London Canada Day FAP - July 1st, eh?

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For those not in the know, July 1st is Canada Day. My motherland's birthday, if you will. In London, Covent Garden becomes a big-ass street party with hundreds of Canadians whooping it up. The Maple Leaf pub on Maiden Lane is pretty much the epicentre.

Anyone want to join me? Actually getting INTO the Maple Leaf pub is impossible (I've never been but have no interest in getting in there anyway). Most people just hang out on the street drinking from about noon. You'll be surpised how many of us are among you Londoners. I'm planning on getting some of that CLAMATO JUICE I've gone on about on other threads so I can make the legendary BLOODY CEASAR cocktail, which some of you curious Brits are welcome to try...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm moving, so I won't be able to join you. A bit upset, cause this is the first year that no one has had a Canadia Day BBQ, but hey, I'm the one with the garden now!

Don't even try to get within a block of the Maple Leaf tomorrow. It just ain't gonna happen. Trust me, we've tried!

― My New Identity (kate), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I was there last year and it was crazy. I'm gonna pick a meeting spot of some kind and post it tomorrow...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

i thought this thread was for london ontario for a minute¡

― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Dammit. Never thought of that. And my parents live near London, Ontario.

A little simplified history for ya:

A long time ago, Canada belonged to Great Britain. Over time, parts of the country joined together and wanted to form their own government. On July 1, 1867, the British government (under Queen Victoria) approved a plan which allowed Canada to become an independent country with its own government. This new nation, which remained loyal to Britain, was called the Dominion of Canada. At that time, the new Dominion of Canada had only four provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick). These days, there are 10 provinces and 3 territories.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Gosh. Tempted by the clamato, afeared of the Maple Leaf. You rotten seceders.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

But isn't the Queen still Canada's official head of state?

― Nemo (JND), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Likewise for Australia.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes. And HRH is also on all Canadian currency. A bit of a joke really, since there is essentially no relationship other than a pure ceremonial one.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:51 (twenty-one years ago)

What is this clamato of which you speak?

I can't make this, sadly.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I want to do this!! I want the Canadian chips and cheese and gravy!!!

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:02 (twenty-one years ago)

She's not on ALL Cdn currency.

― Huk-El (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Holy crap how silly of me. On all the coins yes, but not all bills (only the $20 now, since the demise of the $1 and $2 bills)

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I think she might be on the $1000, though I don't know if they're in "circulation" anymore.

― Huk-El (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Damn. I just lit my cigar with a roll of those, otherwise I would have checked.

Sarah that's POUTINE you want. There has been much debate about the pronounciation, but I am adamant the the correct way is "pooTAN" - said quickly. Add your own bad French-Canadian accent.

Matt, Clamato is Tomato and Clam Juice. Lovely stuff. A Bloody Ceasar is similar to a Bloody Mary in every other way, except it's better. Once you've had a Ceasar, you'll never go back to that bitch Mary.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha, asking for "poo-TAN" might bring you a decidedly different sort of "dish" (but one for which Montreal is also well-known)!

If you really want to pronounce it like the natives, it's "poo-tsin" with equal accent on both syllables, but poo-teen will work, too. Poo-tan is too much like "putain," which means "whore."

(Apologies for the digression.)

― Nemo (JND), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

In western canada "we" (ie, not me) but clamato in beer. I don't get it.

― Huk-El (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, my mum (who is Scottish) put tomato or clamato juice in beer. WTF? I forget what it's called... 'red-eye' or something?

Nemo OTM. I was struggling for a good way to write it out and 'poo-tsin' is perfect.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Zut! I just rang the Canada Shop in Covent Garden and they have NO CLAMATO JUICE. There was some sort of product recall and they haven't stocked it in ages. So looks like no Ceasars tomorrow. *sniff*

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

http://pshawmusic.com/noah/20030626-poutine.jpg

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:54 (twenty-one years ago)

That's an image I actually bothered clicking onto.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

If I wasn't going to be down St. Reatham's parish tomorrow, I would be going to the Lyceum for an extra helping!

― My New Identity (kate), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Call Heinz, maybe they'll airlift some to you. Or wait, it's Mott's that makes Clamato, isn't it? Yes it is. Seriously, give them a ring, it just might be the kind of thing they can build a PR campaign about.
In Grade 7, my buddy and I did an investigative report on what brand of ketchup restaurants in our city used. We took pictures and nearly got our asses whooped in Wendy's (well he did, I could run really fast back then). Our teacher sent the report to Heinz and we both wound up getting a bunch of coupons for free ketchup. Which, as far as I know, neither of us ever used.

― Huk-El (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I personally think that the best poutine comes in styrafoam cups with VERY dark gravy:
http://www.eyeambic.com/pics/montreal/poutine.jpg

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

and the fries are dark too because the oil in the deepfryer hasn't been changed in months. I love that.

― Huk-El (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

though i am ver pro-clamato (and as a resident of montreal very pro pou-tsin) i read this open letter to the makers of clamato and found it really funny:

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/openletters/motts.html

― anthony j, Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Cor poutine looks so good. If only it were available with day-glo curry sauce. Bring it on, Canucks!

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

haha I was just on the Mott's site and thought that "undisputed market-leader in the Seafood Blend category" line was great.

Huck I found this in the FAQs of the corporate site:
How much salt should I add to my Clamato with beer?
Its up to you! Salt should be added to taste. A good suggestion, rim your beer glass, like a margarita. And enjoy the zesty taste of the salt with Clamato.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Clamato Energy drinks, yum yum

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

As if the clam juice wasn't energizing enough!

― Nemo (JND), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck canada.

nah, if i were in town i'd come and sing sloan at you and stuff, but enjoy yourselves. i heart canada.

― colette (a2lette), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

God I miss home sometimes...

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Thursday, 1 July 2004 03:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Happy Canada Day Rob!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 1 July 2004 07:28 (twenty-one years ago)

The poutine pictures are making me v. hungry for lard. Blame Canada Day.

― robster (robster), Thursday, 1 July 2004 09:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Mott's clamato is available in Waitrose, and selfridges. Possibly JS too.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 1 July 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I might have to make some makeshift poutine tonight at home - I have no other canuck friends in Manchester... *sniff*

― elisabeth k, Thursday, 1 July 2004 09:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I phear I will be a sad sack and not boogie with the Canadian massive this evening. I have laundry and packing to do for the weekend, and besides which am slightly jaded from last night's cocktail-fest. Homemakeshift poutine sounds great though - I may have to do it with potato wedges though.

Clamato from Waitrose=v expensive (295ml for £1.25). Is the fishiness worth it?

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Potato wedges + cheese + gravy? Give me a recipe here folks!!!

Clamato can go f#ck itself though. Ewe!

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Oi tink it's supposed to be curd cheese, but what the hey, you know? Mmmmm gravy.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Best food of glastonbury peas, pie & gravy!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, it MUST be cheese curds, or it's not real Poutine.

No Mott's at the JS near me. Selfridge's makes sense. Especially since it's owned by Canadians (note the big Canuck flags flanking each corner of the mighty building!).

I still don't have a meeting point yet (awaiting word from a pile of friends), but I'll post something as soon as I know. Although the weather report has called for some nasty rainstorms this afternoon, which I fear will make a lot of this moot...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:01 (twenty-one years ago)

How the f#ck do I get cheese curds then?! Is there anything special to do with gravy or is it a case of heating up some Bisto?

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Clamato can go f#ck itself though. Ewe!

mmm lamb flavoured tomato juice

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:06 (twenty-one years ago)

lamb, clam, and tomato flavoured fuck juice mmmmmmmmmmm

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:29 (twenty-one years ago)

add MSG pls!

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I have no idea where you could buy cheese curds. Maybe straight from a dairy? Maybe they're easier to buy in Quebec than other provinces - I never saw them in Toronto. Most people improvise with lots of grated cheese. I used to loooove the poutine at Lick's - I'm gutted there's no downtown location now. Sigh.

― elisabeth k, Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:06 (twenty-one years ago)

OK I HAVE A PLAN.

Anyone here in London (England) who wants to join me and other Canucks, here's the deal: At 5:30pm I'm going to be beside the 'museum' tube sign outside the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden market (SE corner of the piazza). From there it's a quick walk over to the madness near Maiden Lane.

Important tip: bring some drinks with you before you get to Covent Garden - shops in the area sold out of most bouze last year. Getting into the Maple Leaf pub itself will be impossible - besides, the street party is where it's at, innit?

If it's pissing down rain, then the backup plan is to retire to the closest pub to Maiden Lane that actually has room.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Will there be free street POUTINE?

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

oh man I WISH

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Lor, I am going to stop by the newsies and get oven chips and make my own poutine tonight!!!

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

(I am not coming out because I am rac15tit looks wet and rammed)

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

A warning: you will see Canadians behaving uncharacteristically badly - rowdy, obnoxious, messy, and possibly naked. (Some dude climbed a lamp-post last year and proceeded to remove his pants).

There will also be lots of silly hats.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Man! Strikethrough tag not allowed anymore?!

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I apologise in advance on behalf of my country if you see this:
http://photos.cyberflunk.com/2001feb/whistler/neil+me.jpg

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:48 (twenty-one years ago)

or even better: A HAT MADE OF CANADIAN BACON!!!
http://www.thescreamonline.com/strange/strange2-2/canadian.jpg

(which was on a webpage called 'hats of meat'. the world is a strange place.)

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

where did you find that photo? Yikes. The 'Hip - one of the staples for Much Music meeting SOCAN requirements! *shiver*

I kind of wish I could go to the Maple Leaf though. I'm not very patriotic, but getting all back bacon on yr ass for an evening sounds like fun.

― elisabeth k, Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

back bacon on my ass? lady, we just met!

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

oh god, I just realised what that looks like. I am so embarrassed now. There's only one butt for me, and it's Rochdalian. ;-)

― elisabeth k, Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

don't be embarrassed. at least your not wearing the bacon on your head with a necklace of sausages like that lady up there...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

(you'll have to edu-ma-cate me elisabeth - what is Rochdalian?)

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

RIGHT - poutine is synonymous with CANADA, not just QUEBEC, right?

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

no, it's mostly a quebec thing. although my fave poutine was from a place called bubba's in kingston ontario. it was 5 bucks for a large but holy shit it was good poutine.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

You f#ckers! You've just misguided me into taking the wrong position in an argument! Would you mind changing your story?

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:37 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.ottawakiosk.com/canada_day_logo.gif

Happy Canada Day, Canadians!

ihttp://www.rodneykelly.com/henning.jpg

You people are magical!

― Nemo (JND), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Rochdale is a town north of Manchester, and where my boyfriend is from. He had a look at the photos of poutine when I suggested it for dinner tonight and said flat out "that looks well rank" - so I guess I'm on my own...

― elisabeth k, Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I understand now. He thought poutine was rank? Heathen! Infidel!

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Someone calling themselves 'Joe' just texted me about these arrangements for tonight. wtf?

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Did anyone get cake at the High Commission? It was all gone by the time I got there. :(

― Catty (Catty), Thursday, 1 July 2004 21:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I had my "poutine" - nice crisp oven chips with roasted onion gravy, and some grated cheese on top that melted just enough to be a bit gooey. Heaven! Even the bf changed his mind and had a bite.

― elisabeth k, Friday, 2 July 2004 08:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know who 'Joe' could be, Pink. Odd.
Yet another crazy street party. Hurray! I finally learned about the high commission freebies last night. I SO would have gone there early had I known! I heard they had free wine too!

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Friday, 2 July 2004 09:06 (twenty-one years ago)

'hurray', wtf? geez, i need tea pronto.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Friday, 2 July 2004 09:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Hope u had a good day rob! I found out who it was!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 2 July 2004 09:29 (twenty-one years ago)

where did you get your poutine, elisabeth? my flatmate is really craving it.
we ended up going to TGIFriday's to round out the North American-ness of the day, especially since we won't be doing anything special on America day.
Our server had 36 pieces of flare.

― Catty (Catty), Friday, 2 July 2004 09:34 (twenty-one years ago)

five years pass...

i luv u kanada

― scott seward, Thursday, 2 July 2009 03:35 (sixteen years ago)

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