Let's say you went into an English Fish-n-Chip shop, and ordered Cod, chips, and peas; what would you expect to be served?
The Afro/Caribbean population are up in arms because naughty Ikea are selling 'Rice and Peas', whose 'Rice and Peas' are made with Rice and Peas, and not Rice and Kidney Beans. They are shouting 'Cultural appropriation'; the new snowflake accusation that covers all racial non-PC ills.
On the radio recently (LBC) several Afro/Caribbean complainants were asked if they knew the difference between Peas and Kidney Beans... they simply laughed. Of course they did, and if Ikea are selling Rice and Peas; that's what they mean, otherwise the trades description folk would probably go crazy. That is not to say that it's an altogether different matter if one was in Jamaica.
No-one seemed to have visited an Ikea restaurant to taste their Jerk Chicken. Personally I would have been far more concerned about the Chicken than about the Peas being Peas, and not Kidney Beans. Having eaten Rice and Peas (Kidney Beans) out in the Caribbean, I can assure you that it's really not that big a deal. The quality of a decent Jerk Chicken is far more contentious!
It was apparently The Queen herself (although I doubt it), who when asked about 'American English' (this could well have been 'Jamaican English'), replied "There are only two types of English; English, and incorrect English". People can call Rice and Kidney Beans whatever they like (even 'Rice and Peas'). I shall not be complaining.
Confused? I hope so. You really do have to have nothing better to do, than to make a fuss about bloody Rice and Peas.
May I suggest that Ikea adds the word 'Garden' in front of 'Peas'. Then the Afro/Caribbean PC brigade might not behave like spoilt children.
Oh My Goodness !
ReplyDeleteparsnip
Indeed. It goes from bad to worse!
DeleteJust looked it up and the Jamaican Rice and Peas sounds quite nice. Must try it
ReplyDeleteIt's OK, no more.
DeleteNever really fancied the Jamaican version with beans, rice and garden peas is much more to my taste. What a fuss about nothing!
ReplyDeleteAll a lot of nonsense.
DeleteHow did you find it within you to write 7 paragraphs on this drivel?
ReplyDeleteIt's called 'outrage'. Such subjects really annoy me!
DeleteHe suffers from frequent blood-sugar lows. I turn into Colonel Blimp too if I don't eat regularly.
DeleteMind you their falafel aka veggieballs are tasty!
ReplyDeleteI've had their meatballs, but that was years ago.
DeleteStill the same traditional meatballs apparently. We find the food well prepared and affordable...and free coffee for Ikea family cardholders is not to be sniffed at!!
DeleteI've never eaten in Ikea, I have to read the post again and look for what is Kidney Bins, I have no idea.
ReplyDeleteHappy Rosh Hashanah Yael.
DeleteThank you, how nice that you know that.
DeleteDon't you just get so fed up with all this correctness? I am sick to the back teeth with it all. End of comment, lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
It really gets on my nerves. People can become so petty about the simplest of things!
DeleteCro, having had Jamaican neighbours, both science lecturers at Leeds Uni... even kidney beans are wrong... it should be Black-eye Peas [beans].... tiny, pea-sized beans... and, cooked the right way, they are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteTheir favourite English dish was.... Haddock and Chips wibbits! They used to eat it every Friday... cooked in dripping... none of the softie, veg oil crud!
NB: Oooop t'North we don't do cod... too dry, we do haddock! Plaice and Rock Salmon are as down South.
Dripping, Cro, the only way to get good crisp batter and fluffy spuds.
On the subject of dripping, now's the time to make your own...
all the supermarchés are having Foires aux Viande... look for the fattiest hunks of rib end [2€ the kilo in Intermarché]...
Slow roast[150 Centipede] them on a rack in a roasting dish with one cup or so of water... for around three hours [check the water every hour] and you should have a big tray full of beef dripping... plus some nice slow-cooked rib of beef cooked on the bone.
Pour contents of tray when cooled a bit, into a 1 litre "le Parfait" terrine... it will settle out as it cools, so if you want the gravy in with the fat it needs stiring from time to time. I find that that, and the scrapings from the grill pan when we have beef, lamb or pork suffice... jar lasts a year in the fridge.
I believe that Black-eyed peas and Kidney beans are interchangable. It certainly is Beef season soon, but we rarely buy anything other than Bourguignon. I shall, however, look out for the fattier lumps, and maybe make my own dripping. Thanks for the tip.
DeleteI am totally bemused, confused and about to make a risotto with asparagus, lemon and peas.
ReplyDeleteI think it's best to be confused about this subject.... I certainly am.
DeleteEither way, they both sound good to me. Before my stomach took offense to hot foods, I loved Dirty Rice and Beans and jerk chicken. I loved those spices.
ReplyDeleteGive me just the Jerk Chicken, and maybe some chips!
DeleteSocial media, doing what it does best. Taking the bait dangled by the print and online media and running wild.
ReplyDeleteWhat a laugh. And all over food served at IKEA. Spare me.
Alphie
On the day the story broke (about 2 weeks ago?) there was a wonderful night-time discussion on LBC. I've never heard such PC tripe as on that night. Unbelievable.
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