Regional Differences

[Liberty Belle]

Here's another regional difference. Bagels outside of NY are really just rolls with a hole in the middle, not real bagels.

Really? Bagels seem different to mean than any roll I've had. And I've never been to New York. What are New York bagels like?

 

[Michelle67]

I thought Seattle is a seafood city. So I thought they would have heard of the combo of cream cheese and smoked salmon before? I guess there are no Jewish people in Seattle? They screwed up & gave me cream cheese and anchovies!


I bet most people outside of the NYC/LI/NJ area do not know what a bialy is.

I have no clue why, but you are right. Smoked salmon is a huge thing here, eaten, exported, and sold to tourists, but the bagels and lox combo is not at all common. Probably because our bagels suck...you are completely right about that too. People are picky picky picky about their smoked salmon here, and smoked salmon is not just smoked salmon. There are lots of variations in species used, brines, seasonings, wood used, firmness/dryness achieved...and everyone just knows that their way is the best. I think it is kinda like barbecue being a religion in Texas. And hells no to farmed fish. There are lots of fish farms here, but not one person that I know personally will touch a farmed fish with a ten foot pole.

On the other hand, have you ever had halibut cheeks? Actually, they are sometimes "passed off" as scallops. How about a whole smoked halibut head? Yum yum (I give the eyeballs to my dad). Sorry...so couldn't help myself.

BTW, there are Jewish people in the greater Seattle area, but it is not anything close to a dominant religion here. Neither are Catholics. They exist, but protestant churches outnumber Jewish and Catholic I don't even know how many times over. Growing up here I knew exactly one Jewish person, and a smattering of Catholic people. Almost everyone I knew was some denomination of Protestant. Imagine my (Catholic from NY) husband's horror when he said that it was too bad we couldn't get married in the church and I said, "Which one?" He looked like this: I looked like this: Then he said "THE church." Oh, okay, Honey. That clears it right up.

And no I don't know what a bialy is. My husband isn't here so I can't ask him so I can look smart.

 

[Imzadi]

Really? Bagels seem different to mean than any roll I've had. And I've never been to New York. What are New York bagels like?

They are soft and slightly chewy on the inside. There is a substantial thickness and bite to them, without being overly thick, heavy, rubbery or needing to be chewed for hours. They are definitely not thick & DOUGHY as they are in other parts of the country. There is still a puffiness to the insides - but not like a bread roll. The outside has a thin, light, crispy crust that does NOT break your teeth like a French baguette, or pull out fillings as overly chewy bagels from other parts of country do. The crispiness has a nice balance to the inside.

The BEST bagels are actually simmered in WATER first before being finished off by baking. It requires special equipment & extra time. They are called "water bagels."

The reason NY bagels & pizza are different is the NYC area water. It has extra minerals or something. So it makes for a different texture and crispiness that our bagels & pizza crust are infamous for.

Bagels should NOT be refrigerated. That makes them overly-chewy and doughy. If you are already starting out with chewy doughy bagels to begin with, then they are refrigerated, they turn into chewy hockey pucks. never, never freeze a NY bagel. They should be consumed in 48 hours, max, and that is pushing it.

BTW, I can't stand chewy, doughy, soggy, flaccid pizza crust from elsewhere either.

Yes, I am a NYC bagel & pizza snob.

 

[Michelle67]

Now see, Imzadi, I think yours is the flaccid pizza. Mine doesn't flop over when you pick it up, or have to be folded to avoid same.

Yeah yeah...I know...them's fightin words.

 

[madge]

Back to regional differences, what about games/activities that are popular in your area?

I'd have to go with:
Corn Hole
Euchre
Bingo

I don't play any of them (well, euchre on occasion), but these are probably the top three around here. There are tournaments and fundraisers revolving around all three, and Bingo is a huge fundraiser for the local catholic churches.

do you live near Cincinnati?

Those are all very big there -- at least they were 25 years ago when I lived in NKy.

Conversely, I live about 150 miles south ... no one plays Euchre, and bingo isn't very popular at all. People do play cornhole, but not with the same level of enthusiasm as they do north of here.

 

[madge]

Really? Bagels seem different to mean than any roll I've had. And I've never been to New York. What are New York bagels like?

not like bagels we get in here in Kentucky. I've been to NYC, but can't remember specifically having a bagel .. but friends there assure me what I have here is nothing like what they have there. LOL

Panera is as close to a bagel as I think I've ever had.

 

[Imzadi]

I have no clue why, but you are right. Smoked salmon is a huge thing here, eaten, exported, and sold to tourists, but the bagels and lox combo is not at all common. Probably because our bagels suck...you are completely right about that too. People are picky picky picky about their smoked salmon here, and smoked salmon is not just smoked salmon. There are lots of variations in species used, brines, seasonings, wood used, firmness/dryness achieved...and everyone just knows that their way is the best. I think it is kinda like barbecue being a religion in Texas. And hells no to farmed fish. There are lots of fish farms here, but not one person that I know personally will touch a farmed fish with a ten foot pole.

On the other hand, have you ever had halibut cheeks? Actually, they are sometimes "passed off" as scallops. How about a whole smoked halibut head? Yum yum (I give the eyeballs to my dad). Sorry...so couldn't help myself.

BTW, there are Jewish people in the greater Seattle area, but it is not anything close to a dominant religion here. Neither are Catholics. They exist, but protestant churches outnumber Jewish and Catholic I don't even know how many times over. Growing up here I knew exactly one Jewish person, and a smattering of Catholic people. Almost everyone I knew was some denomination of Protestant. Imagine my (Catholic from NY) husband's horror when he said that it was too bad we couldn't get married in the church and I said, "Which one?" He looked like this: I looked like this: Then he said "THE church." Oh, okay, Honey. That clears it right up.

And no I don't know what a bialy is. My husband isn't here so I can't ask him so I can look smart.

Michelle, you are too funny!

Okay, I did a Seattle no-no, by trying to combine cream cheese with your sacred smoked salmon.

As for your DH, I also grew up in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood. We thought that was pretty much THE religion. I said earlier on this thread, that I was shocked when someone on the DIS, (when we had religious discussions) said, Catholics aren't considered Christians. But, we can't get into that here now on the DIS.

 

[Michelle67]

Michelle, you are too funny!

Okay, I did a Seattle no-no, by trying to combine cream cheese with your sacred smoked salmon.

As for your DH, I also grew up in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood. We thought that was pretty much THE religion. I said earlier on this thread, that I was shocked when someone on the DIS, (when we had religious discussions) said, Catholics aren't considered Christians. But, we can't get into that here now on the DIS.

Nah, probably not. They just didn't know about that particular lovely way of having it. However, the only lox I've ever seen (in NY, of course) and I'm assuming this is normal...were thin little slices. IMHO, smoked salmon really shouldn't resemble lunch meat. CHUNKS are the only way to fly. And speaking of which, you really ought to get ahold of some smoked salmon sometime (and may I please suggest you be a snob and make sure it's sockeye) and break it up into chunks in your alfredo sauce just before serving. OOOOOH baby. You'll never go back to that boring chicken stuff again.

 

[tink_lover]

OT for my new MN friends, look for my post on the Dismeets board.

Pertaining to this thread and games, did you play Duck, Duck, Grey Duck or Duck, Duck, Goose? We played Grey Duck.

 

[Michelle67]

OT for my new MN friends, look for my post on the Dismeets board.

Pertaining to this thread and games, did you play Duck, Duck, Grey Duck or Duck, Duck, Goose? We played Grey Duck.

Duck Duck Goose. And Red Rover, and Red Light Green Light. My kids think all of these are things I so totally made up.

 

[Imzadi]

Now see, Imzadi, I think yours is the flaccid pizza. Mine doesn't flop over when you pick it up, or have to be folded to avoid same.

Yeah yeah...I know...them's fightin words.

You are soooo close to having your invite to take you to the Statue of Liberty invite rescinded.

Our NY pizza is only "flacid" because it is our thin, crispy crust. It is loaded with so much toppings, that it caves under the weight of the toppings.

 

[aprilgail2]

Well I agree with mjkacmom (I don't feel like going back to find the post and quote it). I find myself frequently agreeing with things she says because although I'm not from NY/NJ, I am from the DC suburbs and I think the culture is similar here. I don't know anyone who got married at 18, 19, or 20. And very very few between 21 and 26.
It's not just financial though, it's cultural too. There's no push or expectation to get married early, and no one else is doing it. There's no real backlash if you live together before marriage, because it's common. There is sort of an expectation that you wait until you are "settled" to get married (good job, finished education, ready to buy a house, ready to have kids, etc.).

I can't tell you the last wedding I went to that was for someone under 26 years old---just doesn't happen that often around here unless they are pregnant....

What does everyone call their parents and grandparents?

".

Mom, dad,grandma and grandpa-- its really weird when you hear an adult calling their parents mommy and daddy

Back to regional differences, what about games/activities that are popular in your area?

I'd have to go with:
Corn Hole
.

wow that is really nasty-- say that to someone and thems fighting words....

 

[Imzadi]

Nah, probably not. They just didn't know about that particular lovely way of having it. However, the only lox I've ever seen (in NY, of course) and I'm assuming this is normal...were thin little slices. IMHO, smoked salmon really shouldn't resemble lunch meat. CHUNKS are the only way to fly. And speaking of which, you really ought to get ahold of some smoked salmon sometime (and may I please suggest you be a snob and make sure it's sockeye) and break it up into chunks in your alfredo sauce just before serving. OOOOOH baby. You'll never go back to that boring chicken stuff again.

CHUNKS?

You mean it comes another way?

 

[tink_lover]

Duck Duck Goose. And Red Rover, and Red Light Green Light. My kids think all of these are things I so totally made up.

Too funny! We played those too - also Capture the Flag and Kick the Can.

 

[Liberty Belle]

not like bagels we get in here in Kentucky. I've been to NYC, but can't remember specifically having a bagel .. but friends there assure me what I have here is nothing like what they have there. LOL

Panera is as close to a bagel as I think I've ever had.

I was thinking of Panera when I said that, because they do seem a bit denser or something than store bought bagels.

 

[Liberty Belle]

They are soft and slightly chewy on the inside. There is a substantial thickness and bite to them, without being overly thick, heavy, rubbery or needing to be chewed for hours. They are definitely not thick & DOUGHY as they are in other parts of the country. There is still a puffiness to the insides - but not like a bread roll. The outside has a thin, light, crispy crust that does NOT break your teeth like a French baguette, or pull out fillings as overly chewy bagels from other parts of country do. The crispiness has a nice balance to the inside.

The BEST bagels are actually simmered in WATER first before being finished off by baking. It requires special equipment & extra time. They are called "water bagels."

The reason NY bagels & pizza are different is the NYC area water. It has extra minerals or something. So it makes for a different texture and crispiness that our bagels & pizza crust are infamous for.

Bagels should NOT be refrigerated. That makes them overly-chewy and doughy. If you are already starting out with chewy doughy bagels to begin with, then they are refrigerated, they turn into chewy hockey pucks. never, never freeze a NY bagel. They should be consumed in 48 hours, max, and that is pushing it.

BTW, I can't stand chewy, doughy, soggy, flaccid pizza crust from elsewhere either.

Yes, I am a NYC bagel & pizza snob.

Interesting! I'd love to try one.

 

[Michelle67]

You are soooo close to having your invite to take you to the Statue of Liberty invite rescinded.

Our NY pizza is only "flacid" because it is our thin, crispy crust. It is loaded with so much toppings, that it caves under the weight of the toppings.

What do I gotta SAY?????

I can't tell you the last wedding I went to that was for someone under 26 years old---just doesn't happen that often around here unless they are pregnant....



Mom, dad,grandma and grandpa-- its really weird when you hear an adult calling their parents mommy and daddy



wow that is really nasty-- say that to someone and thems fighting words....

That's what I'm sayin'! You could get knocked out for that around here.

 

[taylor3297]

We have many transplants from NY that you can get a bagel very similar to what you find in NY. Several folks moved down here and opened their own shop.

As to bialy - it is a what I would call a polish version of a bagel.

Banana pudding out of a box is NOT real banana pudding.

I had to live 4 years in northern Indiana and many people "worshed" their cars, would say "hows come" instead of why, drank Pop, and would say "I seen ya at the mall" instead of I saw you at the mall.

From living there, I do know how to play euchre, but only play it when I am visiting with other folks from that area.

Bunco is big here with mostly women.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We have many transplants from NY that you can get a bagel very similar to what you find in NY. Several folks moved down here and opened their own shop.

As to bialy - it is a what I would call a polish version of a bagel.

Banana pudding out of a box is NOT real banana pudding.

I had to live 4 years in northern Indiana and many people "worshed" their cars, would say "hows come" instead of why, drank Pop, and would say "I seen ya at the mall" instead of I saw you at the mall.

From living there, I do know how to play euchre, but only play it when I am visiting with other folks from that area.

Bunco is big here with mostly women.

When I was growing up (in Michigan) our grandmothers played Bunco (though I played it with mine - loved it). You'd rarely catch anyone under 60 playing it!

 

[tink_lover]

Really? All the women in my neighborhood meet monthly to play Bunco. I figured it was our generation's version of bridge.