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Difference in food between Europe and USA

My diet is sooooooooooooo not European. Since I had gastric sleeve surgery I have found I eat more meat than ever and much less in the way of any carbs and I have lost 137 pounds. Hell, my breakfast right now is beef jerky, almonds, and coffee mixed with some milk.


The point I'm trying to make here is meat is life. Good thing I live in Texas!
 
daviyoung said:
what is your problem? lol

it's "apparently" because it's not my experience, it's yours...it's according to you

sounds like guilty conscience now
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Guilty consience? What? I'm just confused as to what you were trying to say with the post I replied to.

Geoff said:
I SAY PLUM IS LYING.
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jvsIqgz.gif
 
Plum said:
Guilty consience? What? If you weren't trying to imply that my personal anecdote either wasn't true or meant nothing why even mention it?
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because the poster i was replying to said "why would you eat fry up in 40 degree heat" and as an example I said that not only do they serve fish and chips in Spain, but according to you it's really good there

I was using your example positively
 
I'm a 30 minute train ride from Manhattan and I wouldn't trade the sheer variety of delicious food I have access to for any place in the world. Obviously expensive as hell though.

Japan is close though. Boy do I miss that sushi.
 
Hitmeneer said:
I don't eat pork, so not a lot of options there for me :D . Tuna instead, that's not bad at all!
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mang, there was a place back here that did what was essentially a square margherita with some bigass prawns on top of each slice. Thing was terrific.

But yeah, fair enough, if pork's out, marg will rank absurdly high. Terrific sauce and cheese can most certainly carry a dish a long way.

daviyoung said:
because the poster i was replying to said "why would you eat fry up in 40 degree heat" and as an example I said that not only do they serve fish and chips in Spain, but according to you it's really good there

I was using your example positively
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tbf even the idea that people wouldn't eat fried stuff in intense heat is a bit absurd, like... a visit to any warm country would quickly show. Fried food's goddamn everywhere.
 
Coriolanus said:
tbf even the idea that people wouldn't eat fried stuff in intense heat is a bit absurd, like... a visit to any warm country would quickly show. Fried food's goddamn everywhere.
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There is a difference between wouldn't eat and being a staple of the country's cuisine. Climate definitely has an impact on what is eaten on a daily basis.
 
daviyoung said:
because the poster i was replying to said "why would you eat fry up in 40 degree heat" and as an example I said that not only do they serve fish and chips in Spain, but according to you it's really good there
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The thing about the post was that, in the context of Spain, me having a nice fish and chips doesn't have anything to do with the availability of fried breakfasts at all apart from them both coming from Britain. Comparing the two just seemed odd which is why it had me thinking the post was semi-malicious.
 
Plum said:
The thing about the post was that, in the context of Spain, me having a nice fish and chips doesn't have anything to do with the availability of fried breakfasts at all apart from them both coming from Britain. Comparing the two just seemed odd which is why it had me thinking the post was semi-malicious.
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If you are referencing me I had no malicious intent, I was merely saying fish and chips is more ubiquitous in England partially because of the colder climate.
 
Plum said:
The thing about the post was that me having a nice fish and chips in Spain doesn't have anything to do with fried breakfasts at all apart from them both coming from Britain. Comparing the two, especially in the context of Spain, just seemed odd to me which is why it had me thinking the post was semi-malicious.
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what a comedy of errors

I never stopped talking about fish and chips and assumed that poster was using "fry up" synonymously with fish and chips

I never mentioned fried breakfasts once
 
Hollywood Duo said:
If you are referencing me I had no malicious intent, I was merely saying fish and chips is more ubiquitous in England partially because of the colder climate.
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Nah I was referencing the post from daviyoung. Though yeah, fish and chips is definitely more ubiquitous in Britain. The dish I had was in a semi-English restaurant as a special for the day, it's not like they're as easy to find as Paella or Bolognese. It's definitely easier to find than a full English, though, I haven't seen that anywhere whilst I've seen fish and chips in at least a few restaurants I've been to.

daviyoung said:
what a comedy of errors

I never stopped talking about fish and chips and assumed that poster was using "fry up" synonymously with fish and chips

I never mentioned fried breakfasts once
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Ha. British food names strike again.

A "fry up" is short-hand for a full English breakfast. Fish and chips, despite also being a "fry up", is not a fry up, it's just fish and chips.
 
has processed food been discussed? What are the differences especially the same brands between eu/us? Or global fast food/restaurant chains? Is, for example, the EU subway sandwich or Big Mac the same as in US?
 
Shadowhelper said:
People keep failing to understand what is being discussed here.

Its not American food versus European food, its food you find in those countries. Which is why Britain and especially America excel in this, because they are more international, and more willing to give up their boring traditional food.

If you knew much about Britain, you'd know its pretty rare to eat traditional British food. Thats the difference. The rest of Europe just eat their boring combinations of meat and potatoes. Britain is obviously the country that is most touched by immigration and the cultures associated it with that. Which is why it is said Pakistani and Indian food is considered the national cuisine often. The ubiquity of Pakistani cuisine in Britain alone makes the food in that country better than any European country.

And obviously London is by far the most international and global city in Europe hands down, and the cuisine reflects that.

The rest of Europe you just find their own cuisine mainly, and its mostly shit. Sorry, outside of perhaps Greek food, all European food is mediocre and inferior compared to Middle Easten, Asian, and South American cuisines. You get much more of these superior foods in London than anywhere else in Europe.

Still, it all still pales to NYC, i'd say, though.

The foods consumed in the majority of Europe, is boring and old. Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Eastern Europe, Switzerland, Spain man all of those places suck. Spains national dish is a bland mixture of shrimp, chicken and chorizo. What kinda of fucked up combination of meats is that? Nasty.
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U wut m8?

Fite me irl.

--------

Seriously though, this...this is quite something. Never heard tourists complaining about the food in Portugal (nor Spain to that matter).
 
You can find Americanized foods and local in most places. For example I'm in Cusco. There are tons of Pizza places, McDonald's etc, but if you try you can find just as many Peruvian highlands food which is a variety of potatoes, rice, corn, chicken with local seasoning, alpacas, wild Amazon fruits etc. If Cusco has this pattern, I imagine most modern places do.

In major cities in the US you can find authentic cuisines around the world. The bigger the city generally the larger the coverage. But European, especially French, is found everywhere.
 
RocknRola said:
Seriously though, this...this is quite something. Never heard tourists complaining about the food in Portugal (nor Spain to that matter).
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Last i checked, Italy is in Europe too.

eot said:
I agree with this post.
There is a world of difference between good cheese and great cheese. The mozzarella I had in Naples was unlike any other I've tried and I can buy mozzarella di bufala Campagna here (refrigerated for days ofc)
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That's the point.
While you can find all kinds of cuisine everywhere, it's often altered to better suit the local taste and people here somehow forget the importance of raw ingredients.

The pizza you can eat in Naples is unlike any other. It just is, it can't be replicated anywhere.
Because of the mozzarella, because of the tomatoes, because of the water itself.
Espresso is different.
You'd think making espresso should be an easy process and produce roughly the same results everywhere, but you'd be wrong.
Even within italy espresso tastes completely different at different latitudes.

Also, if documentaries i saw and articles I read weren't lying to me, it's a lot easier to obtain healthier (tastier) ingredients in Europe (fruit, meat, vegetables and of course milk -> cheese etc) vs North America.
Or, rather, it's still somewhat possible in some parts of Europe.
 
daviyoung said:
because the poster i was replying to said "why would you eat fry up in 40 degree heat" and as an example I said that not only do they serve fish and chips in Spain, but according to you it's really good there

I was using your example positively
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I went to both Manhattan and New Orleans this year, and hit the food scene pretty hard. IMO NO blew Manhattan out of the water. Manhattan had some damn good food, but the stuff I had in NO was god tier. Manhattan wasn't that expensive either.
 
ExInferus said:
has processed food been discussed? What are the differences especially the same brands between eu/us? Or global fast food/restaurant chains? Is, for example, the EU subway sandwich or Big Mac the same as in US?
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From my experience of going on holday to the states. Places like McDonalds are pretty much the same but they get some additional special burgers now and then that might not make it to the UK. I believe subway is largly the same.

In the UK we do have american dinners that sell the same stuff albeit in slightly smaller portions. Once in a dinner in the states I asked for a salad and it pretty much came in a bucket. It was so big it was ridiculous.

Saying that, thats largly the dinners and chain restaurants that give the states that rep. I have been to nice upmarket restaurants that give you sensible portions and high quality food of varying kinds. I went to a nice independent mexican place once in north carolina and it was the best mexican I have ever had.

The super markets are selling the same sort of stuff but with additional brands and additional versions of stuff they don't sell here. For example I remember eating a very nice version of some ritz crackers that they dont sell here. They were far tastier than any of the ritz stuff we get but also far worse for you. Prob not allowed to sell them here. Also I often saw some stuff that was the same brand as we have here but just more colourful. Same product, just brighter lol.

So overall its the chain establishments and the additional brands of stuff you can get in super markets that give this impression. Otherwise you can pretty much find what ever you want due to the multicultural population. This will also vary from state to state though I am sure.
 
RocknRola said:
It is, just talking about what I know myself though (hence why I also didn't mention any other country from the list).
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Yeah, sorry, it wasn't directed at you of course, just the fact that the person you quoted didn't put italy in the list.
EDIT: Oh, and France.

(loved the food in Spain and Portugal, btw !)
 
daviyoung said:
Bakeries are rare? There are about 5 Greggs in every town. If you're going to slate my country's food at least get your facts straight first.
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Greggs is not a bakery. The fact there was an avalanche of posts citing Greggs as a bakery proves my point, that Brits really don't understand what bakeries/boulangeries really are lol. Denmark, France, Hungary, Greece to name a few all have bakeries at every corner, in the UK you buy your pastries from the supermarkets or Pret/Greggs. :)

PS. I've lived in London for 4 years. Greggs is not a bakery. North London is the only place with bakeries but even there they are the hipster artisan bakeries where one loaf of bread costs £2.70 lol.
 
Steiner_Zi said:
Greggs is not a bakery. The fact there was an avalanche of posts citing Greggs as a bakery proves my point, that Brits really don't understand what bakeries/boulangeries really are lol. Denmark, France, Hungary, Greece to name a few all have bakeries at every corner, in the UK you buy your pastries from the supermarkets or Pret/Greggs. :)

PS. I've lived in London for 4 years. Greggs is not a bakery. North London is the only place with bakeries but even there they are the hipster artisan bakeries where one loaf of bread costs £2.70 lol.
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Seems like you lived in UK for 4 years and didn't leave your room. Greggs is a bakery by definition, it bakes things and sells them. You can get pastries there, not sure if you can still bread at them I haven't been in one in years.

Greggs is also not a supermarket, which was your initial point. Now you're saying in UK you buy your pastries at supermarkets and Greggs. So I guess the goal posts are moving.

In Croatia they have a bakery chain called Mlinar which is similar to Greggs. Is that also not a bakery?
 
daviyoung said:
Seems like you lived in UK for 4 years and didn't leave your room. Greggs is a bakery by definition, it bakes things and sells them. You can get pastries there, not sure if you can still bread at them I haven't been in one in years.

Greggs is also not a supermarket, which was your initial point. Now you're saying in UK you buy your pastries at supermarkets and Greggs. So I guess the goal posts are moving.

In Croatia they have a bakery chain called Mlinar which is similar to Greggs. Is that also not a bakery?
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A bakery that doesn't sell bread... OK! ^_^
Off-licenses and gas stations also sell packaged pastries are they also bakeries?
 
daviyoung said:
Gregg's bakes in house.

They used to sell bread, if they don't now it doesn't matter. Because they still bake their goods in the store.
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Pret and Eat also sell pastries, by your definition are they bakeries as well?

FYI this is what a bakery in Europe looks like and what I mean:


images


images
 
daviyoung said:
Gregg's bakes in house.

They used to sell bread, if they don't now it doesn't matter. Because they still bake their goods in the store.
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Would you call Lidl a bakery? They also bake their stuff, at least here. Not quite the same.

Disclaimer: I don't know Greggs, just pointing out I have issue with the argument used here
 
Does America have anything analogous to Greggs ? Is Greggs like Duncan donuts + meat pies. Help me out UK gaf, I'm trying to understand the debate surrounding UKs lack of bakeries .
 
Westbahnhof said:
Would you call Lidl a bakery? They also bake their stuff, at least here. Not quite the same.

Disclaimer: I don't know Greggs, just pointing out I have issue with the argument used here
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Lidl has a bakery function yes. If the idea is that bakery means a place where you can buy bread and pastries exclusively like you're in the 1950s then not many places are actually bakeries these days.

Wait a fucking second...

Steiner_Zi said:
images
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This picture is from here: http://careers.marksandspencer.com/careers-at-m-and-s/in-store/bakery-customer-assistant

Marks and Spencers is a supermarket. Are you trolling now?
 
It is all down to cultural differences, to call Greggs a bakery/boulangerie (as it is now, don't know about decades ago) is very funny many to me.
 
daviyoung said:
Lidl has a bakery function yes. If the idea is that bakery means a place where you can buy bread and pastries exclusively like you're in the 1950s then not many places are actually bakeries these days.
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I think that to the other poster, a bakery means bread made from scratch.
Does Gregg's do that?
Lidl bakes frozen or at least pre-made goods, and is as much a bakery as my kitchen, regularly baking frozen pizza, is a pizzeria, imo.
 
Westbahnhof said:
I think that to the other poster, a bakery means bread made from scratch.
Does Gregg's do that?
Lidl bakes frozen or at least pre-made goods, and is as much a bakery as my kitchen, regularly baking frozen pizza, is a pizzeria, imo.
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these definitions just keep getting better

fact is, your local bakery could also be freezing its dough
 
Westbahnhof said:
No it couldn't, you can actually see into the "kitchen". That's my point.
What's problematic about my definition?

Edit: and i agree, real bakeries are super rare.
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they are super rare, and they are mostly artisan but it depends on the area of whatever country you're in...rural places will likely still have the old-fashioned bakery functions, other places unlikely and unless you're up at 4am watching the baker stretch his dough you won't have a clue how the stuff's prepared

supermarkets across Europe sell bread, and that's mostly good enough for most of the population...for "sandwich bread" at least

anyway that poster decided to show a picture of a bakery inside a supermarket as his example of a European bakery so it's all jokes at this point
 
LeroyPantwether said:
Does America have anything analogous to Greggs ? Is Greggs like Duncan donuts + meat pies. Help me out UK gaf, I'm trying to understand the debate surrounding UKs lack of bakeries .
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It's a place that bakes and sells breads cakes and pastries, they're all over the place and lower quality than most local bakeries. They also make sandwiches and stuff too. Everyone mentioned Greggs as it's the one everyone's heard of. We have bakeries everywhere at least we do in the Midlands, can't speak for big cities like London but I'm sure they have them all over the place too.

We fucking love cakes and bread in the UK, that guy was just trolling.
 
daviyoung said:
anyway that poster decided to show a picture of a bakery inside a supermarket as his example of a European bakery so it's all jokes at this point
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M&S are obviously imitating the boulangerie-style look in their stores, what's so difficult to comprehend? It's funny you chose to focus on that and not on the content of the pictures which is wildly different from Greggs; but then again you insulted me I don't get out of my room and claimed Greggs is a bakery so you're struggling to grasp from something at this point. :)
 
Steiner_Zi said:
M&S are obviously imitating the boulangerie-style look in their stores, what's so difficult to comprehend? It's funny you chose to focus on that and not on the content of the pictures which is wildly different from Greggs; but then again you insulted me I don't get out of my room and claimed Greggs is a bakery so you're struggling to grasp from something at this point. :)
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Greggs bakes its pastries and its bakes. It bakes its bread that it uses that for its sandwiches but it doesn't sell the bread on its own. So yes, it's a bakery. Unless you mean it makes its dough from scratch, and that's what defines a bakery in which case I can't help you, I doubt it does but I don't know. But I can tell you that M&S doesn't make its own dough each day either.
 
daviyoung said:
Greggs bakes its pastries and its bakes. It bakes its bread that it uses that for its sandwiches but it doesn't sell the bread on its own. So yes, it's a bakery. Unless you mean it makes its dough from scratch, and that's what defines a bakery in which case I can't help you, I doubt it does but I don't know. But I can tell you that M&S doesn't make its own dough each day either.
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i mean
i dunno how definitions may vary

but i'd consider selling bread on its own one of the key requirement of a bakery
 
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