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Forostar
Ancient Mariner
I wonder what the cause is. Not many cows (with destination: meat) walking on your grasslands? Your grasslands suck? Not enough import of cow meat? If so, why?
Or is it a cultural phenomenon which goes back far in history?
edit:
I noticed the same in Poland. Often pork or chicken on table. Maybe this is very common in Central/Eastern Europe. Who knows Communism even forbade to import cow meat from abroad, who knows. That might be stuck in the current cultural kitchen.
Or is it a cultural phenomenon which goes back far in history?
edit:
I noticed the same in Poland. Often pork or chicken on table. Maybe this is very common in Central/Eastern Europe. Who knows Communism even forbade to import cow meat from abroad, who knows. That might be stuck in the current cultural kitchen.
Forostar said:
My educated guess is that for various reasons, Germany lacks - or in the past, has lacked - the pastures necessary for large-scale cattle breeding. It's not so much the fact that there is no geographical availability, but much more that historically, Germany had been split up in hundreds of little independent principalities that prevented the expansion of cattle herds. Cattle herds need huge pastures they can move around on freely, and this is impossible to achieve if every few miles, you see a fence or a sign reading "go no further". So traditional cuisine has been mostly devoid of beef and relied on animals like chicken or pork that don't take much room to breed. And by the time large-scale political entities such as Prussia appeared, there was no desire to introduce cattle anymore. Incidentally, it's a different story with potato farming.
At least, that's what sounds logical to me, considering that countries relying on cattle breeding, such as the US, Argentina or even the UK, have always had much wider landscapes uninterrupted by local borders. This is only my theory, though, the real reason may be a completely different one.
Mega said:
Ugh. You can have all the sauerkraut you like, because I'm not eating it.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Per, that guess made sense. In Poland there are many people who call themselves farmer. So many, that there's not that much space for expansion of cattle herds.
Ziemniaki or kartofle -this term is used more in western Poland as you might understand- (potatoes) on the other hand are immensely popular in Polish cuisine.
Ziemniaki or kartofle -this term is used more in western Poland as you might understand- (potatoes) on the other hand are immensely popular in Polish cuisine.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Well, I just read that the potato arrived in Europe in the 16th century, and that in France and Germany government officials and noble landowners promoted the rapid conversion of fallow land into potato fields after 1750. The partitions of Poland were in 1772, 1793 and 1795. I wonder if the potato in was popular in Poland before that, who knows.
Top potato producers in 2006 (in million metric tons):
1. China 70
2. Russia 39
3. India 24
4. USA 20
5. Ukraine 19
6. Germany 10
7. Poland 9
8. Belgium 8
9. Netherlands 7
10. France 6
Top potato producers in 2006 (in million metric tons):
1. China 70
2. Russia 39
3. India 24
4. USA 20
5. Ukraine 19
6. Germany 10
7. Poland 9
8. Belgium 8
9. Netherlands 7
10. France 6
Maybe we should consider that a very big part of what is now Poland was Prussian, even then. I remember reading somewhere that the potato was introduced to continental Europe by Frederick II. of Prussia; at least to central Europe (don't know about France). He is actually best remembered here for that, and there is even an appreciation society that still places potatoes on his grave every now and then.
Per, I hear what you are saying about the BBQ. (and sorry the weekend didn't shape up like you would have wished). I like a good Iowa cut pork chop-- around 2" thick-- or good chicken breast on the grill. But not much is as good as beef. Love a great KC strip, or T-bone... even like a great kabob. Damn, that all sounds good! now, even tho it is raining and blowing, I'm gonna hafta grill. speaking of potatoes, I like to microwave them for a bit, then slice them up, some olive oil, garlic, onion, salt and pepper, wrap it up in foil and stick it on the grill as well.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Perun said:
Thanks to this potato topic I am plunging myself in wikipedia. I noticed the growth of Prussia in the time of Frederick II Prussia, here we can see the differences between 1740 (black) and 1786 (very dark blue, almost black):
Around 1700 Prussia was hardly around in that area, but indeed, the potato probably neither (at least not in a big scale).
Well, Frederick did introduce the potato to the areas he conquered. That is a well-known fact. And he did conquer much of what is now Poland. So technically, I wasn't wrong. Whether the potato was known in, let's say Warsaw or Krakow I don't know. But it wasn't in Pommerania or Silesia.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Perun said:
You're right. But just as an addition: before he conquered it, it was Poland as well, in the time of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (apart from the Habsburg Empire in the 17th Century, see here).
He came, he brought potatoes, and he left.
(kidding mate, I know much more happened around that time).
Albie
Keeping an open eye on the Weeping Angels.
Talking of Avatar, or at least it was discussed here the other day, is it me or was Avatar in the cinema for just 5 minutes before it was suddenly released on DVD? We have adverts everywhere for the impending release (or to be more precise, tomorrow's release) of Avatar on DVD!
Seriously, less than a few months ago there was adverts for the cinema release of this film.
Seriously, less than a few months ago there was adverts for the cinema release of this film.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Avatar premiered in London on December 10th, 2009.
The films has been long in the theatres, but indeed DVDs get released much faster these days.
I remember a row in my country when theatres didn't want to show Alice in Wonderland.
Reason: Disney wanted to release the film too soon (three months after cinema release). The theatres were afraid that they wouldn't have many visitors, because of that. Later things changed.
More info
The films has been long in the theatres, but indeed DVDs get released much faster these days.
I remember a row in my country when theatres didn't want to show Alice in Wonderland.
Reason: Disney wanted to release the film too soon (three months after cinema release). The theatres were afraid that they wouldn't have many visitors, because of that. Later things changed.
More info
Albie
Keeping an open eye on the Weeping Angels.
So that's around 4 1/2 months after the cinema release before the DVD was released. Not that long at all.Forostar said:
I remember the same argument - no doubt it was about the same film but I don't recall the name either. Seems the argument about the DVD/Cinema release dates was more important than the film itself!Forostar said:
Yeah, release dates are kinda funny. It seemed like it took the better part of a year to the the assorted Pirates trilogy released. Sometimes, if a film comes out in the spring or early summer, they wait longer and try to capitalize on the 'christmas season'.