Tuesday, August 26th – Thursday, August 28

I’m sure you are disappointed that the Olympics are over, but you are probably even more disappointed that McDonald’s Olympic Meal Deals are also over. The Meal Deals embraced three local cultures and were, fairly indirectly, tied to the Olympics. You could choose between a Kiwi Burger, an Aussie Burger, or a McAsia Wrap. These delightful options highlighted a local McDonald’s “favorite” from each of these three nations. The Kiwi Burger is topped with egg and beet root (their way of saying beet); the Aussie burger is topped with pineapple, bacon, and bbq sauce; and the McAsia Wrap combines chicken tenders with chili sauce. Check it out - you can’t make this stuff up! www.mcdonalds.co.nz/olympics/

I’m a little surprised and somewhat disappointed that the creators of neither the Kiwi nor Aussie Burger managed to incorporate marmite or vegemite. For the unfamiliar, these are two different, local food-like items. Vegemite stems from Australia, whereas Marmite is a New Zealand reconstruction of the British Marmite. Rumor has it that NZ Marmite is somewhat sweeter than Vegemite; should I encounter them both in one sitting, I will sacrifice for the good of all and do a taste test to verify this. (Please, never let that happen.) Both are created from the remains of yeast from beer brewing and are presented as a brown, sticky paste that is usually spread on bread or toast. The thickness of such application is a matter of personal taste. We’ve been warned that initiates should apply with caution; however, you’ll see true fans slathering it on. Cory has tried Vegemite and was not impressed, though he is known to be a somewhat picky eater – no coconut, no nuts, no olives – so take his opinion with some caution. The kiddos at school often have Marmite sandwiches for morning tea. I can attest that it is extremely sticky and almost impossible to remove from clothing once little fingers have wiped it there. After attempted cleaning, it leaves an obvious brown gummy smudge on said clothing. (To be fair, as several of my former students and staff could tell you, I am a terribly messy “feeder” of others, and my clothes often have smudges on them, though not usually from Marmite.)

An interesting offshoot…you can visit the Vegemite webpage and read the poem of the week about Vegemite. You can also view the Vegemite timeline and learn of the heritage of Vegemite. You can play fun Vegemite games in the Kid’s Corner, and you can also locate a range of recipes that use Vegemite. Bookmark it now! Marmite’s NZ page also offers useful tips and fun Marmite facts, in addition to artwork made with Marmite and toast.