Talk:Spotted dick

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[edit] Spotted Richard

I've never heard it called "Spotted Richard". Is this maybe an obsolete usage? -- Lee M

I think Spotted Richard" is nonsense. there was some talk about M&S or someone renaming it "Spotted Richard" a while ago, but I think it was one of those straight Euro-Banana type stories. Mintguy 14:51 24 Jul 2003 (UTC)
The BBC link is useful as it includes a picture of the untinned article, but I have removed also referred to as Spotted Richard in some locations from the article itself as that is based on what was never anything more than a silly filler / PR stunt type story. It's very misleading to suggest that anyone ever seriously calls this dish "Spotted Richard". -- Picapica 9 July 2005 17:07 (UTC)
I was once served a "Spotted Richard" in a far-from-brilliant "gastropub" in Wiltshire. When I asked if it was just another, "PC", word for Spotted Dick, I was snootily informed that Spotted Richard is not made from Suet. Crabsoneyes 23:06, 16 March 2007 (UTC)
"Spotted Richard" may make sense. "Dick" is short for "Richard". Perhaps its either the long version of the food's name, or "Spotted Dick" is the shortened/slang version? 74.124.35.177 04:43, 13 April 2007 (UTC)
"Spotted Richard", if it exists, is clearly a backformation from "spotted dick", which is the original. The OED traces usage to a kind of cheese and later a kind of pudding all called "dick" (mid-1800s) -- when accompanied by treacle, it was "treacle dick", and when somebody decided to add currants or raisins, it became "spotted." By the time the "dick" became "spotted" it was no longer connected to "Richard" (if it ever was). "Spotted Richard" appears to be a neologism.
Where the "dick" part came from isn't discussed in the OED, although it is under the main entry (i.e., the nickname for Richard, which gave birth to various meanings, from "Tom, Dick, and Harry" to the course slang meaning which is often heard today). Other sources theorize a formation from a contraction of the word "pudding"... "-ding" > "dick"... I'm not sure how reasonable this is, but the current reference to a derivation from "dough" in the article seems rather unbelievable. Where in England would the morphological change exist to make "dough" into "dick", especially in the 19th century? And why would anyone call it "spotted dough" in the first place?? -- it's a bread pudding!
I have therefore changed the reference to "pudding", but retained the need for citation. Please feel free to add appropriate citation info.... 85.178.13.88 16:57, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
  • It's used by prudish people to avoid saying 'dick' - there's no real etymological connection though, it's just desperation. This PC stuff should have its own section in fact - in the UK schools have been renaming it because of all the associated jokes.Malick78 09:00, 5 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Peel?

What is "peel"? sanders_muc (not a native speaker) 14 Mar 2004

Fruit peel. Orange and or lemon, lime peel. Citrus fruit peel I suppose. Mintguy (T) 18:06, 14 Mar 2004 (UTC)
Thanks. sanders_muc 14 Mar 2004
Is it the same as zest? If so, maybe it should be changed. Peel usually includes the white bitter part, which is not used for cooking. Prometheus-X303- 21:28, 25 March 2006 (UTC)
No, it's not the same as zest. The citrus peel used in puddings like this does indeed include the white part. The peel is usually candied before being used in the cooking though, rather than fresh, so it's sweet, not bitter. -dmmaus 00:35, 14 April 2006 (UTC)
Ok. I guess if anybody questions it, they can see your comment. Prometheus-X303-

[edit] Picture

If someone could find a picture, it would add more than a thousand words into the article, especially for non-Brits like poor me. I must confess I read this article thrice, and I have absolutely no idea what a "Spotted Dick" would really look like. Deeply confusing. --Oop 22:49, Oct 1, 2004 (UTC)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2249273.stm has a photo of this delicious, if rather unhealthy, English pudding. Richard W.M. Jones 14:08, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Can anyone tell me the origin of "Spotted Dick?"

Coming to you from the United States, I am searching for the origin of the British culinary dish known as "Spotted Dick." Is there anyone who knows the origin of this unique dish? If not, is there anyone who may be able to point me in the right direction so that I may obtain this info? There are brief tid bits mentioning this British dessert but that's about it. Many thanks for any and all assistance anyone can give. Peace. . . MZA

The Spotted Dick is From England. I am English. :) Does anyone have the recipe?

[edit] Euphimism?

Is this maybe a eupimism for something else? 69.218.230.181 01:53, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

Such as? PrometheusX303 01:58, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Add section?

Should this article contain a section on how many people who aren't from England (such as people from the US, Canada, etc.) are un-used to this particular usage of the word 'dick' and how intentional misuse of the words 'spotted dick' is a childish joke that is commonly seen/heard in groups of young-ish schoolchildren? Or am I forgetting that Wikipedia is not a repository for everything? Has anyone else heard of people making fun of the name of this food? Thanks :-) Ilikefood 02:15, 13 February 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Most recipes

The most recipes part IMHO needs major work. A simple Google search reveals a number of recipes, most without many of the ingredients listed. Milk, suet, sugar, currants/raisins/sultanas, flour, salt and perhaps breadcrumbs seem fairly ubiquitious but the rest are less common Nil Einne 17:12, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Recipe

Please, it's not self-raising flour, it's self-rising. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.226.124.178 (talk) 16:41, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

In the UK it is called self-raising flour. If you were to say "self-rising" then people would not understand or would immediately correct you. A simple web search would have told you that much: http://www.allinsonflour.co.uk/rootpopups/p_flours_culin_whsrf.cfm —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.20.253.176 (talk) 20:52, 10 November 2007 (UTC)