I'm reading a book by Joanne Harris called Gentlemen and Players. It's fiction based at a private boys school in England. There's a couple things I can't figure out and maybe you can clarify them for me.

"His house is a tiny two-up, two-down midterrace..." What is that? Two rooms up and two down? Or two bedrooms up and two down? And what's a midterrace?

What is a chocolate digestive? A cookie?

And what is a custard tart? Is it like pie crust with custard in it?

I know these are goofy questions but I'm curious.

TIA, Beth

I'm not from England but I'll give it a shot...

"His house is a tiny two-up, two-down midterrace..." - its a house with two rooms upstairs and two rooms downstairs (e.g. kitchen and sitting room downstairs, 2 bedrooms upstairs). Midterrace is a house in a row of other houses. Joined onto the other houses so that to get to the back garden you need to go through the house...no laneway at side.

What is a chocolate digestive? A cookie? - yeah its a wheatmeal biscuit coated with chocolate on one side...delicious dunked in a cup of tea!

And what is a custard tart? Is it like pie crust with custard in it? - basically yes but the filling is kinda set more than normal custard...I've never eaten it though so may be wrong.

I think custard tart is an egg custard. They are delish! You make them with egg, milk, sugar then put that in a pastry case, sprinkle nutmeg on the top and bake!

You can buy them in World Market if there's one near you. Milk or plain chocolate.

Thanks for all the answers, everbody!

That sounds like a chocolate Pepcid!!

Oh I do love Custard Tarts! The girls are right - it is a sweet tart case, with set custard in the middle. It doesn't have a 'lid' and is sooooo delicious cold.


Oh my!

Kylie

Ooooh, sorry, should have posted this thread as a FOOD PORN warning! LOL

We used to get a great British show here on public television called As Times Goes By and the lead actor always ate custard tarts. Well actually he always talked about them but I've never actually seen him eating one. Ever since my curiosity about them has been peaked. Unfortunately the only time I've been to England was before seeing this show so didn't know to look for one. Hopefully someday I'll be able to visit again and can get a custard tart.

Beth