You clearly don't have Stonyfield in your home region.
We do have Stonyfield back home. We even have some nice small-farm-made yogurts brought down to NYC's farmers' markets from up the Hudson. Nonetheless, I am still on board with the sentiment that American yogurt is sad compared to French yogurt. It just is.
I don't think I have ever asked for a doggy bag at a restaurant, it's definitely not done here at all. At least not in the bit where I live.
If you're only in the States for visiting, then it would depend on whether you have access to a fridge. If you're in a hotel room without a fridge, then yeah, the portions are waaay too big. Since we always stay with my parents, though, we just take the leftovers home and eat them for lunch the next day.
I've asked for a doggy bag here in Germany once (and then also once for my parents). It was at an American-themed restaurant, though, and DH actually asked for me since I was too chicken. He prefaced by saying, "So you're an American restaurant, does that mean that you have take-home containers, too?" And they did!
Good point, I've always been staying in a hotel. Do most restaurants assume that people want to take some home and therefore the make the portions bigger?
If you're only in the States for visiting, then it would depend on whether you have access to a fridge. If you're in a hotel room without a fridge, then yeah, the portions are waaay too big. Since we always stay with my parents, though, we just take the leftovers home and eat them for lunch the next day.
I've asked for a doggy bag here in Germany once (and then also once for my parents). It was at an American-themed restaurant, though, and DH actually asked for me since I was too chicken. He prefaced by saying, "So you're an American restaurant, does that mean that you have take-home containers, too?" And they did!
Good point, I've always been staying in a hotel. Do most restaurants assume that people want to take some home and therefore the make the portions bigger?
I would say, based on my experience, the nicer the restaurant the smaller the portion. It doesn't have to be huge because it is so good So, Cheesecake Factory? HUGE portions. Obnoxiously large. And I think they get a certain clientele because of it. But a super upscale restaurant? Not so big.
Good point, I've always been staying in a hotel. Do most restaurants assume that people want to take some home and therefore the make the portions bigger?
I would say, based on my experience, the nicer the restaurant the smaller the portion. It doesn't have to be huge because it is so good So, Cheesecake Factory? HUGE portions. Obnoxiously large. And I think they get a certain clientele because of it. But a super upscale restaurant? Not so big.
Agreed with this. Not every restaurant in the US has obnoxious portions. Cheesecake Factory is out of control and the food isn't even worth taking home.
Good point, I've always been staying in a hotel. Do most restaurants assume that people want to take some home and therefore the make the portions bigger?
I would say, based on my experience, the nicer the restaurant the smaller the portion. It doesn't have to be huge because it is so good So, Cheesecake Factory? HUGE portions. Obnoxiously large. And I think they get a certain clientele because of it. But a super upscale restaurant? Not so big.
True.
I don't necessarily think they're serving larger portions because they expect people to take things home. I think they're serving larger portions because some clientele complain about portions being too small, and as long as you can take leftovers home, who's going to complain about too much food? So this way everyone's happy.
BFP1: DD born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
BFP2: 3/18/12, blighted ovum, natural m/c @ 7w4d
BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w3d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence
We get doggy bags a couple of times when in NY and ended up giving them to homeless people on our way back to the hotel. Even though we had a fridge, it wasn't very realistic to think we were going to eat our leftover meatball pasta the next day.
I would say, based on my experience, the nicer the restaurant the smaller the portion. It doesn't have to be huge because it is so good So, Cheesecake Factory? HUGE portions. Obnoxiously large. And I think they get a certain clientele because of it. But a super upscale restaurant? Not so big.
True.
I don't necessarily think they're serving larger portions because they expect people to take things home. I think they're serving larger portions because some clientele complain about portions being too small, and as long as you can take leftovers home, who's going to complain about too much food? So this way everyone's happy.
I'd complain, because unless I'm going home with a doggy bag, I'm basically paying for everyone to eat twice when all I want is one meal. Good to know it's not a standard thing that all meals in restaurants are super massive.
I've never thought before that the large portions are so that people can specifically take some home.. most people we eat with back home (including ourselves) finish the entire meal and waddle out of the restaurant bloated and in pain.
I noticed that there is a massive difference in portion sizes back home - but even at fast food places with the drinks. A large here is like a medium there.
We get doggy bags a couple of times when in NY and ended up giving them to homeless people on our way back to the hotel. Even though we had a fridge, it wasn't very realistic to think we were going to eat our leftover meatball pasta the next day.
I guess without a way to reheat it wouldn't be as appetizing :-)
BFP1: DD born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
BFP2: 3/18/12, blighted ovum, natural m/c @ 7w4d
BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w3d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence
I've never thought before that the large portions are so that people can specifically take some home.. most people we eat with back home (including ourselves) finish the entire meal and waddle out of the restaurant bloated and in pain.
I noticed that there is a massive difference in portion sizes back home - but even at fast food places with the drinks. A large here is like a medium there.
A while ago Olive Garden was running a commercial where if you bought dinner then they'd throw in lunch for the next day for free.
Not quite the same, but definitely in the more food = better value mind set.
It seems like, for us, if it is a chain restaurant the portions are huge. But besides nice restaurants the locally owned ones near us don't do huge portions either. Although we almost always bring home food because ds never, ever finishes his meal. Ever.
In Texas I found that even the local joints serve huge portions. But it's Texas. Bigger is better. After half a dozen trips to for work I finally found out that Chuy's does half portions if you ask! :Y:
Oslo is the opposite end of the spectrum completely. They still follow the trend that the more expensive restaurants have smaller portions, but the baseline is completely different. We once went to a place with work that after a 3-course dinner, our boss had to spring for kebab for everyone because we were starving. For dessert, I had ordered "Chocolate mousse with fresh berry." I thought that was a translation issue, and they accidentally missed the plural. Nope. What showed up was 4 Tbsp chocolate mousse and half a strawberry. 8-D
In Texas I found that even the local joints serve huge portions. But it's Texas. Bigger is better. After half a dozen trips to for work I finally found out that Chuy's does half portions if you ask!
Oslo is the opposite end of the spectrum completely. They still follow the trend that the more expensive restaurants have smaller portions, but the baseline is completely different. We once went to a place with work that after a 3-course dinner, our boss had to spring for kebab for everyone because we were starving. For dessert, I had ordered "Chocolate mousse with fresh berry." I thought that was a translation issue, and they accidentally missed the plural. Nope. What showed up was 4 Tbsp chocolate mousse and half a strawberry.
Chuy's is a chain, so of course it has big portions We have Chuy's here and it is so gross.
Post by Wanderista on Jan 15, 2013 17:21:15 GMT -5
I've never been to the Cheesecake Factory but it sounds scary! Hehe.
Usually when I have dinner at a local Mexican chain, I count on having it for breakfast in the AM as well. Leftover Mexican can be really excellent.
I definitely take home appetizing leftovers. I agree that portion sizes can sometimes be out of control though it does depend on the restaurant.
I have relatives/know people in America who think that you have to "clean your plate", like eat every single thing on it in one sitting no matter how huge. All of them tend to have major weight problems. In general, I'm not in favor of wasting food, but I have seen some phenomenal gluttony frankly by people with that mentality.
America is the country that invented the TV show Man vs. Food.
I have relatives/know people in America who think that you have to "clean your plate", like eat every single thing on it in one sitting no matter how huge. All of them tend to have major weight problems. In general, I'm not in favor of wasting food, but I have seen some phenomenal gluttony frankly by people with that mentality.
I was raised with that lesson in mind. We were expected to clean our plates. In France, it is a similar thing, except you are expected to put less on your plate to begin with. If you want more, you get seconds instead of piling it up. I also noticed that in English we ask if someone is full after eating and in French you are asked if you are still hungry. I think the problem I had growing up stems from eating until you are full instead of stopping once you are no longer hungry.
I have relatives/know people in America who think that you have to "clean your plate", like eat every single thing on it in one sitting no matter how huge. All of them tend to have major weight problems. In general, I'm not in favor of wasting food, but I have seen some phenomenal gluttony frankly by people with that mentality.
I was raised with that lesson in mind. We were expected to clean our plates. In France, it is a similar thing, except you are expected to put less on your plate to begin with. If you want more, you get seconds instead of piling it up. I also noticed that in English we ask if someone is full after eating and in French you are asked if you are still hungry. I think the problem I had growing up stems from eating until you are full instead of stopping once you are no longer hungry.
You are right about that. (I speak French though not fluently, I had a French-African nanny growing up .. I'm too shy to speak it all on this board, hehe). I hadn't thought about it that way before, but indeed it is true. Though in England, for example, the portion sizes are more balanced. Actually, when I lived in England, I learned about how to stop eating when you are full enough not totally stuffed.
As a kid in the Midwest, I was nicknamed "Birdie" by some members of my family because of my light appetite. I was frequently told that I was too thin when I was healthy. (I'm still in the healthy range though I could stand to lose 10 lbs these days, my metabolism is a shade slower than it was and I need to exercise more again but I'm still pretty healthy). I will say though that generally DC is not like what we're describing. There is obesity like in all of America, but not in the large numbers of other places. Most overweight people in DC are stressed out/overworked, but yeah, it's a relatively healthy city.
Post by Wanderista on Jan 16, 2013 12:46:36 GMT -5
I remember one time when my mom and I ran an errand out in some exurb shopping centre (some place on the outer periphery of the DC commuter belt). We stopped to have lunch at some place called Country Cookin', her idea not mine. It was ok but it was one of those places where you pay $6 for an all-you-can-eat buffet ... not the highest quality. I think we were there for breakfast, so it had unlimited big trays of things like biscuits and gravy, creamed chipped beef, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, hash browns and cuts of meat in vats of gravy.
The thing I remember most is that we sat in a booth somewhere in the middle of the restaurant. We probably got 2 plates and dessert. We noticed that most of the people in there were big families of obese people, mom, dad, kids, etc. They were all crowding around in the tables that were nearest to the buffet. So like, they didn't want to walk more than 5 steps to the unlimited food and the kids would keep hanging around the buffet picking stuff off of it instead of just getting a plate and sitting down.
We were kind of grossed out and didn't go back. That was kind of an extreme example though. That and the cheap, divey all-you-can-eat buffets I've visited with friends in some rural places. Generally speaking, if it's a $6 all-you-can-eat buffet, you probably don't want to go.
I know euro and American etiquette regarding emptying our plate are different. In Europe - pretty much anywhere I know people - they are raised with the idea that you should not put more on your plate thanou cn eat and clean it all. The only way it's acceptable to leave something is when someone else serves you and the portion is too large and you tried to stop them and they gave you another scoop, that kinda thing.
In Europe, when I order something that's apparently a large portion in restaurants, always get warned about it ("that'a realy large order in itself, you might want to skip appetizers/deserts/side dishes if you order that, or share it") In the US, everyone I know is completely fine and was ased with leaving stuff on their plate/not fnishin it. Just scoop up as much as you think you'd like to eat and if you can't finish it all, that's fine - you can save it or later/reheat/whatever.
Neither way is necessarily good or bad to me, but if you're not used to the other, it can be confusing/annoying. (clogged - didn't you have a funny situation with your DH when you were just together re: amounts of food?)
Post by crimsonandclover on Jan 17, 2013 4:55:05 GMT -5
Where I'm from it can make the host a little uncomfortable if you finish everything on your plate - did you really get enough to eat?? Because that is the worst thing that can happen as a hostess: your guests are still hungry. So leaving just a little bit on your plate shows that you are definitely full.
BFP1: DD born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
BFP2: 3/18/12, blighted ovum, natural m/c @ 7w4d
BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w3d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence
Where I'm from it can make the host a little uncomfortable if you finish everything on your plate - did you really get enough to eat?? Because that is the worst thing that can happen as a hostess: your guests are still hungry. So leaving just a little bit on your plate shows that you are definitely full.
yup. This is me. My husband is clean your plate school. So I kept cooking more and more and more and he kept eating and eating and eating, each one of us trying to be polite. Poor man was eating 3 platefuls a meal. lol
My British in laws always finish everything on their plates. Every last bite. I was not raised that way, nor do my parents do that. And neither does my husband, surprisingly.
Post by Wanderista on Jan 17, 2013 13:46:54 GMT -5
I definitely don't think there's anything wrong with "cleaning your plate". With all of the hunger in the world, it is very good to impress upon people how lucky they are. I generally do eat or take home whatever I order although I probably do leave some from time to time. I also think that if you take it home or as someone else said, give it to a homeless person, then you are not being wasteful, so yeah there's nothing wrong with that. If there's just a little left or the food really wasn't good or it was but won't keep well, then I might leave a little. Generally though, I don't leave much because I eat slowly and conversationally whenever possible.
Also yeah, in Europe, food rarely gets left, generally only if it was bad because, yes, the portion sizes are a lot smaller. Though now that I think about it, that depends. I have definitely had some heavy meals in certain parts of Europe. Mostly wonderful.
Anyway, the only kind of "clean your plate" mentality that raises my eyebrows is when it gets extreme. I don't want to generalize too much because I don't people to think that I am overly judgmental. The relatives that I am talking about are generally diabetics and/or very overweight, often now on doctor-mandated diets. I know some other examples, friends, colleagues and such.
I know quite a few anecdotes about Americans who have problems with overeating. They are the kind of stories that are pretty funny but also tinged with sadness. I have a guyfriend who is really insistent about "cleaning your plate" but in a way that is probably detrimental to his health. He told that he doesn't like chicken wings or ribs because they are "too much work for too little reward", as in only really big slabs of meat will do, anything else is wasting his time. He is definitely one of those Americans who complain about portions being too small, especially at fancy restaurants. He will randomly stop at fast food joints to get "snacks" like 3 different items off the dollar menu. He will buy cake mix from Betty Crocker and eat the entire cake in one sitting, then say how great it was that he got a whole cake for the price of a slice (this wouldn't raise my eyebrows if he didn't eat the whole thing in one go until he feels sick).
I once hung out with that person a few years ago and went to a museum with him. We each had bacon cheese fries in the museum cafe. Then we went onto a Peruvian restaurant, really good but the portions were massive and I could only eat half of mine. That friend ate all of his and then half of my dish. The thing that blew my mind is that afterwards he suggested going for a chili dog AND ice cream. I said, "No, let's go on a walk."
Unfortunately, I do know too many cases of other Americans like that, though yes, there are also many people who defy the stereotype. I once saw an African-American comedian in London who I think nailed the problem, "For many Americans, food is the only vice they can have. The society is rigid about everything else, so they let it all out on the dinner table."
Meh, Americans have food, the British have drink, the Japanese have weird porn. Every society has something to put into balance. As someone in that society or visiting that society you just have to be mindful of it.
Post by Cioccolato on Jan 17, 2013 14:16:23 GMT -5
I see nothing wrong with cleaning your plate if you take reasonable portions. I usually always finish my food (at home, restaurants it depends on the portion). I didn't finish my plate tonight, it's such a rarity that H asked if I was sick (in fact, I am, joys of working in a preschool,). So yeah, it all depends on the portion.
Unfortunately, I do know too many cases of other Americans like that, though yes, there are also many people who defy the stereotype. I once saw an African-American comedian in London who I think nailed the problem, "For many Americans, food is the only vice they can have. The society is rigid about everything else, so they let it all out on the dinner table."
Meh, Americans have food, the British have drink, the Japanese have weird porn. Every society has something to put into balance. As someone in that society or visiting that society you just have to be mindful of it.
Hold on, lemme put my bag of candy I bought tonight 'cause I had a horrible day at work. What do you mean by that!?
Unfortunately, I do know too many cases of other Americans like that, though yes, there are also many people who defy the stereotype. I once saw an African-American comedian in London who I think nailed the problem, "For many Americans, food is the only vice they can have. The society is rigid about everything else, so they let it all out on the dinner table."
Meh, Americans have food, the British have drink, the Japanese have weird porn. Every society has something to put into balance. As someone in that society or visiting that society you just have to be mindful of it.
Hold on, lemme put my bag of candy I bought tonight 'cause I had a horrible day at work. What do you mean by that!?
I will fully admit to being guilty.
Haha, excellent! There's nothing wrong with a bit of candy therapy at all.
That quote was a loose paraphrase of Reginald D. Hunter. I saw him talk about it in a live show a while back, though he probably put it more colorfully than that. I've tried looking him up on YouTube to see if I could find any clips of him saying it, but no, none have been uploaded. The closest I've found is one where he says that he likes the UK because it's so laid back compared to America, that if he has 2 glasses of wine when he goes home to the States then people look at him funny.