![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
furtech
Flickr EF Costume Set
As expected, there were a smack-load of fantastic costumes at the con. One of the huge bonuses of EF is seeing the work of costumers who don't get out to the states.
My favorite costume this year was a tie: Karpour's Baseball (the Egyptian Fruit Bat) and Beastcub's blue dragon (dunno the name). The bat was just adorable, plus my fave species, plus performed exuberantly by Karpour (at least, I -think- Karpour was in it...). The blue dragon was a fantastic design and moved -really- well (head, neck, tail, body-- everything). I also liked the border collie (personal bias).
Flickr Snack Trade Set
Something unique to EF: the International Snak Trade! People were encouraged to bring their favorite (or most unusual local) snack to the convention and share with others. This resulted in some of the most delicious and nightmarish things I had all weekend. The Italian contingent brought local hams and salamis: OMG, good! There was a "soft" salami that was almost spreadable and I've never had a salami that flavorful. The local "ham" was like a dark red prosciutto; the other salami was hard and spicy. Plus, adult soft drinks! Flavorful, but not too sweet. If it were possible to bring these back to the states (the salamis), I would, but it's verbotten, zehr (or something to that effect).
There was a marzipan cake (the green things with the chocolate ends)-- kind of like a marzipan petit four-- that was excellent. Henrieke (and I'm SO SORRY for continually spelling your name wrong!!!) brought the Dutch version of NicNacs which were not only better than NicNacs, but come in flavors like onion and bacon! Om. I had to resist diving into the American snacks out of habit...
On the other side, I tasted the most awful, horrible thing ever to have the term "treat" applied to it. It's a Danish or Scandinavian candy called "Salmiakki": a bitter chew that looks like a piece of tar and tastes worse. For the sake of good international snack relations, I -tried- to finish it...but after a couple of minutes I had to spit it out and wipe my mouth out with a paper towel. I dashed back to the Italians and washed out the taste with Italian sodas and salami. Good grief, the main -flavoring- ingredient is ammonium chloride!! Flavoring!?!! Yes, I can believe it must be an acquired taste...
Bwa-hahah! Here's a video of people trying Salmiakki Ice Cream!!!
Salmiakki aside, it was a lot of fun trading snacks and stories!
EDIT: I almost forgot! My FAVORITE SNACK!!1! In Sweden there is something called "De Ruijter" and it's essentially flavored confectioners sugar in the form of little sprinkles. Apparently a typical way to eat this is to put some butter on a slice of bread and then COVER it with this stuff. Basically, it's frosting. In flavors. I said something to the effect that if it were available in the States, I'd eat it with a spoon...to which a women said that's what she did as a child! Haha! "Hmmm...what should I have for lunch? PB&J? Salami sandwich? Naw...SUGAR SANDWICH!!"
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2012-09-08 12:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-09 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-08 04:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-09 05:39 pm (UTC)Kemocon is one of the biggest. (http://www.kemocon.com/info_re.html)
The Japanese costumers make even the Europeans look chubby:
no subject
Date: 2012-09-08 07:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-09 05:46 pm (UTC)After reading about Lutefisk, I'd believe anything (though not necessarily try it, unless forced to by politeness).
no subject
Date: 2012-09-08 07:59 am (UTC)Salmiak is enjoyed in many countries though, and hated in even more. They're mostly popular in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. I read that Dutch people eat about 2 kilos of liquorice per year. I probably eat more, haha!
http://twitpic.com/photos/Henriekeg?page=18 Here's a REALLY old twitpic page that has some things I typically eat on it :)
I'll be checking out the costume gallery soon!
no subject
Date: 2012-09-08 08:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-09 05:51 pm (UTC)Salmiak is fascinating to me...I should have looked for a box. Maybe Salmiak is the dark side of De Ruijter: they balance each other out.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-12 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-08 09:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-08 07:49 pm (UTC)Baseball had a wonderfully animated personality. He made it up to Suhl with us, and entertained a few kids who were with their parents. The Ringberg was hosting a reunion of the Panzergrenadiersbrigade 34 - these were young people, veterans of the Bundeswehr - and they were surprisingly tolerant of the handful of 'suiters who came out for an hour or two, a few posing for pictures with the 'suiters. Then we all went to the Crazy Horse steakhaus for dinner.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-09 05:53 pm (UTC)Ah, the Crazy Horse. The steak house that ran out of steak.
If I had known you were heading up that way, I would have asked you to look for a bottle of the mare's milk liquor they sell in that area. I like it partly for the squick-factor and partly because it's like a very light, smooth Baily's.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-09 09:19 am (UTC)Well it could have been worse - they could have given you tar candy. It´s salmiakki or licorice which actually has tar in it. If nobody brought it this year then I will deginitely bring it next year.
In Finland we also have salmiakki and tar liqueur. I guess if I am allowed to bring those as well...
no subject
Date: 2012-09-09 05:55 pm (UTC)Definitely also bring the Salmiakki and tar liquor! Wow!
no subject
Date: 2012-09-10 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-12 04:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-10 01:01 am (UTC)