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BS: Menu Help
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Subject: Menu Help From: selby Date: 17 Sep 01 - 01:42 PM Next Easter we will for the first time crossing the Atlantic for a theme park holiday:-( I thought now would be a good time to get into training on a couple of things American, like what do you eat? what do you drink? (alchol)is there any words I should know.:-) I also thought that it could be a good idea if you havn't already, use this thread to have an American night,have a whip round and donate some cash to the Red Cross. Keith |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Amos Date: 17 Sep 01 - 01:51 PM Theme park holiday? You mean Disneyworld? Aw, Keith!! You can do better than that!! We eat many of the same things you do, only they look a little different: steaks, potatos, salads, bacon and chops, etc. Not to worry, it's all edible. We drink very poor beer, but California wines are all right. Stick to Guinness unless you have a chance to explore some of the microbrewery products becoming more popular. Mexican beer -- Dos Equis for example - is pretty good. But expect beer to be served cold, not at room temp. We drink a lot of water, Cocacola and Pepsi as well. We drive on the right here, BTW. Use your turn signals. As a rule you can stretch posted speed limits by 5 mph without much risk unless you're in a little backwater town that really needs the money. Wear your seat belts when driving. Stay alert for drivers who abandon all pretense of humanity once their gears engage -- a minority but significant. Don't get sucked into altercations with strangers over driving habits, no matter the temptation. We use central heating and individual plumbing; you are probably used to doing it the other way 'round! A.
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: MMario Date: 17 Sep 01 - 01:58 PM Amos - you forgot to warn them - do not eat in a resteraunt which lies underneath golden arches. New York State wines can be pretty good as well - |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Sorcha Date: 17 Sep 01 - 02:06 PM NO Fair, selby!! Loaded question! We eat anything that doesn't move, and some things that do....(Bubba ate a guppy on a dare last weekend....)Hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries(Chips), deep fried battered onion rings, fried chicken, corn (maize) on the cob.......chocolated cake, Toll House (chocolate chip) cookies, ice cream sundaes--all would make an "American" meal.
But at my house there is also mole, enchiladas, ropa vieja, many curries, fettucine alfredo, lasagna, Mongolian beef/chicken, Pad Thai, Yorkshire pudding, blancmange, quiche, Chicken Kiev........see the problem?
Restaurants (other than fast food) here generally have:
Mashed, baked, fried or hash brown potatoes. Overcooked green beans, green peas or corn.
Pie--chocolate, lemon, coconut, pumpkin, apple and cherry.
Deep fried, battered anything--cauliflower, mushrooms, cheese, squash (marrows), ANYTHING!!
Mountain oysters, cream soups, |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: jeffp Date: 17 Sep 01 - 02:45 PM If you do try the microbrewed beer, expect it to be more carbonated and more highly hopped than what you're used to. (I'm speaking of the ales in particular here; I'm not a lager drinker.) There are a number of wonderful micros out there. Stay away from the megaswill, though. No taste whatsoever. (Why is Budweiser like making love in a canoe? They're both f*cking near water!) jeffp |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: selby Date: 17 Sep 01 - 02:53 PM The intention is to have an American night this weekend some of the deep fried looks intresting glad to hear I wont have to drink that bud stuff and beer is available. Thanks for the prompt help and keep em coming. 13 & 11 year boys making the theme park decision i'm afraid. Keith |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Gareth Date: 17 Sep 01 - 04:10 PM Don't forget to take yer own brown source, and marmite ! Gareth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: kendall Date: 17 Sep 01 - 08:28 PM As far as words go, that you should know.
Flashlight (torch)
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: SINSULL Date: 17 Sep 01 - 08:33 PM Kendall, why does he need to "knock up" for a trip to Disneyworld? Inquiring minds want to know. Strawberry Short Cake is a classic too. Made with biscuits, not those nasty, mushy things you get in the supermarket. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: SINSULL Date: 17 Sep 01 - 08:34 PM Meant to say "need to know..." Totally different question! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Sorcha Date: 17 Sep 01 - 08:45 PM Also, bisquits==cookies bang==to have intercourse with fag==homosexual, not cigarette rubbers==condoms, not wellies or overshoes trainers==tennies, tennis shoes or running shoes, although trainers is becoming more common in US pudding==usually blancmange, often flavored choc, etc. dessert==not always pud---and pudding is not always dessert bobbie--also cop, not necessarily derogatory. Pig is. WC/loo==bathroom, toilet, necessary, powder room, ladies, gents, etc. If you are hiring a car (renting, over here) get a GOOD color coded map and be sure you understand the differences between kinds of roads. Stay away from "secondary" roads......ooo, so much. See Bill Sables. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: paddymac Date: 17 Sep 01 - 08:45 PM If you're going to be in the Orlando area, you'll find lots of restaurants offering various kinds of latin cuisines. If you like it hot & spicy, go for the tex-mex places. Other latin ethnic foods tend to not be hot, but do use different spices than you may be accustomed to. It's not generally recognized, but the US has the 4th largest Spanish speaking population in the world. Generally, you'll find an abundance of ethnic eateries representing most areas of the globe. Enjoy the adventure. I suspect the same kinds of things can be said about nearly any urban area. There are many equally fine "native" restaurants out in the rural (well, at least the less urbanized) areas. General rule: don't order seafood at a steak place, and vice versa. If you're in a "snowbird" area, look for the places that seem busy, and then try to catch them before the rush. We eat a lot of salads, especially in comparison to europeans, but there are usually alternatives if you don't like salads. And, depending on where you are, you may well encounter varieties of tropical fruits and veggies that may be new to you. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Date: 17 Sep 01 - 09:20 PM A few days ago somebody posted a link to an english style pub, The Royal Mile? It looked really good, sorry I can't rember who posted it or where it was.john |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: catspaw49 Date: 17 Sep 01 - 09:26 PM I did and it's basically in Washington DC. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Burke Date: 17 Sep 01 - 09:29 PM WC/Loo==Rest Room in public buildings Needs to know "knock up" so it's not used at the wrong time. Hot & cold water come premixed out of the same tap. Mixed drinks aka cocktails are not as popular as they once were and they are expensive, but they are typical. If you hit a city or suburban bar during 'happy hour' right after work time @5:00-7:00 they are often cheaper. Margaritas are popular, but are sometimes huge so be careful. 'Typical' food is frequently ethnic based. In our area that means lots of Italian-American; Chinese-American is everywhere; Mexican or Tex-Mex also in many places. You won't be able to completely avoid the fast food places. If you're driving & looking for a clean rest room they are usually a pretty safe bet. Get french fries at McDonald's. I did Disney World with my sister & her family a few years ago & had much more fun than expected. Staying on site was expensive, but meant early admission to the parks & very frequent buses to move us to & from. If someone just got too tired it was easy to go back to the room while the rest kept going. We did the dinner shows too. Also expensive, but the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue was good family fun & typically American food.
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Date: 17 Sep 01 - 09:33 PM Cheers Spaw, I thought you might have posted it :-) It looks like a really good pub, I will go there if I ever get to America. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Bev and Jerry Date: 17 Sep 01 - 11:39 PM We once heard Jean Redpath say at a house concert that on this side of the ocean (the U.S. side) she can be laid back but not knocked up but at home it's the other way 'round.
Also, you'll only get one kind of potato at a time here, not two or three. Bev and Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Jim Dixon Date: 17 Sep 01 - 11:59 PM Take a look at BS: British/American cultural differences. and BS: British-American cultural differences 2. Not that you really NEED to know any of this stuff - but for me, just noticing stuff like this is half the fun of traveling. Take notes, and come home prepared to add your own items to the list. The best collection of roller coasters in North America is at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio. If you plan to drive in America, you'll need some time to get used to the way highways are marked. Different symbols are used on maps and signs for Interstate Highways, US Highways, State Highways, and County Roads. Whereas, in Britain, highway signs usually tell what city or town they go to (this way to Canterbury, that way to London) in America they are usually marked according to the general direction (north this way, south that way). Odd-numbered Interstate Highways run generally north-south; even-numbered ones run east-west. Most cities are laid out on some kind of grid (except notably some of the old ones on the East Coast, like Boston and Philadelphia), and there is often some system to the way streets are named and house numbers are assigned, although the system varies from city to city. Usually the numbers get higher the farther away you get from some central axis. In some cities, the "streets" run north-south and the "avenues" run east-west, or vice versa. Don't try to drive coast to coast unless you want to spend your whole vacation in your car. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: alison Date: 18 Sep 01 - 03:44 AM Here's a thread about Disneyland slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: GUEST,Russ Date: 18 Sep 01 - 10:46 AM On the road Americans eat at chain restaurants because they are predictable. No surprises, but at least no unpleasant surprises. My short list of acceptable chains: Arby's (sandwiches), Burger King (burgers), Cracker Barrel (southern style real (non-fast) food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Red Lobster (seafood), Olive Garden (Italian), KFC (chicken). If you want something classier find a webpage for your target city. Look for a link to restaurant reviews by the major local paper. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Bat Goddess Date: 18 Sep 01 - 02:57 PM Most American beer HAS to be drunk cold -- you might taste it otherwise. Some pretty good microbrews out there, though. And my (albeit regional) favorite domestic is Leinenkugel, brewed in Chipewa Falls, WI -- and for a looong time before Miller bought it. Bat Goddess (showing her midwestern roots) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Grab Date: 19 Sep 01 - 11:40 AM Some notes from my trip to Michigan... Do NOT go to a Wendy's. Like McDonalds, only worse! Wines (at least in MI) were all very expensive. A bottle of cheap plonk was about $6-7, and anything halfway decent (like you'd pay £4 for in Tesco) was at least $8-10. The beer is mostly pretty good - you can get decent lagers everywhere (if you pay a little more for your pint), and there's pubs which specialise in "real beer" and usually brew their own, where you can get some decent stouts and bitters (the word is "brewpub"). In pubs, the moment you put down an empty glass, expect the waitress to ask you if you want another (or just appear with another full one!). Pub service is generally quicker than in England. If you order a soft drink with a meal, you'll generally get as many refills as you need. And if the meal was large, it's quite normal to ask for a box for the leftovers, to warm up and eat later. There's no proper chocolate over there (unless you find some specialist shop). Snickers and some other bars are made over there, but they use Hershey chocolate which is just sugary sh*t with no real taste. Certainly you can't go into a newsagents or supermarket and get a bar of decent chocolate. Everything has extra sugar, so brush your teeth well. Nearly all bread is sweetened, either with sugar or some variety of sugar syrup, which makes it taste strange - not bad, just different. You'll have to search hard to find wholemeal bread, even in health food shops. Food in stores comes in ridiculously large quantities. I had problems finding milk in 2-pint quantities rather than 4-pint or 1-gallon! All jars of spreads are huge. Milk doesn't come in whole-milk, semi-skimmed and skimmed, but has some high/low fat content percentage on it which I never figured out. In shops, Americans expect to have their groceries packed in carrier bags for them. You get amused looks if you do it yourself (as most ppl do in Britain) - you also get some appreciation from the shop assistants! All checkout assistants I met were friendly, although I guess having a novel accent can help. It may just be where I went, but the queues seemed longer for grocery stores than you'd expect in England, and the assistants didn't serve nearly as quickly so the queues moved slower. Credit card signatures are never checked - the procedure is usually to swipe the card yourself in the machine on the counter (check the machine to find which way the card goes), keep hold of your card, sign the receipt and give the signed copy back to the assistant. The assistant doesn't take the card off you to check the signature. That's all I can remember offhand. Those are the main differences I noticed relating to food. I'm sure most Americans will look at the list and say "Well yeah, how else would you do it?", but it's surprising how strange it is not to be able to get normal things like wholemeal bread and semi-skimmed milk. Oh, and don't forget, everyone's almost unnaturally friendly. It does seem like Stepford sometimes, but it's very endearing. Whilst I don't agree with a lot of American traits in particular (huge cars, sugary food, no pedestrian access, guns), I do like the people in general. It's a refreshing change from "I'm-alright-Jack". Graham. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: MMario Date: 19 Sep 01 - 12:00 PM semi-skimmed would be 1% milk = or at least I would guess that would be the equivilant. it is hard to say because... Most US milk is standardized at 2% milkfat - and is considered "whole" milk by most - though much milk produced in the US is actually between 3.5 and 4 % milkfat when it comes out of the cow... so the "standard" 2% milkfat sold is already part-skimmed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Hollowfox Date: 19 Sep 01 - 04:30 PM You might enjoy the book Brit-Think, Ameri-Think by Jane Walmsey, (and others), Viking Penguin, 1987. It explains a lot, but doesn't always tell you why. (I never knew it was considered unusual to eat ice cream all year 'round, for instance). Pity you're only going to Ratworld. Next time specialize in roller coasters, and you can stop for the night at my house on your trip between Cedar Point and Kennywood (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Remember to wear sensible shoes, and be prepared for warm humid weather. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Menu Help From: Don Firth Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:07 PM Fish and chips=fish and chips. (I was going to add a lot more, but when it came to "knickers=panties" I got distracted.) Don Firth |