I have to go to another school tomorrow to talk about cultural differences between Britain and Japan.
I have certainly observed a lot of weird things about Japan so thats the angle of what foreigners find odd in Japan covered.
But...
What is unusual in Britain?
As a Brit British things are the generic norm to me, other countries are deviations from this middle ground. Its hard to analyse your own country from a foreigners eyes, some things are obvious and stand out but other little things might not- for instance that we have switches on our sockets whilst most foreigners for some weird reason do not.
So, I put it to ye foreigne folke offe languishe.
What aspects of British culture do foreigners find particularly weird?
Food. Comparing foreign food cultures is something that can always fill huge amounts of time. Yes, I know speaking of British food "culture" is a stretch, but hey.
Compare the full English breakfast to the typical Japanese breakfast, for example.
"White people drive like this, Asian people drive like this."
Your ridiculous internal nationalisms are probably the strangest to a foreigner.
You drive on the left in defiance of all normalcy, but Japanese won't understand that as being strange, since they are one of the few countries of import to have joined you in your contrariness.
Having been a real japanese highschooler myself I'd focus on the student teacher relationship and the differences. Rote learning versus critical thinking. Students cleaning classrooms. Saturday schooling. Stuff like that.
Then, once you have set the students against their teachers introduce the concept of "puns". Try something about using chopsticks on the edge of a bridge.
Quote from: Ideologue on December 09, 2011, 01:47:53 AM
"White people drive like this, Asian people drive like this."
Your ridiculous internal nationalisms are probably the strangest to a foreigner.
You drive on the left in defiance of all normalcy, but Japanese won't understand that as being strange, since they are one of the few countries of import to have joined you in your contrariness.
Thats only because most normal countries were converted to driving on the right by Napoleon or Hitler or Henry Ford.
The British have some weird obsession with class. There seems to be a strong distrust of the middle class in favor of the lower classes. Like when Yi and Shelf gave descriptions of the middle class they were worlds apart. There seems to be this odd "authentic" vs "fake" dichotomy going on. A distrust of everything from genemod foods to your how you spend your holidays. You seem to want to have the "authentic" experience rather then the touristy spots. That strikes me as odd. If I went to say Egypt I'd want to see pyramids not "experience" what life is like for a bunch of dirt poor jackasses. You guys also have a passive aggressive attitude toward the US, and I swear you guys seem pleased when we fuck up.
Are the Japanese retarded in how they term seasons of shows and call some series like you Britards? :lol:
Quote from: Ideologue on December 09, 2011, 01:47:53 AM
"White people drive like this, Asian people drive like this."
Your ridiculous internal nationalisms are probably the strangest to a foreigner.
You drive on the left in defiance of all normalcy, but Japanese won't understand that as being strange, since they are one of the few countries of import to have joined you in your contrariness.
I was going to suggest drinking tea (as all the civilized world drinks coffee) but that's probably another thing the Japanese won't get. :D
OMG Britain is the Europe's Japan. :lol:
Quote from: Razgovory on December 09, 2011, 02:00:56 AM
The British have some weird obsession with class. There seems to be a strong distrust of the middle class in favor of the lower classes. Like when Yi and Shelf gave descriptions of the middle class they were worlds apart. There seems to be this odd "authentic" vs "fake" dichotomy going on. A distrust of everything from genemod foods to your how you spend your holidays. You seem to want to have the "authentic" experience rather then the touristy spots. That strikes me as odd. If I went to say Egypt I'd want to see pyramids not "experience" what life is like for a bunch of dirt poor jackasses. You guys also have a passive aggressive attitude toward the US, and I swear you guys seem pleased when we fuck up.
I think this is more about Sheilbh being weird than Brits being weird. :D
I for one have seen hordes of Brits in every popular tourist spot I've been to.
And, as I said many times before, neither Sheilbh nor Yi is middle class. Sheilbh is a soundly upper class born bohemian who looks down on the middle class as crass and has a romanticized view of the lower class. Yi is a lower class/lower middle class guy who looks up to middle class as something he aspires to. Their differences are class-based, not nationality-based.
I think one of the cultural traits of modern Brits that sorta stands out is a self-depreciating ironic attitude to Britain's "greatness" (which they manage to combine with a certain smugness about it). People from most other countries in the world oscillate somewhere between enthusiastic pride and "they fucked us at Trianon" kind of mentalities. Brits go off the chart.
Oh, you could also say you own up to your nation's past crimes and don't worship war criminals as heroes. I bet Japs would find it weird. :secret:
QuoteHaving been a real japanese highschooler myself I'd focus on the student teacher relationship and the differences. Rote learning versus critical thinking. Students cleaning classrooms. Saturday schooling. Stuff like that.
Then, once you have set the students against their teachers introduce the concept of "puns". Try something about using chopsticks on the edge of a bridge.
hmm...if these were university students that could work but except for the cleaning thing (on which I believe the Japanese are aware they are freaks) Britain really isn't the best 'omg look at how weird foreigners are!' comparison for Japan what with all our uniforms and Mr/Miss X.
I suppose the house system is there...but then most kids have read Harry Potter. Or at least seen the films.
Quote from: Martinus on December 09, 2011, 02:41:25 AM
Oh, you could also say you own up to your nation's past crimes and don't worship war criminals as heroes. I bet Japs would find it weird. :secret:
That certainly is one place where we're the opposite of Japan, not only do we own up to historic crimes but we even make up new ones and refuse to recognise that we might possibly have done good things in history too.
But I don't think its one for tomorrow :p
Incidentally I'm going to be presenting with a Puerto Rican who I only learned was such last week having previously thought he was Mexican.
Maybe I can mention British individualism? Our grand tradition of eccentrics and desperately wanting to stand out. Of students seeing teachers as the enemy and their school as the prison.
But again...this is broad philisophical generalities rather than "In Xanadu they wear socks on their hands and gloves on their feet!"
Try Confucious bad John Locke good.
Quote from: Tyr on December 09, 2011, 04:02:28 AM
Of students seeing teachers as the enemy and their school as the prison.
Sounds like something Mono can relate to.
Mention the British inordinate fondness for carpeted floors all over the house. Including bathrooms.
What about teenage rebeliousness? Binge drinking? Chavs? Teenage pregnancies?
Quote from: The Larch on December 09, 2011, 04:47:33 AM
Mention the British inordinate fondness for carpeted floors all over the house. Including bathrooms.
Ew.
Quote from: The Larch on December 09, 2011, 04:47:33 AM
Mention the British inordinate fondness for carpeted floors all over the house. Including bathrooms.
What about teenage rebeliousness? Binge drinking? Chavs? Teenage pregnancies?
Much lower suicide rates.
Quote from: The Larch on December 09, 2011, 04:47:33 AM
Mention the British inordinate fondness for carpeted floors all over the house. Including bathrooms.
What about teenage rebeliousness? Binge drinking? Chavs? Teenage pregnancies?
I was the teen rebel in my school. I grew my hair to three inches. The teachers held a conference.
Quote from: The Larch on December 09, 2011, 04:47:33 AM
Mention the British inordinate fondness for carpeted floors all over the house. Including bathrooms.
What about teenage rebeliousness? Binge drinking? Chavs? Teenage pregnancies?
eww, who carpets the bathroom?
Yeah, that is a consideration but....that would present a bit of a negative image. Britain has its good and its normal kids too and Japan has its dicks.
Quote from: Viking on December 09, 2011, 04:49:59 AM
Quote from: The Larch on December 09, 2011, 04:47:33 AM
Mention the British inordinate fondness for carpeted floors all over the house. Including bathrooms.
What about teenage rebeliousness? Binge drinking? Chavs? Teenage pregnancies?
I was the teen rebel in my school. I grew my hair to three inches. The teachers held a conference.
What did they do when they found out you weren't using metric.
Quote from: Martinus on December 09, 2011, 02:34:59 AMI think this is more about Sheilbh being weird than Brits being weird. :D
I for one have seen hordes of Brits in every popular tourist spot I've been to.
I think that's true. But there's an element of class in British holidaying too :lol:
I'm not sure about the rest.
Eccentricity would probably be interesting. Maybe start with what's similar (from my superficial impression of Japan) that we're both very private nations, don't like prying, queuing, have a strange obsession with gardens and a difficult (for foreigners) system of politeness to regulate conversation? Then jump off into stuff that's different - possible from there?
I'd agree with that. The two nations have many similarities but, broadly speaking, Japan has gone down a conformist route whereas Britain has embraced individualism. In many ways I think the Japanese got a better deal, much greater social cohesion, lower violence and so on.............but on the other hand it is a very stultifying place :hmm:
What about comparing the pressure to perform well academically in Japan with the attitudes towards education in Britain? That should get the pupils interested, as it deals with something they see daily.
Quote from: Viking on December 09, 2011, 04:49:59 AM
I was the teen rebel in my school. I grew my hair to three inches. The teachers held a conference.
I had a mullet. :cool:
Quote from: Caliga on December 09, 2011, 07:43:35 AM
Quote from: Viking on December 09, 2011, 04:49:59 AM
I was the teen rebel in my school. I grew my hair to three inches. The teachers held a conference.
I had a mullet. :cool:
:(
Personal hygiene? I've always heard Japanese are quite anal about it, while ... you're definitely not. At least not the Brits I've met anyway.
You may want to compare the royalties of both countries. :D
Compare and contrast Japanese flower arranging with British orthodonture.
For Britain:
Talk about what it's like going through the school system. What type of schools do you have? When do you take exams? How do you qualify for university? How big are the classes?
Talk about sports culture. What are the favourite sports? Who plays them? Who watches them?
Talk about youth culture and music. What do teenagers (or whatever age group you're talking to) do for fun? Where do th go after school? How do they get money to spend? What do they spend it on.
What are the popular kind of restaurants? Are there distinct cultural enclaves in the cities? You could probably get a bit of mileage out of immigration, given how homogenous Japan still is.
What's a typical day like for a family? Transit to/from work and school? What do they eat? What holidays do people celebrate, and how?
... That sort of stuff.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 09, 2011, 08:56:46 AM
Compare and contrast Japanese flower arranging with British orthodonture.
I think the British had a flower arrangement thing as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_Flowers
What's a tradionnal breakfast like in Japan?
Quote from: Viking on December 09, 2011, 01:52:52 AM
Thats only because most normal countries were converted to driving on the right by Napoleon or Hitler or Henry Ford.
The Trinity of Driving Dictators!
Ok how could Napoleon dictate automobile driving habits decades before they were even invented?
I know he was a visionary leader but that is ridiculous.
:huh:
It might come as a bit of a shock but there have been roads and streets (and traffic) for millennia.
compare and contrast views on anime.
Quote from: Grey Fox on December 09, 2011, 01:33:02 PM
What's a tradionnal breakfast like in Japan?
Rice and eel, IIRC.
Quote from: Iormlund on December 09, 2011, 01:57:08 PM
:huh:
It might come as a bit of a shock but there have been roads and streets (and traffic) for millennia.
I am quite aware of that they were all over the US...but I cannot help but notice the wagon ruts tended to run right down the middle of the road, not form on the right side of them.
When traffic is traveling at 50km/day rather than 70km/hr there is less of a need for laws telling people where on the road they can move. Besides, if traffic laws have been around for millenia then why are we giving Henry Ford/Napoleon/Hitler credit? Why not Hammurabi's chariot codes?
Internal decor has to be a big thing differentiating Britain and Japan. Granted I don't really know what it is apart from TV/movies, but if you could somehow capture the different attitudes towards domestic space, that could be insightful.
Different attitudes towards embarrassment and mockery -- British "taking the piss" culture might strike the Japanese as strange, I don't know.
Public transportation behavior.
Boozing culture; I know that Japanese businessmen are supposed to get smashed a lot, but there must be some clear differences to point out.
Quote from: Valmy on December 09, 2011, 02:15:43 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on December 09, 2011, 01:57:08 PM
:huh:
It might come as a bit of a shock but there have been roads and streets (and traffic) for millennia.
I am quite aware of that they were all over the US...but I cannot help but notice the wagon ruts tended to run right down the middle of the road, not form on the right side of them.
When traffic is traveling at 50km/day rather than 70km/hr there is less of a need for laws telling people where on the road they can move. Besides, if traffic laws have been around for millenia then why are we giving Henry Ford/Napoleon/Hitler credit? Why not Hammurabi's chariot codes?
Maybe because we don't know on which side of the road one had to enter Babylon. Or Rome, where most certainly there was traffic enough to have several lanes and sidewalks on main roads.
We do know though that Napoleon cared enough to standardize this wherever he went, just as he spread the metric system. Maybe he felt it was useful for army logistics, maybe something else.
Quote from: Tyr on December 09, 2011, 04:02:28 AM
Incidentally I'm going to be presenting with a Puerto Rican who I only learned was such last week having previously thought he was Mexican.
:angry:
Also, Korean kids clean their schools same as Japan.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 09, 2011, 02:13:56 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on December 09, 2011, 01:33:02 PM
What's a tradionnal breakfast like in Japan?
Rice and eel, IIRC.
The times I've had it there was usually a variety of pickled things, some fish, some rice, maybe broth and natto.
Quote from: Tyr on December 09, 2011, 01:19:25 AM
What is unusual in Britain?
What aspects of British culture do foreigners find particularly weird?
- language
- driving on the wrong side of the road
- weird tv shows being popular for many years (Benny Hill, Mr Bean, etc)
- the royal fetish (also quite common in you oversea colony, the Dominion of Canada)
- A totally different religion from Catholicism, yet almost the same, like replacing a non-elected head of Church by another non elected head of Church, albeit calling it "King" or "Queen" instead of "Pope" to feel really different.
- No annoying teenage pop stars, but cool bands like Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath. That is so weird for someone living next door to the US...
- According to Asterix, all food is boiled with mint... if that's true, it's a double-yuck on both count. :P
Quote from: viper37 on December 09, 2011, 03:58:03 PM
Quote from: Tyr on December 09, 2011, 01:19:25 AM
What is unusual in Britain?
What aspects of British culture do foreigners find particularly weird?
- language
- driving on the wrong side of the road
- weird tv shows being popular for many years (Benny Hill, Mr Bean, etc)
- the royal fetish (also quite common in you oversea colony, the Dominion of Canada)
- A totally different religion from Catholicism, yet almost the same, like replacing a non-elected head of Church by another non elected head of Church, albeit calling it "King" or "Queen" instead of "Pope" to feel really different.
- No annoying teenage pop stars, but cool bands like Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath. That is so weird for someone living next door to the US...
- According to Asterix, all food is boiled with mint... if that's true, it's a double-yuck on both count. :P
- Yes, Idiomatic English must be difficult for non-native speakers.
- Shield arm not exposed to other travellers makes perfect sense to me, a lefty. :cool:
- A lot of those tv shows are more popular abroad than at home.
- Again, it seems to be foreigners who often obsess about royalty, most Brits can take it or leave it, it's no big thing.
- No I think CofE is very unlike Catholicism, in that nowadays there's very little dogma left, Anglicanism can be pretty much whatever you want it to be, which is why in my opinion it fails as a religion.
- I think talking about two heavy rock bands, in their prime 40 and 30 years ago respectively, doesn't say a lot about the state of british pop music. We now have plenty of teen bands and thanks to Simon Cowell et al, seem to be in a race to the bottom with the Americans, as to whom can come up with the most synthetic product.
- mint, what's mint, bar humbug.
Quote from: Valmy on December 09, 2011, 01:47:52 PM
Ok how could Napoleon dictate automobile driving habits decades before they were even invented?
I know he was a visionary leader but that is ridiculous.
It has to do with the preferences of cart and coach teamsters and horseriders and rules of passing in traffic. There are good reasons for each side depending on era.
- roman teamsters would pass each other on the left, controlling their small carts was done either from the front right horse or seated on the right side of the carriage and they passed each other on the side where they could see and avoid crashes between the carts.
- later heavier carts with more horses would be controlled from the back left horse so the teamster could conveniently use the whip, such carts would pass each other on the right since the teamster was on the left.
- armoured knights would pass each other on the right since that place their shield between the horsemen
- in later less belligerent periods they would pass on the left because mounting the horse from the left was most conventient both with choice of leg and decorative swords getting in the way, these people would prefer to mount from the side of the road rather than the middle so they move to the left
these are some of the theories. But Nappy standardizes the procedure for carts across all the lands he conquers regardless of what previous tradition was.
Damn fine post Puff. Very informative. Hip hip!
Quote from: Tyr on December 09, 2011, 04:02:28 AM
Incidentally I'm going to be presenting with a Puerto Rican who I only learned was such last week having previously thought he was Mexican.
He has a name you know. :mad:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 09, 2011, 03:29:00 PM
Quote from: Tyr on December 09, 2011, 04:02:28 AM
Incidentally I'm going to be presenting with a Puerto Rican who I only learned was such last week having previously thought he was Mexican.
:angry:
Also, Korean kids clean their schools same as Japan.
This is a practice America should adopt.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 09, 2011, 04:46:30 PM
Damn fine post Puff. Very informative. Hip hip!
So, driving on the side of a road has nothing to do with cars and everything to do with carts, horses and dictators. American cars famously (in japan and britain) were rarely made in right hand drive models, this is the motivation for Iceland and Sweden swapping from left to right. There have been some justifications for one side or the other based on ideas about people tending to favour one eye over the other and issues about wether it is best to change gears with your preferred hand or your non-preferred hand leaving the other on the steering wheel.
So the issues which decide this if your country relied on carriage haulage in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Was your country occupied and did the occupiers rely on carriage haulage in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Did your country import a sizable amount of cars after WWII?
If you answer those three questions I can tell you if your country drives on the left or right side of the road.
Apparently Canada had different traffic directions in different provinces until the 20s. Wikipedia says Nova Scotia switched from left to right in 1923. :themoreyouknow: :Canuck:
Quote from: Tonitrus on December 10, 2011, 08:42:06 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 09, 2011, 03:29:00 PM
Also, Korean kids clean their schools same as Japan.
This is a practice America should adopt.
Serial killers and pedophiles need jobs too.
Quote from: Viking on December 09, 2011, 04:42:52 PM
these are some of the theories. But Nappy standardizes the procedure for carts across all the lands he conquers regardless of what previous tradition was.
Woah thanks for the info that was actually pretty interesting :nerd:
Quote from: Valmy on December 12, 2011, 09:27:27 AM
Quote from: Viking on December 09, 2011, 04:42:52 PM
these are some of the theories. But Nappy standardizes the procedure for carts across all the lands he conquers regardless of what previous tradition was.
Woah thanks for the info that was actually pretty interesting :nerd:
oh.. I'm sorry I thought this was some form of languish mockery
hair trigger you know...
Quote from: Syt on December 09, 2011, 01:23:55 AM
Food. Comparing foreign food cultures is something that can always fill huge amounts of time. Yes, I know speaking of British food "culture" is a stretch, but hey.
Compare the full English breakfast to the typical Japanese breakfast, for example.
After trying the Bavarian cuisine for an extended period of time, I would have to eat a LOT of good German food to think a German is allowed to diss British food. :P
Holy Tasteless Batman!
I have been jonesing for some wienerschnitzel for the last few weeks.
Quote from: Viking on December 13, 2011, 07:04:21 AM
oh.. I'm sorry I thought this was some form of languish mockery
hair trigger you know...
Oh no I was quite sincere. But I didn't see your outraged retort so it is all good :P
Don't forget to mention the coal mines.
You could talk about how British & Japan culture are eeriely alike.
Quote from: Grey Fox on December 13, 2011, 09:44:33 AM
You could talk about how British & Japan culture are eeriely alike.
There are good reasons for that.
Quote from: Tamas on December 13, 2011, 07:26:51 AM
After trying the Bavarian cuisine for an extended period of time, I would have to eat a LOT of good German food to think a German is allowed to diss British food. :P
Holy Tasteless Batman!
You probably think anything without paprika is tasteless.
But seriously I have spent plenty of time in both countries and man British food is pretty bland. I never had the same reaction in Germany.
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 09:47:16 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on December 13, 2011, 09:44:33 AM
You could talk about how British & Japan culture are eeriely alike.
There are good reasons for that.
There's good reasons for everything but I don't know what they are. Nor do I think Japanese kids do.
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 09:49:32 AMBut seriously I have spent plenty of time in both countries and man British food is pretty bland.
Tourists eat in the wrong places. There are entire chains in London who exist solely because tourists eat there. Almost anywhere on Leicester Square for example.
I remember when the Champions League final was in Wembley last year. I walked past Angus Steak House on Leicester Square, it was rammed with Barcelona fans, trying to enjoy their brown fibrous substance alleged to be from a cow. Two minutes away, for exactly the same price, is Hawksmoor which is one of the best steak restaurants I've ever been to - including Argentina - and has a nice atmosphere. It made me sad.
Quote from: Grey Fox on December 13, 2011, 09:53:04 AMThere's good reasons for everything but I don't know what they are. Nor do I think Japanese kids do.
Small crowded urbanised islands. I think.
I ate German food once in my life, at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It was the most revolting thing I'd ever eaten, until I went to a Korean restaurant and was served a stew with an unshelled prawn in it.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 13, 2011, 09:53:57 AM
Tourists eat in the wrong places. There are entire chains in London who exist solely because tourists eat there. Almost anywhere on Leicester Square for example.
Hey the German wrong places were better than the British wrong places what can I say?
Quote from: Ideologue on December 13, 2011, 09:54:49 AM
I ate German food once in my life, at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It was the most revolting thing I'd ever eaten, until I went to a Korean restaurant and was served a stew with an unshelled prawn in it.
Love that authentic amusement park food.
There *is* good British food. It is known as Indian food. :D
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 10:07:08 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on December 13, 2011, 09:54:49 AM
I ate German food once in my life, at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It was the most revolting thing I'd ever eaten, until I went to a Korean restaurant and was served a stew with an unshelled prawn in it.
Love that authentic amusement park food.
Indeed. Imagine how terrible the real thing must be, if the bastardized version sold to Americans is borderline inedible?
The Turnip Winter was probably an improvement as far as the palate was concerned.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 13, 2011, 09:54:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on December 13, 2011, 09:53:04 AMThere's good reasons for everything but I don't know what they are. Nor do I think Japanese kids do.
Small crowded urbanised islands. I think.
Even before they were urbanized they had similarities. Island countries that developed in relative isolation.
Quote from: Ideologue on December 13, 2011, 10:10:06 AM
Indeed. Imagine how terrible the real thing must be, if the bastardized version sold to Americans is borderline inedible?
Dude the American food they serve at amusement parks is borderline inedible. I mean how can you mess up pizza? Apparently pretty profoundly.
Quote from: Malthus on December 13, 2011, 10:08:36 AM
There *is* good British food. It is known as Indian food. :D
:yes:
The best comment on indigenous British fare comes from The Baroque Cycle, where one of the heroes needed to fool distant observers that he was taking a shit - fortunately he had access to a British feast, and British cuisine was rich with foods of the same general shape and consistency as fresh human turds. :D
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 10:12:11 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on December 13, 2011, 10:10:06 AM
Indeed. Imagine how terrible the real thing must be, if the bastardized version sold to Americans is borderline inedible?
Dude the American food they serve at amusement parks is borderline inedible. I mean how can you mess up pizza? Apparently pretty profoundly.
You snob.
:P
In my experience, amusement park food has generally tasted just fine, but overpriced.
I have to admit I really like haggis though :blush:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 13, 2011, 10:19:32 AM
In my experience, amusement park food has generally tasted just fine, but overpriced.
This.
And funnel cakes are like heroin.
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 10:19:49 AM
I have to admit I really like haggis though :blush:
:huh:
Well, it was fine, certainly entirely edible, but nothing to write home about. But to each their own.
Ah British food bashing.
That old cliche never gets old...it has always been old.
British food whilst not up there with Italian and other true foody nations is certainly one of the better cuisines. Britain makes the best pie in the world, the best sausages in the world and has quite a few great dishes.
Britain makes pecan pie? And polish sausage? :hmm:
Quote from: Tyr on December 13, 2011, 10:24:19 AM
Ah British food bashing.
That old cliche never gets old...it has always been old.
British food whilst not up there with Italian and other true foody nations is certainly one of the better cuisines. Britain makes the best pie in the world, the best sausages in the world and has quite a few great dishes.
I won't say that you can't get good food in Britain. Youc an get good food just about aywhere, just like bad food.
But if you're going to judge a country by the quality of food you get in vaguely tourists spots (which is of course the kind of places I tend to find while travelling) Britain is pretty much at the bottom of the list. Well, going by a sample size of one meal Lichtenstein would be even lower, but other than that I enjoyed the food more in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. And of course Italy was in a whole different world in and of itself.
Not that the British food was terrible. I never saw something I couldn't eat. It was just very bland and unremarkable.
With the noticeable exception, as mentioned, of your Indian restaurants. That was some good stuff.
Quote from: Tyr on December 13, 2011, 10:24:19 AM
Ah British food bashing.
That old cliche never gets old...it has always been old.
Put flavor in your food then :P
Quote from: Barrister on December 13, 2011, 10:23:45 AM
:huh:
Well, it was fine, certainly entirely edible, but nothing to write home about. But to each their own.
It could have just been the batch I had. I just remember being very surprised about how much I liked it.
Squeeze: are you talking about meat pies?
Sorry but British food really isn't that lovely. I spent my days eating Indian, Chinese and Italian food. Well the British interpretations. :)
Steak and kidney pie is one of my favourite meals :cool:
But I have to agree with the non-British posters, the UK is one of the worst countries in the world to walk into a random restaurant and expect good food.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 13, 2011, 10:57:35 AM
Steak and kidney pie is one of my favourite meals :cool:
But I have to agree with the non-British posters, the UK is one of the worst countries in the world to walk into a random restaurant and expect good food.
I don't know about one of my favourite meals, but I always enjoy a good steak and kidney pie. :bowler:
I'm talking about the ones my wife makes Beeb, much better than the ones in the pub :bowler:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 13, 2011, 11:01:10 AM
I'm talking about the ones my wife makes Beeb, much better than the ones in the pub :bowler:
:mmm: I'm sure.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 13, 2011, 10:57:35 AM
Steak and kidney pie is one of my favourite meals :cool:
But I have to agree with the non-British posters, the UK is one of the worst countries in the world to walk into a random restaurant and expect good food.
Is the phrase " i'd put my steak up to my kidneys in her pie" used in england? if not it should be.
Quote from: HVC on December 13, 2011, 11:17:30 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 13, 2011, 10:57:35 AM
Steak and kidney pie is one of my favourite meals :cool:
But I have to agree with the non-British posters, the UK is one of the worst countries in the world to walk into a random restaurant and expect good food.
Is the phrase " i'd put my steak up to my kidneys in her pie" used in england? if not it should be.
His whole lower body? :x
Quote from: garbon on December 13, 2011, 11:30:26 AM
Quote from: HVC on December 13, 2011, 11:17:30 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 13, 2011, 10:57:35 AM
Steak and kidney pie is one of my favourite meals :cool:
But I have to agree with the non-British posters, the UK is one of the worst countries in the world to walk into a random restaurant and expect good food.
Is the phrase " i'd put my steak up to my kidneys in her pie" used in england? if not it should be.
His whole lower body? :x
lol . i was thinking more "twig and two berries" like metaphor then an anatomically accurate description.
How about the fact we say sorry for everything even when it's not our fault or when we actually mean excuse me. Sorry, can I just squeeze past you before I miss my train. Sorry, I think you just stood on my foot, etc.
So that's where canadians get it from. Everyone thinks we're polite, but meanwhile we're thinking "get out of my way, asshole"
Americans do that.
Quote from: Brazen on December 13, 2011, 12:26:59 PM
How about the fact we say sorry for everything even when it's not our fault or when we actually mean excuse me. Sorry, can I just squeeze past you before I miss my train. Sorry, I think you just stood on my foot, etc.
Well, if you think about it, saying "excuse me" is the same thing.
Quote from: Ideologue on December 13, 2011, 12:40:39 PM
Americans do that.
I've never said sorry like that although I have said excuse me in an apologetic tone.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 13, 2011, 12:41:39 PM
Quote from: Brazen on December 13, 2011, 12:26:59 PM
How about the fact we say sorry for everything even when it's not our fault or when we actually mean excuse me. Sorry, can I just squeeze past you before I miss my train. Sorry, I think you just stood on my foot, etc.
Well, if you think about it, saying "excuse me" is the same thing.
:yes:
Quote from: Tyr on December 13, 2011, 10:24:19 AM
Ah British food bashing.
That old cliche never gets old...it has always been old.
British food whilst not up there with Italian and other true foody nations is certainly one of the better cuisines. Britain makes the best pie in the world, the best sausages in the world and has quite a few great dishes.
Quite, had a Bratwurst the other day at a German christmas marker, and was distinctly unimpressed with it. GIve me a Gloucester Old Spot any day, now that has real flavour unlike the bland Bratwurst.
So save us from the Euro-sauage Jim Hacker!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIYP1ibYdZI
Quote from: Tyr on December 13, 2011, 10:24:19 AM
Ah British food bashing.
That old cliche never gets old...it has always been old.
British food whilst not up there with Italian and other true foody nations is certainly one of the better cuisines. Britain makes the best pie in the world, the best sausages in the world and has quite a few great dishes.
Not that I have firsthand experience in the UK, but I figure it's similar to US&Canada where good food is available, but a premium price, unlike places like Quebec, Belgium or France where you can get very decent everyday food in any small place.
The only thing I hear about London's restaurants are the smoker's cage where even smokers have trouble breathing. They may not be anymore in use though.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 13, 2011, 10:19:32 AM
In my experience, amusement park food has generally tasted just fine, but overpriced.
I agree, in general, but amusement park pizza tends to be pretty bad for some reason.
Quote from: dps on December 13, 2011, 05:34:46 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 13, 2011, 10:19:32 AM
In my experience, amusement park food has generally tasted just fine, but overpriced.
I agree, in general, but amusement park pizza tends to be pretty bad for some reason.
Bowling alley pizza has always seemed to be the worst to me. Except up here in Boston, actually, where you get "bar pizza," which is kind of it's own entity.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 13, 2011, 10:57:35 AM
But I have to agree with the non-British posters, the UK is one of the worst countries in the world to walk into a random restaurant and expect good food.
I don't think British food is bad. But we don't have the reliably good bourgeois restaurants that exist in the continent which is a shame. That's probably why mid-market chains do so well.
But there's still lots of good reasonably priced English food out there - pubs are very hit and miss but sometimes get it right - but it does require local knowledge or recommendations, rather unfortunately.
Obviously there's also very good very expensive food. Like the steaks at Hawksmoor which is why every tourist should go there and none should go to the Aberdeen Steak House :bleeding:
In terms of British food I'm with Valmy, I love haggis and black pudding. Also I think that English puddings and desserts are better than any others in the world.
QuoteThere *is* good British food. It is known as Indian food. :D
This is very true. But again you're best with a recommendation. There's a lot of oily unpalatable Indian food out there.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 13, 2011, 05:53:46 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 13, 2011, 10:57:35 AM
But I have to agree with the non-British posters, the UK is one of the worst countries in the world to walk into a random restaurant and expect good food.
I don't think British food is bad.
One of my best experiences visiting London (other than meeting up with Sheilbh, of course :sleep:) was walking into a random cafe/caff full of pensioners to drink milky tea, eat black pudding and beans on toast, and puff away on Mayfairs. It felt quintessentially British. :bowler:
I've liked all the specifically British foods I've tried. Yorkshire pudding. :mmm:
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on December 13, 2011, 06:23:26 PM
One of my best experiences visiting London (other than meeting up with Sheilbh, of course :sleep:) was walking into a random cafe/caff full of pensioners to drink milky tea, eat black pudding and beans on toast, and puff away on Mayfairs. It felt quintessentially British. :bowler:
Then hurry off to the work house before they close up for the night.
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on December 13, 2011, 06:23:26 PM
One of my best experiences visiting London (other than meeting up with Sheilbh, of course :sleep:) was walking into a random cafe/caff full of pensioners to drink milky tea, eat black pudding and beans on toast, and puff away on Mayfairs. It felt quintessentially British. :bowler:
I love a caff. I think British food is at its best at the low and high end. It's the reasonable mid-market we struggle with.
Tourists and people in general going to naff chains over decent restaurants- I have observed this even in myself.
I think the reason is safety. Going into a nice little private restaurant down a back alley....how do you know whether its reasonably priced or not? To a lesser extent- how do you know the quality?
In Britain in general proper restaurants have a reputation for being expensive and involve waiting for a long time- even when naff chains can cost just as much for worse stuff.
QuoteSqueeze: are you talking about meat pies?
Aye, its not a real pie unless its got animal parts in it (cheese pie being a notable exception, unless you put too many big onion chunks in as some folk are apt to do <_<). :bowler:
Quote from: Brazen on December 13, 2011, 12:26:59 PM
How about the fact we say sorry for everything even when it's not our fault or when we actually mean excuse me. Sorry, can I just squeeze past you before I miss my train. Sorry, I think you just stood on my foot, etc.
That is actually in the textbook at my school here.
A page about how British people always say sorry but this isn't a heartfelt apology, just an automatic response.
Quote from: Tyr on December 13, 2011, 07:06:55 PM
Tourists and people in general going to naff chains over decent restaurants- I have observed this even in myself.
I think the reason is safety. Going into a nice little private restaurant down a back alley....how do you know whether its reasonably priced or not? To a lesser extent- how do you know the quality?
In Britain in general proper restaurants have a reputation for being expensive and involve waiting for a long time- even when naff chains can cost just as much for worse stuff.
It probably is easiest to dismiss people's opinions by just assuming they go to chains.
Chains generally serve better food than mom & pop places, that's why they become successful and expand.
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on December 13, 2011, 06:23:26 PM
I've liked all the specifically British foods I've tried. Yorkshire pudding. :mmm:
it's settled, then. It's not a unique British thing, it's common to all anglo-saxons, they can't appreciate food :(
(pudding, really?? Yorkshire pudding? What's next? Boiled boar with mint sauce?? :P )
Quote from: viper37 on December 13, 2011, 11:20:58 PM
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on December 13, 2011, 06:23:26 PM
I've liked all the specifically British foods I've tried. Yorkshire pudding. :mmm:
it's settled, then. It's a unique British thing, it's common to all anglo-saxons, they can't appreciate food :(
(pudding, really?? Yorkshire pudding? What's next? Boiled boar with mint sauce?? :P )
Well given that modern ethnic cuisines mostly arose in the anglosphere catering to anglotastes I'd rather suggest that the british invented the idea of value in traditional ethnic cuisine. It's the same kind of thing that there isn't british food, there is just food, It's not the Royal British Mail it's the mail and the stamps are not British Stamps, they are just stamps, there is no traditional british costumes there are just; clothes.
Most ethnic cuisines are invented anyways; invented by the british to be specific. Curry, Sweet and Sour Sauce and Spring Rolls are all british inventions.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 13, 2011, 05:53:46 PM
Obviously there's also very good very expensive food. Like the steaks at Hawksmoor which is why every tourist should go there and none should go to the Aberdeen Steak House :bleeding:
Thanks for the tip :)
The Aberdeen Steak houses are an enduring mystery............. :hmm:
I went in one once, back in the 80s, even then the formula seemed somewhat dated, I had a small over-priced steak. The other people in the restaurant were homesick Americans, they paid a heavy price for that :huh:
I'm having meat pies at a journo lunch in Fleet Street today... I'll check for hinged floorboards before I sit.
As an aside, I work next to Smithfield meat market. Some pubs are open all night and the rest are open at 7am for when the butchers knock off work, so you can go in for a full English breakfast and a pint of Guinness before work :bowler: