Last two weeks we've had two Japanese college students (young ladies)
stay with us. We had a blast.
Anyway, they wanted real american food. So that what we gave them.

A real Thanksgiving turkey dinner (they loved that, especially the
candied yams and mashed potatoes and stuffing)
They loved the pumpkin pie, french silk pie was a treat.
They loved egg nog.

Cookies..they rarely get cookies in Japan

Omelets for breakfast were not a big hit (mine ARE a bit spicy)

Pizza was a super hit. We went to the Italian neighboorhood in Des
Moines..I have friend that owns a pizzeria. nice thin crispy, cut
into squares like its supposed to be...lots of oregano.

They adore icre cream, and couldn't get enough.

I told them you can buy "ice cream" made of tofu..they were amazed,
and agreed it would not be the best

I made Chicago-style dogs (a la Super Dawg).
Yep I had Vienna beef weiners, Vienna Sport Peppers, Vienna
fluorescent green relish, celery salt, dill pickles , tomatoes,
onions, mustard, all steamed together in waxed paper...they were
GREAT. I ate three.

But the Japanese did NOT like them. They wanted to drown them in
ketchup !!

They tried to eat them with knives and forks,. so I had to show them
how to eat them...all hands on deck.


Anyway..it was an interesting cultural exchange.
We miss them. They are like our own kids.

Jerry

wrote:
> Last two weeks we've had two Japanese college students (young ladies)
> stay with us. We had a blast.
> Anyway, they wanted real american food. So that what we gave them.
>
> A real Thanksgiving turkey dinner (they loved that, especially the
> candied yams and mashed potatoes and stuffing)
> They loved the pumpkin pie, french silk pie was a treat.
> They loved egg nog.
>
> Cookies..they rarely get cookies in Japan
>
> Omelets for breakfast were not a big hit (mine ARE a bit spicy)
>
> Pizza was a super hit. We went to the Italian neighboorhood in Des
> Moines..I have friend that owns a pizzeria. nice thin crispy, cut
> into squares like its supposed to be...lots of oregano.
>
> They adore icre cream, and couldn't get enough.
>
> I told them you can buy "ice cream" made of tofu..they were amazed,
> and agreed it would not be the best
>
> I made Chicago-style dogs (a la Super Dawg).
> Yep I had Vienna beef weiners, Vienna Sport Peppers, Vienna
> fluorescent green relish, celery salt, dill pickles , tomatoes,
> onions, mustard, all steamed together in waxed paper...they were
> GREAT. I ate three.
>
> But the Japanese did NOT like them. They wanted to drown them in
> ketchup !!
>
> They tried to eat them with knives and forks,. so I had to show them
> how to eat them...all hands on deck.
>
>
> Anyway..it was an interesting cultural exchange.
> We miss them. They are like our own kids.
>
> Jerry
We did the same thing when a young man from Italy came to visit- he
loved the mock Thanksgiving- I don't think he had ever had turkey. The
biggest hit for him...Krispy Kreme doughnuts and pancakes with maple
syrup!

In article .com>,
"merryb" > wrote:

> > I made Chicago-style dogs (a la Super Dawg).
> > Yep I had Vienna beef weiners, Vienna Sport Peppers, Vienna
> > fluorescent green relish, celery salt, dill pickles , tomatoes,
> > onions, mustard, all steamed together in waxed paper...they were
> > GREAT. I ate three.
> >
> > But the Japanese did NOT like them. They wanted to drown them in
> > ketchup !!
> >
> > They tried to eat them with knives and forks,. so I had to show them
> > how to eat them...all hands on deck.
> >
> >
> > Anyway..it was an interesting cultural exchange.
> > We miss them. They are like our own kids.
> >
> > Jerry
> We did the same thing when a young man from Italy came to visit- he
> loved the mock Thanksgiving- I don't think he had ever had turkey. The
> biggest hit for him...Krispy Kreme doughnuts and pancakes with maple
> syrup!

Y'all are going to corrupt them... <G>

Sounds like fun!
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

said...

> Last two weeks we've had two Japanese college students (young ladies)
> stay with us. We had a blast.
> Anyway, they wanted real american food. So that what we gave them.
>
> A real Thanksgiving turkey dinner (they loved that, especially the
> candied yams and mashed potatoes and stuffing)
> They loved the pumpkin pie, french silk pie was a treat.
> They loved egg nog.
>
> Cookies..they rarely get cookies in Japan
>
> Omelets for breakfast were not a big hit (mine ARE a bit spicy)
>
> Pizza was a super hit. We went to the Italian neighboorhood in Des
> Moines..I have friend that owns a pizzeria. nice thin crispy, cut
> into squares like its supposed to be...lots of oregano.
>
> They adore icre cream, and couldn't get enough.
>
> I told them you can buy "ice cream" made of tofu..they were amazed,
> and agreed it would not be the best
>
> I made Chicago-style dogs (a la Super Dawg).
> Yep I had Vienna beef weiners, Vienna Sport Peppers, Vienna
> fluorescent green relish, celery salt, dill pickles , tomatoes,
> onions, mustard, all steamed together in waxed paper...they were
> GREAT. I ate three.
>
> But the Japanese did NOT like them. They wanted to drown them in
> ketchup !!
>
> They tried to eat them with knives and forks,. so I had to show them
> how to eat them...all hands on deck.
>
>
> Anyway..it was an interesting cultural exchange.
> We miss them. They are like our own kids.
>
> Jerry


Jerry,

What a wonderful thing to do.

You're fine Americans!!!

Andy

> wrote in message
...
> Last two weeks we've had two Japanese college students (young ladies)
> stay with us. We had a blast.
> Anyway, they wanted real american food. So that what we gave them.
>
> A real Thanksgiving turkey dinner (they loved that, especially the
> candied yams and mashed potatoes and stuffing)
> They loved the pumpkin pie, french silk pie was a treat.
> They loved egg nog.
>
>
----- Original Message -----
From: >
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 3:05 PM
Subject: Chicago style dogs .. a report

> Last two weeks we've had two Japanese college students (young ladies)
> stay with us. We had a blast.
> Anyway, they wanted real american food. So that what we gave them.
>
> A real Thanksgiving turkey dinner (they loved that, especially the
> candied yams and mashed potatoes and stuffing)
================================================== =============
Visitors from Hell?

Last year and the year before we had two couples, my cousins visiting from
Italy,
while they were here I wanted to treat them to Real American food,
Made a Thanksgiving dinner, No good, did not even tasted the pies ( apple
and pumking ).
smoked bbq ribs was a disaster, hamburger they used knife and fork,
they took us to a restaurant and refused to leave a tip,one couple went to
S. Francisco, I told them to get a place
close to the warf, but found a place for less money 4-5 miles away, I asked
what they ate and they said Pizza.
When I was there I ate what they gave me, I paid for every meal and drinks
for us and them, I did not bring America there,
But they did bring Italy here, I told them, When in Rome do as the Romans
do.
They were visitors from hell.
But this summer I had another couple, and they were interested in the
American way,
They did not wanted to eat anything but real American, they enjoyed
everthing expecialy
the ball park hot dogs and the waffles with cranberries sauce
..Last week got an Email, she asked us for the thanksgiving meal recipe.
They were visitors from Heaven.

SERGIO wrote:
> > wrote in message
> ...
>> Last two weeks we've had two Japanese college students (young ladies)
>> stay with us. We had a blast.
>> Anyway, they wanted real american food. So that what we gave them.
>>
>> A real Thanksgiving turkey dinner (they loved that, especially the
>> candied yams and mashed potatoes and stuffing)
>> They loved the pumpkin pie, french silk pie was a treat.
>> They loved egg nog.
>>
> Visitors from Hell?
>
> Last year and the year before we had two couples, my cousins visiting
> from Italy,
> while they were here I wanted to treat them to Real American food,
> Made a Thanksgiving dinner, No good, did not even tasted the pies (
> apple and pumking ).
> smoked bbq ribs was a disaster, hamburger they used knife and fork,

What a shame! Why visit another country and then just seek out what you
think is your own country's types of food? I'm a picky eater but I'd have
at least given some of it a chance.

> they took us to a restaurant and refused to leave a tip

But isn't it true tipping is not the norm in countries in Europe? Did you
try to explain why we tip in this country (less than living wages for
servers)?

> When I was there I ate what they gave me, I paid for every meal and
> drinks for us and them, I did not bring America there,
> But they did bring Italy here, I told them, When in Rome do as the
> Romans do.
> They were visitors from hell.

Was there *anything* they liked about the trip? I'd hate to go all the way
to another country and then find nothing at all I liked about it, or compare
it constantly to "home"... if that's what you want to do, just stay home.

> But this summer I had another couple, and they were interested in the
> American way,
> They did not wanted to eat anything but real American, they enjoyed
> everthing expecialy
> the ball park hot dogs and the waffles with cranberries sauce
> .Last week got an Email, she asked us for the thanksgiving meal
> recipe. They were visitors from Heaven.

Those are the type of guests you would like no matter what!

jmcquown wrote:

> SERGIO wrote:
> > > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Last two weeks we've had two Japanese college students (young ladies)
> >> stay with us. We had a blast.
> >> Anyway, they wanted real american food. So that what we gave them.
> >>
> >> A real Thanksgiving turkey dinner (they loved that, especially the
> >> candied yams and mashed potatoes and stuffing)
> >> They loved the pumpkin pie, french silk pie was a treat.
> >> They loved egg nog.
> >>
> > Visitors from Hell?
> >
> > Last year and the year before we had two couples, my cousins visiting
> > from Italy,
> > while they were here I wanted to treat them to Real American food,
> > Made a Thanksgiving dinner, No good, did not even tasted the pies (
> > apple and pumking ).
> > smoked bbq ribs was a disaster, hamburger they used knife and fork,
>
> What a shame! Why visit another country and then just seek out what you
> think is your own country's types of food? I'm a picky eater but I'd have
> at least given some of it a chance.
>
> > they took us to a restaurant and refused to leave a tip
>
> But isn't it true tipping is not the norm in countries in Europe? Did you
> try to explain why we tip in this country (less than living wages for
> servers)?


His "guests" were acting like the Eurotrash they apparently were. I've
run into Europeans who have lived in this country quite a while (in
some cases YEARS) or have visited here extensively and still feign
"ignorance" at the concept of a tip. They are just cheap...

And yes, tipping a large percentage of the bill is not the norm, if
service is included you can round up the bill a Euro or two...

In some societies, e.g. Japan, tipping is not even done, if you leave
money on the table they'll come running after you saying that you've
forgotten your money...


> > When I was there I ate what they gave me, I paid for every meal and
> > drinks for us and them, I did not bring America there,
> > But they did bring Italy here, I told them, When in Rome do as the
> > Romans do.
> > They were visitors from hell.
>
> Was there *anything* they liked about the trip? I'd hate to go all the way
> to another country and then find nothing at all I liked about it, or compare
> it constantly to "home"... if that's what you want to do, just stay home.


There are just as many "Ugly Europeans" or whatever as there are "Ugly
Americans". Boorishness knows no barrier :-)

--
Best
Greg

jmcquown wrote:
>
>
> What a shame! Why visit another country and then just seek out what you
> think is your own country's types of food? I'm a picky eater but I'd have
> at least given some of it a chance.
>
>> they took us to a restaurant and refused to leave a tip
>
> But isn't it true tipping is not the norm in countries in Europe? Did you
> try to explain why we tip in this country (less than living wages for
> servers)?
>
>> When I was there I ate what they gave me, I paid for every meal and
>> drinks for us and them, I did not bring America there,
>> But they did bring Italy here, I told them, When in Rome do as the
>> Romans do.
>> They were visitors from hell.
>
> Was there *anything* they liked about the trip? I'd hate to go all the way
> to another country and then find nothing at all I liked about it, or compare
> it constantly to "home"... if that's what you want to do, just stay home.


Its more common than you think. I used to travel a lot on business. Many
people seek out western style hotels. It wasn't all that unusual to meet
people who told all of their friends they were going to Japan (for
example) camped out in the Imperial Hotel and never going out except to
go to/from the airport.

>
>> But this summer I had another couple, and they were interested in the
>> American way,
>> They did not wanted to eat anything but real American, they enjoyed
>> everthing expecialy
>> the ball park hot dogs and the waffles with cranberries sauce
>> .Last week got an Email, she asked us for the thanksgiving meal
>> recipe. They were visitors from Heaven.
>
> Those are the type of guests you would like no matter what!
>
>

Oh pshaw, on Sat 28 Oct 2006 08:14:56p, Steve Pope meant to say...

> jmcquown > wrote:
>
>>SERGIO wrote:
>
>>> Visitors from Hell?
>
>>> Last year and the year before we had two couples, my cousins visiting
>>> from Italy,
>>> while they were here I wanted to treat them to Real American food,
>>> Made a Thanksgiving dinner, No good, did not even tasted the pies (
>>> apple and pumking ).
>>> smoked bbq ribs was a disaster, hamburger they used knife and fork,
>
>>What a shame! Why visit another country and then just seek out what you
>>think is your own country's types of food? I'm a picky eater but I'd
have
>>at least given some of it a chance.
>
> I'm a little mixed on this one. On average, food in Italy is way
> better than food in America. There is some really good food in
> America but a lot of it would be an aquired taste for an Italian.
> I think expecting them to like "all American" style food would be
> dicey. I might steer them instead in the direction of some of the
> better seafood and California-cuisine places. Then you stand
> a chance of impressing them.
>
> There is by the way nothing wrong with eating a hamburger with
> a knife and fork -- it tastes just as good -- so I would not
> fault them for that.
>
> Ribs? Most Italians rarely eat a stack of meat as a main course.
> When they do, it's something really excellent like steak florentine
> or beef barolo. Few American ribs places serve meat as good, due to
> the stunning bad quality control of most such places.

While Italian food (much of it made by Italian families I know) is some of
my favorite, I daresay that there would probably be many things served in
Italy I would not enjoy.

There is certainly nothing wrong with good American food, but I would never
consider "California-cuisine" at the top of the list, at least not mine.

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

If at first you do succeed -- try to hide your
astonishment.

jmcquown > wrote:

>SERGIO wrote:

>> Visitors from Hell?

>> Last year and the year before we had two couples, my cousins visiting
>> from Italy,
>> while they were here I wanted to treat them to Real American food,
>> Made a Thanksgiving dinner, No good, did not even tasted the pies (
>> apple and pumking ).
>> smoked bbq ribs was a disaster, hamburger they used knife and fork,

>What a shame! Why visit another country and then just seek out what you
>think is your own country's types of food? I'm a picky eater but I'd have
>at least given some of it a chance.

I'm a little mixed on this one. On average, food in Italy is way
better than food in America. There is some really good food in
America but a lot of it would be an aquired taste for an Italian.
I think expecting them to like "all American" style food would be
dicey. I might steer them instead in the direction of some of the
better seafood and California-cuisine places. Then you stand
a chance of impressing them.

There is by the way nothing wrong with eating a hamburger with
a knife and fork -- it tastes just as good -- so I would not
fault them for that.

Ribs? Most Italians rarely eat a stack of meat as a main course.
When they do, it's something really excellent like steak florentine
or beef barolo. Few American ribs places serve meat as good, due to
the stunning bad quality control of most such places.

Steve

Wayne Boatwright <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:

>Oh pshaw, on Sat 28 Oct 2006 08:14:56p, Steve Pope meant to say...

>> On average, food in Italy is way
>> better than food in America. There is some really good food in
>> America but a lot of it would be an aquired taste for an Italian.
>> I think expecting them to like "all American" style food would be
>> dicey. I might steer them instead in the direction of some of the
>> better seafood and California-cuisine places. Then you stand
>> a chance of impressing them.

> While Italian food (much of it made by Italian families I know)
> is some of my favorite, I daresay that there would probably be
> many things served in Italy I would not enjoy.

Possibly. Other than when I was served horse, I did not encounter
food in Italy I did not like, except at a couple obvious tourist
traps. And many people like horse.

> There is certainly nothing wrong with good American food,
> but I would never consider "California-cuisine" at the top of
> the list, at least not mine.

Right. (I was careful in my wording; "the better" California-cuisine
places would avoid some of the more uninteresting stuff.)

Steve

jmcquown wrote:
> SERGIO wrote:
> > > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Last two weeks we've had two Japanese college students (young ladies)
> >> stay with us. We had a blast.
> >> Anyway, they wanted real american food. So that what we gave them.
> >>
> >> A real Thanksgiving turkey dinner (they loved that, especially the
> >> candied yams and mashed potatoes and stuffing)
> >> They loved the pumpkin pie, french silk pie was a treat.
> >> They loved egg nog.
> >>
> > Visitors from Hell?
> >
> > Last year and the year before we had two couples, my cousins visiting
> > from Italy,
> > while they were here I wanted to treat them to Real American food,
> > Made a Thanksgiving dinner, No good, did not even tasted the pies (
> > apple and pumking ).
> > smoked bbq ribs was a disaster, hamburger they used knife and fork,
>
> What a shame! Why visit another country and then just seek out what you
> think is your own country's types of food? I'm a picky eater but I'd have
> at least given some of it a chance.
>
> > they took us to a restaurant and refused to leave a tip
>
> But isn't it true tipping is not the norm in countries in Europe? Did you
> try to explain why we tip in this country (less than living wages for
> servers)?
>

I have never been to a country where tipping isn't the norm. Certainly
the norm in Europe and Japan.

>
> > When I was there I ate what they gave me, I paid for every meal and
> > drinks for us and them, I did not bring America there,
> > But they did bring Italy here, I told them, When in Rome do as the
> > Romans do.
> > They were visitors from hell.
>
> Was there *anything* they liked about the trip? I'd hate to go all the way
> to another country and then find nothing at all I liked about it, or compare
> it constantly to "home"... if that's what you want to do, just stay home.
>

Only an idiot would take foreigners to Ameircan hot dog joints. Did you
try taking them to a prime rib place or a ribs place instead? I
understand, Japanese love good meat.

>
> > But this summer I had another couple, and they were interested in the
> > American way,
> > They did not wanted to eat anything but real American, they enjoyed
> > everthing expecialy
> > the ball park hot dogs and the waffles with cranberries sauce
> > .Last week got an Email, she asked us for the thanksgiving meal
> > recipe. They were visitors from Heaven.
>
> Those are the type of guests you would like no matter what!

In article .com>,
wrote:

> > > they took us to a restaurant and refused to leave a tip
> >
> > But isn't it true tipping is not the norm in countries in Europe? Did you
> > try to explain why we tip in this country (less than living wages for
> > servers)?
> >
>
> I have never been to a country where tipping isn't the norm. Certainly
> the norm in Europe and Japan.

In my experiences in both Europe and Japan, the "tip" is already
part of the bill. It is not, as in the United States, left to the
customer to calculate an amount and/or leave it on the table. I do
notice, however, that larger parties (six or more) in many American
restaurants will receive a bill with a gratuity included, presumably
because so many people doing poor math results in an abnormally-low
tip.

sd

sd wrote:

> In my experiences in both Europe and Japan, the "tip" is already
> part of the bill. It is not, as in the United States, left to the
> customer to calculate an amount and/or leave it on the table. I do
> notice, however, that larger parties (six or more) in many American
> restaurants will receive a bill with a gratuity included, presumably
> because so many people doing poor math results in an abnormally-low
> tip.
>
In Germany you don't tip, per se, but of course the costs are built in
to the price of the meal. You might just round up to leave a bill
though, the custom to tell the waiter/waitress "Stimmt so" (sort of
"keep the change")