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Originally Posted by EuropeanPete
(Post 20931928)
San Sebastian :)
Fat Duck Waterside Inn Hinds Head About 8400 people. |
fried fried fried.....
OK , I love Cod and chips but all the other fried stuff is too much for me ! But I do go to Tesco and but stuff to make sandwiches or buy them there ! |
I particularly like pasties, pub food and sandwiches. I love the sandwiches at Pret a Manger and condiments like Branson pickle. The Prets in the U.S aren't the same - I understand they need to cater to the U.S. tastes, but oh, for a mature English cheddar sandwich with Farmhouse pickle! :)
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You should have tasted Branston before they "improved" it. I really miss it. It use to have more of a range of little vegetables including miniature pearl onions.
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Originally Posted by lighting
(Post 20932454)
Bray?
Fat Duck Waterside Inn Hinds Head About 8400 people. |
Originally Posted by EuropeanPete
(Post 20909326)
Until 15-20 years ago British food really was bad. I think it relates to either the post-war years or the 1970s processed food revolution. The quality of food in some of the minor towns is still some of the worst I've ever had outside of the former USSR.
There is a bright side though which is that London is now one of the world's great foodie cities. But what's cheap in London? |
Originally Posted by uk1
(Post 20932302)
To add to this. One of the most frustrating things that compound this problem is that a high percentage of posters and opinions originate from the US. This compounds with the impression that when they seek advice about Europe and where to go and where to eat etc they almost invariably take their a advice from fellow Americans many of whom have taken their advice from other Americans in preference to advice from Europeans.
This behaviour is best illustrated when they go to the South of France. They all go to the same places. A great example is Eze which cannot be prized out of their itinerary. Vienna it's Figlmullers. We can all name them. They all share the same mediocre "secrets" but always from other Americans who previously visited for a couple of hours and took their advice in the same way. They almost always ignore advice from Europeans as though we are less informed. If you try to help and suggest, then the weight of many single-visit Americans all weighing in always outvotes local expert knowledge. You suggest somewhere different that's better ..... then all the Americans all say the same thing and so it goes on. That is why they all have the same range of poor and very narrow experiences and that is why many people have negative stuff to say. The worst at helping perpetrating the worst is Rick Steves who the Americans seem to idolise and worship and is almost always invariably clueless. He reminds me of Chevy Chase. He has a knack at sending people to the worst places of all completely mispronouncing whatever it is but leaves Americans with the smug look on their faces that they now know and share a secret that no one else knows. It is predictably pathetic. This incestuous behaviour in a great part explains the misunderstanding the OP highlights and help perpetrates the myth as they think they are all seeing the best that " everyone else " recommends. Posters where? Here on FT? Well isn't the membership a majority US-based - what would you expect most of the posts to be from? Haha, I don't know of anyone under age 65 who uses Rick Steves, or similar, for their primary travel plans. Yes Rick Steves fans do exist and I've run into a few around the world, but you're waaay overestimating that, I'm afraid. In my experience most people in the US my age (middle-aged) - and certainly younger - use multiple online resources for travel planning information (TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet, blogs, etc.) |
Originally Posted by 84fiero
(Post 20933392)
Well your stereotyping of Americans is perpetuating its own myth, it seems. Ah yes, as always we're spoiling everything.:rolleyes:
Posters where? Here on FT? Well isn't the membership a majority US-based - what would you expect most of the posts to be from? Haha, I don't know of anyone under age 65 who uses Rick Steves, or similar, for their primary travel plans. Yes Rick Steves fans do exist and I've run into a few around the world, but you're waaay overestimating that, I'm afraid. In my experience most people in the US my age (middle-aged) - and certainly younger - use multiple online resources for travel planning information (TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet, blogs, etc.) But whilst you seem to disagree, do you not think my experieince of observing Americans in Europe first hand may be as good or even greater than yours and therefore have at least as an opinion a little validity? ;):) |
I don't know anyone who takes Rick Steves seriously.
In fact I don't know how he's still on TV, if he is, but perhaps he speaks to armchair travellers. Who knows and who cares? |
... they almost invariably take their a advice from fellow Americans many of whom have taken their advice from other Americans ... They all go to the same places. ...They all share the same mediocre "secrets" but always from other Americans ... They almost always ignore advice from Europeans... all the Americans all say the same thing ... the Americans seem to idolise and worship and is almost always invariably clueless... Americans with the smug look on their faces that they now know and share a secret that no one else knows. It is predictably pathetic. |
Originally Posted by China Clipper
(Post 20933474)
Wow, we in the UK have a phrase for this: "cemented mind" ... you are generalising outrageously--possibly because of a few encounters with a few low-life yanks? There are low-life types in every country. Raise your own game maybe? Then perhaps you won't be so bitter.
QED.:D |
Originally Posted by uk1
(Post 20933341)
You should have tasted Branston before they "improved" it. I really miss it. It use to have more of a range of little vegetables including miniature pearl onions.
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Originally Posted by GRALISTAIR
(Post 20933564)
OMG -yes I remember that. In the 1970s and even 1980s. Loved it.
Sadly .. I missed Branston so much I tried without success to brew my own. Complete failure. I did however buy stock of UK manufactured HP sauce before it all disappeared and they changed it and moved the factory in the Netherlands. Way over date but tastes wonderful. |
There is one major difference between US food and British food that I have found although it is obviously not a 100% statistic.
Most food in Britain is served on a proper plate with a metal knife and fork, even in the greasiest of greasy spoons or grottiest of pubs. In America it is widely served on a styrofoam plate with a plastic knife and fork and as such appears to be treated with less respect and enjoyment. |
Originally Posted by Showbizguru
(Post 20933729)
There is one major difference between US food and British food that I have found although it is obviously not a 100% statistic.
Most food in Britain is served on a proper plate with a metal knife and fork, even in the greasiest of greasy spoons or grottiest of pubs. In America it is widely served on a styrofoam plate with a plastic knife and fork and as such appears to be treated with less respect and enjoyment. Absolutely true ... and talking about the differences, more generally ..... (pith helmet on) isn't (a) the average male in USA larger than the average British male and (b) the average portion of food served in the US considerably larger than the average portion served in the UK .... or am I stereotyping :eek: Are these two factors coincidental do you think or related?:D Only fun .. people mustn't over-react ..... |
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