Let’s not suggest Americans are the only, or even the worst culprits of this particular misdemeanour; I have seen German tourists refusing all items on the menu and insisting that they be served omelette in a Cypriot Taverna, and, of course, there are the hordes of Britons who visit the Mediterranean region and don’t even want to know about the local foods.
I’m stunned and horrified by the prospect of anyone ever eating at McDonald’s, by their own volition, even in their own country.
I will stop hijacking now.
Give slow roasted, unseasoned goat a try sometime. You will come to appreciate the delectable flavoring imparted to a McD’s hamburger by the ground worms and soyabeans.
Truthfully, though I don’t mind McD’s food. There was a period of about four years where I ate at McD’s every day of the week - and twice on Sundays. I didn’t bloat up and turn into a fat monster like the clown in that movie that just came out because I walked every where in those days. My average day included about two hours of walking from here to there and back again.
These days I rarely get to McD’s. My wife cooks what is supposed to be better food. More vegetables, less meat and fat. I’ve gained twenty pounds and I’ve got a marginally high blood pressure (140/100.) It’s lack of exercise that’s getting me, not the food. I don’t have the time to walk everywhere anymore, and if I did I mostly have more stuff to take with me than I can carry.
But yeah. Given time and a choice I’d rather eat at a nice restaurant than at McD’s. McD’s is people fuel. You’ve got to go to a nice restaurant for a good meal.
Actually, a good “Mettbrötchen” should contain ONLY raw ground pork. No beef. And it is absolutely delicious and there is almost no danger of trichinellosis. According to this website from Penn State, there was an outbreak in Germany in late 1998 and early 1999. However, as you can see from the link, all pork is screened for trichinella (ever since 1937), and there are
. In other words, there is really no reason to worry and miss something that is really delicious. I’m getting a craving for a “Mettbrötchen” right now, but the heathen Dutch don’t make them. The closest thing they have is something called “Ossenworst” made from raw beef and not raw pork.
I never understand the aversion most Americans have to eating raw meat like “Steak Tartare” or “Schweinemett”, when almost everyone likes their steak rare or medium-rare. The best raw ground meat I ever ate was a paste made from finely ground raw lamb I had in Lebanese restaurant in London once. My American friend who was with me almost threw up.
One last thing: I totally agree with you that Europeans don’t know how to cook bacon. Decent bacon should be crispy, not the spongy, greasy, soft concoction they make here!
I have been busy and wasn’t able to get back and participate more in this thread, after I posted it. I’m sorry, since over 90% of the posts have been very informative as well as containing interesting stories about foods in different countries.
There was one post that has me wondering.
Except for a trip to Cancun, this was our first trip abroad, and that was our first meal on the first day. None of the waiters spoke English, so we went for what we knew. However, I don’t see how I implied that Europeans are inept enough to undercook their food. If you read the OP I said
I started this thread only because of my concern about it being safe to eat bacon that is not cooked more. I now realize that it is safe, especially since bacon is smoked. Ferret Herder did a wonderful job of describing the concern Americans are taught to have about eating pork that is not cooked properly. Even after finding out that I do not have to worry about this, you can count on the fact that if I ever order a BLT again that I will request that it is cooked crispy. Not just for taste, but because I will also continue to cook pork chops completely through on the grill, so I wouldn’t worry about bugs poring through my tissue. Is it possible that someone saw a stereotype where none existed. :rolleyes: [sup]Which would be a form of stereotyping in itself.[/sup]