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There are a lot of weird dishes to experience in this world — some of which could deliver a swift food culture shock for the person eating it. Every person and culture is unique in how food is prepared and eaten. Cultural food is the perfect example representing the people who create and eat it. However, some dishes are so strange that when foreigners experience them, a shock might happen to their understanding of the food.
Before judging, you have to experience the food culture first. If you are a fan of Pulp Fiction (1994), you might remember how mayonnaise and French fries, one of the European weird food combos, were talked about. But judging from the people who have tried it, it’s good, even better sometimes. If a person is one to critique different food cultures, it’s important to remember the rule of strange dishes — they might not be so disgusting when you taste them and close your eyes.
So, if you're trying to learn more about the many types of food cultures that might shock you — look no further than the list below. We compiled a lot of strange, tasty, and slightly unusual food combos that delivered quite a shock to the people eating them. If the answer intrigues your taste buds, leave an upvote on it so that others can see it faster. On the other hand, if you’ve had a shocking food-related moment, share it in the comments below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
"If I remember right, my first foreign country I visit was when I went to Hong Kong. I think the first big culture shock (and a pleasant one) was going into a restaurant and none of the patrons were speaking very much and definitely not speaking loud enough to be heard at another table. It was magnificent and ruined restaurants in America for me forever."
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#2
SirDolphin said:
"In America people boil the water for their tea.... in the microwave."
bizitmap replied:
"Americans make tea by throwing it in Boston harbor."
Angi 2 years ago
I was wondering the same thing. I've done both and didn't notice a difference maybe I'm just an uncultured swine.
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RagDollLali 2 years ago
I don't know where all these microwaving savages are hiding, but literally everyone I know here has a kettle or electric kettle
Beck 2 years ago
I do neither. I hate hot tea. I boil my water for a gallon of sweet tea on the stove in a pot
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Jeremy James 2 years ago
I used to do that while camping. Sometimes with stuff I brought, sometimes with stuff I foraged.
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Jeremy James 2 years ago
As a US American, I remember thinking, "Why the h*ll did I just buy an electric kettle? I already have two appliances in my kitchen that can boil water!" I was wrong. I love it and I use it everyday.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
We only made tea in the harbor once. It turned out to be a wee bit salty.
FlatEarf2.0 2 years ago
Got the result we needed, them British peoples came and we put them in their place and their tea in the harbor
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Kevin Felton 2 years ago
Most people in the states drink their tea ice cold which doesn't require boiling. Just put some tea bags in a big a*s jar with some some water, set it in a south facing window and let mother nature brew that ish for you.
#3
McBeaster said: "I asked for a bottle of water in Iceland. The guy just shakes his head and goes "you don't need that" and filled me up a cup from the tap." Auferstehen78 replied: "We were told to save the bottles from our flight and just fill from the taps. It was the best water."
Der Kommissar 2 years ago
Tap water in Iceland is wonderful. So are the heated sidewalks and dozens of other things that make Iceland a great place to visit.
Ace 2 years ago (edited)
I live in the Swiss Alps, where the water is a pure joy to drink, and very cold straight out of the tap to boot, but we still sometimes get guests who turn up for a week with a couple of cases of bottled water. Usually French, where they historically don't think their tap water is very good, even though it usually is.
Bored foof 2 years ago
Visiting France was... a bit challenging, with three adults and two teens. All of us were accustomed to the good tap water in our own country, had the habit of drinking plenty with every meal, and it was a hot summer to boost, down in France. Not only did the local tap water taste like licking a chalk board, water also cost insane in all restaurants. And the pitchers were small, too. 4 euros to fill everyone's small glass once? Filtering tap water to reduce the chalk can't be that expensive. Idk what we were expected to drink, adults were driving and no one wanted to spoil the taste of the food by having soft drinks with it...
Load More Replies... Airt 2 years ago
Don't re-use bottle that is not design for it. In moat cases it will be toxic.
Jp@nda 2 years ago
I have never heard of that, I frequently refill plastic water bottles because it's such a waste to me
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Bob Bobbins 2 years ago
What's weird is that the places in the US with the best tap water are the places you would expect to have the worst tap water. We drank from the tap all the time in NJ and thought nothing of it. Moved to FL and wouldn't dream of drinking tap water here. Tastes like sulfur.
#4
"Beer as a combo meal option at McDonald’s.
The BEST difference were the free tapas in Madrid. Order a drink, and they bring you free food. Everything from delicious olives to cheese to marinated mushrooms to bread to this one dish... it looked like cold potato salad but it wasn’t because it was actually delicious. Even better, really really good Spanish wine could be had for 2 euros a glass. But yeah, go bar hopping, eat all the free food, and you can skip dinner. The one weird thing is that all these bars would be lit up like an American diner would be in the morning. I’m used to bars in the US, which tend to be very dark."
BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
I remember asking for a cheeseburger with everything, in Australia. It had a sliced beet on it. I said, where's the letter, tomato, and onion? Oh, you have to say that you want it with salad. 🥗 Say what?? 😲
Hugh Cookson 2 years ago
What 2 Euros a GLASS ?? They saw you coming, where I used to live (Ayora, about an hour North of Alicante, up in the mountains), I could buy a really very quaffable bottle of local, white wine for about a Euro - plus we had a really good little Cafe in the town where, if I had a good, strong eye opener cup of coffee, I'd be given a decent tot of Brandy to help me back up the hill to our place !! Happy days, bloody Brexit !!!
Jrog 2 years ago (edited)
2€ for a caña is pretty much the standard nowadays, even outside of cities. You may find some places charging just 1.80, or maybe even 1.50 without food, but it's not as cheap as it used to be.
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Jp@nda 2 years ago
Down south in the US too, even up to 2001 I went on a road trip to Florida and remember the little foil ashtrays the fast food places had
Load More Replies... #5
wristconstraint said: "In USA tipping. And not just tipping, but tipping so much that the entire thing I bought (e.g. a meal) is now in an entirely higher price bracket." Joessandwich replied: "Many of us in the US hate it as well. I’d prefer people be paid a living wage and not reliant on my “generosity” that is supposedly tied to their level of service (which it really isn’t, most people have a standard percentage they tip regardless of service."
Matthew Daubenmire 2 years ago
I'm a very good tipper, always have been. But having an Ipad shoved in my face by a person doing nothing but handing me a coffee, is changing my thoughts about it.
Kevin Felton 2 years ago (edited)
My rule is: if you come to me I tip, if I go to you I don't.
Load More Replies... BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
I've worked as a waitress, and tips were very much based on service, and appreciated. But no way do I tip for someone who only takes my order to go.
RagDollLali 2 years ago
The worst is places with automatic gratuity, usually 18%, no matter how big your party is or how bad or good the service was. Went to a place like this, wasn't warned ahead of time (It wasn't printed on the menu), and ended up with really s****y service was forced to tip 18% on. I haven't been back since.
Jeremy James 2 years ago
I don't see what your solution is here. If we pay restaurant workers a living wage, as we all know is right, then menu prices will go up. Probably by about 18%. So how is that different from automatic gratuity? Other than the fact that it would be baked-into the menu price, so you know what you're buying, rather than added at the end. Under the current circumstances, I totally agree with you that it should have been printed on the menu, just as grocery stores should include sales tax in their prices.
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Archer Rhys 2 years ago
I am lucky enough that my employer has finally raised servers pay to minimum wage and I still keep my tips, but that's purely because our clientele is full of nasty people who typically don't tip regardless.
Dirtdevil 2 years ago
In the US min wage is set by the federal government, however each state and then city within that state can pay more. Some states do not count tips as wages, so they get paid a living wage. A quick search on the internet can show you a state by state and city breakdown of wages. For example California, Nevada, Oregon, Minnesota, Washington do not count tips as wages. In City of Los Angeles the min pay is $16.78, San Francisco $16.99, Mountain View California is $18.15. Keep in mind they may get paid more and that they keep tips on that. Seattle Washington, min wage is $18.69. If you are traveling do your research before feeling compelled to tip 20 to 25% as currently recommended on their screens. Other states, yes, please do what you can.
Katie Howerton 2 years ago
Just had a 12 top with over a $400 tab where we ran all over for them and one of them literally almost knocked me down and they tipped like 15 dollars.
Jeremy James 2 years ago
The ideal solution to this would be raising the "tipped minimum wage" of $2.13/hour to the national minimum wage and using a profit-sharing model in which tipped positions earn a percentage of their sales. So your server would be rewarded for being good at their job by, for example, recommending an excellent wine pairing with your meal or selling you on a little something for dessert or a coffee. Yes, that would mean menu prices would go up a bit. But it would also mean that you don't have to make the decision of whether your server can feed their children or keep the lights on.
#6
"Oh I love telling this story. So my wife is Japanese. On my first trip over to meet her mother, she invited us out to a yakitori restaurant to meet a few of her friends. Now I don't speak much Japanese, maybe I can understand about 15% of what's going on, and the man next to me, her mother's friend, spoke no English at all but when he offered me a cup of sake I gratefully accepted, said 'kanpai,' and emptied the cup. He diligently refilled it. I accepted once more and emptied the cup. He refilled it. We did this quite a few more times until I turned to my wife and told her "I think this guy is trying to get me drunk! He keeps offering me more and more sake!" To which she replied "Stop drinking it, idiot, if you drink it all he has to refill it!" It seems as though my efforts to be polite (finishing what was offered to me) were actually contrary to what was polite in Japan; leaving a little of what was offered to show that you are satisfied. Once I left a little in the cup the man quietly paid and quickly left, no doubt with a sizable bar tab!"
Jeremy James 2 years ago (edited)
No one ever told me to do this, but I always leave a little bit of drink in my glass when I'm at a bar. My crazy brain reasoned that it's "for the faeries." I never do it at home, though. Weird.
Karen Philpott 2 years ago
She could've told you. At least run through some customs when dining.
Kevin Felton 2 years ago
Yeah they don't shoot it (unless they're trying to get s**t faced). I learned that when I was over there in 2000
#7
"The stands and restaurants in Germany where you basically have to hike in. There's no casual foot traffic and it's not a simple drive. You are hiking and come to a beautiful view and there's a little restaurant or stand where you can get wine or beer and wurst and fries or whatever. Then you sit and enjoy the view you hiked to while enjoying your delicious food and excellent beverage. It's fantastic."
T. 2 years ago
This pic shows the famous Äscher-Hütte which is located in Appenzell. Have a look -> www.aescher.ch
Ace 2 years ago
Thank you, I was going to point out that it is in Switzerland, but couldn't quite remember the exact location.
Load More Replies... Jeremy James 2 years ago
I like this idea. Saves me the trouble of having to carry my own picnic.
Jeremy Crocker 2 years ago
Eating a meal and then hiking? Sounds like a great way to be hungry again as soon as I get home.
Load More Replies... #8
"I was watching American Hells kitchen and they said that Americans don't use butter or Margarine in their sandwiches. As a Brit, that doesn't make any sense."
RagDollLali 2 years ago
Not sure why they would say that, a lot of people use butter on sandwiches here, it just depends on the filling
BW Gibson 2 years ago
Well, we may use butter/margarine on a few types of sandwiches. But by and large, our go-to sandwich condiments are mayo, catsup, or mustard. In some cases, an oil& vinegar derivative
Load More Replies... Matthew Daubenmire 2 years ago
You eat baked beans for breakfast.. don't question our butter use.
Bored foof 2 years ago
At least baked beans is food with nutritional value, unlike candied, artificially coloured grain derivatives.
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Ashley_Kirin 2 years ago
Who uses butter for a standard sandwich? I'm not putting butter on my peanut butter sandwich, or on a ham and cheese.
Jessica Avery 2 years ago
Mayo, sometimes mustard. If it's a burger then add ketchup to that list
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#9
gobroncoz said:
"I moved to Italy as a 10 year old. My mom gave me some money to buy some candy right when we landed. The candy I chose had a not insignificant amount of alcohol in it. Which didn't stop anyone from selling it to a 10 year old kid."
InsertBluescreenHere replied:
"Ate one of them at work I got in a gift basket thing at home. Did not know about the booze inside. Was lightly sucking on it at lunch then got hit with the whiskey suprise which made me cough and chew which made my office and breath smell like a bar. The supervisor was like what uhh you have for lunch. I explained and showed him the foil and he just lost it laughing saying he's done the same."
Jrog 2 years ago (edited)
A very common candy treat sold in Italian bars was the "Boero", a dark chocolate praline with a maraschino cherry and plenty of liquid rum-based liquor inside. It was not unusual for 14 year old kids to buy it, but generally it was not sold to younger ones; it was kind of a rite of passage. Traditionally, the candy wrapping contained a ticket that could grant you more candies, or even larger prizes. So you bought a Boero for the equivalent of like 25 cents, and at worst you won another one, but you could also walk away with 10 other candies, or -if you were lucky- something like a pen, a lighter, a sport watch or even a power tool!
Jrog 2 years ago (edited)
BTW, they are amazing and if any of you happens to find them around, try them. The closest stuff you may find abroad is the Ferrero "Mon Cheri", but it's way worse, too sweet and has no prize.
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tl gmc 2 years ago
They do, but there's only a tiny bit, not enough to make your breath or office smell like a bar
Load More Replies... Jeremy James 2 years ago
I can't remember the name of the company where my roommate in Vegas worked, but it was a big brand of... something. Anyway, they encouraged employees to have a drink with lunch at the on-site bistro because they believed it helped with communication, creative thinking, and problem solving.
#10
"Studied in France and I was shocked to see the Cafés turn into bars at night. They just switched out the menu and it went from selling hot cocoa to whiskey on the rocks!"
Ashley_Kirin 2 years ago
It's unusual in some states. In NJ we have strict liquor laws. It's limited to a specific quantity and often tied to the location.
Load More Replies... Fabian Bernard 2 years ago
You still can order whisky at any opening time. I used to work at a night shifts job, and go eat a steak with a beer at 7 am without anyone bating an eye
Jeremy James 2 years ago (edited)
Not sure where OP is from, but in the US, it's kind of a hassle to get and keep a liquor license, which is why more cafés aren't doing it. Land of the free, my butt. If I want a little Bailey's or Sambuca in my afternoon coffee, that's my business. Maybe it's because most places here aren't walkable and our "public transportation" is a joke?
Bored foof 2 years ago
And because "existing adjacent to where children are" is taken as "purposefully targeting children"? Judging based on the number of Americans who find our mixed zoning walkable, livable semi urban neighbourhoods smart and lovely and idyllic as long as I only mention the pharmacist's, grocer's, two pizza joints, chapel, gym, mosque, cafe, beauty/hair/massage salons, worker's academy, kiosk, and four small public playgrounds... and flip right into "what fresh hellhole" when I mention the two bars.
Load More Replies... #11
landob said:
"When I went to Japan. When I ordered from food from any type of chain that is also in USA like McDonald's, Denny's, Burger King, it looked like the picture on the menu or the commercial. It was truly bizarre. Like in the USA if you get a Big Mac it looks nothing like the picture or in the commercials. When You get a big mac in japan... it looks like the one in the picture. It's like somebody back there was painstakingly putting that burger together perfectly."
User No 2 replied:
"My dad had the opposite reaction when we moved to America. We ordered a double cheeseburger which was squashed & he earnestly complained to the manager, like some minimum wage worker was going to perfect it."
Bored foof 2 years ago
Japan also has a long history of treating food production and restaurant work as respectable trades, and recognising the value of low level work as a necessity for a functioning system and not merely as inherently temporary stepping stones into 'real jobs'.
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Jeremy James 2 years ago (edited)
It's like that scene in "Pulp Fiction," where Travolta's character is going on about his trip through Europe and how the French call a "quarter-pounder with cheese" a "Royale with cheese." WTF were you doing at McDonald's in Paris, bro?
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#12
SirKendizzle said: "Not eating your national animal in USA. Kangaroos are bloody delicious." xRamenator replied: "Well, there aren't that many bald eagles flying around here in the US."
The Doom Song 2 years ago
Delicious and very lean, not an ounce of fat! Cook to medium and it's perfect
Load More Replies... RagDollLali 2 years ago
They were endangered until 2007, happy to report they are still not back on the list and their numbers are staying strong
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Marek Čtrnáct 2 years ago
Kangaroos are big herbivores, jist like cows. When English people came to Australia, they destroyed a lot of native vegetation and made big meadows for their cows... which were also perfect for the kangaroos. Unlike most of the native animals, kangaroos thrived and started to cause problems. So... they are one of few Australian animals you are encouraged to eat.
Kevin Felton 2 years ago
I saw a documentary about an Australian prison. The guards actually provided some kangaroo tail to a group of aborigines and allowed them to cook it in a fire pit.
Load More Replies... Bored foof 2 years ago
Birds of prey are the opposite of delicious. It's a national symbol, not a menu item.
OhBlahDi OhBlahDa 2 years ago
We very happily eat springbok in South Africa. Their meat makes wonderful carpaccio.
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
Rather hard to get a hold of Scotland's national animal to make it into a meal - unicorn burgers would probably taste amazing though
Kevin Felton 2 years ago
I have to agree with Ben Franklin. Our national animal should've been a rattle snake.
#13
ItsACaragor said: "Spray cheese. I was not ready." BucketOSkrimp replied: "In a good or bad way? I've met two kinds of people on this subject: those who absolutely detest it, and those who will spray the whole can straight into their mouths." ItsACaragor also replied: "We were four guys from France, we bought one to experiment and it’s just disgusting even when lowering our expectations as much as we could."
Beck 2 years ago
It is ok if it is a brand name. Generic is awful. You have to eat it in chicken in a biscuit crackers.
Jeremy James 2 years ago
Upvote for those dang Chicken in a Biscuit crackers! Do they still make those?
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Chad DeSantis 2 years ago
Some of you would be amazed at the world of pasteurized and processed American "cheese food." See, in America, there's real cheese, and there's some other type of laboratory created cheeselike substance labeled in the fine print as "Cheese Food." If you really want to experience it, you gotta run through everything and try some cheez wiz, Velveeta, and American Cheese (try a grilled cheese sandwich with Campbell's tomato soup for the last one.)
Jeremy James 2 years ago (edited)
My mac and cheese recipe wouldn't be right without a 3:1 ratio of sharp cheddar to quality American cheese, like Boar's Head. Nothing else gives you that melt. You can make yourself a block of homemade American cheese that is much better than anything Kraft makes. You just need colby cheese, whole milk, gelatin, cream of tartar, powdered milk, water, and salt.
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BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
As Beck sings "get crazy with the cheez whiz". Kids love it and find it fun.
Jeremy James 2 years ago (edited)
Ah, you must be another victim of the "Mandella Effect." Kraft says that Cheez-Whiz has never been available in an aerosolized can until now. Don't worry, you're not alone. I remember it, too.
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Jeremy James 2 years ago
Does anyone else remember Cheez-Whiz coming in, not just a jar, but also an aerosolized can? Now they tell me it's called, "Easy Cheese," but that's not the way I remember it.
#14
"Drink sizes in Korea. I went to McDonald's or some other American fast food restaurant and order a meal with the regular medium drink size and out comes an American small cup. Cursed the small drink sizes as I would finish my drink before the food. Canned sodas at convenience stores were also smaller. Felt like I was getting ripped off. But I soon realized that those small sizes were what my body actually needed - I don't need a 16oz or 32oz soda alone or with a meal. American portion sizes are huge."
Ashley_Kirin 2 years ago
Live and let live. I'll drink a can of soda if I want.
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#15
Antihistimine said:
"Not a serious one, but going to Europe for the first time and being shocked at tiny bottles of coke, that are generally warm and you don't get any ice! Coming from that free refill life and ice in everything I was traumatized."
Pinglenook replied:
"I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant anywhere in Europe that served me a warm soft drink. No ice, sure, or 2-3 ice cubes in stead of the cup full of ice you'd get in the USA, but the drink is always refrigerated."
Pattie Belsky 2 years ago
Europe is my dream home. I hate having ice. It waters down what you're drinking and gets all in your mouth if you're not using a straw when you're trying to just get some damn liquid
Jeremy James 2 years ago
I try not to drink Coke, but I have one every once in a while. I like that my grocery store here in the US has started carrying 7.5 ounce cans in addition to the 12 ounce. And it's still usually more than I can finish!
#16
"In USA not being legally allowed to drink until you're 21, as an Irish teenager I laugh at you."
Terry Tobias 2 years ago
When I was a teenager the legal drinking age was 18. I was able to drink wine or beer with my family before that, so I rarely felt like doing it elsewhere. At some point they raised the drinking age to 20 then soon after that it became 21. My poor sister kept missing being legal!
John Anderson 2 years ago
Bwahahaha. I shouldn't laugh. Your sister and I are same age 🙊. Exact same thing happened to me, law kept changing and bumping drinking age to the year older than I was. Bastards
Load More Replies... Ashley_Kirin 2 years ago
Alcohol isn't all that great to be honest. I prefer a soda or juice over any alcohol.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
My sister was annoyed when we travelled to Canada, because she asked for a wine, but was refused because she was under 21. The plane was stopping in LA and the plane was American, so they went by American laws. We had checked before we left that Canadian drinking age was 18-19 across the country, so she could drink when she wanted but didn't know the plane would be different.
Fabian Bernard 2 years ago
Untill the mid 90's in France, you were allowed to order a beer, wine or every alcoholic brevage under 16 degree if supervised by an adult
#17
"Whenever I would visit family around France I always had to remind myself of food customs. It's pretty rare you'll just sit down have a quick meal and continue with your day. Food is meant to be enjoyed so you take your time, a lot of local businesses particularly shops close around midday to accommodate for this so get comfortable. (not all shops do this, but it's best to just eat midday if you visit)."
Bored foof 2 years ago
Like a dirty freedom hating commie! -- some American, inevitably
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jBeachey 2 years ago
As an American that works a “9-5” we have honestly lost all culture. All companies and the government thinks and worries about is money not the health and quality of life of the people. I do admit though if we started implementing a midday break it would be near impossible for me to want to go back to work.
Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago
It's the same for many regions in Spain, people usually have lunchbreaks that can easely take 2 hours or more. That being said, they also work later for their shifts to end.
Jojo_hobkin 2 years ago (edited)
Yeah, the lunch is pretty long compared to when I was visiting other countries. Around a hour to eat, and when there's an event, it can go on from noon to the dinner.
#18
"My dad was working in the states, one day he was eating out with some of his colleagues. When the waiter came and asked if he wanted a doggie bag, he said "no I didn't bring my dog with me from Denmark." They laugh their a**es off!"
Little L 2 years ago
Doggy bags is a foreign concept in most of Europe I would say. It's almost embarrassing to ask for it. Also, our portion sizes are not half of what they are in the US.
Karen Philpott 2 years ago
I've never been overseas. I live in NZ. But the concept of "doggy bags" is alive and well here. I'm not a big eater, and our proportion sizes are not the over large American ones. But they're big enough that sometimes I can't finish my meal.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
Reminds me of immigrants in Australia who get asked to 'bring a plate' for a function and literally do that.
Bored foof 2 years ago
Soooo what does it actually mean? "Bring your appetite"?
Load More Replies... #19
Anodracs said: "The sheer awesomeness of Japanese convenience stores. My local 7-11 has sticky floors and doubtful looking packaged sandwiches. The 7-11s in Japan are clean, well-lit, have a great selection of lunch/dinner prepackaged meals, and not only do they have a cold drink section, they have a special heated unit for hot drinks. When I saw all the technological innovations in Japan, I felt like I came from a third world country." bread_berries replied: "And there's SO MANY CONVIENENCE STORES, like it's not uncommon you can just SEE three Family Marts without even trying. The flipside is it's so easy to go out and eat or get food because (at least in the city) space is tiny. Our airbnb's "kitchen" was a thin cabinet in the corner with a small sink and an electric kettle, with a cabinet for bowls and glasses. There was no room for any more."
That one dumb American 2 years ago
Even the japanese stores in the US are hella nice. Most of my time in stores like those is just spent staring at those clean, shiny floors.
#20
"I have lived in both Finland and the USA. Once I woke up in the middle of the day after a house party. I got up and found peanut butter in a cabinet and Jam in the fridge. As I started making a class PB&J the other people in the house surrounded me and gave me a face of confusion. Someone asked me "wait.. you are really going to eat that?". I guess people in Finland do not eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.. they all thought the idea was gross."
Nicole Weymann 2 years ago
As a curious German I tried PB&J, only I wasn't aware that "J" is usually grape jelly. Just about the only red jelly-like jam you get everywhere is red currant jelly. The tangy twist goes surprisingly well with peanut butter.
Sawdust 2 years ago
As a kid, it was usually grape jelly, but as an adult that's unappetizingly too sweet, so something like strawberry jam works much better with the peanut butter.
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Allison Slagle (Randomosity) 2 years ago
Also from the South in the US and I grew up eating PBJs. I still eat them frequently.
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Annika Kremer 2 years ago (edited)
Well, it isn't that common in Germany, either, but my reaction when I found out about it was very much opposite. It's now my go-to work breakfast/lunch (whatever you want to call it, on the early shift we have our break at 10 AM and I sure as hell can't face eating before I go into work at six).
#21
"I'm from USA and I had a gaming friend from England and I told him I was going to have breakfast at the pancake house. I told him I was getting Apple Waffles he didn't believe me at first. He found out via internet and was shocked that we at dessert for breakfast."
Nicole Weymann 2 years ago
Yup. Or rather an accompaniment to afternoon coffee in lieu of a piece of cake. (German speaking)
Load More Replies... #22
ListenOrElse_ said: "In USA people pay for their own food. As someone who came from China, where everyone fights for the bill without the intention to pay, this is very refreshing." Coke_and_Tacos replied: "This is a generational thing I think. If my parents are out with a group of folks their age (mid-60's) it's a whole thing that everyone wants to cover the check, "alright, well I'm buying next time!" Etc. Everyone I know within 10 years of my age just assumes they're paying their own way and it makes way more sense to me."
#23
"I was teaching a class in South Carolina (I live in Minnesota) and sat down to eat lunch with all the guys I was teaching. Took a bite of my sandwich and noticed no one else was eating yet. I paused for a minute and one of them piped in that they were ready to say grace. I had never experienced group prayer before lunch, especially in the workplace. Definitely a shock for me."
Jrog 2 years ago
Happened to me at a damn'd BUSINESS LUNCH. We were a bit baffled and just went through it waiting and trying to suppress any comment. But I am aware it's not a very common thing, the guys were a bunch of loonies anyway and this was not even the worst they did in that lunch alone.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I'm Christian, and that would make me uncomfortable. If someone prays over their meal, great. Don't demand it in a group setting.
Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago
The ones who want to say something in the name of religion can do so, but the expectancy to have others wait until they are done or even worse, join, is not normal. If it was the oter way around, those who do want to grace, wouldn't want to not do that because the company they are in, doesn't... so why expect what you don't want to give?
Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
Argh, I hate this! I'm agnostic but many in my fam are religious and if they want to say grace, fine, but they know that I won't participate but I will wait until they are done.
BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
I've seen business men taking clients to strip bars, and having food fights with lobster. Disgusting that they get paid so much to behave like cads and pigs.
Chad DeSantis 2 years ago
Where were they working? Is that company hiring? Asking for a friend.
Load More Replies... #24
"Watching children in Mexico happily eating crickets like they were popcorn. Also, 4 or 5 year old kids out at 10pm to sell gum."
Irene Donovan 2 years ago
The that they're crickets part doesn't weird me out and the flavor's good, but the legs' texture, I just can't do it. Can't eat shrimp with the legs on either, though I love shrimp.
Mia Black 2 years ago
As long as they are dead and roasted with some salt, I can eat them. Like peanuts.
Der Kommissar 2 years ago
Crickets in Japan. Ants in Africa. Water bugs in Thailand. Tarantulas in Cambodia.
Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
I can do crickets and ants, but I'm not ready for water bugs or tarantulas!
Load More Replies... #25
"In Africa I was told beef jerky was weird."
MichelleDonut 2 years ago
Is it made from the elites? Like that saying "Eat the rich"? (just kidding, obviously)
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#26
"Visiting family in New England and the South made me realise that casual alcoholism isn't the norm. In Wisconsin, just about every event has alcohol involved at some point. It took me a while to realise that showing up with a six pack everytime I visited made me look like I had a problem, when I thought it was just common courtesy."
Jeremy Crocker 2 years ago
The commercial where the popular young guy (at leat 21) walks through the city greeting everyone on his way to bring his mother a bottle of Crown Royal for their lunch always bewilders me. I'm from Maine and don't drink. Then again my stepmother's family can't do any type of gathering without margaritas. But there's still a lot of dry cities in the USA.
That one dumb American 2 years ago
I live all the way up in Maryland, technically part of the south, but it's also common here.
Steven Nowak 2 years ago
Grew up in Wisconsin. Bar on every corner. Able to drink in a bar at any age as long as with a parent. Go out to breakfast and see third shifters drinking beer and cocktails. This was all normal to me growing up.
Cassandra Wilson 2 years ago
I live in Georgia and yes, we would worry that you needed to attend some meetings for sure!
Ms.GB 2 years ago
Really? Usually you just bring a six pack or a bottle of wine as a host/hostess gift. I've never been too far from the west coast though.
Load More Replies... Der Kommissar 2 years ago
Wisconsin (and Minnesooda) have large populations of Scandinavian and German descent. Alcohol plays a bigger part in their culture.
BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
Glug. Remember seeing it in our pantry before Christmas, with prunes, plums, raisins, and cinnamon sticks floating around.
Load More Replies... #27
maweenurr said:
"Apparently, eating pizza with your hands is disgusting to those who live in Spain. My professor said the group that studied abroad over there almost got kicked out of a restaurant for it."
Naive_set replied:
"I eat anything that doesn't fall apart with my hands, usually while standing. - American."
Jessica S. 2 years ago
If I have an extra gooey slice of pizza or it looks like the toppings are going to fall off I put the slice back on the plate, nudge it until just the tip is hanging off, and then eat it off the plate that way. No mess, no stress.
Jericho Kilmister 2 years ago
Sure, I'm really convinced that the ame peiple that throw everything on the floor inside bars are disgusted by you eating pizza the way it is intended
Bernice Gray 2 years ago
Indian societies all eat with their hands. When we were little, at the dinner table, our grandmother would stop at each person woth a warm hand bowl of water to wash and a towel to dry your hands. Now if course there are multiple taos, nearby hallway washrooms to wash your hands before eating
Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
Depends on the TYPE of pizza: it's hard to eat a thick crust Chicago-style with your hands but the thin crust New York-style that's foldable? Easy peasy!
Loki Mota Morgado 2 years ago
First time in my life I hear that. If you're eating pizza in an proper italian restaurant, yes, you usually use cutlery, because the pizza is thinner and easy to cut. But american pizza, which is the one comonly sold in supermarkets and bakeries, or made at home, or when you go for fast food? Yeah, try to eat that with a knife an a fork without anyone giving you side eye. XD. We have plenty of dishes here ment tl br eaten by hand.
Masha(they/them) 2 years ago
Um im spanish and its not digusting to eat pizza with ur hands, its just being polite
#28
jb20x6 said:
"Taco Tuesday is not a universal concept."
Postingwordsonreddit replied:
"In Sweden we usually go with Taco Friday. Tuesdays is traditionally for potato pancakes and pork."
#29
"Just how late the Spanish eat dinner. Totally respect it, but I was hungry at 6pm and was shocked no restaurant was open to serve at that time."
Jrog 2 years ago (edited)
Spain is basically in the wrong timezone. When European Union timezones were formalized, dictator Francisco Franco pressured to have Spain put in the same timezone as Paris, Rome, Berlin [edit: not London] etc, despite technically being closer to the Portuguese timezone. His intention was to create a stronger bond with the central Europe economy. This led to the people maintaining their habits despite now being all *technically* moved forward one hour.
Rich Falconer 2 years ago
London is in the same timezone as Portugal, it's not in the same timezone as Paris etc
Load More Replies... Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago
We are dutch and moved to Spain a few years ago. The late dinner times was one of the first things we noticed but, just as the fact that young kids also come with out for dinner that late plus that parenting their children is not really a thing ;) For us that wasn't a problem, we eat late anyways, somewhere between 9 pm and 10.30 pm is our normal.
#30
ttowntara said:
"I have lived abroad for 6 years, every time I go back to visit the states, I am taken aback by the amount of food in the supermarkets. Compared to smaller markets/stores in Europe or Asia it's a big change. I always think... how are there so many different types of products and out-of-season fruits or vegetables? The store is so big, how do they sell all of it?!"
haleykoike replied:
"The variety of things at the supermarket was a big shock too. I remember wanting orange juice and just standing there confused how there were more than 20 different kinds of orange juice."
Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
The aisles in the picture are super wide! Two carts barely have room to pass at my local Kroger
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 2 years ago
I believe it was Gene Simmons who likened our supermarket aisles to "streets of food".
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
Most of your fruits and vegetables come from California. They're not out of season.
#31
Cuhcs13 said:
"Beer. Beer in the vending machines. Just sitting there unsupervised for me and my 14 year old self to spend change on.
**In Spain. Madrid is the one I remember best."
Redditor replied:
"I grew up on the Mexican border in Texas. There were beer machines in Juarez, Mexico. When I got old enough (15 or so) we'd go across on weekends and bar hop. Beer was 25 cents, shots were 15 cents. You could get a ham sandwich with cheese and avocado on a bolillo (a chewy roll) for 25 cents. Live sex shows in the bars. It was a trip. It was always a bit edgy, but now Juarez is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, with an estimated 10 murders per day, so those carefree days of high school debauchery and long gone."
Jrog 2 years ago (edited)
Yes, we generally have a more positive attitude towards alcohol. At 15 it is not unusual to be allowed to taste wine or beer at a family dinner. We really don't like making it a super prohibited -thus super cool- thing, it's something that is a part of your diet and you should not abuse. Know your limits, maybe test them in a safe environments, and learn to manage.
BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
I've been to Juarez many times also, but wouldn't now. The town of Palomas was owned by one family: The hair salon, leather shop, brothel, restaurant, and bar. Every time Tilly had a baby, her husband bought her a brand new Cadillac. The restaurant/bar had a working moat around the bar counter. Guys could stand right there and pee whilst drinking. When you get to the single hut at the border, be sure to tell them you're coming from Tilly's and they wave you through. Otherwise, they tear your car apart.
#32
Northern-Nurse said:
"Being in Japan, seeing vending machines everywhere and even ordering food at a vending machine in a noodle restaurant. Then you go sit at a booth with a curtain in front of you and they pass your food through the curtain and then close the blinds. Strange but not a bad experience. Just different. Also the jet lag of an opposite time zone can be brutal."
cronin98 replied:
"I couldn't believe how bad jet lag was from North America to Asia. You get hungry, but your body rejects the food because it thinks it's 3 am and you're going to regret that midnight snack!"
BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
Flying from Chicago to Papeete, Tahiti, I couldn't sleep and my husband couldn't wake up. Repeated going from Papeete to Sydney. All told, I spent four days by myself. I managed just fine.
Robert Trebor 2 years ago
In 1973 I was shocked to see Whisky in a vending machine on the street in Sasebo. Black Nikko. I bought a bottle. Didn't like it.
#33
brigidsbollix said: "Root beer." tequilaearworm replied: "The thing I as an American don't understand is how foreigners hate root beer. Everything else I understand. Too much sugar, hate tipping culture, portion size, but I don't know what foreigners are tasting because they are United on this one. At least you're decent enough to recognize the root beer float is amazing."
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
It tastes like that red cough syrup you'd get given as a kid - I was so excited to try it and so very very disappointed
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
I dunno, was in a restaurant in Cleveland and asked for a root beer, got a can of it, it was horrible and instantly brought the cough syrup I had as a kid to mind, and I was only about 15 at the time - my Scottish taste buds couldn't and my brother was the same - it was like drinking medicine, one taste and I've never touched it since.
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Sherlock Holmes 2 years ago
Because most countries have proper beer and not that medicine-tasting stuff.
Ashley_Kirin 2 years ago
I don't understand? How could anyone say it tastes like medicine?? That's not even close. And it's not related to "proper" beer at all.
Load More Replies... Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
Root beer is like any other soft drink: not all colas taste the same, for example, and bad root beer is awful. I like Bedford's but if you get a store brand, it will probably taste like garbage. I remember not liking the old Safeway brand of soda, Cragmont. And Shasta was pretty bad as well. The sodas that use actual cane sugar (rare with the big USA brand names) tend to taste better.
Kiera DeCanio 2 years ago
I always thought root beer was disgusting, but my brother loves it. Unfortunately, I mistook his drink for my pepsi/coke too many times. Yuck.
Jrog 2 years ago
Root beer is okay. Kind of an acquired taste, and definitely a better alternative to the hyper-sugared, cherry-or-vanilla-everywhere soft drink landscape.
Beck 2 years ago
Generic walmart root beer is so much better than regular. Cold in a can.
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Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
No, it isn't. You can buy it in any grocery store, restaurant, or gas station/bodega/convenience store.
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#34
"A very small thing: when in theatre in London they sell ice cream at intermission. That's so small yet such a change.
**I meant live theatre. It's absolutely wonderful that you can have ice cream at the movies, and you can on the West End. But no such thing exists on Broadway sadly."
Marek Čtrnáct 2 years ago (edited)
I remember Monty Python had a sketch about that, where the vendor sells albatross instead of ice cream.
Load More Replies... PismoBob 2 years ago
Don’t forget bar service at some theater. Use your phone and they will bring it to your seat.
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#35
"I'm an American and I live in Japan and one habit I had to break quickly was my habit of pointing with my chopsticks. Sorry!"
Der Kommissar 2 years ago
also in Japan it is a faux pas to rub your chopsticks together, as that implies they are made from cheap wood and you are getting rid of splinters.
BW Gibson 2 years ago
Wood, rly? Most chopsticks that arrive with my food in USA restaurants are bamboo. I have abt 12 pairs of metal chopsticks (silver, like my other silverware) at home. My Korean neighbors use metalj chopsticks too
Load More Replies... #36
"Eating pizza without utensils in USA. I'm Brazilian but I've lived almost my entire life in NA and when I went back to Brazil and went to go eat pizza, a bunch of people were giving me weird looks."
Matt Smith 2 years ago
I wouldn't be surprised if they ate sandwiches/cheeseburgers/etc with utensils as well...
Nicole Weymann 2 years ago
Many chefs like to build food skyscrapers only a python with their jaw unhinged could fit in their mouth whole - let alone eating it without diverting half the meal as an unintended fashion statement. I don't often eat burgers and when I do 8/10 I at least partly deconstruct them and use cutlery. 🤷
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Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
Only if it's a super messy, falling apart pizza will I eat it with a knife and fork. Once I get it under control, THEN I'll pick it up, and it the rest like it should be eaten.
#37
Moots_point said:
"When I ordered some French fries in Germany, and the guy drowned them in mayonnaise before serving them to me, it changed my world."
PositiveChi replied:
"I did this last month. Ate more mayo in 4 days than I have in the rest of my life combined. Delicious but I can't let myself keep doing that now that I'm back in a country where you need to drive places instead of walk."
Rob Miles 2 years ago
If we make fries at home, my wife and I will mix ketchup and mayo together to have with them. It's the best!
Matt Smith 2 years ago
If someone puts mayo on my fries when I order them, I'm getting another order without the mayo
Demosthenes 2 years ago
All these people who have never seen Pulp Fiction. It’s a messed up world out there
Ms.GB 2 years ago
I'm aware of the fact that people eat fries with Mayo I just haven't ever tried it.
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Chris Marsden 2 years ago
German mustard (Senf) is milder than say Coleman's, I can eat Senf but not hot English mustard
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#38
"Thinking of Southeast Asia, street food, and wide selections of fresh tropical fruits like mangosteen, lychee and longans, for cheap."
PismoBob 2 years ago
Get an assortment, they are so fresh and cold and I always think the seller is going to cut a hand off being so quick with a knife.
Load More Replies... #39
hanatwothree said:
"Born in Korea, moved to US when I was 6. Realized pizza and hamburgers and hotdogs aren't the only things Americans eat."
dodecadan replied:
"We eat other american food too, like tacos and sushi."
#40
NMelton88 said:
"Apparently in USA sweet tea is only in the states, and mainly in the Southern states."
snorlz replied:
"I'm not sure how to describe it but sweet tea in the south definitely tastes different than iced tea or other teas I've had. Its just a particular kind I think but the way its made and served makes it taste different. I had some at my friends house down south and it was the best thing ever. The canned "sweet tea" you can buy doesnt taste remotely close."
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 2 years ago
My southern grandmother said the secret to good sweet tea is adding the sugar when the tea is still hot, stirring it until completely dissolved, then adding water and ice to the desired dilution. Also, it doesn't take much sugar to sweeten it. Too many commercial brands are way too sweet.
Bisexual Axolotls 2 years ago
Sweet tea is absolute s**t, and I'm Southern. I would rather have hot tea in the middle of August than drink it, it's like soda but without any flavor.
EmCWolf 2 years ago (edited)
Sweet tea is amazing! The way my family makes it in the South is to make the tea on the stove, let it steep, then add it - still warm - to a pitcher. Then you add in sugar, stir to dissolve, and bring to volume with cool water. What the northerners miss is adding sugar when it's hot. Adding it once the tea is cold just means it sinks to the bottom and doesn't do anything!
Phoenix 28 2 years ago
Right!? I can't believe how many people in the US have to make their coffee into a milkshake to drink it. I just like coffee flavored coffee.
Load More Replies... Jrog 2 years ago (edited)
Tea in the USA is generally less tasty, like more watered down, and really really sweet. I understand your relationship with tea went sour since the very beginning in Boston, but I do prefer plain black tea, unsweetened, without milk, scorching hot, possibly a bit over-infused; and every time I have to explain that no, really, I don't want ANY sugar there... and it still tastes like fkng candy. Other than that the variety of teas is very limited, exotic types such as Lapsang, Prince of Wales, Chai, Oolong are hard to come by, while there are an insane number of fruity flavored sweet blends.
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
Most tea in the US is Lipton's. You need a lot of sugar to make it palatable.
Load More Replies... Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
I spent my 8th grade year in Kansas City, Missouri with my Father's family (my Grandmother, my Aunt, and my 1st Cousin) and we made and drank sweet tea with EVERY dinner (using that jarred Lipton tea and LOTS of sugar). Back in Seattle, my Mom and I were hot tea drinkers but not the iced, sweet tea type that I had in K.C. That was back in 1977-ish? And even though I've had so called sweet tea in single-serving bottles, now I tend to go for the unsweetened version but I've never made that sweet tea concoction again.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
Sweet tea is awful. I love iced tea, but it has to be plain or just a bit of lemon.
crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
I'm from the northern us and I have literally no idea what this is tlaking about. Is it like ripoff iced tea?
Phoenix 28 2 years ago
It's sweetened iced tea. Really, really sweetened. It's served at pretty much every restaurant.
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#41
TGTickleGames said: "Went into a Greggs down south and asked for a meat and potato pasty. Woman looked at me with confusion and disgust like I'd slapped a child. Worst 4 years of my life living down south." Octavya360 replied: "We eat Pasties in Michigan. They’re basically like a pot pie, except the crust is folded over like a sandwich so you can eat it with your hands. They’re usually filled with ground beef or venison, potatoes, onions or turnips and carrots. Wives of miners and loggers packed them in their husbands lunchboxes because they were very portable and a hearty tasty meal to keep you going during a long day of manual labor."
Ronna Black 2 years ago
You mean outside of the US. Canadians say Cornish Pastie or Jamaican Pastie. They’re yummy.
Load More Replies... Der Kommissar 2 years ago
I used to frequent strip bars, where a pasty means something else; it covers the nipple.
Magpie 2 years ago
They have pasties with steak and potato at Greggs in York
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Scott J 2 years ago
The only pasty I know about is on the trolley of the Hogwart's Express. I think someone asked for a pumpkin pasty.
#42
"I'm Canadian, but when I went on a school trip to France and Italy I had a classmate who complained at every single place we ate that they didn't have chicken fingers and fries on the menu."
Gourdeous 2 years ago
We're in Spain ATM and the restaurants look shocked that my kids don't want the nuggets and fries kids menu. Bring on the seafood platters and paella
Sascha Rambeaud 2 years ago
Lol. Yeah, our kids prefer actual food as well.
Load More Replies... Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
Oh man, that just reeks! We rarely eat fast food anyway but when my partner and I visited the UK, France, and Iceland a couple of years ago, we vowed to eat at only local restaurants and to not cop out and settle for McDonald's or any other US fast food place. The ONLY complaint that we had was at a roadside place in England that we stopped at: she served us a hot dog that had so much bread! The sausage was alright but the meat to bun ratio was way off. Some little stand near the Triumph factory.
#43
Oburcuk said: "I realized how many freebies we get in the US. Free refills, as much ketchup as you want in fast food places, free toilets, etc. in Europe, you have to pay for everything. I got used to it." leona121 replied: "I remember my first time I went to Europe (Poland) and had to take a crap and didn't have any money on me. That sucked. Also, I remember while out drinking, a fellow traveler asked me for money because she was about to piss her pants."
Jrog 2 years ago
C'mon, enough with this toilet obsession... In Europe most public toilets require require a coin or small payment, sure. That for the cleaning and supplies, and they are generally preferred to free ones. Free public toilets exists too, but the quality standard may not be very high. Most importantly, any store open to public is required by law to have a publicly accessible toilet, that may or may not -depending on the operator- be reserved only for clients. So if you need a free toilet just go to any bar and maybe have a quick coffee, else go to any fast food, supermarket, large store etc and there it is, your freely available toilet.
Hollers 2 years ago
When I was in France I had to buy a soda in a bar just to use the bathroom… It was out back. In a tiny, hot room. There was no toilet. It was just a hole in the ground and there were handrails on the sides so you could squat backwards. Then you pulled a chain and there was a gentle flow of water to “wash” down the pee. Truly haunting.
SnackbarKaat 2 years ago
There aren't many public toilets in Belgium (my country) unfortunately. But if you are near the city hall, the toilets are free there. But when you are shopping and desperately need to go, you either enter a pub, order a drink and go to the toilet, or enter a pub and pay for the toilet
Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
Free public toilets are now such a rarity in the States because the homeless and the addicts basically will live in them, even though the law requires stores of a certain size must provide them for their customers. Sometimes you can get the key from a clerk. When I was a kid, I remember the Woolworth's had pay toilets that cost a nickel.
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
Only toilets i an think of here that require money, like a 20p or something are in train stations and have more facilities available
#44
Sarnick18 said:
"Not mine but in college I had a roommate from Australia who was studying abroad in America. We went out to dinner one night and I got mozzarella sticks. He could not believe we just deep fried cheese and then eat it."
poopellar replied:
"I was watching an American tv channel and it was showing the scenes around some carnival in some town and my jaw dropped at the food that was being served. It seemed like the only thing that differentiated the various food stands was what was being deep friend at each one. I think they even deep fried a donut."
M J 2 years ago
That's how doughnuts are normally made. You have a desire to expand your deep fried experience. Just go to the state fair in most US states. Here's a partial list of things they have somehow managed to sear in hot fat: jelly beans, scorpions, White Castle burgers with bun, butter (Wisconsin State Fair, and others as well), Snickers, beer (poured into a pocket of pretzel dough and deep fried for 20 seconds). The list goes on.
#45
KamikazeAlpaca1 said:
"In America eating extremely sugary deserts for breakfast. Doughnuts, most cereals, pop tarts, all contain huge amounts of sugar and often little nutrition. There is literally Oreo cookie cereal kids eat for breakfast."
iceunelle replied:
"I'll be honest, I don't know any adults who actually eat super sugary cereals or donuts or anything like that in the US. As a kid I definitely at Cookie Crisp and Fruit loops sometimes, which is 100% sugar."
Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
Oreo cereal is disgusting. What you gotta do is mix in some crumbled Oreos with a bowl of Cheerios.
Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
Donuts are a rare treat. My usual breakfast is an egg and a slice of bacon. Or fried rice. But I admit that I WILL eat a bowl of Cap'n Crunch occasionally.
crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
Wtf I literally just have scrambled eggs for breakfast who has donuts
Jen 2 years ago
I dont know who iceunelle is but they got boring. Im in my 40s and live alone and there are Lucky charms in my cabinet. And my parents are in thier 70s and still eat corn pops and frosted wheat and Sunday morning donuts. (My morning donut day is Thursday but that is because I drive by dunkin between work locations that morning at a decent breakfast time).
#46
"Asking me how I'd like my hamburger cooked in USA."
Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
You really shouldn't eat ground meat that isn't fully cooked all the way through
EvilNob 2 years ago
You should try once the Mettwurst in Germany. It's raw meat and it's delicious. And yes, it's safe to eat.
Load More Replies... crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
I genuinely think I wouldn't be able to eat hamburgers that weren't rare. Maybe medium rare, but anything higher than that would just not be edible
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
Some places ask hers in Scotland, but depends on the ingredients really - higher end places will ask as their cuts of meat are higher quality, but the pub selling a burger and pint for £8 isn't going to offer undercooked burgers that likely started off in the freezer
Load More Replies... #47
"Going to America and realising almost no one has kettles for making a cup of tea."
Erin Ward 2 years ago
I'm from the US and that drives me crazy when I go visit friends and family. Microwave tea does Not turn out right!
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
You don't microwave the tea. Boiling water is boiling water.
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Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
My wife and I have lived together for 13 years and we have never owned a teakettle
Load More Replies... Dogcat vet (retired) 2 years ago
Have used an electric kettle for years in US. Don't think I've ever microwaved water though.
Jen 2 years ago
We always had a kettle growing up (also in US) but it was a stove top one not electric. And my grandfather had 2 - one standard aluminum on the stove upstairs and one cast iron on the franklin stove (wood burning) in the finished basement. I still keep a regular kettle on my stove, but I also have an electric one now.
John Anderson 2 years ago
Went to Paris and the flat we rented only had Electric kettle for my wife's tea and press for coffee. Oddly enough, we purchased an electric kettle for tea when we got back to Texas. She still loves it.
Robert Trebor 2 years ago
My very nice electric kettle is right next to my stove.
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Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
This again! *sigh* I have always used a kettle: first on the stove top and later using an electric kettle. Today I was looking at a fancy spancy Zojirushi while I was at an Asian supermarket but couldn't justify spending $200.00.
#48
SpaniardCooks said: "German men don't chat while they eat." superduck231 replied: "In my experience no Germans do, they eat really fast and you talk when you are done eating. It makes a lot of sense to me, but it was kind of shocking when I first got there."
Luis Freitag 2 years ago
I am german and can tell you, it depends on people’s age and the region they’re from. You will find this behaviour mostly for older people, because there wasn’t much food back in the day. Also people’s general behavior and mindset really differs from state to state and so does their way of eating! My family for example doesn’t fulfill most german stereotypes and we tend to have more mediterranen values.
rn42 2 years ago (edited)
It was considered impolite for a long time to talk while food is being eaten. Why, I have no clue. Maybe someone was sick of telling kids not to talk while chewing so just started banning talk at the table altogether. Which is pretty stupid considering that's usually the only time a family is actually together in one place.
Burkhard Fitz 2 years ago
I am from Germany and so far I can tell it differs where you are in the middle West it is. Normal to eat dinner and chat about everything. But in the South East people a more distant and just want to eat and leave early.
#49
earstorm said: "As a Czech person, my American wife was blown away that we let kids in pubs or bars." HelenaKelleher replied: "To be honest, I do like being in "adult-only" spaces in American bars. they're allowed in every pub and bar? In the US, honestly, probably has a lot more to do with "since our drinking age is so high, we want to keep teens from stealing people's unfinished drinks," but the bonus of being able to smoke on a bar patio without gassing some kids (i never smoke near children) is a nice benefit."
Lara Verne 2 years ago
We let them in, but it does not mean we sell them alcohol. You must be over 18 to buy alcohol. If you're younger, you can go to bar, but they sell you only non-alcoholic drinks.
Ninko Ren 2 years ago
Well like OP said it's not about selling children alcohol but about them stealing an unattended drink...you know because they're children.
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#50
"I love America, but after non-stop traveling abroad for a few years there are a few things I wish we had back at home. Public drinking. They have it in Japan, and I really loved it when I was in Korea. Seoul is a beautiful city where people like to hang out into the wee hours of the morning drinking, eating fried chicken, and playing music on a well-lit lawn."
#51
User No 1 said: "I visited Albania and there wasn't a single chain store or restaurant. That may sound banal but it was a strange experience to be in a large city and be completely unable to get a McDonald's, Subway, KFC or Starbucks." mixmatch1122 replied: "Similar in Bosnia although McDonalds opened 5-6 years ago IIRC. It's just that the local fast foods are much better and cheaper."
XenoMurph 2 years ago
This is so weird to me. Why would you go abroad and then start seeking boring chain fast food. Why are you not exploring the food of the place you visit?
Matt Smith 2 years ago
McDonald's in other countries tend to have different menu items than ones in America, for one thing
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Demosthenes 2 years ago
“Completely unable to get a McDonalds, Subway KFC….” The horror just doesn’t end mkay?
Der Kommissar 2 years ago
There are many McDonalds in Bangkok, which is weird because Thailand has some of the best food in the world.
Sascha Rambeaud 2 years ago
Yeah, but they don't have McDonald's marketing budget.
Load More Replies... #52
"Every State I have been too, (Florida, Nevada, California, Arizona) never have white vinegar out on the table at restaurants. White vinegar in Canada is used on tons of stuff but when you ask for it in the states you get looked at like you have ten heads. Also have no idea if real people in America actually do this but on American talk shows whenever a guest is introduced they exchange a kiss on the cheek. That is the weirdest thing ever."
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
I have a big bottle of white vinegar. It's in my garage, with my other cleaning supplies.
That one dumb American 2 years ago
Can confirm that Americans greet each other by exchanging kisses /j
Matt Smith 2 years ago
I've never done it, nor have I seen it done in person
Load More Replies... Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
I use white vinegar in my chicken adobo, mixed with celery seed when I make potato salad, when I want to de-scale my coffee maker, when I want to wash white clothes, mixed with water to clean windows, ...but yeah, I've never seen it on a table in a restaurant.
#53
"Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are rare outside the US."
Elita One 2 years ago
We eat it in AUS but we don't have American jelly, we eat it with jam (jelly in AUS is jello in USA)
Irene Donovan 2 years ago (edited)
I've noticed Americans often call it peanut butter and jelly even when it's jam. My family never bought jelly, just jam, but we called it jelly.
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Jenn Bois 2 years ago
We eat peanut butter and jam or jelly sandwiches in Canada. We have a peanut butter commercial where a Canadian woman moves to France to be with her long distance boyfriend. She spends one night and when she finds out in the morning there is no peanut butter in France, catches the next flight home.
Chris Marsden 2 years ago
I must try it one day, I've heard rave reviews & have all the makings but never got around to it.
BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
Probably watered down to streeeetch it out. Where's the Skippy? Even the jelly is sparse.
#54
howwouldiknow-- said: "The different kinds of flavors for beverages. I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. Just so you guys know, I enjoyed having multiple options, until I came to the US I had no idea I liked Blue Raspberry flavored soda and I found out that I liked to mix different kinds of sodas from the fountain and make a cocktail soda occasionally. Edit: Also, I like how you guys have a s**t ton of flavors for your alcohol. I liked a lot of them but to be honest I didn't enjoy the whipped cream flavored stuff." Substantial-Ad-7406 replied: "There's a market in my downtown area that has an entire section of craft sodas. A pop for any flavor you can think of. Even bacon... I don't recommend that one..."
BLONDTROBL 2 years ago
And in the south, coke is the same thing as soda or pop. "I'll have a coke, please". What flavor? Orange, root beer, Sprite, mountain dew?
Stacie Taylor 2 years ago
As a lifelong Southerner, NO. If you order a Coke, you order a Coca Cola. If they serve Pepsi, they'll say "we have Pepsi, is that okay?"
Load More Replies... #55
"How much people drink beer in the Czech Republic. You cannot get a non alcoholic drink in a bar cheaper than a beer. And then I looked it up and low and behold, the Czech's have the highest beer consumption in the whole world."
Anička 2 years ago
I think this is changing, as people get more health conscious/into fitness, but my grandad has non-alcoholic beer for lunch every day - it comes in a liter plastic bottle. I think people are also expanding into wine instead of beer. Finally, Czechia has a really strict limit of blood alcohol and driving - i don't know offhand if it's actually zero or just really close. Like zero drinks. ...and in many neighboring countries at least the beer is cheaper than water or juice.
Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago
The alcoholpercentage is lower than the beers you get elsewhere. That's why they don't have a problem with young teens drinking beer. More so, if you visit somewhere and get offered a beer and you decline, they look at you as f you are totally crazy ;P
#56
wuroh7 said:
"Tipping in general is taboo in Japan. They see it as an insult."
RoosterClan replied:
"As a former waiter, I detested whenever I had Japanese customers because they never left any tip. European tourists as well because they customarily only tip 8-10% as opposed to 17-20% Americans tip."
Sascha Rambeaud 2 years ago
Maybe should detest American law makers instead, who allow employers to not pay their workers and instead place the responsibility for that on the generosity if customers?
Bohemiangirl 2 years ago
I'm Canadian and the tipping culture is very similar to the US, with between 15 to 20% being expected. Maybe you are from Florida and you think the snowbirds are typical of Canada... those over a certain age are much less likely to tip.
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Jude Corrigan 2 years ago
The second comment annoys me. Blaming non Americans rather then the company that doesn't pay a living wage.
Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago
Tips aren't considered normal in our region of Spain as well. Most places that I frequent are now used to the fact that I tip well ;)
#57
"Entrees. Entree means starter in the rest of the world, calling it the main course is confusing and willful ignorance at this point. US fast food is amazing and totally explains 3."
#58
"In USA drink Coke all the God damn time."
EvilNob 2 years ago
I never understood. Why do you drink so much soda? It's unhealthy, and is full of sugar.
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Elchinero 2 years ago
"Coke" is generic, in some places, for any "pop", "soda (?!)" ""soft drink" ... etc.
Tonja Jackson 1 month ago
There's a place in Mexico that drinks massive amounts of Coke called San Cristóbal de las Casas...I saw some sort of documentary about it and I DID look up the name of the town. I think that studies have shown that US consumption of fizzy drinks have actually gone down.
crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
I've tried coke twice and it's disgusting. It just tastes bad
Pineapple 2 years ago
ever tried mexican coke? its much better would reccomend 10/10
Load More Replies... Puffball973 2 years ago
I've pretty much stopped drinking soda nonstop. I drink a ton of sparkling water now that a kidney stone keeled me over.
Nichole Harris 2 years ago
I drink 8oz of coke every Sunday....I usually drink water or whiskey or juice
Dogcat vet (retired) 2 years ago
Stopped drinking much soda: moved on to Diet Peach snapple tea. Sfunny that its the only no sugar flavored drink I like (the regular peach is too sweet). Rarely have a soda now but then I had surgery and am not supposed to drink carbonated stuff.
What do you think ?
David Jeffery 2 years ago
When visiting my wife's family in Denmark, in the middle of winter, starting the day with a Gammel Dansk. It's a schnapps and 45% alcohol. I love Denmark and I love Gammel Dansk now but it takes a bit of getting used to - especially at 7.30am
Ivy at Eve 2 years ago
I learned very fast visiting the US to NOT clean my plate. I just ate until I was full. Visiting the supermarket, I was very fascinated with the colours of foods, colours you wouldn't find in europe (mostly sweets). A ready meal only containing potatoes and meat and enough meat to last me 2 days (I had only a microwave but hen, also that, a hotel room with a microwave). Once was behind Russians at an unlimited buffet and their plates literally contained a tower of food. Admittedly, they only went once but that sufficed to almost clearing the buffet. As this was on a river boat, our time was limited and we left hungry.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
My culture shock when visiting Canada was that pretty much no one knew what I meant when I asked for lactose free milk. No other options either, like soy or almond. Only found it at Starbucks, which I had only ventured into on one of my last days because nothing else much whas open.
David Jeffery 2 years ago
When visiting my wife's family in Denmark, in the middle of winter, starting the day with a Gammel Dansk. It's a schnapps and 45% alcohol. I love Denmark and I love Gammel Dansk now but it takes a bit of getting used to - especially at 7.30am
Ivy at Eve 2 years ago
I learned very fast visiting the US to NOT clean my plate. I just ate until I was full. Visiting the supermarket, I was very fascinated with the colours of foods, colours you wouldn't find in europe (mostly sweets). A ready meal only containing potatoes and meat and enough meat to last me 2 days (I had only a microwave but hen, also that, a hotel room with a microwave). Once was behind Russians at an unlimited buffet and their plates literally contained a tower of food. Admittedly, they only went once but that sufficed to almost clearing the buffet. As this was on a river boat, our time was limited and we left hungry.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
My culture shock when visiting Canada was that pretty much no one knew what I meant when I asked for lactose free milk. No other options either, like soy or almond. Only found it at Starbucks, which I had only ventured into on one of my last days because nothing else much whas open.
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