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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have forced this man to call his wife?

179 replies

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 16:35

So, there I was, in line to pay for my shopping at a Vietnamese supermarket. It just so happens a really good one is local to me, but they are pretty hard to find most of the time.

Chap in front is clutching a shopping list, has a few items, and asks the cashier (who really only speaks Vietnamese) for hawthorn. Now she did not understand what he said, I helpfully enunciated it properly, and translated it into French (smartypants or what) she had no idea, he had no idea he said its for my wife.

I said it was probably the bud or fruit of the hawthorn tree (as it indeed turns out to be). Both look blank. He shrugs his shoulders and looks as if he is going to slope off sans hawthorn.

At which point I suggested he called his wife for clarification.

He looked at me like I was stark raving crazy looney laydee. But she is at work! he gasped...

I said she might be rather cross and have a food crisis if he didn't. Still looked freaked out...but did go outside and call.

Was IBU to think that his wife would be pretty grumpy to have sent him to a speciality food store (I am channelling Ina Garten here) and for him to retreat without all the ingredients for her special planned dinner? And to not at least call or text to try and sort it out?

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MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:27

My thoughts exactly Skina.

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MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:29

Or we could do it in London Fields, where they have a bbq section, and anyone who fancied it could nip off to Mare Street and stock up on hard to find culinary items!

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MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:29

And London Fields has a proper Lido and a kids paddling pool.

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Skina · 11/06/2014 18:33

Oh yes! That would be fab. Haven't been there for yonks. BBQ is a great idea too. I'm definitely up for that.

Floggingmolly · 11/06/2014 18:38

I'd love to know what dinner was; that lack of hawthorn could have put the whole meal in jeopardy...

Boudica1990 · 11/06/2014 18:41

Howthorn pie??

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:43

some ideas

I think if she specified it she wanted it. Good enough for me.

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oldgrandmama · 11/06/2014 18:51

Oh noooooo ... I only read the first bit of the thread, then rushed out and discreetly hacked down some hawthorn branches from a nearby front garden. I have, as I type, got them marinating in a marinade of Red Bull, Activia Cherry Yoghurt (good for the bowels, don't you know), HP Sauce, Babycham and garlic. I'd planned to deep fry them and serve with brussel sprouts and reconstituted mash.

Looks like it'll be fish fingers again.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:56

don't give up on them, they might be lush!

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MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:59

The word for the hawthorn berry in French is cenelle.

Every day a school day on MN!

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MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 19:35

ooh just tried the kimchi with deep fried tofu.

Just fab.

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growingolddicustingly · 11/06/2014 19:53

You can make lots of lush things with UK hawthorn berries - jelly and liquors to name but two.

growingolddicustingly · 11/06/2014 19:55

Linky for oldgrandmama

wildcrafty.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/what-can-i-do-with-hawthorn-berries/

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 19:57

ok, so we can actually use hawthorn berries from here!

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MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 19:57

phew, it can get confusing all that foraging malarky.

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AgaPanthers · 11/06/2014 19:58

Nothing wrong with fermented cabbage. I likes a bit of sauerkraut too.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 20:01

with you there. Do you rinse your sauerkraut before heating?

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AgaPanthers · 11/06/2014 20:02

good god no.

sauerkraut + a nice crispy-on-the-outside-melty-in-the-middle pork knuckle + potato dumplings/mash potato

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 20:03

mmmm. love a good pork knuckle. Also good with lentils.

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growingolddicustingly · 11/06/2014 20:03

Aga each to her own but I put sauerkraut and all its manifesteringations on a par with bananas. Boaky, boaky, boaky!

Madame foraging is fun!

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 20:05

I do actually forage on Hackney marshes; great for elderflowers, elderberries, rosehips, blackberries and other lovely things.

I like to buck the foraging dress code and do it in pretty frocks. Very bucolic.

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AgaPanthers · 11/06/2014 20:10

Lentils are really good. I tried making dhal a few times, but it was too bland, eventually I figured out that none of the recipes had enough spices in, you want more of everything. Lots of nigella (everyone loves Nigella!), a couple of cinnamon sticks, about twelve green chilis, cumin, cardamom, coriander, bonus garam masala from about 1995 in the cupboard, some salt.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 20:11

yes. Ottolenhi also great for lentil recipes.

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AgaPanthers · 11/06/2014 20:11

I have tried many times to forage for fungi, but when I find them they are always a bit slimey/slug eaten.

AgaPanthers · 11/06/2014 20:13

puy lentils are best if you don't want to go Indian though. Puy lentils + pork/bacon, yellow lentils + spices.