Saturday 14 May 2016

Five On Eurovision

Hello, thank you very much for calling in, you are very welcome here on this sunny May Saturday, especially if you have arrived via Love Made My Home.  I am very busy in the kitchen today because tonight we are holding our annual Eurovision Song Contest party, as we have done for more than twenty years now - I wrote about my Eurovision history last year and you can read it here.
 
So, each year we research the food and traditions of the hosting country and prepare an appropriate buffet.  There is plenty of food and drink, we watch the contest and give our own scores and although we are very enthusiastic, we don't really take it seriously; we know that the UK will never win it again.  However, for one evening a year we feel in happy communion with the rest of Europe in this festival of music and spectacle.  So, today I would like to share with you five things which I have learned because of this annual event.
 
Firstly, I like Nordic cuisine.  Over the last ten years we have metaphorically been to Finland, Denmark and Sweden (twice) and the food is fab: gravadlax, cardamom buns, reindeer salami, open sandwiches... I am always happy when a Nordic country wins because I  look forward to next year's buffet immediately.
 
Secondly, Azerbaijan is a fascinating place, geographically speaking, with a great number of different terrains and climates which means that just about anything can grow somewhere there.  Consequently, the cuisine is varied and delicious, influenced by Iran and by Mediterranean Europe.  Who knew?
 
Thirdly, a lot of pork is eaten in Serbia.  Our Serbian buffet was not very varied.
 
Fourthly, a Black Forest Gateau is not really a Black Forest Gateau unless  there is kirsch in the sponge.  The rest of that bottle of kirsch has been in my cupboard for five years now and I really ought to think of something to do with it because I don't really like Black Forest Gateau.
 
Finally, some European countries seem to think that the way to garner votes is to put attractive young women in dresses which reveal an awful lot of cleavage.  This makes them appear backwards to the rest of us and so backfires.  Remember those Polish milkmaids? 
 
So, I must crack on now with preparation of the smorgasbord.  I am sorry there is no photo in this post but I am having technical difficulties (actually, I don't think the problem is with the technology, I rather think it's with the idiot operator).  As ever, thank you to Amy at Love Made My Home for hosting Five on Friday and if you have time, please hop over there and have a look at what everyone else is up to.
 
See you on the other side.
 
Love, Mrs Tiggywinkle x

11 comments:

  1. Enjoy your party, we are also having a party so up to my eyes in food preparation but to celebrate birthdays.

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  2. Sounds like a lot of fun. I know Britain never wins, but I can't remember the reason.

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  3. That sounds like an awful lot of fun! I join you in dislike of Black Forest Torte. Much fuss about not a lot!

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  4. Wow, that all sounds like fun! Try using your kirsch in a clafoutis . There's a fabulous recipe in Nigella express and probably on line using tinned cherries lots of eggs and kirsch. Delicious! Enjoy your evening. B X

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  5. That sounds like a fun party - especially trying new foods from different countries.

    Have a great weekend

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  6. Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for a Liebster Award

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  7. Enjoy your party. I'll be thinking of you while I watch Henry VI in the Hollow Crown but I will forego the suckling pig just this once. Hope we score a few points. x

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  8. I am listening to the singing right now. Australia were just on a moment ago I think!! Hope you have had a fun party!!! Thank you for joining Five On Friday, I hope you are having a good weekend. Sorry to be late visiting, I have been otherwise occupied as I said in my post. xx

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  9. I was never a big fan of Eurovision, but your take on it sounds like a lot of fun! I remember when Buck's Fizz won with Making Your Mind Up. Was that really 1981? The same year that I sat my O Levels - now I'm giving my age away! Enjoy your evening. Marie x

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  10. I hope you had a wonderful time. I was watching The Hollow Crown over on BBC2. I'd forgotten quite how blood thirsty Henry VI part two was!:)

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  11. What a good idea to theme your party food, I hope you had a super time. I am not sure about the changing of the voting system, it was always hilariously predictable watching neighbouring countries voting for each other! xx

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