Treat you to cake every night

[venta]

Of course, one of the worst things about being back from holiday is that I'm now going to have to get myself used to the shoddiness of southern bakeries all over again. For the past ten days I've been living in a world where asking for a jap or a cornedbeef pasty or a stotty cake has delivered the goods rather than inspiring blank looks.

I arbitrarily believe northern bakeries to be cheaper too, though on reflection I'm not actually terribly aware of prices in bakeries in general. So, could anyone who's passing a bakery and is willing to join in a research project tell me the price of a small custard pie ? That's an individual one (no buying 4-packs in supermarkets), usually about 2-3 inches across its top. More correct people might call it a custard tart. If possible, please can you also eat one and tell me if it's nice :)

Bothams of Whitby: 35p
This actually strikes me as more expensive than I was expecting. It was a good pie, though.

And, on a completely different note, for those who were concerned about the Spiders' welfare in my absence:

I'm afraid it's not terribly good news. Of the spiders, only Dr. Wesson seems to have survived the depradations of sysadmins and plumbers. He is still sitting perfectly calmly in his web.

Sadly, both Dr. Jones and his web are gone. Sysadmin #1 informed me when I arrived in to work this morning that Dr Jones had been there safe last time he looked - I have yet to quiz him to find out if this is true, or whether he was mistaking Dr. Wesson for Dr. Jones.

Dr. Smith's home behind the u-bend has, as expected, been completely destroyed by the plumbing work. Even before the leaking pipes became an issue Dr. Robinson, the spider who caused all the controversy, had disappeared. Dr. Jackson's tenure of the penthouse web was very short; I presume he was only passing through.

So, the thriving community is reduced to one citizen, and some swept-looking corners. There is, on inspection, a large area of derelict property near the ceiling, though I don't believe it has been inhabited in some time. Perhaps, now the plumbing has stopped, new Spiders will move back in.

Comments

[nalsa.livejournal.com]

Greggs of pretty much darn near everywhere: 40p. And they're ok, but not outstanding.

It's only a pie if it has a lid. Otherwise, it's a tart. Or a quiche. Or a flan, if it has a sponge base.

[venta.livejournal.com]

It's only a pie if it has a lid.

Techically, I agree.

However, pretty much anything involving pastry is a pie in my world. This is largely because saying the word "tart" is not nearly so satisfying as saying "PIE".

[nalsa.livejournal.com]

Hmm. After spending a couple of minutes saying "tart" and "pie" under my breath I think you might be on to something there. It's the plosive in "pie" that makes the difference, and running out of breath before the second T in "tart" so you don't get a good ending where one is needed.

Eeenteresting.

[venta.livejournal.com]

There's also the Cartman-impression element to consider. Not something I'd do myself, you understand, but I think it may be a factor in the general case.

[maviscruet.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmmm... pie.

I'm with nalsa on the whole needs lid to be a pie.... actually it really only needs a lid to be a pie (this is different from stew with pastry added- it's got to be cooked on top.. Although it's not as nice and you really need to be able to pick up a pie in my mind.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

I dispute this.

When talking about custard products, I do indeed see the merits of saying "pie" !

But when talking about persons with relaxed standards of social interaction such as the infamous chrisvenus, I find the word "tart" both satisfying and apt !

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Custard pie to me suggests something you'd throw in someone's face, though, rather than eat.
Taaaaaaart is a lovely word, anyway.

[narenek.livejournal.com]

I hope you make an exception for the vile abomination that is stew served with a bit of puff pastry plonked on top at the moment of serving.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Obviously that's not pie, it's abomination. Thought that went without saying.

If it's nice stew it needn't be vile - it's just that it's nice stew, not nice PIE.

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Mm, tasty abomination.

the north

[sheridanwilde.livejournal.com]

You just try getting anything vegetarian in Whitby (for example) though - if you ask if the chips were cooked in vegetable oil all you get are blank looks - other than that pizza shop (which is now under new management, incidentally) there aren't many places to go...

Re: the north

[venta.livejournal.com]

I appreciate that Whitby (like many other small northerly towns) is difficult for vegetarians. It's just that I care more about me being able to get cornedbeef pasties than I do veggies being able to get chips :)

(And in case you're not aware of it: Saddler's Yard (down the ginnel by Shepherd's Purse on the East side) is a very fine vegetarian and wholefood restaurant. A bit pricey, so it's meal-out material rather than everyday food, but very good.)

Given that I know a fair few veggies who go to Whitby for various folk/goth bashes, I wonder if anyone's compiled a list of vegetarian eateries ? I'll have a rummage about on the web later, and if not I might look into knocking one up. A site which lists eateries open after 6 on a Sunday in November would also be useful (there were surprisingly few).

Re: the north

[sheridanwilde.livejournal.com]

Not sure where Saddler's Yard is - is this anywhere near White Horse Yard and Black Horse Yard (and their attendant pubs)?

I'm hoping that Bitza Pizza (or whatever it's changed it's name to) still has the same variety of food and is still going to be open until 2 or 3 in the morning...

Re: the north

[venta.livejournal.com]

Yup, it's just a bit left (as you look at it) from The White Horse and Griffin.

Bitz 'n' Pizza doesn't seem to have changed substantially, beyond having a blue menu in the window instead of a white menu on the wall. I think they might have slightly fewer pizzas listed, and have added a few pasta dishes. It was certainly open around 11:30 at night, so I expect very little has changed beyond the management.

Re: the north

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Curry is the way forward.

Re: the north

[sheridanwilde.livejournal.com]

That's an idea - while I'll stick with mild curries I know indigo_violet likes 'em stronger.

Oh, and I'll have to check out an interesting-looking pub in Sandsend (next to the bridge) in October.

Re: the north

[venta.livejournal.com]

Aye, the curry place near (or indeed in) the station is one of our regular eating places during goth weekends. For takeaway there's also the Chinese just over the swing bridge. Both offer the usual sorts of vegetarian versions.

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Waitrose, 39p. Well filled, pleasantly textured custard and plenty of nutmeg.