Cultural exchange is one of the best parts of living abroad. In my three years in Leuven, Belgium, I met many people from many places. I developed a much better sense of the world and what life is like for other people. I heard lots of interesting stories and I tried lots of excellent foods.
This exchange was one of my favorites though because of how ridiculous it was. I’d always heard of the English custom of tea and crumpets, but I never gave thought to what a crumpet was. Turns we have them in the states, but we call them english muffins. I’d had many before. This did not ruin the exchange though and we still enjoyed a nice afternoon. And, for my part, I taught my English friend how to make a good burger.
It was a good exchange.
They’re similar, but a bit different – both are cooked in a ring on a pan, but a crumpet is made from a yeasted liquid batter, with a similar texture to a pancake, whilst a muffin is made more like a bread – a solid, enriched dough, kneaded and proved. At least, that’s how English muffins are made here in England. We’ve only had them for 25 years or so, so possibly we’re at the point of there being American English muffins and English English muffins, and then my head explodes. 🙂