do any other cultures do "doggie bags"?
May 23, 2009, 10:00 am
#1
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do any other cultures do "doggie bags"?
Or is it strictly an American phenomenon? I haven't noticed it in Europe in my travels (except for one tourist couple who wanted a doggy-bag in Paris so that they could eat the rest of their meal later in the day as a picnic) and living there. Haven't noticed it in Asia or South America. Is there any place where taking your leftovers is as common as it is here in the US of A?
I did a search but didn't find a whole lot.
I did a search but didn't find a whole lot.
May 23, 2009, 10:20 am
#3
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May 23, 2009, 10:20 am
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May 24, 2009, 6:06 am
#5
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Happens in Hong Kong, several of my local friends have asked for a doggy bag and I've been asked by a waiter more than once too. It would have to be an informal dinner - ensuring no face is lost - though.
May 24, 2009, 6:37 am
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Quite accepted in Germany. Just have to ask to the waitress/waiter to einpacken zum mitnehmen
Or is it strictly an American phenomenon? I haven't noticed it in Europe in my travels (except for one tourist couple who wanted a doggy-bag in Paris so that they could eat the rest of their meal later in the day as a picnic) and living there. Haven't noticed it in Asia or South America. Is there any place where taking your leftovers is as common as it is here in the US of A?
I did a search but didn't find a whole lot.
I did a search but didn't find a whole lot.
May 25, 2009, 3:46 am
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It's done in Australia if the restaurant also does take-away meals (most Asian cuisines, Italian, pizza) but I haven't seen it happen at restaurants that are eat-in only (eg, steakhouse). You don't ask for a doggie bag, you just say, "can I take the rest of this home?" 
Often they'll offer to pack up the leftovers if you're slowing down. ^
One place (Chinese, I think) would package it up but put a sticker on the package saying they didn't take responsibility if you didn't store/reheat it properly, and one Indian place stopped doing it on health grounds (fear of food poisoning from badly stored leftovers).
Often they'll offer to pack up the leftovers if you're slowing down. ^One place (Chinese, I think) would package it up but put a sticker on the package saying they didn't take responsibility if you didn't store/reheat it properly, and one Indian place stopped doing it on health grounds (fear of food poisoning from badly stored leftovers).
May 25, 2009, 4:42 am
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In general doggy bags are not acceptable in France. A discussion of the topic in a French forum I frequent showed a few people for it, but the majority found the idea a bit disgusting.
Here's a little anecdote regarding an American friend, fluent in French language and culture, who dared to request a doggy bag in Paris:
Ms. X took some visitors to dinner at a restaurant. One person ordered fish, thinking it sounded good on the menu even though he didn't normally like fish. When dinner arrived, he realized he wasn't going to like it this time either, and so that beautiful whole fish sat untouched. Thinking it would be a pity to waste it, at the end of the meal Ms. X politely asked the waiter if he could possibly wrap it for her to take home. He regarded her with disdain and asked in a snooty tone: "It's for your cat, Madame?" Ms. X looked back at him and said, "Yes, it's for my cat."
The waiter proceeded to clear the table, stacking all the plates on top of the plate with the fish and pushing them down firmly for good measure. He disappeared into the kitchen and eventually returned with a small packet of foil. Arriving at the table, he squished the packet between his hands and handed the crumpled silver ball to Ms. X.
"For your cat, Madame."
Here's a little anecdote regarding an American friend, fluent in French language and culture, who dared to request a doggy bag in Paris:
Ms. X took some visitors to dinner at a restaurant. One person ordered fish, thinking it sounded good on the menu even though he didn't normally like fish. When dinner arrived, he realized he wasn't going to like it this time either, and so that beautiful whole fish sat untouched. Thinking it would be a pity to waste it, at the end of the meal Ms. X politely asked the waiter if he could possibly wrap it for her to take home. He regarded her with disdain and asked in a snooty tone: "It's for your cat, Madame?" Ms. X looked back at him and said, "Yes, it's for my cat."
The waiter proceeded to clear the table, stacking all the plates on top of the plate with the fish and pushing them down firmly for good measure. He disappeared into the kitchen and eventually returned with a small packet of foil. Arriving at the table, he squished the packet between his hands and handed the crumpled silver ball to Ms. X.
"For your cat, Madame."
May 25, 2009, 4:49 am
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In general doggy bags are not acceptable in France. A discussion of the topic in a French forum I frequent showed a few people for it, but the majority found the idea a bit disgusting.
Here's a little anecdote regarding an American friend, fluent in French language and culture, who dared to request a doggy bag in Paris:
Ms. X took some visitors to dinner at a restaurant. One person ordered fish, thinking it sounded good on the menu even though he didn't normally like fish. When dinner arrived, he realized he wasn't going to like it this time either, and so that beautiful whole fish sat untouched. Thinking it would be a pity to waste it, at the end of the meal Ms. X politely asked the waiter if he could possibly wrap it for her to take home. He regarded her with disdain and asked in a snooty tone: "It's for your cat, Madame?" Ms. X looked back at him and said, "Yes, it's for my cat."
The waiter proceeded to clear the table, stacking all the plates on top of the plate with the fish and pushing them down firmly for good measure. He disappeared into the kitchen and eventually returned with a small packet of foil. Arriving at the table, he squished the packet between his hands and handed the crumpled silver ball to Ms. X.
"For your cat, Madame."
Here's a little anecdote regarding an American friend, fluent in French language and culture, who dared to request a doggy bag in Paris:
Ms. X took some visitors to dinner at a restaurant. One person ordered fish, thinking it sounded good on the menu even though he didn't normally like fish. When dinner arrived, he realized he wasn't going to like it this time either, and so that beautiful whole fish sat untouched. Thinking it would be a pity to waste it, at the end of the meal Ms. X politely asked the waiter if he could possibly wrap it for her to take home. He regarded her with disdain and asked in a snooty tone: "It's for your cat, Madame?" Ms. X looked back at him and said, "Yes, it's for my cat."
The waiter proceeded to clear the table, stacking all the plates on top of the plate with the fish and pushing them down firmly for good measure. He disappeared into the kitchen and eventually returned with a small packet of foil. Arriving at the table, he squished the packet between his hands and handed the crumpled silver ball to Ms. X.
"For your cat, Madame."
May 25, 2009, 5:09 am
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Oh, I agree--I don't think I would ever ask for a doggy bag here. The friend in question knew she was taking a risk, but she has a knack of charming everyone around her and decided it couldn't hurt to ask. No doubt in some restaurants she might have gotten away with it, depending on the setting and the wait staff... but normally it's one of those things that "just isn't done."
May 30, 2009, 9:56 am
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I would have been terribly disappointed if Figlmuller in Vienna hadn't bagged up our unfinished weiner schnitzel. Their servings are about 3X what a normal sized adult can or should eat. Even my teenaged sons couldn't finish.
May 30, 2009, 11:53 am
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I never ask for DBs but if you ordered and paid for your food then I dont give a damn what the waiter thinks... pack it up and keep your remarks to yourself...
I never ask for DBs but if you ordered and paid for your food then I dont give a damn what the waiter thinks... pack it up and keep your remarks to yourself...
May 30, 2009, 12:36 pm
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Very very very common in Hong Kong and Japan, and possibly most of asian countries, i do it on a daily basis, leftover dim sum, fried rice, even soup!!! as a matter of fact, it is quite uncommon to NOT takeaway the leftovers.
whats wrong with taking leftover food away? why do they prefer to waste it instead?
He regarded her with disdain and asked in a snooty tone: "It's for your cat, Madame?"