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Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink
5

Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
This is a continuation of a post  on a hijacked thread, which was primarily about booze (the post not the thread), but then evolved, but then I forgot where it went, so I'm making a new one.

For those of you who wonder why this is in the self-improvement section. The next time you end up in Poland overpaying a restaurant meal by $80 b/c you gave the waitress $100 for a $20 meal and said thank you, you'll be glad you read this post.

To start us off, when in Poland and at a restaurant, first off pay in cash (credit scams are rife) and secondly don't say anything to the waitress/waiter when paying, saying "Thank you" denotes that you want the waitress/waiter to keep the change.
Also Croatians tend to stare right into your eyes when talking to you, that may creep out the introverts out there....pretty much most engineers winky smile .
 

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I don't mind someone who looks me in the eye when they speak. That sends a message that they are engaged in the conversation, not just rattling off chatter.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Ziggi, I'm not sure if this is typically polish (or rather: I'm sure it's not). Out of curiosity: did you finally get the 80$ back?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

One quirk in the southeast U.S. is iced tea.  Most places in the states, if you don't specify sweet or unsweetened, you will be served unsweetened tea.  In the south, if you don't specify, you risk getting something VERY sweet.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

2
(OP)
epoisses,
I did, but I left a decent tip for my ignorance.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Yes, in the south it is sweet tea and it is served cold over ice.  The other is brown water.

Another "quirk" of the southeast is that a soft drink is called a "coke".  Not pop, not soda, not whatever, "coke".  It too is served cold or over ice.

Never been to Europe, but my wife has and she said it was near impossible to get any ice while she was there.  She finally found a "coke" but could never get any ice.  What is up with that?

Brian

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Whenever I've been away on holiday having a drink in a bar, it seems more common to run up a bill for drinks and then pay for everything at the end of the night. Here in Britain we tend to pay for each drink as its served. Are we the unusual ones there?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I'd say we are the unusual ones.  Just go to one of those family pub chains on a busy Sunday and watch the line of people queueing up to place food orders at the bar!

OTOH, it's always fun to watch American tourists marching into a pub, sitting down and waiting to be served.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In many bars in Holland it's like in Britain (pay at the bar for each drink), at least in the bars where there are usually more people than chairs/stools.

Waskillywabbit, re ice, I'd expect that should be easy to get in a bar in most if not all European countries. I think in most bars they put ice in your coke without even asking. Where did your wife go?

One quirk in French bars is that the music is never OK. Either too loud or too soft, and never the right CD. The other quirk is that the beer is overly expensive, or maybe I should just drink less.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In America, pretty much all hotels have ice machines.  Of all the hotels I've stayed at in England, I can't remember a single one.  And in most American restaurants you get a glass of water whether you ask for it or not whereas most places I've been to in europe you have to ask.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Eating out and being waited on for us Brits is generally seen as a treat.  In America (USA at least) it seems to be the norm (I'm not Yank bashing here). When I worked "over there", the lunch club went to a different restaurant each day of the week.  In the UK we might do a pub lunch once a week (and still get our own cutlery from the basket!).

Here's my Yank bashing.  Americans seem to see McDonalds as a restaurant.  We see it as fast food.  There is a clear division between fast food and restaurant food in the UK.  Fast food is edible, restaurant food is desireable.  Fast food fills you up.  Restaurant food makes you feel pampered.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
Here in Canada, we generally have to pay at the bar for drinks, unless we are going to the pub for a meal, in which case we sit down and are waited on, the bill is paid at the end, from what I understand Australia and Southern Africa are similar.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

the lunch club went to a different restaurant each day of the week.  In the UK we might do a pub lunch once a week (and still get our own cutlery from the basket!).

That is common in areas like the Chicago Suburbs, where there are plenty of good selections nearby.  In other parts of Illinois going out for lunch is less convenient and is rarely done.

Here's my Yank bashing.  Americans seem to see McDonalds as a restaurant.  We see it as fast food.  There is a clear division between fast food and restaurant food in the UK.

Huh?  Are there any USA residents here who see Mickey D's as something other than fast food?  Sure, we use the same word for places where you are served prepared food (restaurant), but there is a clear distinction between fast-food and other types of restaurants (fast food, drive-thru, drive-in, sit-down, fancy, etc).

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I agree with ivymike regarding MickeyD's.  Yes, it is a restaurant (I don't know what else to call it), but fast food is seldom (if ever) as desireable as a nice gourmet sit-down restaurant.
As to wether we pay as we go or run up a tab, much depends on the type of establishment and how busy it is.  If it is a neighborhood bar and not too busy (think Cheers), tabs are the norm.  If it is a swanky nightclub on a Saturday night, chances are that you will have to pay as you go.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Most "yanks" as you say, which I wouldn't say down south unless you'd like to get beat up, eat at McDs but don't look forward to it. :) I go because my two boys (4 and 5) like the toys in the Happy Meals and like to play on the playground.  At a "restaurant" if the food takes longer than 20 minutes to get there, they will destroy the place and be hanging from the lighting fixtures. :)

At work, we eat out every day as we aren't allowed to eat in our offices.  It is a nice break from the daily grind of the office as we go an hour before the norm so we are never rushed.

Brian

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

waskilly wabbit wrote:
"Most "yanks" as you say, which I wouldn't say down south unless you'd like to get beat up, eat at McDs but don't look forward to it. :) I go because my two boys (4 and 5) like the toys in the Happy Meals and like to play on the playground.  At a "restaurant" if the food takes longer than 20 minutes to get there, they will destroy the place and be hanging from the lighting fixtures. :)"

LOL!  That's my boys too.  I dream of the day when my wife & I can enjoy a pleasant dinner, with conversation beyond, "so dear, how was your day ... David! stop hitting your brother!..."

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In Southern China:

1) No tipping necessary nor expected at restaurants nor hotels

2) The Chinese eat very loudly... lip smacking, mouth open, talking with food in there, etc.

3) Pretty much the only rule at the table is: Don't point your chopsticks at other people.

4) Everybody uses their own chopsticks to serve out of the common bowl

5) Water with meal is considered unhealthy

6) Tea arrives before everything else. Pour it into your bowl and then "sterilize" your chopsticks, tea cup, and soup spoon in the hot tea. It's fine to make a mess and spill the tea about.

7) The fortune cookie doesn't exist in China... it's an American 'invention'.

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RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In China I made the mistake of axctually drinking the tea instead of sterilizing the chopsticks. It must have looked disgusting to the chinese.

In the US it was strange to be served a bowl of salad at the beginning of the meal. After waiting some time for the the accompaniment of meat and vegetables to arrive did we discover that people ate the salad as an aperitif. Weird.

In the UK it's always the case that you pay for your drinks as you get them. Mainly because nobody trusts anybody else. In mainland europe it seems to be the case that they trust you to present your final 'tabs' at the end fo the night to settle up your account.

corus

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

It's always fun to try to spot Brits in foreign restaurants based on cultural differences in cutlery usage.

1) Fork always in left hand, generally upside-down.

2) Knife always in right hand, never put down.

3) Knife used as a combination tool: cutting, fork-loading and general food rearrangement.  Knife never goes into mouth.

4) Hands only used in emergencies (i.e. no knife and fork available).

Us Brits get "table manners" beat into us at an early age.  It's not until we venture overseas that we realise we are the only ones who eat like this.



And it's dead easy to spot Europeans in American restaurants.  They're the ones who try to eat the whole meal, however big it is.  I know of no other country where taking half your dinner home in a box is considered the norm.  You might just be offered a box in a Pizza Hut in the UK, but that's about the limit.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In China you can also take the rest of your meal home;
Some more tips on China:
-You can burp as you wish, for sure they will burp too (unless it is a really formal dinner, and even so...);
-Rice (with exception of plain white rice) is considered also a dish and usually served in the end;
-In more traditional settings, and if there is a steamed fish, never turn the fish to get the meat on the other side-it's considered bad luck-The best move is to wait someone serves you;
-When you order a whole chicken, be prepared to see the also the head (the same applies with pigeon);

The sterilization of the chopsticks with tea is expected in more informal restaurants, in formal ones, the tea is really to be drunk;

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

And it's dead easy to spot Europeans in American restaurants.

hmmm...  i always finish mine... and then my wife's.  It's how I keep my girlish figure.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Americans expect the food to arrive fast no matter what kind of establishment it is. I have endured the 4 hour meal in France or Italy many times, but was not happy about it. If we in the US spend an hour at the table it was a long meal.

I was recently traveling in Malaysia and was suprised when my young Malaysian colleague was practically desperate for McDonalds after a week of business dinners. I suppose recent grads from Uni are the same all over the world. I then visited the food court at the mall in central KL and found it packed with people of all ages, but while McDonalds and KFC were there, most of the shops were Chinese food.

Oh, an when traveling to countries where food contamination is common, watch out for anything served cold, or uncooked. The sickest I have ever been in my life was after having a salad in a five star restaurant in Mexico City.

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Quote:

The sterilization of the chopsticks with tea is expected in more informal restaurants, in formal ones, the tea is really to be drunk;

The 'sterilization' ritual was done by my hosts at every restaurant, even the very, very nice ones.

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RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Another ritual in China:

At most of the nicer restaurants, the manager or owner would come to my table to greet me and then join me in a shot of rice wine or chug a glass of beer.

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RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I know that the portuguese believe that the british only eat food with their fork, almost like a shovel. And I always thought americans ate like that. I blame tv.

corus

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Re McDonalds, I think the French and the Americans are very much alike in the sense that they both blame their kids because they love the Happy Meals... (ours do too!).
The only difference is that French McD's serve beer.

McD is the only place in France (Italy, Spain, etc) where you get your food fast (this is not even true for certain French McD's...). This is because eating is considered to be a way to spend your evening, not something you do before you spend your evening.

The biggest mistake for any businessman in a Mediterranean country is to discuss business during lunch or dinner.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Epoisses:  Is that considered a social faux pas or what?  Does that include just your work in general or business specifics, networking, etc.?

I'm finding this thread fascinating, guys!  Please keep it up.  I really should get out more.  sad

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In Scotland, just about anything can be battered and deep fried.

Haggis, Pizza, Candy Bars.......

Different parts of the country or even different pubs in the same area can have different customs in the UK.  Get it wrong enough in the wrong pub and you'll have the pleasure of experienceing the national Health service first hand.

Once got told off for not taking my empty vessels back to the bar, which is odd because usually it's something I did anyway.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

It's not so much a faux pas as it is simply considered boring. Food is a moment to enjoy and not to be spoiled by talking about boring subjects like work. If you have become a bit familiar with the other people around the table, they will remark after 2 minutes: come on, guys, we are talking about work - and somebody will attack a more interesting subject, the food itself, for instance. The French have a way of talking about food as if every Frenchmen is a culinary expert and an experienced chef, which makes most Americans feel uneasy. A large part of this is bluff of course smile

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

The other problem with Americans in France is that we tend to shy away from some of the stuff that is normal fare for them. Snails, brains, kidneys, liver, etc are not unusual. At a fancy place near Marseille I once spent 30 minutes searching a menu in with my limited understanding of French for something, anything, that was not organ meat. I finally found a steak that I thought would work, but missed the fact that it came with duck liver. The chunk of liver on top of my steak was much bigger and much thicker than the steak itself, must have been a huge duck, or else multiple ducks gave their life for it. Should have asked, but was too proud to do so...

My favorite story is of being in Korea. We went to the plant cafeteria and lunch that day was fishhead soup with rice. A clear fish broth, rice in the bottom of the bowl and fish heads floating and a little kim chi to liven it up. I did the best I could, but about half way through lunch my host asked "Steve-a-san, you no like fish head soup?" I made the excuse that I wasn't feeling well and carried on, but that was a long lunch.



 

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Just curious, did anybody go to a country where they had to eat with their hands?  If so, was this a business meal?  I know many westerners are not comfortable eating with their hands.  For example countries like India and the Philippines.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

For Japanese:

NEVER stick your chopsticks down into your food like a pincushion, very bad luck.  It's also more polite to flip your chopsticks around when taking food from a communal bowl.  Burping, gas, even sneezing are all very bad form - but I'm pretty sure you're expected to slurp your tea.

I think there's also something about only passing food bowls with both hands, not just one.    

It was very strange for me in Europe (France in particular) that we received our food from the waiter and were promptly ignored for the next 2 hours.  In the US this is completely shoddy service, but over there I think they assume you're taking your time.  

Oh yeah, sushi is actually finger food!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Another Chinese custom:

You offer and receive your credit card by holding it with both hands. The same is done with business cards but you also offer a slight bow and nod of the head.

This is the same in Japan, isn't it?

In Holland (all of Europe?), you don't receive your restaurant bill until you specifically ask for it, even if you're just sitting there by yourself with empty dishes.

In China, for the pig's feet, ribs, and other meats that are to be eaten by hand, they provide you with a plastic glove to wear.

Also, napkins are often not provided by the restaurant. When they are provided, they're usually a little package of tissue that are pretty ineffective.

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How much do YOU owe?
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--------------------

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Just curious, did anybody go to a country where they had to eat with their hands?

I've eaten with my hands in all three of the Ethiopian restaurants that I've been to in the US.  I just assumed that was the custom over there.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Quote:

It was very strange for me in Europe (France in particular) that we received our food from the waiter and were promptly ignored for the next 2 hours.  In the US this is completely shoddy service, but over there I think they assume you're taking your time.

In the US they want your table for the next customer - nothing to do with good service, just revenue.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In Australia the rule of thumb is that a restaurant or bistro is making money if it can get 1.5 covers per seat per shift.

Not many of our local places manage that.



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In Mediterranean countries, if you order fish (for instance grilled fish), expect that the fish comes with fishbones (for instance seabass, sardines). I noticed that Central/North Europeans (eventually also happens with Americans) are not at ease with this and in fact spoil most of the fish because they are used to boneless fillet.

The funnier moments in terms of cross cultural experiences really happen at the table.
And regarding business at the table in Mediterranean countries, in fact you can discuss it, but only after football (soccer), politics, drinks, family, trips, jokes, food  and several bottles of wine (roughly, between the 3rd and 4th hour of the meal).

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

"Just curious, did anybody go to a country where they had to eat with their hands?"

It is very common to eat with fingers in India. The food is usually served in larger dishes to the table from which each person serves to their own plate. The secret is to serve relatively small amounts of the sauce / dall / etc sufficient to mix with the rice and make rice balls. If you serve a full portion of the curry it's like trying to eat rice soup with your fingers - very messy! Just keep adding small amounts of the curry as you need it to moisten the rice. Don't forget to use the naan to soak up excess liquid and it's acceptable to place small amounts of rice / curry onto a chipati and roll it up like a fajita. (Just watch out you fold up the bottom to seal it or else you get curry squirting into your lap when you bite the top!) ALso be prepared for the curry to stain the ends of your fingers brown like you're a 40-a-day man / woman !

mog69

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

New Orleans, and most of South Louisiana, has the attitude of meals as a destination.  I assume this is of French influence.  Some anecdotes:

- My wife worked at a restaurant in South Louisiana when she was 17.  An experienced waitress from New York went to work there and complained because she said she could turn 3 to 4 tables in New York for each table there.

- When my wife and I went to Washington D.C. and ate in a downtown bistro, the waitress kept hovering over us, apparently trying to hurry us along.  We noticed that all of the other tables had turned several times before we were ready to go.

- I belonged to a Miata car club and we would go on drives as a club.  Some visitors in their Miata from Connecticut (north east U.S.) were in town and looked us up to see if they could join a drive.  We had one scheduled for that weekend and they asked where we were going.  We told them the restaurant, and they asked, "and then where are we going?"  They were very surprised to find that the restaurant WAS the destination.

- I went to several primary and secondary schools in Scotland and England and my wife still teases me about way I wield my knife and fork.  Like SomptingGuy said, the table manners are drilled incessantly...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
I've had the English way of holding knives and forks drilled into me as well, and the 'no elbows on the table' rule still holds in my parent's home. My mother absolutely cannot complete dinner without the obligatory "high tea", although I'm pretty sure that she cheats a bit, there's no tiny sandwiches, it's mostly sweets and strong black tea.

Nearly all European restaurants I've been in don't expect you to leave very soon and usually asking the waitress for the cheque is the only way to go. Us Canadians are similar to Americans in that we consider a one hour meal to be too long, although I still enjoy a long meal if there is a large group of people. If alcohol is being served during the meal, forget about a short meal.

Polish customs dictate that some sort of alcohol will be served with dinner, usually alot of it and it's almost mandatory if you're an important guest. I'm not sure about business meetings though, I think they're very similar to other European and American customs.

I do like that the French McDonalds serves beer, I wish they would do that over here in Canada...those pansies...in actual fact serving beer at a burger joint is good business practice, people always want a beer with their burger...at least I do, and you can charge a bit more for it.....on second thought, McDonald's burger are less than edible so I would imagine their beer would be too.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

No it's a local beer, as drinkable as in any other place. You can't have beer without food, though.

Re the cheque, yes you are almost always supposed to ask for it, it's not considered good service when they put the cheque in front of you, in other words asking you to free up the chair. In any case dinner is usually so long that there will not be anyone else on the same chair during the same evening. I guess eating out in Europe must be more expensive in the US or Australia for the same reason.

Re being ignored during 2 hours after placing the order in Europe, actually this is not considered good service at all, the waiter is supposed to come back not too long after serving the food to check if things are fine.

Re the hopeless napkins, yes this is a common and major problem in Europe, you really need to go to an above-average restaurant to have decent napkins. We usually take our own with us for the kids otherwise it becomes a complete mess, this should obviously not be necessary.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Many years ago, as a kid, I ordered fish in Germany. I was put off by the head, scales, and bones. A few years ago I made the same mistake, assuming things had changed. Too much work for so little meat. Perhaps I'm just a spoiled, lazy, filet-loving American.

Is it just my imagination that American waitresses/waiters are friendlier than their European counterparts? I realize that tipping can do that to a person. It may be phony, but it makes the meal more pleasant.

  

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I attended a posh birthday party at Westbury, Long Island, and I tipped the matre'd a ten for his attention to detail. The event costed well into five figures, but I was not part of the planning and paying the cost. The guest of honor was my 90 yr old mother in law.

As I was getting the coats at the end of the party, the owner, a goon of a character, came over and said that a more appropriate tip would have been $100. I said that others must have given something in appreciation. My estimate is that the owner wanted me to pay his MD's salary.

Can you top that?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

This is not food related, but I suppose it falls under customs... I was staying at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur and as I walked through the lobby dragging my one wheeled suitcase, and carrying my brief case/computer bag, I had literally 5 or 6 hotel employees come come up to me wanting to take my bags. I know they meant well, and I know they were not expecting a tip necessarily, but darn it I don't like giving up my bags, especially my computer bag.

On top of that most of those wanting to take my bag were little bitty women. Now I know the world has changed etc etc, but I just could not bring myself to let some young woman who is all of 90 lbs soaking wet haul my bags for me. A 240 lb 6'2" man following this little bitty woman through the lobby while she hauls my luggage, I don't think so. My attitude may be sexist, but I think I can handle my own bags thank you.

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Sprocket59, no that is not your imagination smile

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Quote:

Is it just my imagination that American waitresses/waiters are friendlier than their European counterparts?

That kinda depends on whether you consider the phoney 'Have a nice day' as friendly, or sycophantic. Friendly is good, but not too friendly. In the US many waiters / waitresses are too friendly for my European tastes. That said, some of their European equivalents are outright rude. As is often the case, the middle path is the best.

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  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

French waitresses and shopkeepers say "have a nice day" as well, but as soon as they have to (try to) speak English, they lose all their eloquence. It's so much easier to be polite in your mother language...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Slightly OT I know, but on the subject of American waitresses and the rate of turning tables...

The one phrase that I used to find myself translating a lot for my British guests and visitors when eating out in America was "So you're all set then".  This means "My part in this transaction is complete.  Please leave now."

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Re Ice problem in Europe:  It isn't just the ice thing, they tend not to serve any beverage cold enough for my taste.  Beer, white wine, soda & water were all at least 5 degrees warmer than I was accustomed to.

When it's the middle of a Paris summer, rel humidity is about 85% and the smog is keeping every degree of heat around well into the night, you just want a cold beer.  Loved France, but just couldn't satisfy my thirst.

LewTam Inc.
Petrophysicist, Leading Hand, Natural Horseman, Prickle Farmer, Crack Shot, Venerable Yogi.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Didn't the English like to drink warm beer as well?

I recall someone describing a particular ale as being "warm and chewy, with bits of pond life floating in it."

TTFN



RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

The idea of the English drinking warm beer makes me smile. Maybe it is a Southern thing; in the North we drink our lager  / pilsner style drinks cold. There are now a few beers which are branded as 'extra cold', for example Carling and Guinness, and are available alongside the regular draft beers. When I worked in a bar while at college we served beer at 4C, so I guess these extra cold types are just about at 0C. They are noticeably colder, and have less flavour too. Good European pilsner becomes like Budweiser.

The beers which are served less chilled than lager tend to be the traditional English cask beers or 'real ales'. Overchilling them kills the flavour, so you have no idea of what you are drinking. There is only a couple of degress difference in temperature: 6C or so being about right. They should be crystal clear with no floaters (or sinkers!) in the glass. Cloudy beer is bad beer, either because the cask has been tapped too early, or because the beer has gone stale.

A few English beers really need to be cold though: Newcastle Brown Ale becomes positively toxic if it is served too warm. Warm lager or pilsner is just disgusting, so we don't drink it warm! I can understand LewTam's need to chill Aussie beer to the point where its flavour disappears: Fosters? Castlemaine? Yuk!

Could it be Scrumpy (rough cider from Somerset) that you are thinking of with bits of pond life and branches in it? There are some really nice brews out there if you are in the area, and some which would be great for degreasing truck engines. The ingredients (other than apples) which go in Scrumpy might seem a little strange - raw meat being a common additive. Folklore (I hope) has it that the meat is added in whatever form is available - rats, pig's heads, etc. Lovely!!

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  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

When asked in America if I'd "like a beer" I'm always tempted to reply:

"I'd love one, but you don't sell any.  However, I'm prepared to accept 4/5 of a pint of ice-cold horse p155 served in a frosty mug."

More seriously, during the 90's it seemed like beer that tasted of something started to catch on in America (the mid west at least).  But then the whole thing overshot - many beers had so much flavour they became almost undrinkable.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Reminds me the beer I had in one of those Chinese 2 dollar lunch places when I was in Houston. You could pick either Bud or Bud light. The beer was then poured into a frosty mug.... half full with ice cubes! But that did not really change the taste anyway. smile

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Mine is more of a question....What is it with butter on sandwiches in the UK?  They seem to use it like we would use mayo or mustard in the US.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I'm with you guys: I detest the stuff!

Mayo is good, if not exactly healthy, mustard is great. Does the US have an equivalent to the fiery English mustard? The yellow stuff (French's?) is very nice on hot dogs, but not so good with a roast.



----------------------------------
  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Sandwiches just dont taste right without butter or marg.

I know have noticed a worrying trend in our supermarkets.  They have started selling sandwiches without mayonnaise, which to me just taste bland.  I think its to cater for the 'diet' market which seems to be getting bigger, kinda like the UK populace.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Our office caterers seem to serve sandwiches with a slice of margarine on there. In fact no, not even margarine - a particularly foul form of "low fat spread". Dry bread is preferable to that stuff! When I'm motivated to make my own sandwiches, soft spreadable cheese does the job for me - as long as the rest of the fillings match up.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I live in the US and I would and I agree, it is terribly hard to find a  real beer in this country. I don't drink what they call beer here. I would prefer water. I wait until I get to Europe to drink beer.

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
I've got to agree about American beers, they'e terrible.
And why are they all so weak? 3% alcohol is not enough liquor, I don't know about the rest of you but I enjoy a good buzz, it makes nap time easier winky smile

Speaking of cloudy beer, I once tried a 'dirty ale' in Calgary, it was basically a very very cloudy beer, very refreshing too.


I agree about the sandwiches with butter, they do taste better with it. My wife is a native Canuck and I just can't understand her love for mayo and/or mustard on her sandwiches, and vice versa.

A good fiery mustard is 'dijon', the French version is pretty weak, for a real kick try an authentic East European version, it's got stronger horseradish.
OR just buy mustard and add horseradish, mayo and hot sauce is really good too, especially with fried fish.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Butter on bread?

It makes the bread moist and more edible.  The French and Italians often dunk their bread in olive oil, which is a similar substance, only posher.  "Mayo" and mustard (mega-mild "yellow" American mustard) have similar uses.

Butter these days in the UK is almost extinct as a spread.  There was a shift to margerine many years back and more recently a shift to something called buttermilk (God knows what that really is!).  Similarly, I've never had "mayo" either in the UK or in America that is anything like the real thing you'd get in France or Holland.  My theory is that what we call butter (low fat spread) and what we and Americans call mayo (low fat something) are converging and will ultimately be produced using the same by-products of the petro-chemical industry.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

As a Brit living in the UK and one who delights in the various British 'Real Ales' served at the normal temperature (4 degrees C) where one can taste the flavours I am moved to defend some of the American beers against ziggi's and sms's comments: The Lafayette Brewing Company in Lafayette Indiana make some excellent Real Ales - well worth a visit.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
geoff,
I'll have to look them up, my experience with US brews has been soured by the likes of Miller and various other concoctions I won't bother mentioning.

My question to you geoff is, do these beers from Lafayette contain the proper amount of alcohol 5% or more (I'll accept 4.8% in my Mexican and Belgian brews) or do they contain the regular American amount 3% or so?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

ziggi,

I used to be a regular at the Goose Island establishment (can't bring myself to use the word "pub" to describe places outside of the UK) and found Honkers to be the nearest thing to a likeable UK-style beer:

http://www.gooseisland.com/beers/pop-ups/1_honkers.html

I think it's probably degenerated into a mass-produced bottled beer these days, but if you get it on tap it's pretty good.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

geoff,

There are certainly pockets of civilization in the US. We can certainly buy Europe and UK imports, and there are a number of micro breweries that make a fine product. Anything with national advertising is pretty much swill.

I went into a cafe in Iowa and asked what kind of beer they had, my choices were:

Bud light
Michelob light
Miller light
Coors light

I told them that I did not want a beer with the adjective light. I ended up with a Coca Cola. They didn't have any beer that met that criteria.

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Ziggi - LBC's brews were strong enough to make my head swim at the end of the evening, having worked my way through most of their range. Yes they do have a worthwhile alcohol content.
Certainly some of them were quite strong as I think I tried to recall the next day as I was about to give a lecture on some research!! Still my nerves were quite settled.

I am sure they have a web site.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Re dipping bread in olive oil... as far as I know French (not sure about Italians) do this only during an olive oil tasting event.
Every other occasion requires butter on bread (no margarine! never EVER for a French person), except in case(obviously! for a French person) in case the bread goes with cheese (in which case it is not a sandwhich but a course between the main course and the sweet dessert) or in case of dried (no not fried) sausage, which is such a treat that butter would only spoil it. Oh, and yes, McDonald's don't put butter in their burgers.
Breakfast at epoisses' on Sunday morning usually includes a baguette from the village baker who is an incredibly competent man, it's usually still hot when I get home and all it takes is a little butter with nothing else except a good cup of coffee, it's better than anything else in the whole world including foie gras. smile

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

epoisses,

Re: the olive oil - what was I thinking (I spent many weeks living in with French families as a kid so I should know better)?

It's the Italian restaurants (in Italy) where you get bread and olive oil served as soon as you sit down.  Similarly, filled rolls (a.k.a. subs in America) leave you with olive oil running up your arms.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Guess we do have it good where I live.  The Redhook brewery is right down the road, Pyramid is brewed downtown, and darn near every watering hole around has one of the many (local?) micros on tap - Alaskan, Hood River, Anchor, New Belgium.  Usually can find Guiness stout on tap too, along with a few other imports.  It does seem like the microbrew trend has petered out, though - a lot of the littler brew-pubs have closed shop, more's the pity.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
Bread and olive oil is great, especially if the oil has had a clove or two of garlic sitting in it for a while.

Warm bread is the cat's noots (ie. rare but good), I also love a bit of butter on a warm baguette. Unfortunately it's much harder to find around here.
Another favourite of mine is baked garlic and baked camembert with some sweet jam.

Speaking of coffee, does anyone have any good suggestions?

I'm partial to the Turkish stuff, the thick bitter kind you can almost eat, black, no sugar, along with some sweet dates on the side. Or very strong black coffee with alot of sugar.
I occasionally stumble onto a good batch of coffee, but it's rare.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

In the majority of Portuguese restaurants (not fast food ones) they always put on the table a cap of cured olives with bread, it is also frequent to have sardine paste and butter.

The most typical Portuguese dish is, cured salty codfish with potatoes and vegetables, tempered with olive oil, garlic and pepper.

Another typical Portuguese dish is a kind of stew with several parts of pork meat, potatoes, vegetables and sausages in some way are similar to French or German “choucrute”?  And as a drink this dish is degusted with red wine.

As typical traditional dessert, we have sweet rice.

In summer time we eat salad and sardines grilled in charcoal.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

mmm, choucroutes/sauerkraut dishes sure are good.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I'm sorry but as a Brit in the US the majority of beer is seriously lame.

Drinking stuff cold reduces the ability to taste it, why are you drinking something that tastes so bad you have to chill it to make it palatable?  (And yes to my pallet most European beer isn’t much better, I don’t like it cold or fizzy.)

Yes there are some microbreweries in the US that churn out some OK products but most I’ve seen still has to be drunk cold.  Also the one local microbrew to where I live has a license to brew Bass.  Not my favorite in the first place but when you get it served ice cold in a mug that has been cryogenically frozen to be approximately absolute zero it’s real bad.  I tried letting it warm up a little but that made it even worse.

I’ve been served Guinness lollipops too in the US.  Cans of draught so cold their frozen.  

As for Guinness extra cold, I used to drink it in bars in the UK where their ability to store beer was questionable, it’s somewhat more consistent.  If the pub knows how to store beer then the regular draught is a lot better, not too cold either.  Beamish is a nice drop too, difficult to find though, least in Hampshire before I moved to the states.

I make all sandwiches with butter/margarine, I guess how I was drugged up, can’t stand cheese or Mayo.  My wife (US) always finds it weird.

Another thing, the same basic product in the US is often sweeter than in the UK, I know I’m not the only one who has noticed it.  Bread is a good example, regular white out here is too sweet for most applications, you have to find ‘French’ bread or delve into sour dough or something.  Also a lot of cereals, US versions are sweeter.

Finally Candy, or sweets as I called them back in the UK.  UK US translation

Mars Bar = Milky Way
Milky Way = 3 Musketeers
Malteesers (can’t recall how to spell it) = Whoppers

They taste different too.  

Plus the US chocolate tends not to be as ‘smooth’ as the UK stuff.  This is even true for Cadbury items made under license over here.  And yes I know Cadbury Milk chocolate tastes like it does because it’s not technically chocolate due to the low cocoa solids, oil etc….


MARMITE

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Ooh, that was a cruel last line.

I enjoy the expression on my Aussie friends face when they taste Marmite for the first time, having assured them it is like Vegemite.

Here's a very simple test for you lot eating margarine instead of butter. Stick your knife into the substance and eat a teaspoon sized lump of it. Admire the taste, admire the oil slick it leaves in your mouth. Disgusting, isn't it?

Now do the same with even the lowest quality butter. There, didn't hurt a bit did it?

 

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Must be tough not enjoying beers while you are abroad.  My tastebuds must have been killed by the XXXX I was bought up on.  Incidently, if you bring a slab of Fosters to a party in Australia, life-long friends will spit on you.

LewTam Inc.
Petrophysicist, Leading Hand, Natural Horseman, Prickle Farmer, Crack Shot, Venerable Yogi.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Hijacked by booze again.

Back to the original topic (sort of).

How do you beg off when offered something seemingly unpaletable?

For example, on a trip to Japan some years ago I was faceed with:

"Mr. Julep, this is raw horse. Please try!"

We had been drinking a bit of sake, so....  

raw horse isn't that bad, tasted like... horse, only raw.

I've had it a few times since, mostly to disgust other Americans.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Hey, there's drink in the title of the thread, don't think that counts as hijacking.

Plus to most Brits (and perhaps europeans) the drink thing is important.  For instance that fact that it seems generally that for US companies drinking at a business lunch/dinner is often frowned upon, especially if you're going back to work after.  In the UK it seemed almost mandatory.

My favourite drinking at lunch story involves my confusing the blue white wine bottle with the blue water bottle but that would be a different thread altogether.

mmmm cheval

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Hijacked by booze again indeed.

MintJulep.  Wait.... that name sounds familiar......It reminds me of the name of an alcoholic drink......Can't think of it right now.  smile

The horse wouldn't disgust me.  Raw horse is a different matter.

LewTam Inc.
Petrophysicist, Leading Hand, Natural Horseman, Prickle Farmer, Crack Shot, Venerable Yogi.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
Kenat,
Cadbury's isn't real chocolate??? NOOOO!!! I always wondered why that stuff tasted so good, must be the crack cocaine they put into it ;)

I don't know about other industries, but all the engineers/technical representatives I've been on lunch with, drink like fish, I guess it makes the day fly by.
I once worked with a techie who would start his day off with a glass of whiskey, not a shot or two either a FULL TALL glass with NO ice.

Greg L,
I've been exposed to alot of weird Brit and semi-Brit ways, including Peck's Anchovete, but Marmite and Vegemite, those have to be the foulest concoctions ever devised by man, Marmite more so. As for Peck's, I love the stuff especially with a good thick layer of butter under it...my wife won't kiss me after I eat the stuff though.

Hmmmm mint julep, sounds tasty, mojitos are pretty good, very refreshing and not too sweet.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I say Cadbury's isn't real chocolate 'cause I recall a few years back the EU or one of the many overlapping European bodies were on the warpath about what you could call certain foods/requirements for food (champagne had to be from the champagne region, cucumbers had to be straight within a certain amount etc..)  The story was that Cadbury didn't have enough cocoa solids to count as chocolate according to whatever organisation it was.

Marmite is fantastic, I virtually grew up on it.  However, it scares my wife, she seems to think if you open the jar in daylight that it will be angered and act like 'the blob' or something.  Also she wont get anywhere near me after I've eaten it so I limit my intake.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I just came back from a business trip to China.
Going back to the chopsticks washing, in all dinners and lunches that I had only one time the Chinese that were with me washed the chopsticks in tea (well, the restaurant was not exactly a star-Michellin, but the food was wonderful. Please don't invite me to see the kitchen).
Other comments:
-If they ask you if you want wine, please don't say yes, 99.9% of the cases they are refering to rice wine that it is a distilled beverage almost unbearable and extremely alcoholic (38-50% v/v). I managed to escape from it;
-We are expected to drink until everybody's drunk or you quit. I believe that I made the day of my Chinese counter part when one day at lunch (that started at 11.30h) I said that I couldn't drink anymore and he with a triumph smile said:"I beat you". The fact is that at dinner he didn't drink. But amazingly he brought a friend (that I never saw before)to drink with me, so he outsourced the drinking part. I asked him why and he told that he had drunk too much at lunch so he had headache and stomach ache (and I tought "eheh, who beats who?";
-Strange food comes to the table, but I would say that I like 99% of it. In one of the lunches, the first dish was... chicken feet. I am used to see chicken feet in chinese meals but these ones or these ones were HUGE still with nails!! Maybe eagle feet!! Fortunately, since Chinese meals have at least 10 dishes you will find somehting htat you like
-As the drinks roll over, things start to be more interesting. Just to tell you that one night in the end I was already being invited to eat... elephant's nose (trunk). Apparently, this is a delicacy that in times was reserved for the emperor. Now, it is forbidden because elephant is a protected specie but either way they manage to get it and Chinese like to show their status by getting these expensive and forbidden materials. Of course I said no in a delicate way and proposed another toast. It always works to change subject.
Just one more thing that I found out: some Chinese don't like cold beer. In fact they drink the beer at ambient temperature.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Quote:

The French have a way of talking about food as if every Frenchmen is a culinary expert and an experienced chef, which makes most Americans feel uneasy. A large part of this is bluff of course

epoisses, I am ready to bet I am better than you at cooking winky smile

Quote:

French waitresses and shopkeepers say "have a nice day" as well, but as soon as they have to (try to) speak English, they lose all their eloquence. It's so much easier to be polite in your mother language...

Sadly, French people do not like much learning foreign languages. Seems like it's going better with new generations, because they understand now that it is necessary to be understood worldwide as well as understand people coming from all around the world to France. So, if you go into any small restaurant or café, then you might deal with a non english speaking waitress. I notice that more and more places with non english speaking employees have a note at the door telling so.

Cyril Guichard
Mechanical Engineer Consultant
France

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

If you can't find good beer in America, you are not looking in the right place (or the right State).

Within 50 miles of my work I can named six breweries that would not shame England, Belgium, or Germany.  And there is a seventh one that I haven't tried yet.  Five of them are very good, the sixth is superb.  I can honestly say I have never visited a brewery anywhere in Europe (never been to Germany though) that could match them for the sheer number of quality offerings.  

I agree that where I live (Wisconsin), is not typical when it comes to American beer, but please don't lump us in with theose people that only drink Bud Light, etc.  We do, of course, have tons of bad American beer around here too.

The brewery I mentioned before, if anyone cares, is the Capital Brewery of Middleton.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Talking about the chopsticks washing, this happened to my parents as well. I am not sure about China, but in Malaysia, we(Chinese Malaysian)would use hot tea (NOT cold tea)to wash our chopsticks (even silver fork, silver spoon, and silver knife)if, and only if, we are ordering hot tea as our drinks. I am not sure is that a culture, but we did that solely because of sanitary issue. Basically, our hot tea is served with several ceramic tea cups in a bowl. Therefore, we would put all the utensils (NOT for plastic utensils)as well in the bowl and pour hot tea into it and wash it. In some Chinese restaurants, they would have hot water in the bowl along with tea cups. In that case, we would not use hot tea to sterilize our utensils. Are the hot tea serve in China solely to wash the chopsticks? I really don't think that's the case.

About the McDonalds, is it only the drinks in America McD is refillable? In Asia, the drinks are not refillable. How about the case in Europe?  There used to have one fast food restaurant in my country that allowed drinks refill. Thereafter, many youngsters and women went there to gossip for several hours. After few months, the restaurant filed bankruptcy. Not sure if that's due to the drinks issue, but one thing for sure, no refillable drink at any fast food restaurant from then on. That's funny. By the way, hot tea in Chinese restaurant is refillable. smile

SMS - Which country are you from? It seems like you travel to lots of countries. Did you try the Dim Sum in Mandarin Oriental Hotel in KL? That is one of the famous Dim Sum in town. Yummy yummy. Unfortunately, I am studying and working in the US these days.

Yes, south is famous for its cold, sweet tea. And yes, most of them are too sweet. Therefore, some people would prefer hald and half (half sweet, half unsweet). Even some people order unsweeteded tea and add "High and Low" in there.

And, I think Americans treat sodas like water, and ice like heaven. Not many Asian parents allow their kids to drink sodas and ice beverage. smile

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

What's Marmite?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

MARMITE,

Some times referred to as 'Ambrosia' the food of the Gods.








OK, that may have shown my personal fondness however, It is Yeast Extract.  Essentially if I recall correctly it's what is left over after you've brewed beer, processed and put in a jar.

It is then typically spread on bread/toast.  There are many other ways to use it and a number of products available which use Marmite as the main flavor ingredient, Twiglets being the most notable example.

It's a love or hate type thing, so much so that the manufacturers admit it and have based advertising campaigns around it.  

It's very salty but high in Vitamin B if I remember right.  I usually prefer mine spread fairly thin but some people like it thicker, usually a bit overpowering for my pallet.

Bruno, when I get a chance I'll try and reply but it may not be short!

Ken

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
Marmite has a sort of meaty, salty flavour, my mom used to use it in stews occasionally as a beef stock substitute. She usually just ended up putting a spoonful in with the dog's food b/c no one else would eat it.

I'm strongly on the hate it side ;) Our dogs loved it ;)

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

http://www.marmite.com/ explains it all.

Regarding Beer, it’s at least partly a matter or taste, even by British Standards I’m somewhat picky.  Whilst not a CAMRA (Campaign for real ale) member I do have leanings in that direction.

As I implied in my original post I don’t like my beer ice cold & fizzy (or course warm and fizzy would be worse).

So a beer might be the best cold fizzy lager in the world but I probably wouldn’t like it.

I don’t think I’ve come across any American beers, including some microbrews, that aren’t served cold and fizzy.  


This isn’t just a dig at US beer, I don’t think I’ve ever found a beer from anywhere other than UK & Ireland that I really like.  I’ve found a few I can drink at a pinch but none I’d want to quaff ten pints (pint = 20 ounces) or so of in an evening.

There are also plenty of British brews I’m not a fan of either.

Out of interest Bruno are any of the beers you talk of from your local brewery more like traditional British Ales?  If so then I may have to try and investigate, I’m in Southern CA but might be able to work something out, and retract my statement.  If not then I stand by my original comments!smile

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

fglass, I live in Houston Texas, but yes I travel all over. That's the oil bidness for you. I did not have Dim Sum at the Madarin, but I did have it at one of the hotels (The Royal?) in Miri Malaysia (island of Borneo). Very nice.

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I was in Montreal for business and we ate at a very posh place, French cusine I believe.  One of my co-workers did a lot of traveling, so I assumed he was rather worldly.  After we had a few drinks and finished off our appetizers, the servers brought everyone a small dish of sorbet.  I knew this was to cleanse our pallets before the main course.  My co-worker did not know this, and immediately began complaining about getting our dessert without getting our entrees.  I tried to slink under the table.

Are there other cusines that serve something to cleanse the pallet before the main course?

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

SMS - You don't like fishhead soup in Korea, "Steve-a-san"? Is that the one with ginseng and herbs on it? That is delicious!!! If I am not mistaken, the fishhead soup is one of the famous dishes in Korea. My aunt lives in Miri, Sarawak. But, I haven't got the chance to visit the Island of Borneo. Shame on me. Were you saying that there are lots of Chinese food at the KLCC food court? It has been some time for not going back home. I am sick of my country food now when you mentioned about it. Aaargghh. I wonder what position do you hold in the company that allow you to travel that frequent?     

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Madmango,

I remember having, I think it was grapefruit Juice, for that reason.  I think it was after the main course and before desert but I can't be sure, t'was back when I were a lad.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Truth in advertising, or literal menu translation...

Many years ago I ordered a bowl of fish soup in a small restaurant stall in Keelung, Taiwan.

I was expecting something like boullibase, or chowder.

What arrived was a bowl of clear broth, with some slices of ginger, scallions and a few other veggies and

a whole fish.

Head sticking out of the bowl on one side.  Tail sticking out on the other.

Very surprizing, just because of the mismatch between my mental expectation and reality.  

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I went out for a degustation dinner last month. The fifth course (of 10) was a palate cleansing unsweetened lemon sorbet. Now, I'll happily eat a raw lemon if I'm in the back garden, but man was that sorbet a shock to the system!

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Quote (FrenchCAD):

Sadly, French people do not like much learning foreign languages

Funny you say that, Cyril. I work with three French guys. One speaks French, German, & English, the next speaks French, Italian, and English, and the third speaks French, Spanish, and English.

Quote (fglass):

Are the hot tea serve in China solely to wash the chopsticks?

Nope. The first round is used for 'sterilization' and dumped into a common container that is then whisked away. After that, it's all for drinking.

Quote (fglass):

About the McDonalds, is it only the drinks in America McD is refillable? In Asia, the drinks are not refillable. How about the case in Europe?

No refills in Holland nor in France. I was at Schiphol and the typical American guy obnoxiously demanded that they fill his cup to the brim. The server pointed to a little line on the side of the cup and said that was the fill line. Definitely no refills in Holland. The Dutch have a well-deserved reputation for being cheap.

--------------------
How much do YOU owe?
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
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RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

No refills in England either beggar, the same applies to coffee in most places.

It always amuses me when asked in the USA would you like to super size your drink sir? Let me think would I like to pay more or walk five yards to refill something that I probably will not drink all of in the first place? I guess us brits are cheap as well.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

The "no refills" thing is one reason why there's not much ice around in the UK.  People think it's a ploy to give you less of the drink for your money (although the drink itself is virtually free compared with the price of the cup, lid, straw and the labour costs of filling it for you).

I was always amused by free refills in the USA.  Whilst I was quite happy to refill whilst still eating, I could never go completely native and refill on my way out.

Do they still have those massive cups in America - the sculpted ones where the bottom few inches are narrow and can sit in a cup holder, while the bulk of the cup is 6 inches wide and towers above the holder?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

My local Burger King allows you to fill your own drink. No 'official' refills, but the kids behind the counter don't mind.

Filling the cup with ice IS a ploy for giving you less drink for your money!

----------------------------------
  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Free refills in the US (at least in the South and the Pacific Northwest as I'm familiar) started about 10 years ago.  Before that, there was a charge (sometimes not as much as the original charge) for the refill.  It was annoying in restaurants (not fast food) to be dinged again and again for a soft drink.  I can understand for alcohol and specialty drinks.  However, I used to manage fastfood and know the cost of soft drinks and it is very low, especially if you monkey with the mix (lean it out => higher water/syrup ratio).

I'm not sure why the fastfood industry led the way to free refills but I was suprised when the restaurants joined in.  I assume part of the reason is to save the labor of fastfood server who would normally be tasked with trying to meet the desires of the customer with their no ice/little ice/heavy ice/mixed flavors, etc. requests.  Now the server/money taker usually just stands ready to toss the food on the counter and yell, "Next!"

Wish I could visit Europe.  sad

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

fglass, I am a rotating machinery engineer in the engineering support group for Shell Oil.

We have operations in Miri (Lutong)Sarawak, and an office in the Petronas towers.

Yes the KLCC mall has food of every kind, three levels of food court... Oh and no refills on drinks!!

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

KENAT,

The Capital is a german style brewery, so none of theirs are gonna be to your taste I think.  I would recommend another brwery in my hometown, The Great Dane.  They produce many English style brews, many of which (although uncertified) are produced using the standards for "real ale" as defined by CAMRA.  

I can personally recommend their Potters Run India Pale Ale and the Wooden Ships ESB as both very good and fairly authentic.

Unfortunately, they don't sell anywhere outside Madison as far as I know.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Beggar,

By the standards of some european countries 3 languages isn't that many.  Pretty much every Dutch person I've ever met can speak 5-6 if I remember correctly.

The Brits are bad at learning foreign languages.  I know a little French and that's it.

Bruno, if my travels ever take me that way I may have to check it out.

One just occured to me, what's with donuts/doughnuts for breakfast?  In the UK we might have this with a coffee or something at about 10:30 -11:00 (the famous elevenses) but not for breakfast.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Beggar
..And likewise maple syrup on ham / bacon and eggs  for breakfast !
mog69

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

...and now I come to remember - grits !!!!!! whoever thought they were for eating instead of making a decent floor out of I'll never understand !

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

KENAT,
The Dutchman you spoke with must have been bluffing. Dutch speak Dutch because their mama taught them, Dutch speak English because the TV taught them (everything is subtitled in Holland). Dutch rarely speak much German or French.

And yes they are cheap (don't remember who wrote that much higher up), so definitely no refill! However any place that advertises with a free coffee refill is immediately flooded with customers (which I guess only reconfirms the statement).

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Many of my friends that know of and eat grits do so with butter, I prefer sugar.

If I am out to dinner, I usually order iced tea just so I can get free refills.  I save the alcoholic drinks for later.

SomptingGuy, yes we still have those top-heavy cups in the USA, and there seems to be no slow down in their growth.  Recently a fast food chain (Wendy's) just changed-up their sizes.  Their large drink was called a Biggie.  Now the Biggie is the medium size (32oz/960ml) and there is a larger Large size (42oz/1260ml).  Some of my friends will drink 2-3 cup fulls at lunch.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

While in my calculus class way back in high school, we learned about minimizing and related rates.  Specifically with regard to material on an aluminum soda can.  Our teacher then led us off on a wonderful tangent whereby we learned that the cost of the soda (Coke, Sprite, pop, whatever) amounted to about 0.05 cents US.  The point was that the can was the premium item.  

In most restaurants here in the US, soft drinks cost between $1.50 and $2.50.  There are some outliers but I'd call that average.  As was mentioned above, figure in cost of cup, labour, ice, even refrigeration and I can't imagine that the total cost is above $0.25.  Add in two (2!) free refills and we're talking, what, $0.26?  Remember this the next time you are denied a free refill.  

With almost any meal while eating out, I drink (tap) water.  If some place has the nerve to charge for that, I don't come back.    

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Grits - delicious with butter, salt and pepper.  If you add sugar, you basically have cream of wheat, which is good in it's own right!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I used to eat grits with sorghum growing up, but find my tastes have changed.  Now I eat grits with margarine and salt and LOTS of hot sauce.

Actually, my favorite is grits cass,erole made by mixing cooked grits with grated cheese, jalapenos a bit of cream, and maybe a few other things I can't remember, then baking.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Steering back to the thread...

Lemonade is a term we Brits use for flavourless fizzy sugar water.  And although I acknowledge the stupidity of it, I really miss it when travelling abroad.  When I ask for a whisky and lemonade anywhere else in the world I get either blank or disbelieving looks.  Sprite doesn't cut it.  Nor does 7UP.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Jabberwocky reminded me about the tap water. I noticed most of the Americans drink tap water without boiling/filtering it. Is that what happened in Europe as well?

SMS- There is a Shell oil office in PETRONAS (Malaysia's National Petroleum)towers??? Weird case. Do you think there is a BP office in Exxon building in the US? I didn't know there have 3 levels of food court in KLCC mall. It seems like you know more about my country than me. smile There is a restaurant called 'Madam XXX (I forget)' in the mall. They sell local food. I ate there 5 years back and think that's not a bad one. In your following KL trip, you can try that if you want something different from American food. Hopefully, you will not have things like fishhead soup again. What's the responsible of a support group in a company? I am working in R&D department. Do you think I am able to have business trip?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

American culture- if you celebrate good fortune (birthday, promotion, etc), co-workers/friends take you out and treat you.

Korean culture (wife is Korean)- if you celebrate good fortune, you treat your co-workers/friends when out.

I don't get it.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

It's like a potlatch, the why is unknown.

Speculation is that it's about showing off one's status.

TTFN



RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

MadMango, Good that you bring this topic out. I think it depends on the situation. Sometimes, friends would treat us, but not always. Normally, when people get promoted, it also mean that his/her salary would get increased as well. That's the reason why we have to treat our friends , I THINK. For the birthday, it has to depend on who is the one who make the invitation. If you invited your friends to celebrate your birthday, then you have to pay. In other case, if your friends wanted to celebrate your birthday for you without you asking, then they are the one who deal with the bill. BUT, it can be the case that your wife wanted to show off to her co-workers/friends that her husband is rich, smart and generous. who knows?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

epoisses

Well I witnessed several of the Dutch guys (and girls) speaking Dutch, English, French and German.  So at least several of them spoke at least 4 languages.  Also a couple of them had accents so good that you couldn't really tell where they came from, they could easily have been a Brit who just spoke a little odd.

In the UK, where I worked, if it was your birthday you brought in cakes/donuts whatever.

In the US where I've worked it seems they are more likely to treat you.

Sompting, all the lemonade I ever drank in the UK was lemon flavored, just not very strong.  The other difference, like you said, lemonade in the UK is fizzy.  Even so called traditional lemonade, though being stronger in flavor more like US lemonade, is fizzy.  I was quite surprised when I first had lemonade in the US and it was flat.

Here's one for you.  In France it seemed perfectly acceptable for the froth on top of a beer to half fill the glass.  In the UK that's actually illegal if I recall correctly.  The maximum froth is I believe about 10 mm or something like that.  Any more and you can take it back for a top up.  Some pubs actually have oversize glasses, basically an extra 10mm added on the top so you actually get a full pint of beer!

Any whiskey drinkers out there like to explain the differences between Irish, Scotch, Canadian and American (including bourbon JD etc)?  To me the Irish is by far the best but I'm sure others will disagree.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

fglass: Petronas and Shell have joint venture operations. That is why we have offices there.

Most of the Dutch guys I work with speak English, Dutch, and one other language. But usually the third language is not as good. I was told that English and Dutch were mandatory in school, but they also had to take another language as well. I took German in school, and today my ability to speak German is little more than Hi how are you. If you don't use it, you loose it. I think the same is true for the Dutch.

I do speak Spanish, because I use it. So who has enjoyed tapas and Sangria in Barcelona? That is the life.... I really need to move to Spain.

(Tapas is the Spanish version of Dim Sum, a wide variety of small dishes of meats or vegetables that everyone at the table shares).

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

sms wrote "I do speak Spanish, because I use it. So who has enjoyed tapas and Sangria in Barcelona? That is the life.... I really need to move to Spain."

Agreed, but not to Barcelona (yet).  My visit to Madrid (visiting my wife's friends there) started with a morning shopping trip, which "finished up" with a "bite to eat" at a tapas bar.  Round after endless round of tasty bits to eat, along with various wines, beer, etc.  Everything from bread and olives to squid in its own ink and octopus.  After we finally filled up (about 1-ish?) the owner/proprietor refused to let us leave without trying a shot of his home-made pear liquer.  Then home for a siesta...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Every time I eat at an All You Can Eat buffet place for $10 (USA), I wonder where else in the world would do this.  Once when some of my third world country relatives came, my parents treated them to an All You Can Eat Chinese / Japanese buffet place and they were amazed on how much food that they can eat for one price.  This was about ten years ago, but today I wonder how common it is in other countries.  Did this catch on in your country?

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I've seen a few 'all you can eat' buffets in the UK.

One was Chinese food and One was Indian.  It's not as common as in the US though.

The Dutch Guys and Gals I spoke to may not have been typical then I guess.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

There's one chain that does all you can eat in Oz. The food is bland and generic at best, I'd rather not eat than eat there.

Dunno about free refills, my local Italian restaurant gives us bread and olive oil all night!

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Some of the better all-you-can-eat places are the Brazilian BBQs (rodízio or churrascaria).  There's bound to be at least one in/near any major city.

There is a red/green marker on the table.  If the green is showing the servers bring racks and racks (skewers I suppose) of different cooked meats.  When you can eat no more you have to turn the red end up or the food continues to flow.  I haven't been to a bad one yet.

For bland American food buffets, nothing beats Homestyle Buffet.  Very institutional grade food from what I have experienced.

At buffets, or any place that has mutiple service personnel, what is the usual advice for tipping?  If I have only one server and service was descent I'll tip 10-16% (just double the tax).  If the service is great I don't have a problem tipping 20-25%.  But when I get to a place that has one person bringing me water, another bringing me bread, another for salad, another for entrees, and yet another for dessert, I have no idead what to tip.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

The only all-you-can-eat places I've seen in the UK are pasta bars (in London in my student days) and Pizza Hut (the American influence no doubt).

I must admit I do miss the all-you-can-eat indian and chinese restaurants we used to go to when I worked in America.  I wonder if any of these places have fulfilled Dilbert's dream yet of being open 24 hours a day (you never need to leave and can actually live there).

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Quote (Beggar):

Quote (FrenchCAD):

Sadly, French people do not like much learning foreign languages
Funny you say that, Cyril. I work with three French guys. One speaks French, German, & English, the next speaks French, Italian, and English, and the third speaks French, Spanish, and English.

In business and industry, many French do speak foreign languages of course. How would they work otherwise? I do speak English and German myself. But have a travel anywhere in France not for your job and tell me if Robert in Berry can speak english with you about his cows and sheeps ;)

Quote (Beggar):

Quote (fglass):

About the McDonalds, is it only the drinks in America McD is refillable? In Asia, the drinks are not refillable. How about the case in Europe?

No refills in Holland nor in France. I was at Schiphol and the typical American guy obnoxiously demanded that they fill his cup to the brim. The server pointed to a little line on the side of the cup and said that was the fill line. Definitely no refills in Holland. The Dutch have a well-deserved reputation for being cheap.

I ate in a KFC near to Paris early July were they offer refill. I was very surprised.

Cyril Guichard
Mechanical Engineer Consultant
France

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
Grits.....yuck, my wife loves them (native Canuck). I do like homefries, they're hunks of potato baked (sometimes fried) and occasionally seasoned. Scrambled eggs w/ hot sauce (especially Frank's Red Hot) are great.


All you can eat places are prevalent up here in Canada, most people love the local 'Mandarin' franchise, they serve Chinese/American fare, there's also a 'Tucker's marketplace', they serve American/British food. I was guilty of frequenting those places in my poorer university days, but I also worked out alot back then and it was the only place that could satiate my hunger for a decent price.
Most people like these places, I dislike the Mandarin and hate Tucker's, the price is good, but if the food is awful (in my opinion) it's just a waste of cash.

I generally avoid the chain restaurants (especially Pizza Hut) and stick to the mom and pops, the price is good, the service better and the food superb.

Hmm 'churrasqueras', I've seen a few around here, but now I've got try one out.

Lebanese food is great, has anyone tried it?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

You can't move in Sydney but for yeros (?sp) - the Leb equivalent of kebabs to a Pom. I never ate in a proper leb restaurant, would like to, Greek and Turkish are among my favourite cuisines.

Incidentally there is a really good posh Greek restaurant in the centre of Detroit. And there is a fantastically good Greek tavern in Chapel St in Melbourne.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Greg,

It's spelled gyros (but still pronouned yeros) at least here in the States.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

When I was at college a group of us were thrown out of an 'all-you-can-eat' pizza joint for.... eating too much!

We'd been in for maybe five hours, consumed pretty much a gallon of beer each, and a frankly stupendous amount of pizza.  Think in terms of a combine going through a field of corn and you have some idea of our eating rate. I think we were so drunk that we were becoming loud and irritating, but that wasn't the reason given when we were ejected. Happy days!

----------------------------------
  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Slightly off topic but in the spirit of the differences in beer around the world try this:

The Leaders of the big beer companies meet for a drink.

The president of Budweiser orders a Bud, the CEO of Miller gets a Miller, the head of Coors orders a Coors, and so on. Until it's Arthur Guinness's turn.

He orders a soda. "Why didn't you order a Guinness?" everyone asks. “Nah,” Guinness replies, “if you guys aren't having beer, then neither will I."winky smile

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

If you are in the Buffalo NY area, and you enjoy a glass of Ice Tea, DON"T order it in a restaurant.  For some reason, they have no idea how the make a glass of ice tea.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I divide the northern states from the southern states in the US based on the availability of sweet iced tea in restaurants. In the south they put a nice dose or real sugar in the tea when it is brewed to super saturate it. Up north if you ask for sweet tea they look at you funny and say there is sugar on the table for coffee that you can put in the tea.

It is hard to get sweet tea in some parts of Florida. So I fell like it is a "northern state". :)

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
I never got that whole non-sweetened iced tea thing. What's the point really. I takes forever to dissolve sugar in cold tea and it tastes terrible.
Up in Canada the iced tea is usually in a can, or a soda fountain so it's sweet.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Iced tea is not supposed to have sugar in it.  Why oh why do they ruin perfectly good tea?  Always better to let someone put their own sugar in it if they must than to ruin it for everyone.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

"Iced tea is not supposed to have sugar in it.  Why oh why do they ruin perfectly good tea?"

Sugar in drinks is the US equivalent of flavourless plastic cheese on food.  It's seen to somehow make whatever it's in/on better.  In reality it just adds calories.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Real tee is drunk hot with milk.  Maybe a biscuit or two for dunking.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

You gotta have swee' tea.  Some restaurants do all right with it, but mom's is always best.

Putting sugar in cold tea just ain't right.  It never dissolves properly or in the right conentration, and certainly not before you're done with your meal.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
Kenat,
Exactly, in fact I could go for a cup o' Earl Grey right about now.
UcfSE,
Amen

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Ziggi:

But would you put "cow juice" into it?

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

(OP)
Sompting,
Of course! You can't miss with pasteurised bovine lactate.

Although occasionally some lemon is good too.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

"pasteurised bovine lactate"

Now THAT is a phrase my mother-in-law will be hearing quite a lot when she digs out the tea pot on her next visit.  Excellent!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I don't like sugar in anything except Chinese food, so it's either unsweetened iced tea or water. Usually the latter - I've developed a caffiene problem as I've aged.

Germany - the waiter gets the order and the money/change right on the first shot. This is an incredible relief to those of us  Americans who are "used" to going over a restaurant bill and finding mistakes, then having to work it out with the waiter and do we need change with that, etc. Tipping is not expected in Germany, either. Not that I don't like to tip (if the service is good), but it's got to be earned.

A survival skill is the ability to drink warm soda (or "coke") - warm anything for that matter, an like it.

In my home town of New York City, there are so many food choices that I prefer my wife's cooking to anything else, six days a week. I take her to whereever she feels like going on the other day.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

The best thing about sweet tea is that it is real sucrose sugar and is fresh brewed. The Cokes and other mass produced drinks in the US use corn syrup instead of sugar because our government has decided that communism is good for the agriculture industry and keeps the price of sugar high and the price of corn low. The corn syrup isn't as sweet and leaves an aftertaste. The Mexicans living in the US. will pay extra to import Coke from Mexico because it uses Sucrose and tastes much better.

davidbeach. I have almost never seen a restaurant that only served sweet tea. If they have sweet tea there is usually an unsweet as well.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

When we go out in Croatia someone pays for the first round of drinks, someone pays for the second and so on. If you don't pay one time for the drinks you'll pay the next time.

When traveling in western Europe everyone is paying for oneself, and when I get to pay the whole round of drinks no one ever follows.

I hope I am not beeing rude.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

England - the civilised bit in the North at least - getting a round in is not just normal, it's expected! I can't speak for the Southerners. They're a queer breed!

----------------------------------
  Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Same in southern Britain, and Australia, where it is called a shout. However, if you go out for a couple after work often people don't bother with shouts as people drift around too much, or have to leave to look after children etc.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

There are two basic forms of group drinking in Britain: "rounds" or "kitty".  The former means that you all drink at the pace of the slowest drinker; the latter means that you all drink at the pace of the fastest drinker ... and the beers can mount up.  I can recall kitty sessions where I've had to slurp 3 pints before moving onto the next pub!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I'm with Sompting.

Back in the day my friends and I mostly did rounds.  However, I'd often buy myself an extra pint or two in between to keep me lubricated.  This was in the South but several contributors where from the grim part up north.

With rounds I always found it rude that many couples would treat themselves as a single unit in the round buying system, they only bought one round per cycle but when you bought the round they got two drinks.

fewfish If people aren't wanting to buy rounds they should make that clear up front and not accept your drink.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

A couple more "drinking in rounds" details:

1) The double-ender.  When you're in a round with your in-laws (or other po-faced shandy drinkers) you buy your pint first.  Then while ordering the inevitable ports/sherries/etc you down your own pint as fast as you can.  Then you add another pint to the end, which is your "official" pint.

2) The opposite.  When drinking with youngsters your round doesn't necessarily include a pint for yourself.  Nobody gets ripped off and you get home safely.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Would this be a good time to bring up yards of Ale.

Guinness is difficult but do able.  

Ale, preferably the real 'flat' kind but not too strong is probably favorite.

I dread to think about lager or cider.

Also drinking games, Bombing chasers etc...

Good times.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Yards of ale are great! I finshed one when I was about 19 or 20. The last bit wouldn't come out at first, then I started rotating the glass and it started coming faster and faster. It was difficult not to laugh with all the people shouting encouragement and trying to tickle me. It must have looked quite impressive. At least, I thought so: I'm not sure my then girlfriend was so impressed.

----------------------------------
  Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

Yards of ale...

When I worked in America, one of those great big "Irish pubs" opened up around the corner from the office.  And then one year it did something I've never seen in England - a St George's day bash.  And what a treat: a free St George and the Dragon tee shirt with your first half-yard of Double Diamond.  And you got to keep the (plastic) half-yard.

Apart from the sheer tackiness of it all, the bit that really made it funny for me was all those people gently sipping from their half-yards.  I suggested a boat race but nobody wanted to join in.

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

I've done full yard of Guinness.  It bounced.

I've done full yard of some indeterminate bitter from the Hall of residence bar at Uni.  It stayed down for a few hours but the multiple poorly stored Murphys I had afterwards caused an upset.

I’ve done several half yards of Guinness in around 12 seconds or so with minimal spillage no problems with retention.

No wonder I struggled at Uni!

RE: Different cultures and their quirks/food/customs/drink

My arms weren't long enough to support the yard and master the art of turning it while drinking. With a bit of help from some willing "friends" I ended up wearing most of the ale. Thankfully it was an indeterminate bitter from the students union - Guiness would have been too hard to wash out!

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