The perfect accompaniment to a pint

[Andy Ven]

Of all of the snacks available in the pub to go with your pint, what is the best one to complement a good real ale?

I've seen a few articles in the last few months extolling the virtues of a pint of Batham's Best Bitter and a bag of port scratchings. Sounds pretty good to me, even if I am tempted to scrape the fat off some of the larger ones.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1273161/TOM-PARKER-BOWLES-Salty-crunchy-bad-irresistible--pork-scratchings-king-pub-foods.html

As for chocolate with beer, I don't get it, it just spoils it.

For the pork scratching fanatic, I've added this link: http://www.porkscratchingworld.com/. May I say that G Simmons off Green Lane in Walsall does bags of hard or crunchy at the factory door for £1 per lb. Bargain.

[Eddie86]

Of all of the snacks available in the pub to go with your pint, what is the best one to complement a good real ale?

I've seen a few articles in the last few months extolling the virtues of a pint of Batham's Best Bitter and a bag of port scratchings. Sounds pretty good to me, even if I am tempted to scrape the fat off some of the larger ones.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1273161/TOM-PARKER-BOWLES-Salty-crunchy-bad-irresistible--pork-scratchings-king-pub-foods.html

As for chocolate with beer, I don't get it, it just spoils it.

For the pork scratching fanatic, I've added this link: http://www.porkscratchingworld.com/. May I say that G Simmons off Green Lane in Walsall does bags of hard or crunchy at the factory door for £1 per lb. Bargain.

There's a butcher in Abergavenny who's wife is Thai. She make these giant pork scratchings with her home-made seasoning, absolutely delicious! On the sales front at the pub, pickled eggs and cheesy moments are leading the pack

[rpadam]

Of all of the snacks available in the pub to go with your pint, what is the best one to complement a good real ale?

I've seen a few articles in the last few months extolling the virtues of a pint of Batham's Best Bitter and a bag of port scratchings. Sounds pretty good to me, even if I am tempted to scrape the fat off some of the larger ones.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1273161/TOM-PARKER-BOWLES-Salty-crunchy-bad-irresistible--pork-scratchings-king-pub-foods.html

As for chocolate with beer, I don't get it, it just spoils it.

For the pork scratching fanatic, I've added this link: http://www.porkscratchingworld.com/. May I say that G Simmons off Green Lane in Walsall does bags of hard or crunchy at the factory door for £1 per lb. Bargain.
The (to me, somewhat dubious) delights of pork stratchings featured on this Radio 4 programme recently:

http://search.bbc.co.uk/click/p/1/ds/pkg_tvradio/t/Food%2520Programme/id/17231394282741282468858985943440000/sp/f5fcb4f4036818332146be629a978874/-/http%253a%252f%252fwww%252ebbc%252eco%252euk%252fi player%252fepisode%252fb00tcz94%252fFood%255fProgr amme%255fPork%255fScratchings%252f

NB - They get to the Bathams at the Vine about 9 minutes into the programme...

[General Staal]

Yesterday I had a pie and a pint. Delicious! Steak and kidney.

The pint was a particularly fine pint of Banks's Bitter in the White Swan, Digbeth.

[Delboy20]

I have to say I do love a bag of scratchings with a beer - especially KVE !!

My brother tends to go for a bag of dry roasted nuts.

My favourite has to be a cheese and onion cob with a bag of ready salted crisps.

Does anyone remember the cheese and cracker bar snack ? You used to get 2 crackers, a triangle of spread cheese, 2 pickled onions and a wooden lollipop stick to spread the cheese. All in a little bag - delicious !!!

Del.

[RogerB]

The perfect accompaniment to a pint is another pint. :whistle:

I don't often go for the nibbles and find them a bit of a rip off in pubs but I am quite partial to Pork Scratchings as part of my strict calory controlled health conscious diet. I have to say that curry and ales go together superbly!

[Oggwyn Trench]

I like scratchings , though they have to be the proper tooth breakers with a bit of hair on , not those puffy crunch things some places try to pass off as scratchings .
I am also partial to a decent hand raised pork pie with good english mustard

[ROBCamra]

Does anyone remember the cheese and cracker bar snack ? You used to get 2 crackers, a triangle of spread cheese, 2 pickled onions and a wooden lollipop stick to spread the cheese. All in a little bag - delicious !!!

Del.

Remember them? You can still buy them around here. :p

They call them ploughmans lunch on the bag.

[arwkrite]

When I ordered a pint and a bag of scratchings the other day some bloke, more than old enough to know better, asked me since when did pork sratchings and beer go together. Well how can you answer that ? I appreciate that scatchings are not to everyones taste, OK thats more for me to eat but I cannot understand this blokes ignorance of their popularity as a bar snack with beer.
The best ones I have tasted always seem to have the name of my home town Walsall on the packet but have also had some inedible jawcrackers from there. I suppose my favourite snack depends on what I fancy at a particular moment.
Right now I fancy nibbling on that yummy looking barmaid but I doubt she is on the menu. Oh Well ,I had better have yet another packet of calorie packed scrathings.

[Alesonly]

Too go with A decent Pint For me it would be a decent Selection of Strong Cheeses and a good Pork Pie cut into sections with a Plate of Buttered Crackers on the side.

[Strongers]

Roast spuds covered in salt will do for me.

And I think that Guinness and chocolate are also a good mix.

[Farway]

And I think that Guinness and chocolate are also a good mix.

:sick::sick::sick::sick::sick::sick:

For me it is a ploughman's, strong Cheddar, crusty bread, pickled onions and a blob of Branston

I do like the pork retchings but the old arteries just will not stand them any longer

[arwkrite]

I like strong , mouth shrivelling cheeses but apart from specialist shops they have gone to be replaced by bland tasting cheddars. Can anyone remember sharp ( a term used before strong replaced it ) Canadian Cheddar. I have not seen it for ages so what does Canada do with all its strong cheese ? Most likely been emasculated to mild flavour or the milk is turned into proccesed cheese ( ?) squares. It was the best I ever tasted.

I am gonna have to keep off this thread....the fridge is calling too me again.The pork pie went earlier as did the cheese and french bread. It may now be the turn of the ham hock and cold potatoes. My stomach is making strange noises, it cannot be hunger, it must be complaining of abuse its had today.

I was going to say that a Good Companion whilst drinking a pint is lighter on calories but they would make you stay longer and drink more.

[Oggwyn Trench]

Thick slices of cold ham with a bit of mustard go well with a decent pint of real cider

[oldboots]

My brother tends to go for a bag of dry roasted nuts.
I find them invaluble for disguising the taste of less than wonderful beer:p


I am also partial to a decent hand raised pork pie with good english mustard
The pork pies sold in Bathams pubs are superb and the only food that goes with beer in a pub.;) except a proper old fashioned ploughmans of course.


I like strong , mouth shrivelling cheeses

A decent cheddar should make your eyeballs sweat.:eek:

For accompanying curry most British beers don't work - not even "Indian" Pale Ale - give me a lager (Bangla is best) or preferably Hoegaarden.

[Andy Ven]

My favourite has to be a cheese and onion cob with a bag of ready salted crisps.

I did the Severn Valley last weekend and it was great. Apart from the King and Castle in Kiddy, the one thing that was lacking was a cheese and onion cob.

When I did Sedgley to Lye in Feb we had a cheese and onion cob in every pub and it was fab..... and some scratchings

[Strongers]

I did the Severn Valley last weekend and it was great. Apart from the King and Castle in Kiddy, the one thing that was lacking was a cheese and onion cob.

When I did Sedgley to Lye in Feb we had a cheese and onion cob in every pub and it was fab..... and some scratchings

Being a Londoner I'd not heard of cobs before so I looked them up and found this article (http://www.expressandstar.com/latest/2007/02/01/drinkers-bite-back-over-cobs/) from 2007.

[Eddie86]

Being a Londoner I'd not heard of cobs before so I looked them up and found this article (http://www.expressandstar.com/latest/2007/02/01/drinkers-bite-back-over-cobs/) from 2007.

Are they 'baps' down there?

[Delboy20]

save the cob

[Andy Ven]

Being a Londoner I'd not heard of cobs before so I looked them up and found this article (http://www.expressandstar.com/latest/2007/02/01/drinkers-bite-back-over-cobs/) from 2007.

Spooky, the Beacon Hotel and Ma Pardoe's were on the crawl I mentioned.

I think cobs can be soft or crusty, baps are soft but can be floury. They insisted on calling them barm cakes when I lived in Liverpool - or (boringly) a bread roll. Crusty ones are great for giving you jaw-ache

[Oggwyn Trench]

Nothing better than some nice baps :whistle:

[HTM69]

I have never really been a fan of eating and drinking together - in fact, when enjoying the 'Spoons 'Curry Club', I will often eat the curry before touching the pint. I might have a packet of crisps in the pub on occasion if the stomach needs a bit of lining - but yet again, they'll be consumed before the pint is touched.

The only accompaniment I've ever really liked is the cigarette

[trainman]

barm cakes when I lived in Liverpool

Usually the term in Manchester, or just 'barms'. They do free(!) chip barms at Salford's Crescent on Mon eves (17:00-18:00).

[aleandhearty]

Nothing better than some nice baps :whistle:

Agreed, but I can only handle one at a time. :)

For me any snacks to accompany beer have to be salty. I like scratchings but usually stick to salted nuts as they are vaguely healthy. However, my eyes still mist over when I think back to my last visit to The Shepherd's Boy, Dewsbury. It was a Sunday lunchtime and they had free platters of pork pie, scotch egg, black pudding, bread and and dripping. Guaranteed to make you thirsty!

[arwkrite]

There is a pub I know of that on a Sunday has a dislpay of free snacks to die for. Nuts are salted,dry roast or cashews. Slices of local made pork pie ( pink meat not ghastly grey its important that ) and black pudding with chunks of fat in it. Strong Garlic Salami and Choritzo and similar sliced sausages.Pickles of all sorts and little bowls of what I call "suck it and see" .Bread, Onion,sharp Cheese, Ham, Roasted Chicken Extremities, quiche, anchovies , the oddRoll Mop Herrig and un-pitted olives of various colours. Not forgetting slices of Scotch Egg or perhaps Gala Pie. There is bound to be something I have forgotten.All the food comes from local shops known for the best quality. No Co-Op pork pie here.

Am I going to name this pub ? You have to be joking, thats my Sunday lunch on that bar. The front door is locked but you do not have to give a Masonic Hand Shake if you find the back door.A Clue..... Just look for a nicotine cloud as big as a burning tyre dump.

[aleandhearty]

Slices of local made pork pie ( pink meat not ghastly grey its important that ) and black pudding with chunks of fat in it. Strong Garlic Salami and Choritzo and similar sliced sausages.Pickles of all sorts and little bowls of what I call "suck it and see" .Bread, Onion,sharp Cheese, Ham, Roasted Chicken Extremities, quiche, anchovies , the oddRoll Mop Herrig and un-pitted olives of various colours.

Beam me up Scotty.....Once you've beaten the co-ordinates out of Arky. :)

[Delboy20]

One of my local pubs - "Jaspers" - http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38283/ - usualy put some snacks on the bar on a Sunday dinner.

When I was in there yesterday it was Cheese and biscuits, Pork pie, Chunks of black pudding and bowls of nuts. Very tasty !

[Crossste]

The Fox & Goose at Hebden Bridge use to have the sausage club on a Sunday dinner with several variety,s from the local butchers on the bar to try. Very nice. Not sure if it still does it though.

[Andy Ven]

I can't do pickled things with ale either - it makes your beer taste all vinegary. Pickled eggs or whelks in vinegar - no thanks

[Soup Dragon]

I would go for a pork pie, with mustard - especially at a Bathams' pub, as mentioned by Oggy and OB, however, a nice cob is also a treat - not really into crisps, nuts and hot pots

[arwkrite]

I have never come across a pub that did a " Hot Pot".
Its 1a.m. and I now want a hotpot. Beef or Lamb with dumplings. My mouth is watering and its a long time till breakfast. I will probably eat my socks, or even worse, while I am asleep. At least I will feel too full to eat a bowl of muesli.

[ETA]

This place http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/41862/ (Queens Tap in Swindon) put little pots of freshly cooked potato and parsnip crisps, with various herbs and spices, on the bar when I went in there. That made a very fine accompaniment to a decent pint. I'm not a regular there (only ever been in once, in fact) so I don't know if it's a regular thing but it was an excellent idea.

[hondo]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3105503/Kylie-Minogue-and-Tinie-Tempah-perform-at-tiny-village-pub.html

353 354 :whistle:

[Andy Ven]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3105503/Kylie-Minogue-and-Tinie-Tempah-perform-at-tiny-village-pub.html

353 354 :whistle:

The perfect accompaniment is a pint-sized diva :)

[Conrad]

I have never come across a pub that did a " Hot Pot".
Its 1a.m. and I now want a hotpot. Beef or Lamb with dumplings. My mouth is watering and its a long time till breakfast. I will probably eat my socks, or even worse, while I am asleep. At least I will feel too full to eat a bowl of muesli.
This thread is sent by the devil isn't it.

Everytime I read it I just end up wanting to disappear off and eat myself stupid(er).

[Farway]

Never found a hot pot pub, but it did remind me of some Florida bars, "chilli beans" or "chilli dog" anyone?

[Soup Dragon]

ROB Camra saw the result of the extremely hot hot pot i had - NEVER again

[ROBCamra]

ROB Camra saw the result of the extremely hot hot pot i had - NEVER again

And you were only washing it down with a half!!!

[aleandhearty]

ROB Camra saw the result of the extremely hot hot pot i had - NEVER again


And you were only washing it down with a half!!!

C'mon you little teases. Out with it!

[Farway]

C'mon you little teases. Out with it!

I guess it "out" was the problem? :sick::sick:

[aleandhearty]

I guess it "out" was the problem? :sick::sick:

Oh dear. A touch of 'loin of seared pork', so to speak. :eek:

[hondo]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7973944/Deep-fried-beer-invented-in-Texas.html

[trainman]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7973944/Deep-fried-beer-invented-in-Texas.html

If he can make them with a shelf-life, and cheaper, he might be on to something.

I like the last line - last year's winner... 'deep fried butter'. Heart-stopping stuff in Texas.

[RogerB]

I suppose this is an ideal thread to post a holiday snap from Stonehaven near Aberdeen - birthplace of the deep fried Mars Bar...

358

And no, I didn't try one.:sick:

[Delboy20]

There is a Chippie near me that does them. I haven't tried them either.

They also do deep fried Christmas Puddings during the festive season !!:sick::sick:

[Strongers]

Ah yes, from the land of the Stonner kebab - 1000 calories of heart stopping goodness.

[arwkrite]

From the state that gave you the Bush family nothing comes as a surprise.I cannot imagine why anyone would waste 3 years of their life inventing it. So we have beer batter , beef and pie and likely a lot more. I doubt it took three years to think them up.

[Gann]

Getting back onto the thread theme.. Bacon Fries anyone ?

I always consider them to be a poor mans pork Scratchings....

[Delboy20]

I prefer "Frazzles". Do they still make them ? Very similar to Bacon Fries.

I also used to like Scampi Fries.

Does the seafood man still tour pubs ? we used to look forward to him on a Sunday night in the Crown, Old Hill.
Crab sticks, coclkes, whelks .... lovely !! Vinegar and beer - what a combination.

[arwkrite]

Our local fresh fish man arrives at my local at the end of his day with his van and sells what he has left at very good prices. Sadly no shell fish unless you specially order it.The only cockles , welkes and mussels I see in pubs are in jars or foil sachets. I remember in the 60s in Shrewsbury the seafood seller arrived at the same time , on a Friday night, as the Salvation Army lady who sold the "Watch Tower". Probably toured the pubs together for safety though I can never recall even the most drunken of customers taking advantage of them.
As for crabs, I don't know the regulars THAT well.

[Strongers]

I prefer "Frazzles". Do they still make them ? Very similar to Bacon Fries.

I also used to like Scampi Fries.

Does the seafood man still tour pubs ? we used to look forward to him on a Sunday night in the Crown, Old Hill.
Crab sticks, coclkes, whelks .... lovely !! Vinegar and beer - what a combination.

Scampi Fries :sick:

I like Frazzles though and have come across a couple of fish vans outside pubs in the last few months.

[NickDavies]

Are they 'baps' down there?

Panini. Usually ready filled and deep frozen and supplied as a package with the 'free' grill. Add a bit of crinkly lettuce on the side and you can flog them to your ever-so-trendy Islingtonites for £9.95 a time, or twelve quid with a 'free' glass of Pinot Grigiot.

[arwkrite]

Aaarghh, them Lonnunners be real clever folk. Deep frozen Baps? I wunner if theyll ave a stick in em like them ice lolley things.
Panini..I think I like his music, I gotten an old 78 record with im on. Diddun know he frozen baps with sticks innem.

My apologies to the born and bred residents of Herefordshire but its pay back time for the 40 years of stick they have given me for being a Brummie ( Even thats wrong ,I was born in Walsall)

[Strongers]

Aaarghh, them Lonnunners be real clever folk. Deep frozen Baps? I wunner if theyll ave a stick in em like them ice lolley things.
Panini..I think I like his music, I gotten an old 78 record with im on. Diddun know he frozen baps with sticks innem.

My apologies to the born and bred residents of Herefordshire but its pay back time for the 40 years of stick they have given me for being a Brummie ( Even thats wrong ,I was born in Walsall)

Ice lolley things??? Do you mean Magnums?

[arwkrite]

Ice lolley things??? Do you mean Magnums?

Uuurrgh, No, I be thinkin the Mrs be orderin that shampains of hers from Waitrose in Magnums. Tiz gud for er rumitiz so she sez.

( I am getting a sore throat typing like this.)

[Alesonly]

When did someone rename the Brevile Toasted Sandwich a Panini so they could charge double. The sealed Toasted sandwich maker has been around at least 40 years I remember getting my first Ham & Cheese one in the Fox at Parmers Green in the early 70s. :lol:

[Farway]

Panini. Usually ready filled and deep frozen and supplied as a package with the 'free' grill. Add a bit of crinkly lettuce on the side and you can flog them to your ever-so-trendy Islingtonites for £9.95 a time, or twelve quid with a 'free' glass of Pinot Grigiot.

Garrr, I had one of these in the Owens at Southsea, never tried this foreign stuff before then, it was as described, microwaved and not nice, but not £9.95 either

Oddly enough I had another one, with the grandchildren, in a Wimpy of all places on Sunday, it was very nice, more like toasted baguette, and still not £9.95, but then Southsea is not Islington, thankfully

[aleandhearty]

Panini..I think I like his music

:D Brilliant!

[Alesonly]

Most People call me Old Fashioned But in my opinion you cant beat the Hot Sausage Roll or Hot Pie Or a Ham & Cheese Toasted Sandwich for a snack with a Pint as I don't want or like a full meal as it would put me off me Beer.
Even now I some times sneak a Pie Sausage Roll or Toasty in from the Gregg's or Chippy if I'm in a pub that don't sell food. :whistle:But some Pubs I drink in let you bring you Own food in anyway which is good.

[General Staal]

I prefer "Frazzles". Do they still make them ? Very similar to Bacon Fries.

I also used to like Scampi Fries.

Does the seafood man still tour pubs ? we used to look forward to him on a Sunday night in the Crown, Old Hill.
Crab sticks, coclkes, whelks .... lovely !! Vinegar and beer - what a combination.

The fish man used to come round my old local, the Comet, years ago when I was in my late teens/early 20s. The prawn cocktail in a sealed pot was delicious as were the crab sticks.

Unfortunately, I have not seen the fish man for many years and the Comet was converted into a curry house. It has since been demolished. Oh those were the days!

[Oggwyn Trench]

The fish man used to come round my old local, the Comet, years ago when I was in my late teens/early 20s. The prawn cocktail in a sealed pot was delicious as were the crab sticks.

Unfortunately, I have not seen the fish man for many years and the Comet was converted into a curry house. It has since been demolished. Oh those were the days!

Our local fishman gave up a few years ago , one to many visits to A&E after another dickhead glassed him for his takings

[General Staal]

Our local fishman gave up a few years ago , one to many visits to A&E after another dickhead glassed him for his takings

What is the world coming to? Back in 1998, Mrs Staal and I popped into the Parson and Clerk to watch the World Cup England/Argentina match. As soon as the final whistle blew and we lost, the pub exploded into a fight. It started up the front by the bar and we saw it ripple back towards us.

Mrs Staal and I made a sharp exit. As we got out, the fight burst out into the car park. We drove off hurriedly.

I hasten to add that the Parson and Clerk has since changed hands and is a thoroughly respectable Toby Carvery. There is no problem there now. But that night was one of the scariest experiences I have ever had in a pub.

[RogerB]

I wouldn't mind washing this down with a couple of beers!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351147/The-burger-laden-days-calories--actual-size.html

[Alesonly]

That reminds me I went In the Wetherspoons The Gatehouse at Highgate with the wife for a rare visit yesterday Afternoon. I Only went in as the wife wanted too go and have A curry and I ended up having the Mega Mixed Grill & a Few Pints of Double Stout as I was starving after the evenings drinking before I think I could of easy demolished that burger.

P/s The Gatehouse is one of the better classic Wetherspoon Pubs and about the only one I ever eat in as its always spotless & clean unlike most also with luck its nearist my house. http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/25474/

[Oggwyn Trench]

I wouldn't mind washing this down with a couple of beers!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351147/The-burger-laden-days-calories--actual-size.html

Bit to much salad on there for me !!

[Conrad]

I wouldn't mind washing this down with a couple of beers!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351147/The-burger-laden-days-calories--actual-size.html
Oh dear God, I thought BBC reporting was bad but:

That is more than twice a woman’s recommended daily intake – more, in fact, than she should eat in two whole days.
I was worried that the rest of the article was about to go on with "It is even more than 2 women should eat in 1 day, and if 4 women went out for lunch this would feed them enough that they should only have a light supper"

:muppet:'s

[Strongers]

I hope the waffle is fried and the bun is buttered!

[RogerB]

I remember Fatty Arbuckles doing a similar challenge that involved a 24oz steak with all the trimmings and a large bucket of ice cream. I managed the feat but they didn't have any "prize" t-shirts in stock so I had nothing to show for it apart from an extra stone in weight.

[Strongers]

Fatty Arbuckles... Sounds like a quality establishment.... I promised the kids a day out tomorrow, have you got directions?!!

[RogerB]

It was a chain of American Diners - not sure if there are any left. There was one in Tottenham but it shut many years ago.

[Strongers]

Wimpy it is again then!

[aleandhearty]

I wouldn't mind washing this down with a couple of beers!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351147/The-burger-laden-days-calories--actual-size.html

I think it's probably safe to say that 'chef' and inventor Keith Robinson was probably responsible for his own product development, if the accompanying photo is anything to go by. A real picture of health!