# In the 24th Century, Do They Know What an Omelet Is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [November 13, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485 "2020-11-13T02:48:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/61 "2020-11-16T18:55:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Now I’m wondering why there are phasers stored in the ship’s galley. Are you going to complain about the chow? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/62 "2020-11-16T19:00:47Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > There was a thread here maybe a year ago, about “what do you put in your scrambled eggs.” It was quite clear that no one here made the distinction between omletes and scrambled eggs. That’s… really weird, because I have never in my life known anyone who didn’t make a distinction between those things. Those are quite different ways to prepare eggs. The idea that in the 24th century “omelette” means scrambled eggs, or could mean a multitude of ways to prepare eggs, seems quite reasonable to me. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/63 "2020-11-16T19:04:16Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The idea that in the 24th century “omelette” means scrambled eggs, or could mean a multitude of ways to prepare eggs, seems quite reasonable to me. Weirdly, this is too realistic for Star Trek. In 400 years, English should have changed dramatically from 1980s American English, but that’s never reflected in the show. Presumably the future-English they’re speaking is translated into 1980s English for the benefit of the viewer, just as (for example) the natives of Westeros are having their language translated into English for us. It’d be great fun to have a show that plays with language (the novel _Embassytown_ by China Mieville makes great hay out of linguistic science fiction), but that’s not what Star Trek does. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/64 "2020-11-16T19:04:23Z")
Watching the scene in question, Riker never says he’s making an omelette. Maybe the doc was just confused about what they were going to have. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/65 "2020-11-16T19:06:42Z")
It all goes back to the “Bio-engineered Healthy Egg” fiasco of 2156. Who could have foreseen that an “all egg white” egg would lead to the near extinction of chickens? ---
**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:** [November 16, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/66 "2020-11-16T19:07:22Z")
When I saw this thread, I thought, “no, he must have been making an omelette, because that’s what they calle it.” I found a clip. There’s no question–it’s not an omelette, not by any stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/67 "2020-11-16T19:10:54Z")
I think that’s the most likely explanation, she just made an assumption it was omelets before he started cooking. But yeah, he never claims it to be anything other than eggs. He put a plate of eggs in front of Data who clearly intended to eat them. What happens to those eggs? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/68 "2020-11-16T19:11:31Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > He put a plate of eggs in front of Data who clearly intended to eat them. What happens to those eggs? He’s fully functional. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/69 "2020-11-16T19:12:22Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > He’s fully functional. Oh you dear, that’s just what I wanted to hear! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/70 "2020-11-16T19:22:05Z")
Yep, he has an “atomic stomach” (or something like that) that burns food. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/71 "2020-11-16T19:24:00Z")
She probably banged her head when she fell down that turbolift shaft. Ouch! 😖 ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/72 "2020-11-16T20:49:51Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’ll bet that’s no galley. It’s way too small to feed the entire ship. It might be a “hobby room” much like an art studio or a metal shop. Phasers would be there for immediate access rather than a central arms room. It might be a galley used to cater for VIPs or banquets. In the 23rd century they only had “food synthesizers” instead of replicators, but it seems vague how inferior they are to replicators. As for the phasers; as soon as the shields go down intruders can materialize anywhere in the ship, it makes perfect sense to have weapons stashed everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/73 "2020-11-16T21:06:28Z")
> [@](#): > > In the 23rd century they only had “food synthesizers” instead of replicators, but it seems vague how inferior they are to replicators. They had “enough food to feed 430 people for five years” (“Mark of Gideon”), and meals were “reconstituted” (“Arena”). How exactly things like “synthesized meatloaf” (“Charlie X”) were produced by the “food synthesizers” (“The Trouble with Tribbles”) defies description. > [@](#): > > As for the phasers; as soon as the shields go down intruders can materialize anywhere in the ship, it makes perfect sense to have weapons stashed everywhere. “Perfect sense” only if the Federation is an unbalanced, highly paranoid society. Dealing with intruders is a task for Security, not some poor schlub trying to bake a soufflé while he’s off duty. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/74 "2020-11-16T21:21:05Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “Perfect sense” only if the Federation is an unbalanced, highly paranoid society. Dealing with intruders is a task for Security, not some poor schlub trying to bake a soufflé while he’s off duty. - WAG-Everyone in Starfleet has had basic weapons training. Much like a mechanic in the Army can still fire a rifle. ---
**Author:** ![moojja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@moojja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moojja)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/75 "2020-11-16T21:25:59Z")
My thoughts on synthesizers v. replicators; the difference is just quality. Replicator food just taste more like real food than synthesizers, and they are more energy efficient. It’s a star fleet ship, not a random civilian transport vessel. Everyone on that ship should be rated to use a phaser if needed. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/76 "2020-11-16T21:36:40Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Watching the scene in question, Riker never says he’s making an omelette. Maybe the doc was just confused about what they were going to have. They’re not chicken eggs, but Riker doesn’t seem to realize that’s an issue: eggs are eggs, right? And he credits his father with his cooking acumen, because his father hated cooking and left it to Riker to make all the food. And everyone is appalled when they taste the eggs. And Riker has one of the most famous egos of science fiction, and may not be the best judge of his own talents. I don’t think the doc is confused. I think Riker has no goddamned idea what an omelette is. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/77 "2020-11-16T21:40:51Z")
Also, Riker isn’t the best guide as to what tastes good. The man eats Gagh! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/78 "2020-11-16T22:02:28Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Are you going to complain about the chow? My God! This is Moose Turd pie! Tasty though. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/79 "2020-11-16T22:14:37Z")
I love that scene for how completely unfazed Picard and Riker are considering what just went down. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485/80 "2020-11-16T22:17:48Z")
So much weird shit happens on episodes of TNG or TOS that the reports back to HQ must be really crazy to read. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-24th-century-do-they-know-what-an-omelet-is/925485.md?page=5)