# A lady at a restaurant didn't know what carrots or cucumbers were. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 9, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230 "2012-09-09T21:15:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/101 "2012-09-11T11:37:27Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > At most coffee houses/espresso bars in the United States, if you’re ordering regular drip coffee, you are expected to add the cream and sugar on your own, so baristas don’t want to know whether you want it black or white. They just want to know if you want room. Huh. I say “black” out of habit. It saves them asking “room?” and is simpler than preemptivly saying, “and I will not be needing room, thanks”.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/102 "2012-09-11T11:42:55Z")
Yes, I’m hearing “one small coffee, no room,” far more often than I hear “one small coffee, black,” at espresso bars. And, I tell you what, the first time I heard it, I didn’t know what it meant either: Barista: “Room?” Me: “I’m sorry?” Barista: “Do you want me to leave room in the cup for cream?” Me: “Oh, right, yes, please.” So I was confused for about half a second and after that I have known what it has meant every single time. I didn’t have to post a question on the internet or anything. It’s amazing how human interaction works. Of course, if you’re getting an espresso drink, the barista’s going to handle all the adding of frothed or heated milk, so you do have to specify. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/103 "2012-09-11T12:48:33Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > That’s what I would have guessed, but a barista saying “Room?” would certainly give me pause - and I drink quite a lot of coffee. Where have you heard this said? When I worked as a barista in the 90s, I don’t recall that being a standard question, but now every single Starbucks or similar coffeeshop I go to, they ask “room” or “any room?” at the end of my large coffee order. Even if I say “large black coffee to go,” about a third of the time, they still reflexively ask if I want room. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/104 "2012-09-11T13:22:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > At most coffee houses/espresso bars in the United States, if you’re ordering regular drip coffee, you are expected to add the cream and sugar on your own, so baristas don’t want to know whether you want it black or white. They just want to know if you want room. I’ll tend to ask for “a white americano” (if it’s based on espresso) or “a white filter”. Usually they add the milk; occasionally they’ll give it to me black and point out the jug of milk on the side for me to add it myself. At least now if I hear “Room?” I won’t think the barista is hitting on me 😛 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/105 "2012-09-11T15:58:31Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > No better thread to discover that in! > > Wasabi wasabi, everyone was going on about it. When I finally tasted it I exclaimed - but this is horseradish! Not quite the same I know but I still felt ripped off! > [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > The real stuff is fairly distinct from horseradish - not as “hot”, different flavor - but the vast majority of the wasabi most places will have is tinted horseradish. mustard is also included in some things labeled wasabi spiced in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/106 "2012-09-11T16:07:33Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Yeah, but soft packs don’t close, so cigarettes get shredded and you get tobacco fuzz in the bottom of your purse. > > MsRobyn > Fellow former smoker you didn’t use a cigarette case? there was a style to contain the whole soft pack intact. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/107 "2012-09-11T20:11:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > In the Caribbean, the first time I saw stuffed christophine on a menu I thought it was an animal. My gf had to explain that it is a local term for chayote, a type of gourd. Now it is a favorite of mine. AKA mirliton, in Louisiana. Never knew the Caribbean term, though. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/108 "2012-09-11T20:18:01Z")
> [@JohnM](#): > > AKA mirliton, in Louisiana. Never knew the Caribbean term, though. It is actually kind of annoying, at least at first. Zaboca=avocado Melungen=egg plant Fig=banana Kurilee=bitter melon I think just the other day I finally made the connection that callaloo a leaf veggie is the same plant as a root vegetable. There are also tons of different names for non-potato root starch veggies like tanya or yam. I’ve seen people use the generic term ground provisions. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/109 "2012-09-11T23:42:49Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I don’t eat fruit or vegetables > [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > :eek: It’s more common than you’d think. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/110 "2012-09-12T00:57:01Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > IOf course, I once brought clementines to a Cub Scout meeting, and most of the kids were unfamiliar with them…anything’s possible. Never heard of them. Had to look it up just now. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/111 "2012-09-12T01:25:16Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I’ve seen people use the generic term ground provisions. heh. Cool.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/112 "2012-09-12T01:29:55Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > **Acsenray** , jicama is pronounced hick’ uhmuh and h for j is Spanish as far as I know. Wait wait wait wait wait… _that’s_ how you spell it? ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/113 "2012-09-12T01:38:46Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > It’s more common than you’d think. So what do you eat? And don’t you think this habit is worth correcting? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/114 "2012-09-12T01:49:34Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > mangetout is a type of pea? I thought it was “man get out” And I thought it was just _mange tout_: French for eat all. I didn’t realize the doper’s name was a pun. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/115 "2012-09-12T02:12:02Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And I thought it was just _mange tout_: French for eat all. I didn’t realize the doper’s name was a pun. I also thought it meant “eat everything,” and I never saw it as “man get out” until it was pointed out. These boards are educational. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/116 "2012-09-12T03:04:40Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Wait wait wait wait wait… _that’s_ how you spell it? Yup. [Jicama](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jicama). It’s good stuff eaten raw! Slightly sweet, slightly starchy, kind of… I dunno, maybe potato texture but maybe a sweeter cucumber flavor? Yummy! And “mangetout” is the name for peas with an edible pod (both snow and snap), so the name is very appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/117 "2012-09-12T04:18:27Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > So what do you eat? And don’t you think this habit is worth correcting? After 40 years and no apparent negative effects, changing seems unnecessary. I eat a bit of this and that. Bready things, cheesy things, meaty things, sugary things, though not much variety within those either. I suspect I’m a [supertaster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supertaster). ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/118 "2012-09-12T04:40:07Z")
The coffee room thing reminds me of when I bought a loaf of bread and they asked me, toast or sandwich? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/119 "2012-09-12T04:46:00Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > The coffee room thing reminds me of when I bought a loaf of bread and they asked me, toast or sandwich? Okay, I’ll bite… Pun intended, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230/120 "2012-09-12T06:13:14Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > After 40 years and no apparent negative effects, changing seems unnecessary. > > I eat a bit of this and that. Bready things, cheesy things, meaty things, sugary things, though not much variety within those either. I suspect I’m a [supertaster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supertaster). I’m fascinated by this. Do you actively avoid fruits and veggies - eating around them in prepared dishes or not ordering something because it includes veggies? Are potatoes and tomatoes (in all forms) something you avoid? Is it a taste or texture thing? Do you eat anything else to compensate for the lack of fibre and vitamins in your diet? Did your parents eat like this as well? I have a friend who is the same as you, and it sounds like it was just not something he was exposed to as a kid. I’m curious as I’m just teaching my 7 month old to eat and watched her joy the other day when she took her first mouthfuls of strawberry and watermelon - oh to taste something like that again for the first time! I was jealous. Perhaps you have that all ahead of you!😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lady-at-a-restaurant-didnt-know-what-carrots-or-cucumbers-were/634230.md?page=7)