Scenes we seldom see, to quote a Private Eye regular. Shop windows were once the grocer's stage to show-off what was on offer. Window dressing at it's most basic and effective, simple installations of cans, pyramids of this week's offer. Pavement Warhols, it's the repetition that appeals to me and Unmitigated England travellers will remember the triptych of Scott's Porage Oats sharing a gingham podium with Robertson's Mincemeat in 1970's Uppingham. The display here is in Holt (Trouser Town to blog regulars) and it all goes on inside the shop; a cash 'n' carry cave of Branston, Del Monte, Carnation and those Norfolk staples Brazilian figs and Spanish aubergines. Didn't they once stack tins up on supermarket floors, comedy slapstick props for floundering chases? Don't see that any more, health and safety you see. Good job too I say. Only Daughter used to amuse herself from the restrictions of her push chair by picking up tins from the stacks when no one was looking in order to hurl them with great force across the store. Fray Bentos tins winging their way into the grapefruits.
12 comments:
You've prematurely lit the baked bean debate fuse. (great pic by the way.) It has been noted at Diplo Hall that the Hienz Bean doesn't appear to have survived the name change. Since the "Baked" was dropped from the name things have happened. We reckon the sauce has got thinner, the bean to sauce ratio has been tampered with and , under thorought independant test conditions, it has been revealed that the actual taste of the sauce has altered. Something needs to be done , alas - I have too many campaigns on the go so somebody else will have to take over. MORE CAMPAIGNING ! ( at the risk of being killed by a policeman )
Diplo, you're right. The bean / sauce ratio does appear to have altered (he says cautiously in case Heinz Henchmen are doing surveillance). Last night I reached for a tin but had to put it back 'cos it was the last one I bought with "Baked" still on the label. Went out specially to get it, of course, once I'd heard the news on the wireless.
Well, you need to do what countless Bean Afficionados are doing: switch to Branston. Nothing to do with that Richard chap, or indeed with Baked Brawns, the F1 racers. Just a better bean all round (log in to http://www.branstonbeans.co.uk/ and vote NOW!).
Thanks for tip Joos. I shall invest in a can today, just in time to be my Easter Treat.
Does anyone know when tinned food started having "best before" dates? I'm sure a tin of Pineapple chunks (Del Monte or maybe Libby's) accompanied me all the way through my college days and my 20s before it was finally sacrificed - possibly for a cheese n' pineapple sticks in a grapefruit covered in silver foil "retro" party dish.
The tombola at the church fete was also a good source of rather suspect tins.
Don't know about 'best befores' Sue, 'cos I had a go at a 1938 Gold Flake this week. Just for research, you understand. Went like a dream.
I'm still a Heinz kind of chap but the lack of sugar and salt in the beans nowadays is making my support waver.
Being able to buy Heinz Beans (and Robertsons Golden Shred) is the only thing that gets me through life in California sometimes. Comfort food. No fancy displays though, supermarkets don't even have windows here!
Yes,but how can we be sure that having defected to the Branston Camp,there will not be a similar decline?
Certainly not me for one,as it seems those trustworthy provision merchants, Mr Crosse and Mr Blackwell, of the old telly ads,with their Edwardian moustaches and long aprons, seem to have been replaced by some outfit called Premier Ambient Products, which according to the label on my pickle jar, will deal with me if I`m not "entirely satisfied"
Oo er,Missus !
Ah, Premier Ambient Products, the food company with the unfortunate acronym. They make Bird Custard out on the fens somewhere.
Or even Birds Custard.
"the lack of sugar and salt in the beans nowadays is making my support waver". A good coating of polyurethane should stiffen it up and stop it wavering.
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