Thursday, December 4, 2008

Tim Hortons





I couldn't resist this video. Have you ever tried to order a coffee? How do you like your coffee? Black? Double, double? Regular? Now, try going to Starbucks. It gets more diffucult to know what to order. Okay, so what is a tall? Ordering a coffee takes on new meaning,doesn't it? According to a Star Bucks's employee, you can order a small, tall, grande (pronounced granday) or venti ( pronounced vahntee). In French, vent means twenty and a venti is twenty ounces. The company doesn't want you to order the smallest size which is the small. The small is not on the menu board and if you ask for a small, the clerk will correct you and suggest a tall. Are you still confused?

Okay, so now you are thinking why is this blog called Tim Hortons? Well, that's because there are so many Tim Hortons in Canada and there are so many Canadians who love Tim Horton's coffee. Tim Horton was a real Canadian hockey star. He started his career as a Maple Leaf hockey player in Toronto. He was still playing hockey in his early forties when he was killed in a car crash February, 1974. His widow eventually sold the coffee franchise, but Canadians continue to line up at the nearest Tim Hortons. There is even a Tim Hortons for the Canadian soldiers in Afghanastan. They requested one because they wanted to feel like they were at home. The next video is a Tim Horton's commercial that takes place in Scotland.








After watching this commercial, can you think of a food or drink that is very popular in your home country? Why do you think it is so popular? Can you get it here?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Visiting Ukraine and staying there for a while, you won't see people in the morning who hurry to their jobs with a cup of coffee in their hands. Ukrainian people used to have an essential breakfast in the morning that includes a cup of tea or coffee. Lunch is quite different from what you used to have here. We call it dinner, it lasts from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and people have 3 courses of meals: 1st course - soup or broth, 2nd course - one of the following but not limited to - boiled rice with meat, buckwheat porridge with sausage, mashed potatoes with chops, etc and 3rd course - something to drink. As long as some people don't want to waste their time on lunch (dinner) they take snacks to their work. And the most popular food in that case is a patty or a pasty, usually made with different stuffing such as cheese. potato, meat, cabbage, cherries or berries. There's also one very popular drink during summer time that is natural and helps you to forget that you are thirsty. It is kvas.
Kvass or kvas, sometimes translated into English as bread drink, is a fermented non alcoholic beverage made from black or rye bread. It is popular in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and other Eastern and Central European countries as well as in all ex-Soviet states. Once sold only during the summer out of wheeled yellow tanks the size of beer barrels, kvas is now bottled, canned and shipped across the country all year round.
You can buy bottled kvas here in Toronto in various Ukrainian, Russian or Polish stores. As for patties, I believe people make them around the world but in different ways according to their traditions.

Mary said...

I don't drink coffee. Coffee is not good for your baby if your are pregnant or breastfeeding.
I ordered a cup of coffee for my employer last year.She likes regular and medium size coffee.It's very simple to buy a coffee then.After I saw this video,I know it's more difficult to order a cup of coffee now.

My family is Islam.My parents and grandparents are Muslims.We don't eat pork.There are a lot of people who are Islam in Shenyang of China.There is a mosque in the center of Shenyang city.Because our forebears who are Chinese married with Muslims,the religion went down to posterity.
There are some Muslim restaurants in our hometown. I miss my hometown favorite food very much especially when I was pregnant.I miss the beef mince pie and the shaomai that tastes like dumpling,but the shape and wrap are different.I miss the mutton soup,broiled mutton brunch and all kinds of Islamic dishes that are full of hometown special taste.

chao said...

In our country, coffee is more and more popular in some big cities such Beijing and Shanghai.
There are also several Starbucks in those cities. Young people who like fast food and popular culture like Starbucks’ coffee. But traditional food is still very popular and been chosen by people everyday.
In the morning, some people like to choose Soya-bean milk and Fried bread sticks as their breakfasts. Soya-bean milk is much more fit for oriental than milk. There are a number of people who have lactose intolerance and can’t digest milk very well. Thus it is better to choose Soya-bean milk as breakfast for Chinese people. Another traditional food is the steamed stuffed-bun which can be stuffed with meat or vegetables. It is very tasteful and healthy to your body.
Besides, there are lots of tasty foods which can only been found in China. Rice noodle is very popular in the south of China. It looks like noodle, but it is made of rice. People mix bean sprout and kelp with it together, then they put flavoring on them . I used to eat it when I was in University. Another kind of food which is also my favorite is beef vermicelli. It tastes hot. Plus, it is very popular in my hometown. I miss it so much.
There are so many kind of traditional Chinese food which people love and eat everyday. If you go to China or Chinese restaurants, try them. Believe me, you will love them!

Zeming said...

After I watched this funny video, I realized that is true. Canadians like Tim Hortons. It has already been part of Canadians’ living since it was found. Everyday, there is a view which Canadians line up at Tim Hortons in the street. They are used to everything in Tim Hortons. But Starbucks is from America, so when a Canadian occasionally goes to Starbucks where he/she is not familiar with, It is easy to be confused by Starbucks’ some service. When a Canadian lives and stays oversea, not matter how he/she is successful, they still feel something lacking, they are eager to gain a sense of home. Tim Hortons symbolizes Canada as well as maple leaves. They want to drink Tim Hortons’ coffee that feels like at their home country.
Hot Pot is very popular in my home country. It originated in the ancient North of China between the 7th and 10th centuries; so it has gradually formed its own an unique food culture along with historical evolution. It is one of the famous traditional dishes in China. My hometown is located in the Northeast of China. There is nothing like a good Hot Pot to warm you up on a cold winter’s night. The Hot Pot is a delicious, healthful meal which the cooking is processed during enjoyed by friends and families. You throw various kinds of vegetable and meat, tofu, seafood and organs of animals in the boiling water of your hot pot to cook and dip special mixing sauce on them. It is also based on your own favorite style of food. Today, there are nearly many types if Hot Pot depending in different t regions in China. So it isn’t only popular in my home country, but also it becomes many people’ favorite throughout the world.
The winter is the longest season in Canada. My friends and I often get together to enjoy Hot Pot. The ingredients and a variety of hot pots are available at any Chinese grocery store, that’s why it is easy to prepare and cook for us. It is a really joyful activity and relieves our homesickness. There is a picture about a family is sitting around a steaming pot of food, talking joking, sniffing the heat; and then who is caring about the cold weather with windchill outside.

Anonymous said...

Tea in Iran

The history of tea culture in Iran started at the end of the 15th century. Before that coffee was the main beverage in Iran. However, most of the coffee producing countries were located far from Iran, making shipping very difficult. With a major tea producing country, China, located on a nearby trading path, "the silk road", and the shipping of tea was much easier. That was a main reason why tea became much popular in Iran. As a result, the demand for tea grew, and more tea needed to be imported to match Iran's consumption. Iran failed in their first attempt to cultivate tea in their own country in 1882 with seeds from India. In 1899, Mohammed Milza, living in India at the time, brought 3000 saplings into his country from the Northern part of India, Kangra. He started the cultivation in the region Giran, south of the Caspian sea. The climate there was well suited for tea cultivation, and the tea industry quickly expanded in Giran and Mazandran region. In 1934, the first modern style tea factory was built. Now there are 107 tea factories and a total of 32000 hectare of tea farms. Most of the farms are located the hillsides of Iran like the farms in Darjeeling. These farms produce an orthodox style of black tea. The color of Iranian tea is red and taste is fairly light, and it is delicious without adding any milk or sugar. The total production of black tea in 1992 was approximately 56000 tons. The imported amount was 35000 tons which was drastic decrease from 1991. The total amount of tea consumption was 95000 tons. The amount of the tea consumption continues to increase, and Iran is planing to expand the number of farms in the country.

susan2 said...

I always watched the TV commercial in South Korea ,one of the most popular remembers is a Gochujang.
It is the Hot Pepper Paste Sauce.
It is a unique Korean food because it has good nutrition,taste and color.It comes from soybeans which are the primary ingredient,and its sweet taste comes from carbohydrates contained ordinary rice or barley.At last,powered hot pepper gives it a hot taste and red color.

Many Korean enjoy eating spicy food,but we can not cook without Gochujang.
It helps traditional food to cook with meat,vegetables,fish and rice.

liezel said...

The one that really missed is Kare-Kare. Filipino love to celebrate and whenever, they do, they always make string of preparation especially for food to quest, and most of the time, quest are pampered with different delectable Filipino dishes. Considered as one of the most popular Filipino food is Kare-Kare. It is present during fiesta, birthday, reunion, family gathering or even ordinary day with family and friends.
Traditional Filipino food recipes that are simple to cook and always a pleasure to serve and eat....dishes that are always welcome on the dining table . Filipino food consist mostly of vegetable, seafood, dairy, meat and rice. Like Philippine fiesta, Filipino recipe are rich in flavour and color.
Filipino culinary art is greatly influence by Chinese, European, American, Arab and Asian cuisines. A fusion if various recipe from earlier traders. Asian immigrants and former colonizers.
Before the Spaniards colonized the Philippine, the country consisted of root, crops, vegetable and seafood. Filipino food recipes then was almost always either boiled, roasted or broiled. Foreign trade brought in all kinds of spices and plants to the Philippines. And like the Filipino today, it's cuisine is a gastronomic fest from different countries and culture - from east to west
Filipino have embraced as they own cuisine from the other countries like the noodle from chinese, rice and meat dishes from the Spaniards, fast food from the Americans and even the spaghetti from the Italians. All these now form part from Philippines - with the Filipino touch of course.
There are however many Filipino recipes from each region of the Philippines. The Filipino's penchant for cooking resulted into a unique Philippines culinary arts. The Ilocanos from the north is known for their Pakbet a simple but nutrious vegetable dish. While the Bicolanos are famous to their Bicol express a hot and spicy dish in coconut milk. Overall, nothing beat the fame of the tasty pork and chicken adobo, a dish in the Philippines is known for throughout the world.

Noriel said...

Great story and nice vedio too for the drinker coffee! The story for me is quite the same. I don't drink much coffee but I liked a ice cream and cookies , chocolate with sweet, but disgusted black coffee. When I arrived here in Canada on 2005 still winter time I saw many people buying coffee during rush hour in the Morning on way their work and you will see how busy the coffee shop. and then I decided to drink coffee too sometimes. there was nothing more trendy Canadian than drinking Tim Hortons, Starbucks and etc. I tried it first hot brewed coffee, liked the concept but not the coffee. Next day I took a latte and every day me taste changed until I finally found my ultimate drink: a caffe latte with almond syrup, brown sugar and some sweetener.

Posted by; Noriel

Parvin said...

In Iran,we have coffe shopp too.this is a place that people especialy young adult goes and drink some non alcoholic beverage.But,in my country hot tea is more popular drinking.Also,at this places many kinds of Iranian candies will serve.At all of work places tea is served at brake time.Most of the Iranian people drink tea atleast three times.n aday,at morning,noon and afternoon.

xu said...

In my opinion the popular food in my hometown is the Chinese dumplings. Here I have some good reasons to explain why it is very popular in China. The dumplings we eat in the important festival, the Chinese New Years that is one of the grand festivals in china. The Chinese dumplings are indispensable in this occasion, which indicates the family reunion and also brings wealth and luck for the coming year. It also transfers a traditional eastern culture to the world. The dumpling culture makes more and more foreigners like to try the Chinese dumpling without any hesitation. Therefore, it has a good reputation around the world. Otherwise, it is definitely delicious that makes people like to eat it whenever. It consists of vegetable and many kinds of meets. You can put beef, pork and chicken that just depend on your taste. We are customary to eat them with vinegar and garlic. As many people know, the Chinese dumplings not only contain some good nutrition, but also can be eaten in many different ways. I usually prefer to eat boiled dumplings. The other way for eating is the fried dumplings. The last thing for the popularity is that making dumplings is a really good team work, which drives us to join the family work and enjoy the whole process. It is also convenient to making dumplings. We just use the paste and mixed fillings to make the Chinese dumplings. People like it because it is easy to make in a good shape. The Chinese dumplings we can get in Canada too. There are some Chinese restaurants making them to meet the request of people in Canada. As long as we have free time, we can also taste the homemade dumplings in Canada. How enjoyable that making the Chinese dumplings is. In a word, the Chinese dumplings like the Tim Hortons give people a great experience after tasting them.

Grace said...

In China, everyone should know the dumpling that is very popular food especially is in northeast part of China. Most people love it because it has a history for not less than four thousand years. The dumplings are available which is a wide variety of stuffing. You can put everything that you want in the dumplings. Even though during the Chinese spring festival or some important holiday, people who make the dumplings for celebration. That is an indispensable food on the table. Even it is not easy to make. However people like doing it.While people are getting together and sitting with the table,that is a best chance to communicate for each other.Everyone should have onw role because that is a teamwork. If you have eaten the dumplings that you betoken a good luck in the future. Right now, Chinese people whose are living in the everywhere can be able to eat the dumplings because that is a traditional custom.Evenso there are many people of other countries really enjoy it. Also that is my favourite food.

Leena said...

Tim Hortons is a part of North American lifestyle. A day never begins for a candian if they donot sip a cup of Tim Hortons coffee. I am from india. In my country the day usually begins with a cup of black coffee or black tea. The coffee beans are ground at home. Only after having a cup of hot coffe everyone goes to the washroom. For breakfast we usually prefer appam and egg curry. Appam is rare here in canada. Still some big Indian restaurants in toronto serve appam. Appam is soft and much similar to pancakes.

Svetlana said...

Koumiss is an ancient Kyrgyz drink which is prepared by fermentation of horse's milk. Long time ago it is considered that this curative drink gives power after long illness, cures many heart diseases, disorders of alimentary and pulmonary system. Koumiss contains enzymes, vitamins, iron, iodine, calcium, lactic bacteria and many others.
This drink improves a metabolism, reduces a cholesterol level in blood and raises an organism tonus.
Scientists have come to opinion that koumiss is one of the most healthy drinks and the secret of Kyrgyz long-livers consists in the regular usage of koumiss.

Iris said...

The Tim Hortons video was interesting. In China, people likes to drink tea which is like coffee. There are two main kind of tea, red tea and green tea. According to Chinese traditions, drinking tea can lower blood pressure, brighten eyesight, remove waste from the body so promote body metabolism, it can also reduce weight and as a beauty care product.
How to make tea? One should put a piece of tea in a cup, the best container is the traditional chinese. Then pour in boiling water, after 1 - 2 minutes, one can enjoy the tea. It is suggested to drink a bit at a time so the flavour can sink in. Making and drinking tea not only to taste but also promote social life because it is very common to drink tea with friends or family.
Tea provide energy to the person just like coffee. Therefore, tea is also called "Chinese Coffee"

Jancy said...

As Tim Hortcn is very popular here ,Tea and Coffee are also popular in my country India.As the way you get it here, there is no medium,or small or large coffee or tea available there. you can just ask simply that you want a cup of coffee and you get a medium cup of coffee or tea.As it is here,you can buy these items at any time of the day.Remember, any meal is not available at any time.

Julieta said...

In my country Israel we have three courses of meals.But in modern life we have a lot of junk
food for example,hamburger with fries.In Israel favourate junk is shawarma and falafel.You can find everywhere on the street.The favourate drink in Israel is coffee.

Jagdipa said...

Food & drink are always popular everywhere so in my country too.
Actually in my country ,India, people start their day with the cup of tea. Again after few hours, they have tea with the breakfast.
Our food is always delicious. We don't forget to have sweet in lunch. Also it is a comon when guest come to our home.

Hiroko said...

In Japan, tea is very popular. After meals, we often have some green tea. Also when people welcome their guests, they serve nice green tea. Green tea has been drunk in Japan for over a thousand years.
In the street, when Japanese people want to have a drink, I think many people get a canned or bottled tea at a convenience store or from a bending machine. Many kinds of canned or bottled tea, not only green tea but blended tea and western style tea, are sold in Japan. Beverage companies always develop something new tea drinks, which is said healthier and/or tastier.

As a fast food, noodle soup is popular especially for busy businessmen. You can find noodle soup shops on almost every platform in any train stations. For those busy people, shops serve warm noodle soup (noodle soup is usually hot) so that people can eat them immediately without burning their mouths nor wasting time for waiting that soup becomes moderate temperature.
Many shops create their own delicious soup from meat, bones and vegetables, which is difficult to make at home. I have my favorite noodle shops in Toronto and in Japan. They are really good.

Karamjit Dhillon said...

Tim Hortons' is the favurite franchise of all canadian's.I am working on the Tim horton,and i saw there is a big line of the custmers on drive threw and on the front.people start to drink coffee from morning 5am to 12pm.I am from india, in my country food and drinks are also delicious.But most of the people like tea then coffee. Indian always want a cup of stronge tea at the starting of the day.