# Australians: Two Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 25, 2008, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636 "2008-12-25T07:58:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/61 "2008-12-30T00:34:20Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > But they seem to keep changing what they get in as American foods. While I was waiting for the lift yesterday I saw that they had tins of “French fried onions”. I wasn’t sure whether to snicker to myself or simply despair for the degradations of humanity. Those cans of fried onions aren’t what you think that they are. Their sole raison d’etre is as a topping for a revolting concoction known as “green bean casserole,” which, for some unfathomable reason, is near and dear to the hearts of many Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/62 "2008-12-30T01:31:09Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > Never tried the original, but I’ve been told that Coon is a pretty good substitute. No, not really. I’ve found Havarti or Provelone to be closer, but still not quite there. FWIW, no-one here (even in really upmarket Delis) has ever _heard_ of Monterey Jack or “American” cheese. It’s very frustrating. I’d also love to get some Salsa Con Queso, but I’ve only seen it once, in a Crazy Clark’s, of all places, and it wasn’t as cheese-tastic as the stuff I had in the US. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/63 "2008-12-30T01:49:26Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Long as this thread is open–I need to ask you folks: What are those trees you have with sorta wide, flat greenery interspersed with bright orange-red flowery stuff, in bloom around this time of year? If they’re localized, I noticed them particularly in Queensland. Flowering gums? Flame trees? I’ll get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/64 "2008-12-30T02:34:55Z")
> [@Gleena](#): > > Yeah, the one under Myers (Grace Brothers) is the one I found the pumpkin at, but they haven’t had it again. > [@BigNik](#): > > I was fairly sure that Sugar Fix (I think? Sugar something, anyway) had tins of American pumpkin when I was passing there a couple of weeks ago. I just walked past that shop a couple of minutes ago and stopped to have a look. There are tins of pumpkin there right now. The brand is Libbys - if that means anything. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/65 "2008-12-30T02:56:09Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Long as this thread is open–I need to ask you folks: What are those trees you have with sorta wide, flat greenery interspersed with bright orange-red flowery stuff, in bloom around this time of year? If they’re localized, I noticed them particularly in Queensland. They’re probably flame trees. You need to watch out for them, because they’ll blind weary drivers as soon as look at you. ---
**Author:** ![threnodyangelfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@threnodyangelfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threnodyangelfire)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/66 "2008-12-30T03:29:18Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > They’re probably flame trees. You need to watch out for them, because they’ll blind weary drivers as soon as look at you. OK I laughed 😛 I didn’t see a flame tree until I came to NSW (I can’t recall seeing any of them growing up in west aus) ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/67 "2008-12-30T03:52:32Z")
My cheese guy suggested a very bland cheddar as a substitute for Monterey Jack. Someone else I know uses gouda. And FWIW my Christmas lunch was smoked salmon, followed by roast turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce (from a jar), ham, asparagus and salad, then Christmas pudding with strawberries and ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/68 "2008-12-30T04:54:31Z")
By the way, we do have clams over here. Next time you’re at a fishmongers (especially those of you in Sydney with access to the Pyrmont fish markets) look for “Vongole”. Often sold as baby clams as well. I use them to make (white) clam chowder for my husband on a regular basis, but have also used them to make seafood pasta as well. ETA: We had turkey for boxing day dinner as well. Roast turkey, gravy, duck-fat-roasted potatoes and a couple of Yorkshire puddings. ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/69 "2008-12-30T07:01:13Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > The snags are really good, too - I think they’re better than the AC Butchery ones that are supposed to be the measure of these things. > > But they seem to keep changing what they get in as American foods. While I was waiting for the lift yesterday I saw that they had tins of “French fried onions”. I wasn’t sure whether to snicker to myself or simply despair for the degradations of humanity. > > Then I remembered that I was trapped in a shop in the after-Christmas sales period and returned to my previous state of homicidal irritation. > > I was fairly sure that Sugar Fix (I think? Sugar something, anyway) had tins of American pumpkin when I was passing there a couple of weeks ago. It might be a seasonal thing for Spring/Summer. I use it as a supplier of American barbecue sauce which is wildly different from the stuff that’s available locally. French Fried Onions, really? Must Go Tomorrow! I went a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving and no more pumpkin. Will have to go clean them out again if they have more. Thanks heaps! ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/70 "2008-12-30T07:03:44Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > No, not really. I’ve found Havarti or Provelone to be closer, but still not quite there. > > FWIW, no-one here (even in really upmarket Delis) has ever _heard_ of Monterey Jack or “American” cheese. It’s very frustrating. > > I’d also love to get some Salsa Con Queso, but I’ve only seen it once, in a Crazy Clark’s, of all places, and it wasn’t as cheese-tastic as the stuff I had in the US. If I have to substitute, I use Colby, which as somewhat the same consistency if not really the same flavor. If you’re cooking with it, that works. Some of the Tex Mex I make needs it. Pepper Jack is just impossible to replace, unfortunately. And now I was some Salsa Con Queso. ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/71 "2008-12-30T07:06:24Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I just walked past that shop a couple of minutes ago and stopped to have a look. There are tins of pumpkin there right now. The brand is Libbys - if that means anything. Thanks **Cunctator** and **Big Nik**! I’ll go tomorrow, you guys are champs! Libbys, yes, that’s good. I now have the Libbys commercial stuck in my head to go with my craving for Salsa Con Queso. _If it says Libbys Libbys Libbys On the label label label You will like it like it like it On your table table table If it says Libbys Libbys Libbys On the LABEL LABEL LABEL_ ARGH! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/72 "2008-12-30T07:08:04Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Those cans of fried onions aren’t what you think that they are. Their sole raison d’etre is as a topping for a revolting concoction known as “green bean casserole,” which, for some unfathomable reason, is near and dear to the hearts of many Americans. While I understand you’re not wanting to be cooked in a casserole - I assure you it’s just as good as Vegemite! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/73 "2008-12-31T01:56:06Z")
> [@Gleena](#): > > I’ll go tomorrow, you guys are champs! I hope you’ve been - I was just down that end of town and they’re down to one tin. That said, I decided that in the interest of science I’d buy a tin of the French-fried onions and try them. On the bright side, I think I’ve now finally gathered enough evidence to disprove the existence of any sort of beneficent or loving deity. I’ll just cross-post this thread to GQ, asking if I pull my tongue out by the roots whether this will stop the taste… ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/74 "2008-12-31T02:16:08Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > I hope you’ve been - I was just down that end of town and they’re down to one tin. Yep. One solitary tin left. Going, going… ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/75 "2008-12-31T07:37:17Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > I hope you’ve been - I was just down that end of town and they’re down to one tin. > > That said, I decided that in the interest of science I’d buy a tin of the French-fried onions and try them. > > On the bright side, I think I’ve now finally gathered enough evidence to disprove the existence of any sort of beneficent or loving deity. I’ll just cross-post this thread to GQ, asking if I pull my tongue out by the roots whether this will stop the taste… Bugger, no, I didn’t get down there today - was focussed on getting in and out of work and away from the festivities. Hopefully they get more! Also, like not laying Vegemite on thick, you’re supposed to cook French Fried Onions in stuff. Straight out of the can is…disturbing. Thanks, too, **Cunctator**! ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/76 "2009-01-04T22:44:30Z")
> [@Gleena](#): > > Also, like not laying Vegemite on thick, you’re supposed to cook French Fried Onions in stuff. You misspelled “stake French Fried Onions through the heart, cut their head off, fill their mouth with communion wafers and bury it at a crossroad”, but I’ll let it go this time. That said, I saw the recipe for “green bean casserole” on the back. I’m allergic to mushrooms, but even the thought of beans in cream of mushroom soup topped with French fried onions makes my stomach roil. Bleah. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636/77 "2009-01-04T22:57:36Z")
No no no, you put the french fried onions on hotdogs or hamburgers. That’s what they’re good for. (Which is something I learned in Denmark, so it’s not only an American thing–I’d never heard of them before) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australians-two-questions/478636.md?page=3)