# What good stuff is not available in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817 "2003-02-22T18:56:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/101 "2003-02-25T02:26:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Narrad \* > \*\*Out of curiosity, who or what is “Banannas Foster”? > > Also, what’s birding. > > I’m Australian, BTW. \*\* Banannas Foster is the first dessert I could think of that had a person’s name in it. I guess it isn’t Australian but I know I had it once there, probably in Sydney. It was a desparate grab on my part for a lame witticism, as usual. Birding=observing and identifying avian species by plumage, song, or behavioral clues. Birdwatching. At some point in the last 10 or 20 years most serious pursuers of this passtime in the US stopped calling it birdwatching and started calling it birding. I guess birdwatching had too many associations with white haired old ladies in tennis shoes. Australia has a hugely varied environment and a embarrasment of riches when it comes to # of bird species there. Those among you who aren’t into that kind of thing don’t know how good you have it. ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/102 "2003-02-25T11:41:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grelby \* > **Washte** , all I can assume is that you are the victim of a misconception. Platano is the spanish word for, well, a plantain, I guess it’s called. Banana (where I was, at least) was just that - a banana. Ever since taking Spanish in 7th grade (yonks ago) _platano_ was the word we were taught to mean banana. As **Binarydrone** mentioned it may be down to regional dialect. All I know is what I was taught. I didn’t even know what a plantain was until I was much older and saw funky looking bananas in the store one day, then checked them out. _Guineo_ is a new word for me, cheers for the education **Binarydrone**. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/103 "2003-02-25T12:22:14Z")
You can get sometyhing called **Cadbury’s** choco9late in the US, but it’s not the same as the variety you get in the UK/Ireland. Any time Pepper Mill or I go overseas, I stock up for her and dole it out. Pavlovas (they’re named after a ballet dancer, because the light meringue resembles a tutu, kinda) used to be available at Matilda’s Pavlova Parlor in Cambridge, Mass. many years ago. I dubt if they’re still around, but I’ll bet somebody in the States still makes them. Matilda’s also used to sell Australian-style fresh fruit sundaes. Ever since the Men at Work song, various specialty food places in the US have sold Vegemite. God knows why – I’ve never seen anyone actually eat it. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/104 "2003-02-25T12:39:03Z")
Pork Pies Suet (I think it may be forbidden) Proper full-on swearing and smut on the telly ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/105 "2003-02-25T15:18:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*Pork Pies > > Suet (I think it may be forbidden) > > Proper full-on swearing and smut on the telly \*\* We have suet here. We put it in bird feeders. ---
**Author:** ![swannguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@swannguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swannguy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/106 "2003-02-25T17:09:58Z")
Balduran - we in DC have a card system for the Metro, calles SMARTrip. You pay $5 for the card, enter money into the faremachine and ‘load’ the amount onto your card. Al you need to do is swipe your card overa special patch on the turnstile and you’re through (It even neatly displays your amount left on your card). The cards offcourse are rechargeable. And yes - having a showerhead with a capacity of more than 2.5gallons/minute would be awesome… I do miss the candy from the Netherlands and ermany especially ‘dropjes’ - I can buy them at Dean&Delucca, but at really ridiculous prices ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/107 "2003-02-25T18:09:28Z")
**Nestle Lion Bars**. Why the hell does Nestle release 10 zillion other products in the U.S., but _not the best-tasting one?!_ Those things make Nestle Crunch taste like a pile of crap. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/108 "2003-02-25T19:33:00Z")
I never realized so many adults were so into candy! On pain of death I probably couldn’t name 5 types of candy sold in the stores in my town. I haven’t eaten the stuff regularly since I was about twelve. Totally not on my radar screen, I guess. I hope you guys brush and floss every day, and get regular excercise. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/109 "2003-02-25T20:08:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\* > Pavlovas (they’re named after a ballet dancer, because the light meringue resembles a tutu, kinda) used to be available at Matilda’s Pavlova Parlor in Cambridge, Mass. many years ago. I dubt if they’re still around, but I’ll bet somebody in the States still makes them. Matilda’s also used to sell Australian-style fresh fruit sundaes. \*\* I make 'em. But I guess that doesn’t count, since I don’t sell them to others. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\* > Ever since the Men at Work song, various specialty food places in the US have sold Vegemite. God knows why – I’ve never seen anyone actually eat it. \*\* I eat it. Good stuff. On buttered toast, with just a very thin scraping of vegemite. Great with scrambled egg. Mmmm. ---
**Author:** ![MissSwish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/db5fbb/32.png) [@MissSwish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissSwish)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/110 "2003-02-25T21:12:16Z")
Banana’s Foster. Bananas are cooked in a bubbling pan of dark brown sugar, butter, rum and cinnamon and served over ice cream with walnuts or pecans. Here’s a recipe; Ingredients 1/4 cup butter 2/3 cup dark brown sugar 3 1/2 tablespoons rum 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise and crosswise 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts 1 pint vanilla ice cream Directions 1 In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar, rum, vanilla and cinnamon. When mixture begins to bubble, place bananas and walnuts in pan. Cook until bananas are hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve at once over vanilla ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/111 "2003-02-25T23:21:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\ ***Nestle Lion Bars**. Why the hell does Nestle release 10 zillion other products in the U.S., but _not the best-tasting one?!_ Those things make Nestle Crunch taste like a pile of crap. \*\* I can get those in a place right down the street, Kinder eggs too… ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/112 "2003-02-26T05:43:17Z")
Terrestrial digital radio. Cars by Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot, SEAT, Rover, Lancia, Holden, and MG. Tons of car models from brands that otherwise have a US presence. Acorn computers. Lots of video games that are released in Japan only. Automotive shortwave radios. British cigarettes; Dunhill, Davidoff, and so on. About 75% of the varieties of beer made by Molson and Labatt’s. Many brands of high-end audio equipment; it’s too much hassle for them to provide a transformer for 120/60. Milk in bags. Unicum and absinthe. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/113 "2003-02-26T07:36:11Z")
Absinthe I’ve covered. I also realized that, unless you really go looking, it’s hard to find a decent variety of hard ciders here in the States. BevMo has a couple of brands, but most stores here have Hornsby’s (the budweiser of ciders) and maybe some of the various Wyders brand. Why can’t I get Ace, or K, or Blackthorne at my local bar? I’d like nothing more than to pick up a big bottle of Strongbow in the morning. _sigh_ Can’t wait till I move and can start brewing my own. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/114 "2003-02-26T10:48:41Z")
**The Proms** – the best classical music festival in the world, bar none. **Teletext** – instant information on everything from news to local movie listings to what’s on TV, all without any special gizmos. **The Open University** – for the finest in late night TV viewing. **TimTams** – mmmmmm…TimTams… ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/115 "2003-02-26T13:07:34Z")
Do you have the shipping forecast on your radios? If not you are missing out on one of the great broadcasting moments. Actually, decent spoken word radio is something you can’t get in the US. Or ad-free TV ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/116 "2003-02-26T14:02:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*Do you have the shipping forecast on your radios? > > If not you are missing out on one of the great broadcasting moments.\*\* Oh yippee – I’ve now got “Sailing By” stuck in my head. > [@](#): > > **Actually, decent spoken word radio is something you can’t get in the US.** Not true - NPR is not that far removed from Radio 4, and some of the NPR programs are actually better. It all depends on what bits your local affilate carries. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/117 "2003-02-26T14:10:19Z")
Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties. Seven miles, one thousand and twenty-four, rising more slowly. Cromarty, Forth, Tyne. Three miles, three thousand nine hundred and twenty-one, falling slowly. Dogger, Fisher, German Bight. Twenty yards, a million and seventy six, rising like a bastard. ---
**Author:** ![jct103](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@jct103](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jct103)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/118 "2003-02-26T14:26:30Z")
Proper Cornish pasties!! My God you can’t even get a good one north of the iver Tamar, never mind in America!! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/119 "2003-02-26T14:28:06Z")
**jjimm** , that reminds me of another one: _Private Eye_ magazine. They had a shipping forecast parody on their CD special a while ago. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817/120 "2003-02-26T14:53:22Z")
Ting It’s a Jamaican grapefruit soda. It’s da best. I haven’t found anything that compares to it. Great with vodka, although the Jamaicans thought we were crazy when we asked for vodka and Ting. I guess they don’t drink vodka like we do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-stuff-is-not-available-in-the-us/156817.md?page=7)