24th March. Monsal Dale

A change of scenery today. A walk through a very cold Monsal Dale, with Jo, for several hours produced very few birds except for 5 Mandarin, Dipper and at least 3 singing Marsh Tits.


Whilst walking round we began to discuss that old chestnut that is the Breadcake/Tea Cake arguement. Jo, being from West Yorkshire, is of the opinion that a Breadcake is infact a Tea Cake, except when it is purchased from a chip shop when it magically becomes a breadcake - how can this be?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Get a life u sad fruitcake!!!!!!

The Drunkbirder said...

To put this matter to rest once and for all.

A teacake is a soft slightly sweet bread roll, often called a bap on some areas of the country.

A breadcake is a similarly soft roll with a less sweet taste. It is often slightly bigger than an adjacent teacake but this is not a definate fieldmark and care should be taken when submitting a description.
If possible the finder should have tasted each item with a variety of fillings such as chips but the most accurate measure is just with a bit of butter.

A CURRANT TEACAKE is a different beast all together. with some outdated and frankly deluded people referring to it as just a 'teacake.' A Currant Teacake is sweeter again than a teacake and often features an egg glaze. In all plumages a Currant Teacake should show Currants.

I hope this clears up this mess once and for all?

Mark said...

Thank you Dr Hague professor of dough products. I still think to call it a teacake is both irresponsible and retarded. I have seen some very nasty incidents involving people asking for a ham teacake!

Anonymous said...

What about the fishcake situation!
Please explain......

Anonymous said...

Have you thought of changing the name of this blog to "Anoraks and Lard-arses"?

The Drunkbirder said...

Fishcakes are another thorny northern issue. For me a fishcake is one of those breaded rissole type things and what the Sheffielders would call a fishcake is indeed in Hoyland at least called a Fish Scallop (two slices of potato with a fish centre, battered and deep-fried). A scallop is a very similar thing but consists of a slice of battered potato dee-fried. It used to be known by its old northern name potato scallop. Down here in Leicester it goes by the name of potato fritter, I ask you?

Mark said...

Indeed fishcakes are a slice of potato followed by a slice of fish then another slice of potato then fried in batter. That thing that John mentions is a Rissole. Rissoles are made from mashed up fish bits like testicles cocks and stuff and are only eaten by big southern puffs. For a real Fishcake one should visit Brendas Chippy on Earl Lane Sheffield.