 

[E&Cmom]

Canadians, any legends or ghost stories from your towns/cities?

Apparently there is a ghost in the Fairmount Hotel Vancouver. I stayed there but not on the floor she is on.
http://www.fairmontmoments.com/guest-stories/the-lady-in-red

 

[fly girl]

Don't forget Michigan apples! Nation's third largest producer (unverified via google. lol)

But I have been apple picking in Michigan. Along with cherries, blueberries, strawberries, etc. The mitten state can produce some tasty fruit!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Apparently there is a ghost in the Fairmount Hotel Vancouver. I stayed there but not on the floor she is on.
http://www.fairmontmoments.com/guest-stories/the-lady-in-red

We've stayed there as well. If my DH had known it was supposed to be haunted, he would have insisted on going to every floor trying to see something. Thank goodness he didn't know about it then.