Questions for our American friends

[cicciobuki]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

Here American breads have the reputation to look like Mc Donald ones or square, pre-cut ones in a plastic bag. They are not very popular, even if they taste good.

That's what we think to be "American" bread.

In a recent past (30 years ago) Swiss breads didn't look like French ones (baguette or ficelle (thiner baguette)). They were larger.

I must say that French breads tasted better than Swiss ones, but one of the best baguettes I ate in my life was... in Belgium .

Today everywhere in Europe, we can get several style of breads too.

Another little story.
There is a competition between Belgians and Frenchs to know who make the best "French fries".

Belgians even call their "French fries": La frite belge. (Belgian fries) and are very proud of them.
If you travel to Belgium, you have to taste the "Belgian fries", it's like to taste pizza in Italy or a chocolate in Swizterland.

it's true. We Belgians usually don't have much national pride, but when it comes to beer and fries (and some other foods), we suddenly get very nationalistic

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by cicciobuki

it's true. We Belgians usually don't have much national pride, but when it comes to beer and fries (and some other foods), we suddenly get very nationalistic

Well you should, Mijn platte land mijn Vlaanderland, nothing rhymes like that . . .

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by cicciobuki

(and some other foods)

like chocolates.
You also have the nicest F1 circuit in the world with Spa Francorchamps.

[judy84]

Originally Posted by cicciobuki

it's true. We Belgians usually don't have much national pride, but when it comes to beer and fries (and some other foods), we suddenly get very nationalistic

I don't know if Belgians have the same recipe for "French" sticks as Luxembourg but ... We left a hotel in Luxembourg one morning, no breakfast. On the way to the train station we bought French stick, butter and salami. I don't know if it was because we were starving, but the feed we had on the train was fantastic.

[Rogerbh]

I recall some Germans insulting American bread and wondering what they meant by it "not being substantial".

They really got offended by American beer but because I am allergic to alcohol, I would never understand their objections.

I only ate a few times at Teske's Germania, which people would rave about as authentic German food - but it seemed like an acquired taste to me.

Don't think I have eaten Belgian food and French food - because of the wine - makes me sick.

Chinese food is found in almost every American city - some of it localized - like in Nashville Tennessee - they had peanut butter in the egg rolls - I spit it out all over the table because I thought I was eating something rotten. Is Chinese food as prevalent in Europe as it is in America?

[Mal Hombre]

In the UK,Every town will have it's complement of Chinese takeaways,I don't think that the food is necessarily that authentic,Prawn Balls anyone ? Egg Fried Rice has become a staple served by Kebab and Chip shops.

[bowlinggreen]

Originally Posted by Rogerbh

I recall some Germans insulting American bread and wondering what they meant by it "not being substantial".

They really got offended by American beer but because I am allergic to alcohol, I would never understand their objections.

I only ate a few times at Teske's Germania, which people would rave about as authentic German food - but it seemed like an acquired taste to me.

What the Germans consider "real beer" is quite a bit stronger than the stuff you get in cans at the liquor store.

My grandma was a hale and hearty German, and my Dad was somewhat into the German-style beer, I remember many years ago he'd go and pick up cases of this stuff in long-neck recycled bottles, it wasn't a national thing but he could get it up here, not too far north there is a substantial German population that (used to) hold on to those traditions. You could buy the heavy bread Germans like in their bakeries too.

I had to eat a lot of Bratwurst-and-potato dinners when I was a kid, I would have rather had a nice cheeseburger.

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by Rogerbh

I recall some Germans insulting American bread and wondering what they meant by it "not being substantial".

They really got offended by American beer but because I am allergic to alcohol, I would never understand their objections.

I only ate a few times at Teske's Germania, which people would rave about as authentic German food - but it seemed like an acquired taste to me.

Don't think I have eaten Belgian food and French food - because of the wine - makes me sick.

Chinese food is found in almost every American city - some of it localized - like in Nashville Tennessee - they had peanut butter in the egg rolls - I spit it out all over the table because I thought I was eating something rotten. Is Chinese food as prevalent in Europe as it is in America?

German and British are not famous for their food.... or they are famous to get a very common food.

Myself I like Rösti that is potatoes fried on pan.

Swiss food is not very tasty too.

I'm a Mediterranean food fan. (North Africa, Italian, Spanish, Greek or South of France)
Olive oil or balsamic vinegar. Pasta, tomato, basilic, etc...

Almost in all the European cities there are Oriental and Asiatic restaurants.

I was used to go to a Japanese restaurant when celebrating my father birthdays.

There were some TV reports on French television about sanitary problems with some Chinese snacks in South of France. I really wasn't a good publicity for Chinese cooks.

Never read or watch problems with Japanese restaurants. They have this reputation to be almost clinical.

I often went in a Chinese snack in Geneva, the food was top and it's very easy to get something tasty without meat.

[Roubignol]

Do you have an American small rhyme describing the terrible danger that can women be... when driving?

In French we say:

"Femme au volant,
danger permanent."

That means: "woman at steering wheels, permanent danger."

In German they say:

"Frau am Steuer,
ungeheur."

That means: "woman at steering wheel, outrageous."

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by bigtrain45

That's become a fairly tired myth here, since so much of the mayhem that goes on on our highways involves guns and road rage, fully fueled by testosterone, not estrogen.

In France and Germany.... it's more a male joke.
Fair women have fun when men say phlegmatically these sentences for kidding.