surprisingly, two servers at one of the busiest korean places near me had apparently never seen a caucasian order the raw beef. one was befuddled, while the other initially told me they were out, when they werent.

no idea why they saw raw beef as so different, considering the popularity of sushi, and the western equivalent steak tartare.

more amusingly, my friend stopped by a suntory trial stand in japan over the summer, and sampled some single malts. the guy manning the stand asked how he wanted it mixed, and my friend said straight. he then proceeded to nose and taste, while the guy manning the booth stared at him "as if he were the most hardcore scotch connoisseur he had ever seen."

Almost the opposite at a bar in Prague about 20 years back. Asked for a vodka and orange and the barman would only give me them in separate glasses as he didn't want me to ruin the vodka.

In fairness I only drink it neat now thanks to him

AFAIK, it's from Spain - also sometimes spelled Kalimotxo (or some variant thereof).

I actually prefer tinto de verano, which is more or less the same thing but with Sprite (or, if in Spain, Casera) instead of cola. Goes down very nicely when it's hot and/or when the wine is of not-great quality.

When I order a eggs for breakfast, I will usually order them "fried over hard, yolks broken"... Even when having Eggs Benedict or other dishes traditionally served softer.

This occasionally requires me to send my eggs back to the kitchen for more cooking....when a chef or waitress decides I could not have *really* meant what I ordered. :rolleyes: If I have to send it back, I'll usually add the helpful instruction that "if the eggs are not solid when they get back, I'll see how well they splatter as a decoration..." :p

If you call in advance, my favorite Russian restaurant will have a bottle of your favorite Vodka frozen *in the middle* of a block of ice with nothing but the neck exposed, ready for pouring neat. Nastrovya!

Hot Water
 

My wife is from Asia and like many Asians she likes to drink hot water with her dinner. 10 out of 10 times when we order hot water at a restaurant in Europe or the US we get a blank look. We then explain that we want "tea without the tea":rolleyes:, that usually works. Most of the time we get charged for a tea:(

Oh I get this kind of thing far too often to even remember, as a Brit living in Virginia.

"You want that with that??" :confused:

I did once ask for a glass of cava on Iberia and was brought coffee :D

That'll teach you for eating at a Slobster ;)

I get really whipped up by the following conversation, which seems to happen all of the time:

Andrew: "I'd like a burger, fries, and a Sprite"
Server: "One burger, with fries, and a Coke"
Andrew: "No, a Sprite."
Server: "Right, a Coke."
Andrew: :mad:

Everything down here, except for a Doctor Pepper, is a bleeping Coke. Drives me nuts.

Cheers,

-Andrew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYCTVlxVx0I

From "Dead Like Me", the (in)famous patty melt scene.

Cheers,

-Andrew

Poached eggs, but do not overcook the yolk, I was told recently to order runny, that sounds sick.

Sounds like something that goes on the nipp..s. :D

We've seen it, and it looks disgusting.

I think many of us can't handle the idea of taking greasy (but yummy) fries, and then throwing on even more grease/fat with the mayo. French fries are bad enough, but if you're eating fries with mayo, you might as well be injecting the fat directly into your arteries.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Are the fat police back? I thought the carb police would still be pissed off about ketchup on fries...

If you find mayo so disagreeable, then don't order poutine in Quebec.

Cheers,

-Andrew
fry-o-holic.

GREAT SCENE. Thanx^