[Simons Mith] Good suggestion, but not quite what is the AOTC. The audience are appreciative. [Rosie] That's even better than the previous. But it's not the AOTC. Audience holds its breath. [Raak] No, not salami. Some disgusted looks from the epicureans in the audience. [Chalky] No, nobody has suggested "sausage" yet. (And if I were you, I wouldn't). [Raak] No, it doesn't come in a can. Shouts of rage from the epicureans.
It's not preserved; it doesn't have to be kept cool; and it is not ham or salami (or any kind of sausage). I feel like I must be missing something obvious, but I am stuck.
[Raak] Not prosciutto, but some appreciation from the audience. [Rosie] Not a slice of bacon. Someone in the audience has produced a foldable diagram of a pig and is attempting to make a point by pointing at it. [Radox the Green] Yes, it does have a foreign name. Cries of "Sacre bleu !" and some laughter from the audience. [CdM] Mycroft is consulted and states, "Between the fridge and the plate there is preparation. It's called 'cuisine' in the places I patronise, and may be classed as having been ... 'processed'." [Chalky] Back on the right track, but not right yet. Some audience applause. [Raak] Not lard - I think you realised that... [Simons Mith] No. Hoots from the epicureans.
[Omnes] The reply to Radox above should be interpreted as an AOTC that is not in English. So it's not spare ribs, not a meat pie floater, but could be a kebab (although it isn't).
[Chalky] Not a confit. [Raak] Refrigeration is a bit of a red herring when taken to such lengths. I have known this to come from the pig within a day or so, though not in the UK, but modern practice will presumably demand tracing the chain of cold between slaughter and serving. [Tuj] No, it isn't Spanish.
[Simons Mith] Lovely pun, if you refer to beef Wellington, but not that at all. [Raak] Often served with the dish, but no alcohol is used in cooking or preparing it. [CdM] JA! it is German. The audience cheer and some ejaculations of "Herr Ober!" and Bier oder Wein, eins muss sein" are heard. [Radox the Green] Very good! If it wasn't for being Italian and made out of veal, that could well have been the answer. Hint: the AOTC does have a veal version as well. The audience are terribly excited.
[Raak] Could I ask a major favour? I have a mathematical problem I think I've solved, but I need someone with a mathematical head to give a thumb-up or a thumbs down, and maybe to insert a few equations translating some of my prose into mathematical language. Would you be willing to help out? I know you've done the odd bit of recreation mathing in the past - there was your paper on Culture orbitals for example. This is another in that vein. I have found your professional email address online, but I wouldn't just fire off a random message without checking first.
[Raak] Not made from the head of a pig. [Chalky] Yes! A schnitzel it is. I was actually looking for "Schweineschnitzel" as schnitzels can be veal, but that will do.
Your order of a finely beaten baton fried in chapelure is now presented to you.
(SM) Related to fiction? NO, it's part of reality. (Tuj) Film? Not that I've heard of, though I know bugger all about films. According to Google there is a film of this name so the answer, strictly, is YES. (Bis) Sky involved? Could be, so YES.
(Raak) NO, not blue sky, literal or metaphoric. (Tuj) In the Bible? Almost certainly, so YES. But again, I am not fully acquainted with The Book. (RtG) Weather phenomenon? NO.
(Raak) Fire and brimstone? NO. (Tuj) In the mind? *a few audience members show signs of amusement* . NO. This objectively exists. (Bis) Heaven? *audience further engrossed*. NO
YES - BISMARCK HAS IT! The AOTC is actually The Night but that's near enough or we'll be here, er, all night. I hand you the illuminated baton - you can switch it off when the light improves.
I reckon this is a THHGTTG "Thumb" in disguise. Anyway, the next card has something that is ABSTRACT but could be argued to be MINERAL. If you look over there, you can see Nadine Dorries performing a mime of the subject in a monokini, as the Mystery Voice announces the answer to the audience.
The massed choirs of the Mothers' Union will now sing the shipping forecast to the tune of "Deutschland über alles".
[Rosie] No. Please pay attention. [Simons Mith] Not a phrase, saying, meme, idiom, slang expression or quotation, except insofar as any arrangement of words as the AOTC be a phrase, saying, etc. [Tuj] Not geographical. Some of the audience shows signs of appreciation. [Raak] That's a miss.
[Simons Mith], [Rosie] - not IN THE SLIGHTEST geographical. [Raak] On the scale of perfect insulation to superconductivity, the AOTC is not to be found.