Wherein we ask each other dialect questions we don't quite understand

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yep.

When I went to Russia visiting Moscow & St. Petersburg a while back, not only did I see American chains, I saw local chains as well. And some of them were "ethnic".

Most ethnic places, however, were single location restaurants. And what I saw depended on where I was. I saw a LOT of Japanese/sushi places, especially around hotels, trendy malls and tourist locations, for example. Off the beaten path, however? Not so much.

More recently, my folks went to Hungary and Germany, and they, too, saw ethnic eateries. Again, mostly single locations, not chains.

 

[Bullgrit]

For the record, I know McDonald's, Subway, Pizza Hut, etc. are ubiquitous throughout the world. With my question, I was thinking of places other than that. I wonder, though, do people consider McDonald's and Subway and Pizza Hut as "American"?

Bullgrit

 

[Janx]

By the way, you really need to start spelling that word correctly. For better or for worse, it's starting to grate on me. It's a bit like repeatedly getting someone's name wrong.

sorry, but like the guy not being happy with the spelling of Uwe Boll, can you help out and tell me how you'd like it spelt?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

For the record, I know McDonald's, Subway, Pizza Hut, etc. are ubiquitous throughout the world. With my question, I was thinking of places other than that. I wonder, though, do people consider McDonald's and Subway and Pizza Hut as "American"?

Bullgrit

Very much so.

 

[Janx]

I don't think the shape is telling. I know here in the US, they frequently come both round and triangular.

of course, do we know we're actually eating scones or simply something they called a scone?

Maybe they shouldn't be allowed to sell us cultural food unless a guy from that culture makes it. It's the only way to be sure our scones are correct.

 

[Bullgrit]

Very much so.

I know it sounds like a naive question, on the face of it. But I know some such products get changed so much to match their local market that I wondered if they had been somewhat adopted as multi-cultural or neutral-cultural.

But then many people consider Toyota and Honda as Japanese?

Bullgrit

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

of course, do we know we're actually eating scones or simply something they called a scone?

Maybe they shouldn't be allowed to sell us cultural food unless a guy from that culture makes it. It's the only way to be sure our scones are correct.

That would SO not fly in Texas- almost all the cooks in commercial kitchens around here these days are Mexicans!

There was a place near me called Ying's Jalapeño Grill. They had a complete Mexican and complete Chinese menu- all of it good. Now, admittedly, the Chinese they were making was the Americanized stuff, but still.

Even in places where you could get authentic Japanese or Chinese dishes (on a separate menu), the cook staff were usually not Asians of any kind.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

But then many people consider Toyota and Honda as Japanese?

They are. At least, they're at least as Japanese as a BMW is German or a Chrysler is American...

 

[Bullgrit]

They are. At least, they're at least as Japanese as a BMW is German or a Chrysler is American.

Yeah, in that the corporation headquarters are located in those countries. But the entire vehicle we drive in America is designed for American drivers, built with American parts, and assembled by Americans, in factories located in America. I don't think we think of them as "foreign" cars as much as we used to, say 20+ years ago. I'd bet if you asked some younger drivers nowadays, the concept of foreign vs. domestic cars doesn't mean as much (if at all) to them.

Bullgrit

 

[tomBitonti]

I've seen (and had) Japanese and Indian food all over (England, Nice, Rome, Beijing). Indian food in London is very good (but that's not surprising, I'd say).

There are McDonalds and Pizza Hut in China, at least, in the big cities. They are a lot nicer there than here in the USA, and the food offerings and flavors are quite a bit different. They are also quite pricy for locals.

Curiously, Pizza Hut is a high end restaurant in China. Also, a good place to take a date. The menu there has Pizza, of course, but a lot else, including lots of Chinese dishes, and including steak. And you can get warm corn juice (its better than it sounds, but a bit much to drink a whole glass.)

Thx!

TomB