Languish.org

General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Martinus on August 03, 2011, 05:02:55 PM

Title: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Martinus on August 03, 2011, 05:02:55 PM
Is there any specialty (whether food, or a drink or some other similar product) that is considered worldwide to be your country specialty, but is not that popular among the locals?

In Poland, over the last two decades vodka has become such thing. Poles do not drink it that much any more - most prefer beer or wine, and if we want to go for something harder, tequila seems just as a popular choice. Yet, if you go abroad, you are being asked to bring a bottle of vodka or half a dozen. :P
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Admiral Yi on August 03, 2011, 05:08:13 PM
Buicks.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on August 03, 2011, 05:09:07 PM
For the UK it is probably intelligence. British expats get up to all sorts of exciting projects abroad but here in Blighty itself things are resolutely dumb and second-rate.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: The Larch on August 03, 2011, 05:11:44 PM
Paella and flamenco, unless you are in Valencia or Andalucía.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Barrister on August 03, 2011, 05:14:32 PM
Maple syrup.  Labatt's Blue.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: The Brain on August 03, 2011, 05:16:27 PM
Cuckoo clocks.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: DGuller on August 03, 2011, 05:17:44 PM
Radiation from Chernobyl.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: alfred russel on August 03, 2011, 05:26:25 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 03, 2011, 05:17:44 PM
Radiation from Chernobyl.

But you are also the primary consumer.

Yi: good thinking.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: MadImmortalMan on August 03, 2011, 05:31:34 PM
Well, you Euros seem to pay way more attention to Glenn Beck than the average American does...
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: DGuller on August 03, 2011, 05:34:34 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 03, 2011, 05:31:34 PM
Well, you Euros seem to pay way more attention to Glenn Beck than the average American does...
The problem is that below-average Americans pay a lot of attention to Glenn Beck.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: katmai on August 03, 2011, 06:05:14 PM
CdM does mention him and Rush alot....
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Grey Fox on August 03, 2011, 06:10:29 PM
Celine Dion. She's just a warning. Piss off for real, do it. You'll regret it.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: grumbler on August 03, 2011, 06:22:34 PM
McDonald's.  I see lots of people at the ones overseas, but hardly see anyone going there here in America.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: DGuller on August 03, 2011, 06:25:02 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 03, 2011, 06:22:34 PM
McDonald's.  I see lots of people at the ones overseas, but hardly see anyone going there here in America.
I see them here.  It's almost impossible to not see them.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Razgovory on August 03, 2011, 06:34:22 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 03, 2011, 06:22:34 PM
McDonald's.  I see lots of people at the ones overseas, but hardly see anyone going there here in America.

Don't really care for McDonald's myself.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: DGuller on August 03, 2011, 06:35:12 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 03, 2011, 06:34:22 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 03, 2011, 06:22:34 PM
McDonald's.  I see lots of people at the ones overseas, but hardly see anyone going there here in America.

Don't really care for McDonald's myself.
:yes: I'm a fan of Triple Stackers myself.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: MadImmortalMan on August 03, 2011, 06:38:00 PM
Now that you mention it, every McDonald's I've ever seen overseas was packed with people.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Ideologue on August 03, 2011, 07:26:53 PM
Hegemony.  It's pretty sweet.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: HVC on August 03, 2011, 08:35:34 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 03, 2011, 05:14:32 PM
Maple syrup.  Labatt's Blue.
and weed. you forgot weed.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Admiral Yi on August 03, 2011, 08:51:20 PM
Quote from: HVC on August 03, 2011, 08:35:34 PM
and weed. you forgot weed.

Hey High Times, did you read the question?
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Neil on August 03, 2011, 09:00:31 PM
Quote from: katmai on August 03, 2011, 06:05:14 PM
CdM does mention him and Rush alot....
Everyone loves Rush.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sweetslyrics.com%2Fimages%2Fimg_gal%2F12679_Rush-band-1978.jpg&hash=6c138f08d12f97b0f6e3d10ed6b49186fee2605e)
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: HVC on August 03, 2011, 09:02:27 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 03, 2011, 08:51:20 PM
Quote from: HVC on August 03, 2011, 08:35:34 PM
and weed. you forgot weed.

Hey High Times, did you read the question?
no, no i did not. But canadians eat maple syrup too so BB fails as well :lol:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Razgovory on August 03, 2011, 10:03:08 PM
Freedom.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Monoriu on August 03, 2011, 10:27:26 PM
The stuff that you guys consume in many Chinese take-aways isn't really consumed in China.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Razgovory on August 03, 2011, 10:35:07 PM
It will be.  It will be.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Syt on August 04, 2011, 12:31:33 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 03, 2011, 05:02:55 PM
Is there any specialty [. . .] that is considered worldwide to be your country specialty, but is not that popular among the locals?

Couldn't come up with food/drink, but for Germany: weapons and weapons technology. Unpopular in Germany (like most things military), popular with regimes around the world.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Mr.Penguin on August 04, 2011, 12:52:11 AM
Pork, pork and more pork...
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: DGuller on August 04, 2011, 01:10:04 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 03, 2011, 10:03:08 PM
Freedom.
:XD:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 01:21:06 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 03, 2011, 07:26:53 PM
Hegemony.  It's pretty sweet.

I think it's more the case of a monopoly. McDonald's (and to a lesser extent, Burger King) is probably the only restaurant of that type (I guess you could also count stuff like KFC or Subway but they are somewhat different) that we get here - we don't get dozens of burger chains. So if people (mostly kids) want to eat some shit like that, they go to McDonald's.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 01:53:37 AM
World peace. Barring that, oil with less guilt.

Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Duque de Bragança on August 04, 2011, 02:03:55 AM
Outside of Northern Portugal, Port is not that popular in Portugal.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: garbon on August 04, 2011, 02:49:32 AM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 03, 2011, 06:38:00 PM
Now that you mention it, every McDonald's I've ever seen overseas was packed with people.

I live in New York so...

Anyway, you also have a lot of awful Americans that travel abroad and then only want to eat the "familiar." :x
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:49:48 AM
Quote from: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 01:53:37 AM
World peace. Barring that, oil with less guilt.

Does it mean Norwegians do not use oil or that they have guilt about using it nonetheless? :P
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 02:52:43 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:49:48 AM

Does it mean Norwegians do not use oil or that they have guilt about using it nonetheless? :P

Our oil is more democratic and peaceful.  :sleep:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:54:52 AM
Quote from: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 02:52:43 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:49:48 AM

Does it mean Norwegians do not use oil or that they have guilt about using it nonetheless? :P

Our oil is more democratic and peaceful.  :sleep:

What I meant this does not necessarily answer the premise of this thread - i.e. an export that is considered a national specialty abroad, but one that locals do not quite care for. :P
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Eddie Teach on August 04, 2011, 02:56:00 AM
My grandparents owned a Buick. Course, they were naturalized Canucks.  :hmm:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:59:37 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 04, 2011, 02:49:32 AM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 03, 2011, 06:38:00 PM
Now that you mention it, every McDonald's I've ever seen overseas was packed with people.

I live in New York so...

Anyway, you also have a lot of awful Americans that travel abroad and then only want to eat the "familiar." :x

I don't think that's it. In Poland McDonald's are filled mainly with Poles, and the places are usually quite packed.

It's not the situation from the early 90s (when people would go to McDonald's for a "Sunday family dinner"  :yuk: ) but they are still quite popular. I am not sure if this is because there are not that many of them (there are 258 McDonald's restaurants in Poland, according to the website I just checked, I don't know if this is a lot or not, with over 30 million Poles), or because they still attract people with their "American" appeal (admittedly, people just go to McDonald's now to have a quick meal, not to "go out"), or because you don't have many places where you can have a meal for a relatively low price like that especially in cities like Warsaw, so a lot of poor people go there.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: garbon on August 04, 2011, 03:06:35 AM
Interesting.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 03:28:30 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:54:52 AM

What I meant this does not necessarily answer the premise of this thread - i.e. an export that is considered a national specialty abroad, but one that locals do not quite care for. :P

I don't think there's really such a thing, except the warning signs along the roads for moose. They were huge a decade or two ago among German tourists.
Jarlsberg I guess is bigger abroad than in Norway. Smoked salmon is a luxury some places, while here it's cheaper than bacon.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Mr.Penguin on August 04, 2011, 03:50:37 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:59:37 AM

I don't think that's it. In Poland McDonald's are filled mainly with Poles, and the places are usually quite packed.

It's not the situation from the early 90s (when people would go to McDonald's for a "Sunday family dinner"  :yuk: ) but they are still quite popular. I am not sure if this is because there are not that many of them (there are 258 McDonald's restaurants in Poland, according to the website I just checked, I don't know if this is a lot or not, with over 30 million Poles), or because they still attract people with their "American" appeal (admittedly, people just go to McDonald's now to have a quick meal, not to "go out"), or because you don't have many places where you can have a meal for a relatively low price like that especially in cities like Warsaw, so a lot of poor people go there.

Well, from my personal experience are the McD's in Polland better than here in Denmark. Fast and with good service, not something you will ever find at a McD here in Denmark...
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Slargos on August 04, 2011, 03:54:38 AM
Quote from: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 03:28:30 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:54:52 AM

What I meant this does not necessarily answer the premise of this thread - i.e. an export that is considered a national specialty abroad, but one that locals do not quite care for. :P

I don't think there's really such a thing, except the warning signs along the roads for moose. They were huge a decade or two ago among German tourists.
Jarlsberg I guess is bigger abroad than in Norway. Smoked salmon is a luxury some places, while here it's cheaper than bacon.

Possibly influenced by the fact that with a lot of Norwegian produce the quality stuff is exported while the B-assortment gets consumed by the dumb fucking natives.

"So what are we going to do with all this stuff the buyers refuse because of the poor quality?"  :cry:

"Don't worry, we'll repackage it, call it 'ecological', and increase the price." :uffda:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 03:57:38 AM
Some of the salmon and trout sold here is for the lack of a better word "asplutly aplanling".
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Duque de Bragança on August 04, 2011, 03:58:36 AM
Quote from: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 03:28:30 AM
Quote from: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 02:54:52 AM

What I meant this does not necessarily answer the premise of this thread - i.e. an export that is considered a national specialty abroad, but one that locals do not quite care for. :P

I don't think there's really such a thing, except the warning signs along the roads for moose. They were huge a decade or two ago among German tourists.
Jarlsberg I guess is bigger abroad than in Norway. Smoked salmon is a luxury some places, while here it's cheaper than bacon.

Same with Norwegian cod/clip fish I guess.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Zanza on August 04, 2011, 04:40:43 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 04, 2011, 12:31:33 AMCouldn't come up with food/drink, but for Germany: weapons and weapons technology. Unpopular in Germany (like most things military), popular with regimes around the world.
Big infrastructure projects is another one. We are quite good at building airports, bridges, tunnels or big industrial plants, but thanks to NIMBYism you can't really build those at home anymore. 
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Brazen on August 04, 2011, 04:41:32 AM
Lipton's Yellow Label tea  :x

In every hotel room in every country on the world, but makes a far too plishy cuppa for British tastes.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Duque de Bragança on August 04, 2011, 05:13:05 AM
Quote from: Zanza on August 04, 2011, 04:40:43 AM
Quote from: Syt on August 04, 2011, 12:31:33 AMCouldn't come up with food/drink, but for Germany: weapons and weapons technology. Unpopular in Germany (like most things military), popular with regimes around the world.
Big infrastructure projects is another one. We are quite good at building airports, bridges, tunnels or big industrial plants, but thanks to NIMBYism you can't really build those at home anymore.

That explains why the ICE is faster in France than in Germany with less(er)  high-speed lines to add insult to injury.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Warspite on August 04, 2011, 05:28:32 AM
Manchester United.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Legbiter on August 04, 2011, 06:17:10 AM
Fish, aluminum, quirky bands. Oh, and let's not forget horrendous banking collapses mixed with ash.  :lol: :Embarrass:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 07:13:27 AM
One thing I was surprised to hear that a Polish chocolate bar called "Prince Polo" (which dates back to the communist era so no, it doesn't need to make sense in English) is apparently very popular in Iceland.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: The Brain on August 04, 2011, 08:08:06 AM
It scored higher than rotten shark?
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Iormlund on August 04, 2011, 08:17:28 AM
Quote from: The Larch on August 03, 2011, 05:11:44 PM
Paella and flamenco, unless you are in Valencia or Andalucía.
Sevillanas, bullfighting ...
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Eddie Teach on August 04, 2011, 08:21:55 AM
Bullfighting is pretty much non-existent in most countries. I don't think you're understanding the question right.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Cecil on August 04, 2011, 08:26:01 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 04, 2011, 08:21:55 AM
Bullfighting is pretty much non-existent in most countries. I don't think you're understanding the question right.

And is seen as a negative thing around here.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: The Brain on August 04, 2011, 08:37:22 AM
Quote from: Cecil on August 04, 2011, 08:26:01 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 04, 2011, 08:21:55 AM
Bullfighting is pretty much non-existent in most countries. I don't think you're understanding the question right.

And is seen as a negative thing around here.

Because it's non-existing?
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Iormlund on August 04, 2011, 09:40:40 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 04, 2011, 08:21:55 AM
Bullfighting is pretty much non-existent in most countries. I don't think you're understanding the question right.
As far as I know there are or have been fights in France, Portugal and some Latinoamerican countries. The concept itself is well-known around the world.

Yet I've never seen one. And neither have most of my friends. The only time a bullfighter is on the news is when he's received a gruesome injury.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: The Larch on August 04, 2011, 09:53:59 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 04, 2011, 08:21:55 AM
Bullfighting is pretty much non-existent in most countries. I don't think you're understanding the question right.

It's recognized worldwide as typically Spanish but not very popular at home, I'd say that it fits the bill.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Drakken on August 04, 2011, 10:01:15 AM
Poutine, of course. Not the Vladimir kind. And cute little starlets. We even intruded in Mad Men with Jessica Paré.  :P

We stopped dumping exporting our rural dregs in New England by the start of the 20th century.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Duque de Bragança on August 04, 2011, 12:25:46 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on August 04, 2011, 09:40:40 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 04, 2011, 08:21:55 AM
Bullfighting is pretty much non-existent in most countries. I don't think you're understanding the question right.
As far as I know there are or have been fights in France, Portugal and some Latinoamerican countries. The concept itself is well-known around the world.

Yet I've never seen one. And neither have most of my friends. The only time a bullfighter is on the news is when he's received a gruesome injury.

It's not the same bullfighting (rules are different) in Portugal, though. In France, it's only a recent import (Second Empire) and an ersatz of the Spanish one.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Valmy on August 04, 2011, 12:29:19 PM
Wild west cowboy stuff I guess.

Though I think people still like that crap in the rural areas and strange places like Fort Worth.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Malthus on August 04, 2011, 12:30:57 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 04, 2011, 10:01:15 AM
Poutine, of course. Not the Vladimir kind. And cute little starlets. We even intruded in Mad Men with Jessica Paré.  :P

We stopped dumping exporting our rural dregs in New England by the start of the 20th century.

I have no idea who eats poutine. Increasingly it is offered, but I've never seen anyone actually order any.  ;)
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: BuddhaRhubarb on August 04, 2011, 12:55:25 PM
flags for American backpacks.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Eddie Teach on August 04, 2011, 02:32:30 PM
I don't know what you're talking aboot. :whistle:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Norgy on August 04, 2011, 02:52:50 PM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on August 04, 2011, 03:58:36 AM

Same with Norwegian cod/clip fish I guess.

Actually, that is a big deal, but mostly due to Norwegians getting a taste for bacalao.  :licklips:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Siege on August 04, 2011, 03:43:06 PM
Peace.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Razgovory on August 04, 2011, 03:48:52 PM
Quote from: Siege on August 04, 2011, 03:43:06 PM
Peace.

Israelis export peace?  To who?
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Barrister on August 04, 2011, 03:49:20 PM
Quote from: Drakken on August 04, 2011, 10:01:15 AM
Poutine, of course. Not the Vladimir kind. And cute little starlets. We even intruded in Mad Men with Jessica Paré.  :P

We stopped dumping exporting our rural dregs in New England by the start of the 20th century.

The Quebeces I know are always complaining about how they can't get a proper poutine out west.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Razgovory on August 04, 2011, 04:46:02 PM
I always confuse Poutine with Poultice.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Legbiter on August 04, 2011, 05:20:06 PM
Quote from: Martinus on August 04, 2011, 07:13:27 AM
One thing I was surprised to hear that a Polish chocolate bar called "Prince Polo" (which dates back to the communist era so no, it doesn't need to make sense in English) is apparently very popular in Iceland.

Poland's second greatest gift to civilization that. Right after the Witcher.  :contract:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2011, 05:26:18 PM
I wonder if people in Switzerland put Nestle Quick in their milk.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: viper37 on August 04, 2011, 05:34:09 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on August 03, 2011, 10:27:26 PM
The stuff that you guys consume in many Chinese take-aways isn't really consumed in China.
same goes with Italian food.  And restaurants around here advertising "canadian food" are actually serving traditional New England foods.

But I'm surprised at you Mono.  You should have opened an "American restaurant" and start selling what passes for Chinese food here.  You would have cornered the market in fake Chinese food in no time!
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2011, 05:36:49 PM
I've told this story before, but who cares.

When they tried to open a Benihana's of Tokyo (one of those places where the chef cooks your food at your table and flips his knives around) in Tokyo it bombed.  So they renamed it Benihana's of New York.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: viper37 on August 04, 2011, 05:38:49 PM
Quote from: Malthus on August 04, 2011, 12:30:57 PM
I have no idea who eats poutine. Increasingly it is offered, but I've never seen anyone actually order any.  ;)
It's just like pot at first, everyone was hiding to smoke it, now, everyone smokes this shit outside of bars.  Give it some time.  In less than a decade from now, all stoners of Canada will crave for a big pout' after their smoke :)
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Barrister on August 04, 2011, 05:46:47 PM
Quote from: viper37 on August 04, 2011, 05:34:09 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on August 03, 2011, 10:27:26 PM
The stuff that you guys consume in many Chinese take-aways isn't really consumed in China.
same goes with Italian food.  And restaurants around here advertising "canadian food" are actually serving traditional New England foods.

But I'm surprised at you Mono.  You should have opened an "American restaurant" and start selling what passes for Chinese food here.  You would have cornered the market in fake Chinese food in no time!

I thought the food I got in Italy was pretty similar to what you'd get at a reasonably decent Italian restaurant in Canada. :mellow:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: citizen k on August 04, 2011, 05:47:53 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2011, 05:36:49 PM
I've told this story before, but who cares.

When they tried to open a Benihana's of Tokyo (one of those places where the chef cooks your food at your table and flips his knives around) in Tokyo it bombed.  So they renamed it Benihana's of New York.

They're not familiar with teppanyaki?

Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2011, 05:50:33 PM
Quote from: citizen k on August 04, 2011, 05:47:53 PM
They're not familiar with teppanyaki?

I think that was the problem.  They already had teppanyaki joints so Benihana's wasn't any big deal.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Duque de Bragança on August 04, 2011, 06:03:20 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2011, 05:26:18 PM
I wonder if people in Switzerland put Nestle Quick in their milk.

No, they put Nesquik  :contract: :D
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: citizen k on August 04, 2011, 06:41:38 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2011, 05:50:33 PM
Quote from: citizen k on August 04, 2011, 05:47:53 PM
They're not familiar with teppanyaki?

I think that was the problem.  They already had teppanyaki joints so Benihana's wasn't any big deal.

Ah so, it was so mundane, they were unimpressed.

Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: MadImmortalMan on August 04, 2011, 09:48:43 PM
Our biggest export is actually inflation.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Tonitrus on August 05, 2011, 12:25:57 AM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 04, 2011, 09:48:43 PM
Our biggest export is actually inflation.

Hah, with our debt level, I was going to say U.S. treasury bonds are our biggest export.  :P
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Syt on August 05, 2011, 12:32:05 AM
Austria: Politicians.

And another one for Germany: Tourists. :P
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Malthus on August 05, 2011, 09:30:54 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2011, 05:36:49 PM
I've told this story before, but who cares.

When they tried to open a Benihana's of Tokyo (one of those places where the chef cooks your food at your table and flips his knives around) in Tokyo it bombed.  So they renamed it Benihana's of New York.

Heh, reminds me of another point I've mentioned before: restaurant chains in Canada often use American names to indicate that they serve plentiful fare (Montana's, Boston Pizza, etc.)

So add "a reputation for huge portions" to the US list of exports.  ;)
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 09:49:04 AM
Quote from: Malthus on August 05, 2011, 09:30:54 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 04, 2011, 05:36:49 PM
I've told this story before, but who cares.

When they tried to open a Benihana's of Tokyo (one of those places where the chef cooks your food at your table and flips his knives around) in Tokyo it bombed.  So they renamed it Benihana's of New York.

Heh, reminds me of another point I've mentioned before: restaurant chains in Canada often use American names to indicate that they serve plentiful fare (Montana's, Boston Pizza, etc.)

So add "a reputation for huge portions" to the US list of exports.  ;)

I knew Boston Pizza was a Canada-only chain, but didn't realize that Montana's was the same.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Malthus on August 05, 2011, 09:55:06 AM
Quote from: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 09:49:04 AM
I knew Boston Pizza was a Canada-only chain, but didn't realize that Montana's was the same.

Yup - headquartered in good old Mississauga, Ontario.  :D

The reasons for these names are that the selling-point of these places (particularly Montana's) is that they serve US-style portions - that is, huge. The association is: US name = lots and lots of food.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 10:56:26 AM
I've never associated BPs with huge portions.

Incedentally I was amused that during the Vancouver-Boston Stanley Cup series BPs was advertising on the rink boards with the word "Boston" stroked out, and calling themself Vancouver Pizza instead. :)
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: BuddhaRhubarb on August 05, 2011, 12:48:54 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 10:56:26 AM
I've never associated BPs with huge portions.

Incedentally I was amused that during the Vancouver-Boston Stanley Cup series BPs was advertising on the rink boards with the word "Boston" stroked out, and calling themself Vancouver Pizza instead. :)

I hadn't either until my recent trip to TO... My cousin was in a newly developing area, very few restaurants, we ended up a BP a couple of times. I found the portions huge, and the food itself was reasonably decent for the price.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Malthus on August 05, 2011, 12:59:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 10:56:26 AM
I've never associated BPs with huge portions.

Incedentally I was amused that during the Vancouver-Boston Stanley Cup series BPs was advertising on the rink boards with the word "Boston" stroked out, and calling themself Vancouver Pizza instead. :)

I dunno, whenever I've been to BP the portions have been big. It's a sort of somewhat upscale "strap the pizza feedbag on the whole family" kinda place.  ;)

Not, admittedly, to the degree of Montana's. That place is just obscene in terms of the amount of food they lay out.  :lol: 
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 03:03:51 PM
Quote from: Malthus on August 05, 2011, 12:59:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 10:56:26 AM
I've never associated BPs with huge portions.

Incedentally I was amused that during the Vancouver-Boston Stanley Cup series BPs was advertising on the rink boards with the word "Boston" stroked out, and calling themself Vancouver Pizza instead. :)

I dunno, whenever I've been to BP the portions have been big. It's a sort of somewhat upscale "strap the pizza feedbag on the whole family" kinda place.  ;)

Not, admittedly, to the degree of Montana's. That place is just obscene in terms of the amount of food they lay out.  :lol:

I've also never, ever associated the word "upscale" with Boston Pizza either. :lol:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Malthus on August 05, 2011, 03:17:09 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 03:03:51 PM
I've also never, ever associated the word "upscale" with Boston Pizza either. :lol:

Sure, in relation to fast-food type places.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on August 05, 2011, 03:20:37 PM
Belgium exports surrealism.

Ceci n'est pas un pays. And yet it's on the maps! And a vacationdestination!
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Ideologue on August 05, 2011, 10:17:20 PM
Man, I can totally read French.  I'm putting that on my resume.  Of course it won't matter because I never raped a Pathan girl in the Khyber Pass.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: viper37 on August 07, 2011, 11:59:53 PM
Quote from: Malthus on August 05, 2011, 12:59:03 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 05, 2011, 10:56:26 AM
I've never associated BPs with huge portions.

Incedentally I was amused that during the Vancouver-Boston Stanley Cup series BPs was advertising on the rink boards with the word "Boston" stroked out, and calling themself Vancouver Pizza instead. :)

I dunno, whenever I've been to BP the portions have been big. It's a sort of somewhat upscale "strap the pizza feedbag on the whole family" kinda place.  ;)

Not, admittedly, to the degree of Montana's. That place is just obscene in terms of the amount of food they lay out.  :lol: 
there used to be a place like that in Quebec city, in the 80s, a restaurant with mega-huge plates.  Went bankrupt in the end, they were probably in advance of their time.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Jos Theelen on August 08, 2011, 04:02:22 AM
the Dutch disease.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Brazen on August 08, 2011, 04:11:51 AM
Football violence.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Cecil on August 08, 2011, 04:16:44 AM
Quote from: Brazen on August 08, 2011, 04:11:51 AM
Football violence.

You seem to be lacking in this department lately though. Ages since I heard of any serious cases of hooliganism.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Razgovory on August 08, 2011, 06:24:56 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 05, 2011, 10:17:20 PM
Man, I can totally read French.  I'm putting that on my resume.  Of course it won't matter because I never raped a Pathan girl in the Khyber Pass.

Then you have never really lived.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Malthus on August 08, 2011, 08:21:17 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 05, 2011, 10:17:20 PM
Man, I can totally read French.  I'm putting that on my resume.  Of course it won't matter because I never raped a Pathan girl in the Khyber Pass.

:huh:
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:32:53 AM
Quote from: Malthus on August 08, 2011, 08:21:17 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 05, 2011, 10:17:20 PM
Man, I can totally read French.  I'm putting that on my resume.  Of course it won't matter because I never raped a Pathan girl in the Khyber Pass.

:huh:

Just sour grapes; I received a rejection letter from the SSA indicating that they're not even looking at applicants who don't have a veteran's preference.

Seems kinda in bad taste now.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: garbon on August 08, 2011, 09:35:15 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:32:53 AM
Quote from: Malthus on August 08, 2011, 08:21:17 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 05, 2011, 10:17:20 PM
Man, I can totally read French.  I'm putting that on my resume.  Of course it won't matter because I never raped a Pathan girl in the Khyber Pass.

:huh:

Just sour grapes because I lack veteran's preference, and hence was not referred for consideration for a job.

Seems kinda in bad taste now.

I understood. Cross reference your complaint in the OTT thread.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:38:05 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 08, 2011, 09:35:15 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:32:53 AM
Quote from: Malthus on August 08, 2011, 08:21:17 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 05, 2011, 10:17:20 PM
Man, I can totally read French.  I'm putting that on my resume.  Of course it won't matter because I never raped a Pathan girl in the Khyber Pass.

:huh:

Just sour grapes because I lack veteran's preference, and hence was not referred for consideration for a job.

Seems kinda in bad taste now.

I understood. Cross reference your complaint in the OTT thread.

:)

I mean, I sort of get it, it's part of the compensation you get for agreeing to maybe be shot at.  In retrospect, I think it might have been far more profitable to gamble the other possibility, that of getting paid to dick around in Barksdale or wherever for four years, than leverage years of future earnings that now seem very remote for a J.D.

But of course there are a lot of personal choices and mistakes that cloud that particular scrying pool.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Barrister on August 08, 2011, 09:38:35 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:32:53 AM
Just sour grapes; I received a rejection letter from the SSA indicating that they're not even looking at applicants who don't have a veteran's preference.

You know there is a way to fix that problem...
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:41:15 AM
Quote from: Barrister on August 08, 2011, 09:38:35 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:32:53 AM
Just sour grapes; I received a rejection letter from the SSA indicating that they're not even looking at applicants who don't have a veteran's preference.

You know there is a way to fix that problem...

Technically, I suppose, although I'm rather old for the military (albeit not for the JAG offices).  Still, that's how Colonel Kurtz got started, you know.  Ten years from now, I'd be hacking off insurgent limbs and leaving them in big piles in the village square, or at least giving bad advice on the legality thereof.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Neil on August 08, 2011, 09:43:12 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:41:15 AM
Quote from: Barrister on August 08, 2011, 09:38:35 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:32:53 AM
Just sour grapes; I received a rejection letter from the SSA indicating that they're not even looking at applicants who don't have a veteran's preference.
You know there is a way to fix that problem...
Technically, I suppose, although I'm rather old for the military (albeit not for the JAG offices).  Still, that's how Colonel Kurtz got started, you know.  Ten years from now, I'd be hacking off insurgent limbs and leaving them in big piles in the village square, or at least giving bad advice on the legality thereof.
But Kurtz turned out to be right.  He was the prophet of the professional military.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:44:57 AM
RE: writing "fuck" on your airplane.

Question presented
Can you write "fuck" on your airplane?

Brief answer
You can't, because it's obscene.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: DGuller on August 08, 2011, 09:49:29 AM
Not only is it obscene, but it also encourages people to do obscene things in public.

EDIT:  Bah, Ide edited his "fuck on your airplane".
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Ideologue on August 08, 2011, 09:56:56 AM
Quote from: DGuller on August 08, 2011, 09:49:29 AM
Not only is it obscene, but it also encourages people to do obscene things in public.

EDIT:  Bah, Ide edited his "fuck on your airplane".

Typo. :P
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Viking on August 08, 2011, 09:57:09 AM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ft3.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcS5cjwxLnmnzHq3nNIlAMMcp6DNnzGCSTFvL5FYscBhR9an3RAy&hash=0b9e7465f0485e16c55d3236c72390fe39fbe8a3)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etravelblog.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F08%2FIcelandic-horses.jpg&hash=ecb3721a64348b7d104bcb7b3934e76e1a5c691b)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Fnol%2Fshared%2Fspl%2Fhi%2Fquiz%2F08%2F12%2F09%2F160119%2Fmedia%2Fnorthern_rock_getty.jpg&hash=b296892d982cbbc8bf5ab3ff19ac6f688b815283)

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allgeek.tv%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2FEve-Huge.jpg&hash=9cb98a0e181828b661a162d9695d49fd319096e6)

It's been an eventful couple of years, but the rotting shark and rams testicles really doesn't do well in export.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Neil on August 08, 2011, 10:00:02 AM
Highschool dropouts who become millionaires playing pro sports.
Title: Re: What's your country's "national" specialty that is mostly exported?
Post by: Palisadoes on August 08, 2011, 10:12:50 AM
Teenage pregnancy.