Brits United

[The Attic]

(And Dragonmeet)

Sadly I found Dragonmeet rather soulless last year with its change in venue. Yes, I know, great for vendors but it now feels characterless to me and I no longer bumped into old friends as easily (if at all).

I'm sure the expansion will do it well and serve more people than ever before but I've now tapped out. I do wish you all the best for DM 2026.

 

[Nilbog]

Similarly, Worcestershire (pronounced “Wooster”) sauce is a condiment. You add a few drops to something you’re seasoning, like the top of a Welsh rarebit (“grilled cheese”) much as you might do with Tabasco sauce.

Gentleman’s relish is a potent anchovy-based paste that you could use like Marmite and spread on toast, though you’d generally use less.

Both are probably distant descendants of garum, the fish sauce that the Romans brought to Britain two thousand years ago. What did the Romans ever do for us, eh?

(Random trivia: Welsh rarebit is probably derived from “Welsh rabbit”, presumably implying that poor Welsh people couldn’t afford meat. Similarly, there’s a dish called Scotch woodcock, which is scrambled eggs on toast topped with gentleman’s relish, presumably implying the same thing about poor Scottish people, or that English landlords in both cases were oppressive and took a very dim view of poaching.)

Late to the thread but as a proud resident of Sheffield (born and bred) I highly recommend you try Hendersons Relish, knocks Worcestershire sauce into a cocked hat

 

[TheSword]

Who's attending UK Games Expo this year or other conventions for that matter?

Yes definitely. I went for one day for the first time last year. Want to try and tempt @GuyBoy up north for it.

Definitely want to be more organized and book some things this year!

 

[jian]

Late to the thread but as a proud resident of Sheffield (born and bred) I highly recommend you try Hendersons Relish, knocks Worcestershire sauce into a cocked hat

Honestly Worcestershire sauce is not great as a general condiment (or at least I don’t use it much) and I tend to only keep it as an ingredient.

 

[Morrus]

Honestly Worcestershire sauce is not great as a general condiment (or at least I don’t use it much) and I tend to only keep it as an ingredient.

The most perfect use of it is on cheese-on-toast.

 

[Bagpuss]

Want to try and tempt @GuyBoy up north for it.

Calling Birmingham "up north" is fighting talk! You don't get to call the midlands "up north".

 

[Morrus]

Calling Birmingham "up north" is fighting talk! You don't get to call the midlands "up north".

Dude, I consider Winchester to be up north!

 

[Mannahnin]

Honestly Worcestershire sauce is not great as a general condiment (or at least I don’t use it much) and I tend to only keep it as an ingredient.

Yes, it's an excellent ingredient. I grew up using a lot of it as a condiment on steak, but then I grew up and stopped eating my steak overcooked to dryness.

 

[General_Tangent]

Dude, I consider Winchester to be up north!

Anything beyond the Watford Gap counts as North for me

 

[GuyBoy]

The stuff I really, really, really, enjoy are custards. I have no idea how to make a custard (or any type) which complicates things. No idea how popular custard is in general throughout the UK and other areas, but it is not very popular in other areas of the world.

My mother used to make some savory custards (this is different than the sugary and dessert custards most think of, and it definitely is NOT the frozen Custard that Americans favor) when I was young, but I have a hard time finding anyone who makes those anymore...anywhere.

Any stores or restaurants that focus on Custards?

(PS: Back in the early Aughts I was embedded with some British Troops when they went over to the Middle East. They had Curry EVERY SINGLE DAY when they ate. I had three different types of Curry to Choose from every day for Six Months! They REALLY liked their curry. I have to say...I was not so much a fan of Curry after that.



My Nephews both played Rugby...and that's about the extent of my Rugby Knowledge. They were rather large in size, and could look rather rough after a game. Their Sister was in a girls league or something for a short while as well (I would not have known they existed except she was in one). I can tell you a little from what I saw in the games, but even then, I really don't know how any of it worked. I think I prefer Futbal/Football/Soccer to Rugby as at least I know what is going on.

I understand American Football more than I understand Rugby by far...but...I can't say I am a regular watcher of it these days. I am more of a Manchester U (don't tell me of their troubles) and Arsenal Fan (edit: yes, I have several teams I am a fan of, I don't believe in exclusivity).

Of course, one of the amusing things about playing sport, in my case rugby, to University level is when you talk to Americans and casually mention, “I played rugby for my university”, their eyes light up and they picture you running out in huge stadiums, with tens of thousands of fans.
My rugby for my University was usually in front of a few girlfriends, a few mates, couple of injured teammates, a few random people and a dog.

There was always a dog. Whether school rugby or uni rugby. Always a dog. Why?
Not the same dog, obviously, and no special theme of breed, size etc. just always a dog. Watching the rugby. Bizarre. Never seen a dog at Twickenham, but I always gave the game my best shot, because I figured that if the dog bothered to come along, the least I could do was put in a shift. Always a dog.

BTW I love US College football. I went to a Bowl game between the Longhorns and the Razorbacks in Houston. It was amazing.
And I did get into a conversation in the bar with an American, and mentioned that I played rugby for my university. He was impressed. I didn’t mention the dog.