Eton Mess

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http://www.moodiereport.com/Martin/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/eton-mess.jpg

Best bit.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Meringue 15
Strawberries 8
WTF LOL Britishes 8
Cream 3


Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:09 (fourteen years ago)

Can't believe this is the first time all summer I've had this.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:10 (fourteen years ago)

meringue > strawberries/cream

Countdown to Alma Cogan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:10 (fourteen years ago)

I would eat strawberries and cream without meringue, but not meringue without strawberries and cream. But I think it is the meringue that raises it from "strawberries and cream" to "Eton Mess" ergo quintessential.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:12 (fourteen years ago)

yeah exactly plus gooey meringue once it's soaked in strawberry juice & cream is something else

Countdown to Alma Cogan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:13 (fourteen years ago)

Depends on how liquid or solid the cream is. I went through a phase last summer of using really liquid unbeaten single cream and it would completely dissolve the meringue into a sugary pink slime. But if you use, say, Sainsburys Taste The Difference Extra Thick Double Cream From Jersey Cows Fed Only On Sunbeams And Clover Flowers then it doesn't actually goo up the meringue properly. So the cream might be the crucially important part that makes it stand up and hold together or dissolve into mush.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:18 (fourteen years ago)

What would happen if you used clotted cream in Eton Mess? Would it cease to be Eton Mess?

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:20 (fourteen years ago)

Naomi is the Mess technician in our house and i think she just uses regular double cream usually

Countdown to Alma Cogan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:21 (fourteen years ago)

clotted cream wouldn't work? too thick. nice tho

Countdown to Alma Cogan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:21 (fourteen years ago)

All this is a lie, though. I always go through and pick out the strawberries because they are clearly the best bit.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:24 (fourteen years ago)

well the point is that each element improves the other otherwise it wouldn't be a popular dish

Countdown to Alma Cogan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:25 (fourteen years ago)

The whole is greater than the sum of its part.

But if I had to pick any one bit to have on its own, it would definitely be strawberries.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 14:27 (fourteen years ago)

i have NEVER had this! so it's basically a pavlova huh?

lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:25 (fourteen years ago)

It's basically a pavlova smashed up. I love it. I use double cream, but whip it to soft peaks. I need to get more focused and fry the saw berries quickly in a drop of balsamic vinegar first to intensify the flavour. I don't like the meringue to go too squishy and dissolved. Raspberries make a good alternative to strawberries.

lol sickmouthy (Scik Mouthy), Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:33 (fourteen years ago)

Voted meringue, btw.

lol sickmouthy (Scik Mouthy), Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:33 (fourteen years ago)

WTF is a pavlova?

I like adding a few raspberries for accent, but not too many as their tartness can overpower the strawberry goodness.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:42 (fourteen years ago)

a pavlova:

http://girlfromthehills.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/pavlova_image.jpg

an...unsmushed up eton mess, i guess.

voted strawberries, love them. never been a huge raspberry fan and while i like meringue, i don't go nuts for it or get cravings for it really

lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:46 (fourteen years ago)

But that has kiwi and banana in it, which is just bucketloads of wrong.

(I like bananas, just not on sweet things - put them on curry or mueslix.)

((Kiwifruits can go to the actual devil, though))

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:48 (fourteen years ago)

I have never heard of this and I don't understand what the meringue would add.

little mushroom person (abanana), Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:49 (fourteen years ago)

the kiwis and bananas are optional, i've never had a pavlova with either (bananas don't strike me as appropriate at all and i strongly dislike kiwis)

lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:50 (fourteen years ago)

There are *rules* about this sort of thing. You can't just go chucking any old fruit in, it has to be a *berry*. Like, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, logan rock berries, all fine. Kiwifruits and bananas? You might as well chuck in an avocado pear for the wrongness that brings.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:52 (fourteen years ago)

Used to make it with these meringues that had this very thin layer of very dark, bitter chocolate on the bottom of them. It was absolutely sublime, added a whole nother level to cut through all the sweetness. Can't seem to find them any more, though. ;_;

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:56 (fourteen years ago)

Is this... more prominent this year than usual? I have seen a lot of Eton Mess in the past six months, I wasn't even aware of it existing before this summer!

Gravel Puzzleworth, Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:58 (fourteen years ago)

This is the first one I've had all summer! Last summer was, for me, the summer of endless Eton gluttony.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:59 (fourteen years ago)

I think I have some meringue nests in the cupboard so prob gonna make a mess this week if I can find some good fruit.

Although i Essentially agree with you about what should and should not top a pavlova, an Aussie friend of my mum makes a great one with everything on it and I'm therefore prob a bit more flexible on the rules. Any involvement of chocolate sounds even more rong to me than avocado though.

Upt0eleven, Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:17 (fourteen years ago)

hate strawberries
hate meringue

bowl of cream pls

Once Were Moderators (DG), Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:18 (fourteen years ago)

Mmmm.... voting meringue. This poll is making me crave, damnit.

I for one am (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:19 (fourteen years ago)

There are *rules* about this sort of thing. You can't just go chucking any old fruit in, it has to be a *berry*. Like, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, logan rock berries, all fine.

I am willing to bet that at least half of these aren't technically berries, despite their name.

(I know, I know, I should get out of pedantic QI asshole mode, but... just sayin'.)

emil.y, Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:22 (fourteen years ago)

Ha, and just to really get in your craw, apparently bananas are berries. Or more specifically, 'leathery berries'. Thanks, wikipedia.

emil.y, Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:27 (fourteen years ago)

VOTED TOOTH DECAY

pennywise #foolish (Lamp), Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:30 (fourteen years ago)

This is too hard! I love cakes. Strawberries make so many other foods better so probably them.

Kiwis weird me out, fruit shouldn't have hair growing on it.

ha ha ha ha jack my swag (boxedjoy), Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:39 (fourteen years ago)

Meringue is a waste of calories; voted strawberries.

L.P. Hovercraft (WmC), Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:40 (fourteen years ago)

are loganberries really called "logan rock berries" too or was that a "too much time listening to RDJ" moment?

Countdown to Alma Cogan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:43 (fourteen years ago)

also i don't think people get that yeah, u wouldn't eat a meringue on its own, really, but the point of it is what happens when it joins in with other ingredients. same as lemon meringue pie - the meringue is totally necessary.

Countdown to Alma Cogan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:44 (fourteen years ago)

"too much time listening to RDJ" moment

nakhchivan, Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:45 (fourteen years ago)

Eton mess is ruined by hard dry meringue nests. Must have some gooiness.

kinder, Sunday, 21 August 2011 20:36 (fourteen years ago)

Last time I had EM, the meringue was all runny. Badbadbad.

Better, no mer.

In order of importance.
Strawbs, Cream, Sauce, Decent meringue.

I don't mean the dance, although Strawbs, Cream, sauce and a dance is better than runny meringue.

Mark G, Monday, 22 August 2011 08:11 (fourteen years ago)

Yes, everything needs to be firm.

Even that, yes.

Mark G, Monday, 22 August 2011 08:12 (fourteen years ago)

I think I could get with this if it were made with soft, warm lemon pie-style meringue. Hard meringue makes my teeth sing.

robin hoodie (suzy), Monday, 22 August 2011 08:30 (fourteen years ago)

going to a wedding in a couple of weeks and the invitation said "eton mess or trifle?". disgusting savages.

caek, Monday, 22 August 2011 08:33 (fourteen years ago)

This stuff is okay but it's no CRANACHAN, which wins for having crunchy oats in it instead of meringue, but mostly for containing whisky. As far as ridiculously unhealthy desserts go, Scotland > posh kids.

Matt DC, Monday, 22 August 2011 08:42 (fourteen years ago)

That would be logon rock berries, surely? (not quite good enough for a screen name)

Cranachan is also known as Atholl Brose and I refuse to eat Cocteau Twins songs on principle.

Lemon meringue pie is a whole nother kettle of fish. Or lemon curds as the case may be. It is about the interplay of tart lemon curd, sweet confectionery meringue and a firm and moist but not soggy crust. The meringue in LMP should not be as hard as that in Eton Mess. Very different function.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Monday, 22 August 2011 09:10 (fourteen years ago)

You wouldn't order a Sugar Hiccup in a cocktail bar?

Mark G, Monday, 22 August 2011 09:14 (fourteen years ago)

The meringue in LMP should not be as hard as that in Eton Mess. Very different function.

Abs, "like" and all those other things those youngsters do on their public access forums...

Mark G, Monday, 22 August 2011 09:15 (fourteen years ago)

No. Nor a Peppermint Pig nor an Orange Appled.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Monday, 22 August 2011 09:19 (fourteen years ago)

Oh, I know the meringue in Eton Mess needs to be harder than for LMP, but I am proposing another dish that combines the warmth and sponginess of the LMP meringue with the rest of the Eton Mess - genuinely believe this would be a great dessert and not something to be dubbed Slough of Despond.

robin hoodie (suzy), Monday, 22 August 2011 09:59 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah but runny meringue with runny cream is a bad look.

on desserts, anyway.

Mark G, Monday, 22 August 2011 10:07 (fourteen years ago)

If you were eating runny meringue on LMP, your chef was doing it wrong.

robin hoodie (suzy), Monday, 22 August 2011 10:11 (fourteen years ago)

Boggled @ ppl not knowing what a pavlova is fwiw

Rameses Street (Trayce), Monday, 22 August 2011 10:23 (fourteen years ago)

no one cares about our funny little colonial puddings.

estela, Monday, 22 August 2011 10:59 (fourteen years ago)

I had one on Saturday. I care.

Upt0eleven, Monday, 22 August 2011 11:02 (fourteen years ago)

Given that Eton Mess has been around since the 19th Century and Pavlova was not invented until the 1920s, I think it's fair to be familiar with one but not the other.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Monday, 22 August 2011 11:05 (fourteen years ago)

i had no idea pavlova was australian in origin until today

lex pretend, Monday, 22 August 2011 11:07 (fourteen years ago)

From New Zealand, I discovered? (alleged?) which would explain the use of kiwifruit above?

I could be wrong, this is only the second day of my discovery of its very existence and this is the result of googling rather than eating.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Monday, 22 August 2011 11:10 (fourteen years ago)

Peach Melba?

Mark G, Monday, 22 August 2011 11:11 (fourteen years ago)

nz invented pavlova but australia has uncharacteristically tried to claim the credit for it ever since.

estela, Monday, 22 August 2011 11:19 (fourteen years ago)

There. The voice of ultimate wisdom has spoken.

Aphex Twin … in my vagina? (Karen D. Tregaskin), Monday, 22 August 2011 11:21 (fourteen years ago)

i shouldn't have used a picture with kiwifruit, that was the first and only time i've actually seen kiwis present on pavlova

lex pretend, Monday, 22 August 2011 11:24 (fourteen years ago)

Oh no no. kiwifruit is a very staple addition, as is passionfruit.

Rameses Street (Trayce), Monday, 22 August 2011 11:40 (fourteen years ago)

there is also a pavlova roll, which is an australian variation on pavlova (i think, i've only ever seen it over here), which might fit suzy's bill: it's a rectangle of soft but firm meringue spread with cream and fruit and then rolled lengthwise like a swiss roll, and then cut into slices. i didn't like the look of it at first but it's very nice. really i like all these meringue/cream/strawberry desserts. i don't care so much for kiwifruit or passionfruit on them but i'll still eat them.

estela, Monday, 22 August 2011 12:00 (fourteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 23:01 (fourteen years ago)

PHILADELPHIA

oppet, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 23:09 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/user/phillyrecipes?v=x0eJK3uWpPk

oppet, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 23:10 (fourteen years ago)

I am baffled at the lack of pavlova knowledge and bewitched by my new-found "leathery berry" knowledge.

Alba, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 00:02 (fourteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 23:01 (fourteen years ago)

People keep making eton mess on Come Dine With Me these days. Someone made that pavlova roll thing that estela mentioned up there this week though. It looked nice, I think I might try and make it some time.

I'm with Matt on cranachan being the real winner of things with cream and berries in them though.

ailsa, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 23:11 (fourteen years ago)

nine months pass...

Feel a bit sick from just eating about 600g of this.

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Saturday, 16 June 2012 13:04 (thirteen years ago)

It's been too cold & rainy for Eton Mess this summer.

Also Sainsburys stopped getting in the nice meringues with the dark chocolate drizzles over them.

a cake made of all their eyes (White Chocolate Cheesecake), Saturday, 16 June 2012 13:54 (thirteen years ago)

This was a fancy cocoa-dusted meringue from Carluccio's.

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Saturday, 16 June 2012 14:28 (thirteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

If you make Eton Mess with Scottish raspberries instead of English strawberries, is it called Fettes Mess?

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 6 July 2012 17:38 (thirteen years ago)

Either way, I've had a lot of both this week.

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 6 July 2012 17:38 (thirteen years ago)


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