| Biscoff 14:17 - Jul 10 with 2776 views | wkj |
Is it me, or are modern fads getting completely out of hand?
We've somehow gone from enjoying nice things to developing full-blown personality disorders around biscuits and drinks. Biscoff is a perfectly respectable biscuit, yet apparently every dessert in Britain now has to contain six kilos of it. Biscoff cheesecake. Biscoff brownies. Biscoff doughnuts. Biscoff milkshakes. Biscoff stuffed inside Biscoff. Give it another six months and someone's going to unveil a Biscoff Sunday roast, mark my words.
Then there's the Aperol Spritz brigade. Every summer they emerge from hibernation, clutching an enormous wine glass as if they're starring in a luxury fragrance advert. It tastes like fizzy sunscreen with a slice of orange floating in it, yet people carry on as though they've unlocked some secret to continental sophistication.
And don't even get me started on the holiday Instagram posts. People fly 1,500 miles to sit on wicker furniture, wearing linen, drinking the aforementioned fizzy sunscreen, captioning it "living my best life"... as if they couldn't have done exactly the same thing in a garden centre café back in humble Hemel Hempstead for a tenner and been home in time for The Chase.
Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but at least previous crazes had a bit of charm. We thrived during the era of salty caramel, wondering what Noel Edmonds was up to that week, and somehow found time to discuss whatever nonsense PJ & Duncan had been getting themselves into.
Now every café menu and every holiday photo seems to have been generated by the same algorithm: Biscoff. Pistachio. Aperol. Wicker chair. Repeat. |  |
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| Biscoff on 14:19 - Jul 10 with 1924 views | hsg78 |
Absolutely despise Biscoff. |  | | |
| Biscoff on 14:22 - Jul 10 with 1890 views | eireblue |
Can the Milkshake be made with Oatmilk.
Asking for a friend. |  | | |
| Biscoff on 14:24 - Jul 10 with 1882 views | wkj |
| Biscoff on 14:19 - Jul 10 by hsg78 |
Absolutely despise Biscoff. |
Me too, and its a shame because they used to be the highlight of any corporate meeting - two little wafer slices in a crinkly plastic wrap designed to make subpar coffee look fancy. | |
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| Biscoff on 14:24 - Jul 10 with 1878 views | J2BLUE |
| Biscoff on 14:22 - Jul 10 by eireblue |
Can the Milkshake be made with Oatmilk.
Asking for a friend. |
I love oat milk.
Been making iced coffee with it and having it on my bran flakes. |  | | |
| Biscoff on 14:25 - Jul 10 with 1857 views | C_HealyIsAPleasure |
Nah, it’ll be a ‘hot honey’ roast, Shirley? |  |
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| Biscoff on 14:26 - Jul 10 with 1843 views | Guthrum |
| Biscoff on 14:24 - Jul 10 by J2BLUE |
I love oat milk.
Been making iced coffee with it and having it on my bran flakes. |
You have iced coffee on your bran flakes? That's hardcore. |  |
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| Biscoff on 14:27 - Jul 10 with 1837 views | Zx1988 |
I was thinking this the other day.
We had the salted caramel fad for however many years, and now it appears to have been replaced with pistachio (thanks, no doubt, to Dubai Chocolate), and Biscoff.
It's also interesting to note how, when Christmas rolls around, pretty much all of the major retailers food offerings are variations on the same theme. Remember when, a couple of years back, Christmas puddings with a whole citrus in them were the in thing?
It's probably, in part, a result of the homogenisation of things with regards to food production, and that most brands are owned by the same handful of conglomerates, and most brands are all made in the same factory.
As for the rest, it's all 'aspirational living' isn't it? People aren't sold products any more, they're sold lifestyles that they can plaster all over their soshuls to give the impression that they're living a perfect life. I even saw a relatively bog-standard new-build development near me advertised as 'aspirational housing'.
1) It's a brick box near the bypass.
2) It's a house - decent accommodation should be a right, not an aspiration
[/rant]
As for your original point, I do enjoy a nice bit of Biscoff, but not in everything. Had a weekend in Bruges a few years back and went out for breakfast. It came with a newly-opened pot of Biscoff paste on the side and, shamefully enough, we almost polished it all off between the two of us! | |
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| Biscoff on 14:28 - Jul 10 with 1826 views | wkj |
| Biscoff on 14:24 - Jul 10 by J2BLUE |
I love oat milk.
Been making iced coffee with it and having it on my bran flakes. |
You're a brave brave man mixing grains like that, only a select few have the nerve to pull it off. Once I saw a man try to take on a bowl of multigrain cheerios without weighing up the complexities - needless to say never saw 'em post on here again after that. | |
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| Biscoff on 14:31 - Jul 10 with 1785 views | J2BLUE |
| Biscoff on 14:26 - Jul 10 by Guthrum |
You have iced coffee on your bran flakes? That's hardcore. |
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| Biscoff on 14:32 - Jul 10 with 1772 views | wkj |
| Biscoff on 14:27 - Jul 10 by Zx1988 |
I was thinking this the other day.
We had the salted caramel fad for however many years, and now it appears to have been replaced with pistachio (thanks, no doubt, to Dubai Chocolate), and Biscoff.
It's also interesting to note how, when Christmas rolls around, pretty much all of the major retailers food offerings are variations on the same theme. Remember when, a couple of years back, Christmas puddings with a whole citrus in them were the in thing?
It's probably, in part, a result of the homogenisation of things with regards to food production, and that most brands are owned by the same handful of conglomerates, and most brands are all made in the same factory.
As for the rest, it's all 'aspirational living' isn't it? People aren't sold products any more, they're sold lifestyles that they can plaster all over their soshuls to give the impression that they're living a perfect life. I even saw a relatively bog-standard new-build development near me advertised as 'aspirational housing'.
1) It's a brick box near the bypass.
2) It's a house - decent accommodation should be a right, not an aspiration
[/rant]
As for your original point, I do enjoy a nice bit of Biscoff, but not in everything. Had a weekend in Bruges a few years back and went out for breakfast. It came with a newly-opened pot of Biscoff paste on the side and, shamefully enough, we almost polished it all off between the two of us! |
I think the "sold lifestyles rather than products" point is probably the biggest part of it.
Every trend now seems to arrive fully formed. One minute hardly anyone is talking about pistachio or Biscoff, the next every supermarket, coffee shop and food chain has independently decided it's the flavour of the month. It doesn't feel organic anymore; it feels manufactured.
The "aspirational housing" example made me laugh because it's exactly the same sort of marketing. We've somehow reached the point where a perfectly ordinary product can't just be what it is; it has to represent a lifestyle. The same goes for the Aperol Spritz crowd. It's less about whether the drink is actually that enjoyable and more about sitting on wicker furniture somewhere warm so everyone knows you're "living your best life."
I will, however, concede that opening a fresh pot of Lotus spread feels like using it as intended. That's a world away from finding Biscoff injected into every conceivable dessert because marketing departments have decided it's this year's personality trait. | |
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| Biscoff on 14:32 - Jul 10 with 1772 views | J2BLUE |
| Biscoff on 14:28 - Jul 10 by wkj |
You're a brave brave man mixing grains like that, only a select few have the nerve to pull it off. Once I saw a man try to take on a bowl of multigrain cheerios without weighing up the complexities - needless to say never saw 'em post on here again after that. |
You want to see bravery? Hand me a spoon.
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| Biscoff on 14:33 - Jul 10 with 1748 views | wkj |
| Biscoff on 14:32 - Jul 10 by J2BLUE |
You want to see bravery? Hand me a spoon.
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To be fair I have some of those in my kitchen and am quite the fan myself | |
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| Biscoff on 14:34 - Jul 10 with 1738 views | J2BLUE |
| Biscoff on 14:33 - Jul 10 by wkj |
To be fair I have some of those in my kitchen and am quite the fan myself |
Their BBQ beans are excellent. As are the Spanish grains. | | | |
| Biscoff on 14:38 - Jul 10 with 1684 views | Guthrum |
Must admit, I quite liked Spritz Aperol when I tried it. But that was at least in Venetia, where it originated. | |
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| Biscoff on 14:39 - Jul 10 with 1679 views | wkj |
| Biscoff on 14:34 - Jul 10 by J2BLUE |
Their BBQ beans are excellent. As are the Spanish grains. |
I think the Spanish grains are the ones I frequent most for the Wednesday night hump. Can make a quick and easy nod to paella by tossing in prawns and a bit of sea bass or other white fish of choice, all seasoned with a little garlic and lemon. Lovely | |
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| Biscoff on 14:39 - Jul 10 with 1672 views | wkj |
| Biscoff on 14:38 - Jul 10 by Guthrum |
Must admit, I quite liked Spritz Aperol when I tried it. But that was at least in Venetia, where it originated. |
Did you buy into the Wicker furniture at the same time or did you keep it real, as the kids say. | |
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| Biscoff on 14:41 - Jul 10 with 1645 views | Guthrum |
| Biscoff on 14:39 - Jul 10 by wkj |
Did you buy into the Wicker furniture at the same time or did you keep it real, as the kids say. |
Don't remember it being wicker, probably wooden folding chairs outside various cafes. | |
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| Biscoff on 14:51 - Jul 10 with 1572 views | bluethomas |
Hot honey is the latest one!
That and matcha…grim! |  | | |
| Biscoff on 14:58 - Jul 10 with 1538 views | DanTheMan |
It's annoying when things you like become "too" popular, has to be said.
Gin was one, and those massive bulb glasses can do one. I have to specify if I want a G&T to not put it into one of those pissing glasses.
Aperol now is a "thing", which is annoying as I like Aperol Spritz, mainly as I really enjoy bitter drinks. Negronis are nice for the same reason. Thankfully they've not invented a new glass for it yet. |  |
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| Biscoff on 15:03 - Jul 10 with 1491 views | C_HealyIsAPleasure |
| Biscoff on 14:58 - Jul 10 by DanTheMan |
It's annoying when things you like become "too" popular, has to be said.
Gin was one, and those massive bulb glasses can do one. I have to specify if I want a G&T to not put it into one of those pissing glasses.
Aperol now is a "thing", which is annoying as I like Aperol Spritz, mainly as I really enjoy bitter drinks. Negronis are nice for the same reason. Thankfully they've not invented a new glass for it yet. |
A proper, strong Negroni in a tumbler with a huge block of ice in it is the drink of the gods
I don’t actually mind the gin bulbs mind! | |
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| Biscoff on 15:04 - Jul 10 with 1474 views | jasondozzell |
Late stage capitalism innit |  | | |
| Biscoff on 15:06 - Jul 10 with 1455 views | jasondozzell |
| Biscoff on 14:32 - Jul 10 by wkj |
I think the "sold lifestyles rather than products" point is probably the biggest part of it.
Every trend now seems to arrive fully formed. One minute hardly anyone is talking about pistachio or Biscoff, the next every supermarket, coffee shop and food chain has independently decided it's the flavour of the month. It doesn't feel organic anymore; it feels manufactured.
The "aspirational housing" example made me laugh because it's exactly the same sort of marketing. We've somehow reached the point where a perfectly ordinary product can't just be what it is; it has to represent a lifestyle. The same goes for the Aperol Spritz crowd. It's less about whether the drink is actually that enjoyable and more about sitting on wicker furniture somewhere warm so everyone knows you're "living your best life."
I will, however, concede that opening a fresh pot of Lotus spread feels like using it as intended. That's a world away from finding Biscoff injected into every conceivable dessert because marketing departments have decided it's this year's personality trait. |
In the 1980s they began to sell houses as lifestyles.
People began to focus on themselves and their bodies.
Eat yerself fitter! | | | |
| Biscoff on 15:09 - Jul 10 with 1425 views | have_a_word_with_him |
Stupendous post and has made me laugh fully out loud, thank you |  | | |
| Biscoff on 15:12 - Jul 10 with 1409 views | DanTheMan |
| Biscoff on 15:03 - Jul 10 by C_HealyIsAPleasure |
A proper, strong Negroni in a tumbler with a huge block of ice in it is the drink of the gods
I don’t actually mind the gin bulbs mind! |
I've been meaning to get one of those ice block freezer do-dads for exactly this reason. | |
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(Left that one off your list, so FTFY) 