June 12, 2004

A Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down

Posted by Belle Waring

Henry’s Harry’s post about his only proper job, and the tea breaks which it necessitated, reminded me of the finest weblog devoted to tea and biscuits: A Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down. This week’s biscuit of the week is is Lidl’s Choco Softies: “In the second of our Lidl’s inspired reviews we couldn’t come away with out my picking up a pack of Lidl’s own brand version of a German classic the Super Dickmann.” I honestly have no idea what any of these things are, but nonetheless it is a very charming site.

Posted on June 12, 2004 03:17 AM UTC
Comments

Ummm, Harry, not Henry…

Posted by Isaac · June 12, 2004 05:13 AM

Super Dickmanns are choc covered marshmallow biscuits, a bit like Burton’s, but more dome-shaped. They sell them here in NL as well, but personally I think nothing can beat the stroopwafel (unless of course they start covering them in chocolate).

Posted by Squiddy · June 12, 2004 07:37 AM

Thanks for the pointer to this site. It is indeed a charmer.

And I’m a Yank who has never been to the UK.

Keef

Posted by keef · June 12, 2004 08:10 AM

In addition to the Super Dickmann, there’s also the “Mini Dickmann,” a bite-sized version of the former.

Posted by Henry · June 12, 2004 01:23 PM

Thanks for that, brought back great memories of the Choco Leibniz, Abbey Crunch and Custard Cream.

I must visit Leibniz one day and see if they eat Choco Leibniz biscuits. Do the eat Dundee cake in Dundee? Certainly the only place you will find an “English” muffin is in America. Though I did first eat Kendal Mint Cake in the Lake District.

Posted by q · June 12, 2004 01:37 PM

more importantly, does the choco Leibniz have a soft filling of nougaty monads?

Posted by belle waring · June 12, 2004 01:54 PM

I am pleased to report that Leibniz cookies are far better than Fig Newtons.

Posted by Kris McDaniel · June 12, 2004 02:08 PM

Bahlsen also make the best jaffa cakes .

IMSHO, obviously.

Posted by squiddy · June 12, 2004 04:20 PM

I must visit Leibniz one day…

Possible you’re confusing Leibniz with Leipzig? Mind you, it’s still strange that a cookie is named for a philosopher. But it’s very good, especially the dark chocolate variety.

Posted by Vance Maverick · June 12, 2004 07:21 PM

I also love Lidl’s version of the dark Choco Leibniz (although a packet only lasts about an hour so I don’t buy them very often). And many other things at Lidl. It saved my life last year when I was out of work.

Posted by Sharon · June 12, 2004 09:14 PM

I have been told that the Fig Newton is named, not after Isaac Newton, but after the town of Newton, Massachusetts. The Straight Dope, for what it’s worth, says the same.

Posted by Vance Maverick · June 12, 2004 10:27 PM

The Kendal mint cake - another fine Quiggin product.

Posted by John Quiggin · June 13, 2004 02:47 AM

I am pleased to report that Leibniz cookies are far better than Fig Newtons.

They might be better but were they first?

Posted by Kieran Healy · June 13, 2004 02:59 AM

Possible you’re confusing Leibniz with Leipzig? Mind you, it’s still strange that a cookie is named for a philosopher.

Oops…indeed I was. Talking of naming, I have always wondered if the biscuit NICE was named after the place, or was it just a slogan?

Posted by q · June 13, 2004 04:04 AM

I have always believed that the Fig Newton and the Choco Leibniz were created independently at the same time.

Posted by belle waring · June 13, 2004 06:54 AM

As someone who takes her chocolate very seriously (and who has recently gotten readdicted to Choco Leibniz dark chocolate), I find it almost offensive that you would even compare Choco Leibniz with Fig Newtons. It’s not even as close as apples are to oranges, frankly. And no, Choco Leibniz does not have a filling, it’s just a simple (but good) biscuit with chocolate on one side. It comes in both milk and dark chocolate varieties. Here is a pic: http://erikasonlinestore.com/chocwmilchoc.html

Posted by eszter · June 13, 2004 06:48 PM

If you like Choco-Leibnitz, keep an eye out for Jules Destrooper’s Virtuoso chocolate cinnamon biscuits.
http://www.destrooper.com/english/html/en_virtuoso.htm

They are thin crispy spiced biscuits, covered in Belgian dark and white chocolate, perfect with lovely Dutch coffee. drool

Their other biscuits are pretty good too.

Posted by Squiddy · June 14, 2004 10:54 AM

Oops, sorry forgot the HTML tag. My apologies.
Still, I’m sure people haven’t totally forgotten, in their chocolate-induced haze, how to cut n paste.

I haven’t even started on Marks & Spencer’s biscuits yet…

Posted by squiddy · June 14, 2004 10:57 AM

“It’s not even as close as apples are to oranges, frankly”

Off topic, but the apples and orange comparison has been found wanting.

This article, certain to become the classic in the field, clearly demonstrates that apples and oranges are not only comparable; indeed they are quite similar. The admonition “Let’s not compare apples with oranges” should be replaced immediately with a more appropriate expression such as “Let’s not compare walnuts with elephants” or “Let’s not compare tumour necrosis factor with linguini.” “

Posted by Anthony · June 14, 2004 03:43 PM
Followups

This discussion has been closed. Thanks to everyone who contributed.