If I had a dollar for every time I've heard either comment. I've even had relatives ask me if I'm a lesbian. Almost forty, no kids, never married, doesn't bring guys to the summer barbeque or Thanksgiving dinner...yep, michelec must play for the other team. I guess it should bother me but I find it more funny than anything else.

When I last visited my Aunt she asked me did I ever want to get married and I told her I honestly didn't know. I think if I do it at all it won't be until later in life, like in my 50s. I really enjoy being independent and having my space, and once you start to not just get used to it--but actually start to revel in it--that's pretty hard to give up. Of course I say all this with the disclaimer, "Making plans is a good way to make God laugh."

[small voice]I love Miracle Whip. Mayonnaise is yucky. And I hate melons of all kinds.[/small voice]

Mr. jpgr is the same way. And he likes coffee ice cream, because he says it tasts like coffee smells. All of it is vile to me. Ick.

On watermelon, I make the following amendment: watermelon-flavored Jolly Ranchers are yummy! They bear no resemblance to the fruit, though.

I'm a vegetarian and Mr. jpgr is not, but he is very very picky. He often has a harder time when we eat at someone else's home than I do. I don't make a fuss, I just eat what I can and smile a lot. Heck, my brother took us out to eat at a BBQ place in the middle of the stockyards in Forth Worth, and I managed OK. Baked potatoes and salad are my friends!

I have to disagree about eating what is in front of me at other people's houses. This is a perk of being a grown-up, I no longer have to eat the stuff I hate. Of course I am not going to complain about it, I just make a neat little pile of mushrooms at the corner of my plate, or at a casual dinner, put them on a fungus lovers plate. And if you make a whole dish that tastes like old shoes? Well I will smile and move it around on my plate until I can get a sandwich later at home. I can't imagine asking you if you had anything else!

Miracle whip is my comfort food I am afraid. Stupid high Cholesterol.

oh and all melons are of the devil. Why must fruit salad be mostly melon?

Thanks for the heads-up about the animal testing, Cerise6304. I shall do some research. The Almay waterproof? Raccoon eyes in less than 2 hours.



The idea kind of scares me, SBitte8670.


You know? I'm starting to think it's just me. Because that mascara? Raccoon eyes in less than 30 minutes! And I've never kept one mascara long enough to worry about the replacement thing, but I agree - you can get nasty stuff going on in your eyes if you don't replace often.

I've also tried Benefit's SheLaq, but that wasn't very helpful and I just made a mess of trying to put it on.


Add to that the fact I refuse to shave bits frequently (yeah, TMI, I know) and wear "comfortable shoes" and I'm so conditioned to that response I'm usually somewhat shocked when people don't automatically think I'm a lesbian! (It was worse back when I had a mohawk.) I don't get the need to be constantly paired up. People think you are "sad" or "lonely" if you aren't. Why do they assume it's impossible to be alone without being lonely?

SorchaRei - love the alone time rules.

jpgr I'm in the OC, too. I work near Tustin and live in Orange. Woo for us!

I think most of us were twins seperated at birth because I fall into the same category as most of you. I've been dating my boyfriend for 3 years and everyone keeps asking us when the wedding is. Yah, because I can't possibly date a guy for an extended period of time without getting married. My sister was married at an early age (19) and divorced 9 years later. She immediately started dating and was married within a year of her divorce being final. She's one of those that can't stand to be on her own and I feel kinda bad for her. I want to get married once and make it work. Plus there are things I want to do with my life before I'm attached at the ring finger. This in no way is a bash against married people, because I admire those that are married...it's just not for me yet.

I'm love the smell of coffee but can't stand the taste. Mayonnaise makes me hork.

With my lifestyle, I can't be picky as different foods are unavailable in different countries, and it can also make my country look bad if I refuse a local delicacy. Fried ants are considered yumtastic here, and if someone puts a big old plate of bugs in front of me, I'm going to eat it.

There is apparently a kosher vegan in the Foreign Service. I have no idea what she eats.

Because melon is cheap and berries are expensive (relatively speaking).

miri Revlon makes a lash tint (it's not mascara) that stays on without budging for 2 - 3 days. I love it! It's watery, so you can end up getting some underneath your eyes as you apply it. You have to make sure to take it off right away.

When I was living in Thailand, I promised myself that I would try anything once. After all, I can't say I don't like it if I haven't tried it. Fried ants are actually not that bad. They taste like nothing - just crispy and salty. Pig intestines, on the other hand, are completely and utterly vile.

Watermelon isn't so bad (especially the jolly ranchers) but the TEXTURE is nasty.

I adore coffee.

I hated mayo as a child b/c my mother traumatized me with Miracle Whip. It's vile, vile, vile.
The best mayo is, without a doubt, homemade. And's it's a snap to make, too, if you have a blender.


Ritatome, I was just going to post about Blenheim's! That stuff is the best, even if you have to special order it by the case around here. The Red Cap stuff (the hot stuff) still has a huge kick--you can get a sneezing attack just by sniffing the bubbles. We served it at our wedding and it got rave reviews.

Rude eating habits: My husband can't understand why I get offended when I serve him a plate of something I've put considerable effort into making, and he gets up and goes and gets a bottle of hot sauce, or curry powder. Hello? Do you think that I didn't put some thought into spicing it already?
The topper was the time that he stirred his salad into his bowl of homemade, succulent beef stew. That broke so many food rules that my brain pan cracked.

As for eating what is in front of you at peoples' houses: You can always say, "Oh, no thank you, I'm full already" if you think that the stewed tripe is gonna taste like poached rope. But what you don't say is "Yuck, no, I wouldn't eat that on a bet," or "Yuck, no, I only eat stewed kidneys these days, it's a special diet."
No, thank you is a magical, lovely phrase. I'm trying to teach it to my kids.

I also can't stand when you order something unusual and your dining companion goes, "ewww....I can't believe you're going to eat that!" Really helps to prepare the palate for an enjoyable experience. Example: I made an apple crisp for a dinner party one night, and one of my friends put peanut butter and chocolate syrup on top of it, whereas I went for the vanilla ice cream/cheddar cheese combo. We both got the ewww.

Mayo is nasty. Miracle Whip is food of the gods (overweight, clogged artery gods, but still.) Watermelon -- indeed, all melon -- bleah. I don't like either coffee or tea, and must be the only Michigander in existence who thinks Vernor's is disGUSTing.

I can't get over $2 for a bottle of Faygo. Faygo is the cheap stuff everyone's mom bought for parties, and you always have like 7 extra 2-liters in the basement afterwards. My grocery store had 2-litres like 10 for $10 the other day.



Heh, I can top this, although fortunately it didn't happen to me personally. But I do have knowledge of someone whose reprehensible MIL gave her a shopping bag full of pregnancy tests the year after she got married. At the family Christmas gathering. Can you even imagine?

My big eating no no usually involves not eating cute animals. Which I totally know is being a hypocrite - why is a rabbit cuter than a cow. But the week I was in Oxford, the Monday evening we got a menu for the entire week. I just about died - Monday prawns (I also keep seafood kosher - I know, crazy to keep half kosher); Tuesday, Lamb; Wednesday, pork; Thursday Lamb again and Friday duck. And, then they changed the Friday menu - to vension. Which I found out after I had seen very cute deer that afternoon. The Wed meal was the only meal I ate. The rest of the week I had a sandwich before dinner and ate the side dishes. Lots of rice that week :-)

Count me happy that I didn't pass the Foreign Service Exam!

Hee! My mother just did that to me this past weekend when I was visiting. Back to the coffee dislike - I gave up coffee two years ago because it was upsetting my stomach. Not the caffeine - I can still drink plenty of stuff with caffeine in it. But I'd heard that there are certain oils in coffee that can give you a sour tummy, even with decaf. I found that happening with me so I gave it up. And everytime I see my mother - "Hi, hon! There's a fresh pot of coffee on!" "No, thanks, Mom - remember? I gave coffee up two years ago." "You did? Two years? No you didn't! You still drink coffee, don't you? Go have some, it's delicious!" This past weekend when she did it, my sister-in-law and I looked at each other, cracked up laughing (because she's used to that kind of stuff from my Mom too!), and I went, "You're right, Mom. I didn't give up coffee two years ago. I'm completely pulling your leg! This cup of tea I'm holding is just a figment of your imagination - I'm totally still a coffee drinker!"

Funny enough, I also LOVE coffee ice cream! It's my absoulte favorite! Which, really, it wasn't the taste of coffee that I didn't like, it was that it upset my stomach.

Yummmmmm....apple crisp. I think I'll have to go to the store and get some apples and make some. Thanks, siebal!

Mascara: I swear by this Neutrogena gel-based stuff. Don't remember the name offhand, though.


Absolutely -- I'm another one who thought she hated mayonnaise. But then, the joyous discovery of mayo that does not come out of a jar -- ah! And I was amazed at how simple it was to make. I'd always figured it was one of those things that would have an ingredients list a page long.


I grew up in a family that put ketchup on mac'n'cheese. When mac'n'cheese was served at a Brownie gathering, I got a chorus of "ewwww"s when I asked for ketchup. So I trained myself to like it without ketchup (my parents still slather it on theirs). Then, the other week I made a not-so-good batch of mac'n'cheese -- just completely flavorless. I no longer can stand the idea of ketchup on macaroni, so I livened up my blah dish with mustard.


I once spent 20 minutes at the grocery store searching for a bag of popcorn kernels. I asked a store staffer for help, and he was completely baffled by the idea of popcorn being neither a) already popped & in a big plastic bag, or b) in a box of microwavable packets.

I am so glad my mom isn't the only one that forgets and then questions my allergies/long time food choices.

Those crazy moms.

M.Darcy, my mom's favorite story about my grandmother (who died when I was very young) involves eating cute animals. Apparently my grandfather took grandma out to a fancy seafood place for an anniversary dinner. She ordered the lobster, and when the waiter asked her to pick one from the tank she said she'd rather not, why doesn't the chef choose? So a few minutes later the chef comes over to their table with a live lobster to ask if it is acceptable. Her response: "I don't want to make friends with the poor creature, I just want to eat him!"

Ever since then she couldn't eat anything that stared back at her. I have the same problem.

I might try a bug, and then make sure they knew I had already eaten, or was having an appendix attack or whatever would get me out of there fast!
What if it was dog though?

Not to pick on you WesAddams I am impressed and interested.

This food topic comes up more and more now that I am trying to keep my choleserol down. If I go to a friend's for dinner I will eat the steak or cheese sauce or whatever, but if it's my parents or my in-laws I figure I get to stick to my diet, otherwise they will kill me with their "it's just one doughnut!"

I used to be with you on the cute thing M. Darcy, but lamb chops are so freakin' tasty! I don't eat bacon for at least two weeks after I rewatch Babe.

I was at a restaurant with family a couple of weeks ago and the specialty that night was baby goat. Why do they have to add baby to the name of the dish? It was in a stew, not a whole goat on a plate. One of my cousins had it and said it was delicious.

Hee! That movie turned one of my best friends into a vegetarian for several YEARS afterwards!!

jpgr - Next time you're in FW, make your brother take you to Angelo's for BBQ and then consider abandoning the vegetarian thing for just one evening. (Yes, I'm kidding about giving up your beliefs, but really, that's some damn fine barbeque.)

devaju - I'm with you on the "try anything once." For my old job, I used to have to travel to Manila several times a year. My contact at our vendor there used to take all the Americans out eat at the most native place he could find, just to see if we'd actually eat what was served. (No, not as obnoxious as it seems. He told us in advance what was up.) He said I was the only American who actually agreed to eat the duck embryo, and it was pretty tasty. I've got a cast iron stomach, so I'll try anything.

miri, can I just introduce myself (Hi!) and say thank you? How many times do I have to read how Maybelline Great Lash is the Secret Mascara of the Stars, yadda, and wonder: why, why, why? Gads! Clumpy start, flaky finish? No, thanks!

Add me to that camp, too. Wouldn't duck embryo just be like eating an egg?


And since everyone's weighing in on the Great Mascara Debate, I'd like to submit L'oreal Voluminous. I rub my eyes all the time and it never seems to give the raccoon eyes, and it looks good, too!

Hee. The first time I saw Babe, I was with a group of friends. We went out to eat afterwards at a local diner where we eat quite often. Without thinking, I ordered my "usual" -- a BLT. There was a shocked silence as everyone at the table stared at me like the horribly insensitive person that I am. Of course, then I had to add to the situation by saying, "What? It's not like I slit the pig's throat myself." It's sort of surprising that my friends still speak to me.

Well, imagine that the egg had been allowed to develop for a while. It was definitely a formed duck, but the bones weren't hard yet. Maybe "duck fetus" is a more appropriate description?

(Apologies to the easily queasy out there.)

There's some kind of tiny bird that is cooked whole and eaten whole (bones, everything) that is a classic French dish; this sounds similar, except for the unborn part.
Damn. Now must try to find out the name of that stupid tiny bird. Hate it when the memory lets me know.
I'd have trouble eating goat, as I had one for a pet as a child. For the most part, however, I'll try most anything.

ETA: Ortolons! Or something along that spelling....

One night when I was still in high school we were having a family Dinner and Movie night.

My dad and I made baby back ribs and sent my mom and brother to the video store. They come home with Babe.

And yes, we ate the ribs while we watched the movie. We're weird.

Now me, I'd rather not know in advance what was up. I'd rather go in blind, not have the menu translated for me, and then be told after I'd already decided what I liked and didn't. I mean, something like live octopus, it's kind of obvious what it is, but if it's something "gross" chopped up in a stew or deep-fried, I'd rather not be prejudiced to thinking it's disgusting until after I'd tasted it. Especially if it grossed me out so much I wasn't sure I could gag it down. I figure that's how I was introduced to a lot of food to begin with -- the first time I had a hamburger, my parents just told me it was a hamburger, not that it was ground-up cow on a bun.

Oh HELL no. Bring on WWIII if need be, there's NO way I'd be eating any sort of bug. No. Way. You are a much more generous person than I am.


I believe it was Blurry who said it best in one of the TAR chats: "Food chain. I feel it is my duty to eat anything that could one day turn around and eat me." Hee!

siebal,
I'm a L'Orealophile too. Between the eye rubbing and frequent tearing (laugh? tears. yawn? tears. fortunately, not so many crying tears), it gets a workout, and it holds up.


Duck embryos and the like -- my grandmother used to make a soup for one of the Jewish holidays that included chicken embryos. Or, since we didn't know from the word 'embryo' when we were little, they were 'chickens before the egg.' They were little bits of eggy goodness.

kate, maybe you should talk with this woman.

Anyway, I'm sensing a theme around here. I hate watermelon as well. and I don't drink coffee (diet coke in the morning, sure - but coffee? ick), except if I've eaten too much at dinner (I don't like the taste, but I find it helps as a digestive aid).

And I'm not allergic to anything, but I really don't like most forms of chocolate (not all - chocolate cake, yummy) and I'm constantly referred to as the devil because of it. And people just don't get the whole cake nuance, so if they "catch" me eating a piece of cake, they get all accusatory about it ("I thought you didn't like chocolate! - liar").

That's the the technique mr pseudo eventually developed after going to Japan for the first time. He hates almost all seafood, and after a while, he just didn't ask anymore.

I, on the other hand, can eat just about everything. I'm just curious about how stuff tastes! And I figure that if some culture out there has the thing on its menu, it can't be too bad. At the very least, I won't die. Heh.

Mmmmmm mustard. Anyone else like mustard on eggs? Just me? And mustard on french fries... mmmmm mustard.

Ob cute animals: Going vegetarian wasn't hard for me, as I never really liked meat. In high school, I played a sheep in a summer drama production, and gave up lamb after that. I didn't go fully veg until after I had pets, though.

My hubby was worried when I told him I was giving up meat, since I cook for him. I told him it was my thing and my life and it wouldn't affect him. He's been very supportive (it's been 11 years now). I still cook meat for him actually, but he's eaten a lot more veggie meals than he ever thought he would.

And back to Moms - my first birthday dinner after I became a vegetarian, my mom made ribs! Luckily there was mac 'n cheese on the side, my ultimate favorite comfort food.

The whole kid/no kid/work/no work thing resonates with me. As a stay at home mom of three and a half (Due Dec), I just spent a great weekend hosting a close childless, unmarried friend. We're both pleased with our lives but talked about most of the things y'all mentioned here--basically how many people assume any lifestyle choice other than the one they have made is wrong for everyone else.

She was just back from a trip to exotic Mexico and I got to swoon over her pictures of the same pyramid that Jill climed up. She also was getting to drink a great wine and talk about 2003 summer heat on grapes, while I was doing the decaf tea thing. And she had to chose between a lateral promotion that would have moved her to Rome or staying in DC (she's still stateside). Its the life she's chosen and perfect for her.

For me, I'm mourning not going to TARcon because of childcare issues (this time) and newborn issues (next time) and the fact that my messy house is no one's fault but mine (and the kid's but they are still quite little). Still I love this life and wouldn't trade it for hers.

A life lived deliberately normally ends up being well lived. A life lived because of others expectations can end up quite harsh.

BTW: I know at least 3 single women in their 40s who've adopted, because that's when they finally "changed their minds." People are still trying to use that line to scare my sis into kids. "It might be too late!" As Mirna would say "Disgusting."

Hildy, you can relax now; the itty-bitty birds are ortolans.

Watermelon? OK, in small servings, but mostly it's "so what". A good sweet ripe honeydew, on the other hand, well, I can make that into a meal. Same for a good cantelope. Most other melons fall more into the eh category.

Mayo? I don't use it much, but when I do it has to be Hellman's. Miracle Whip is the food of the demons. I'm much more likely to use horseradish or tartar sauce on a sandwich.

Vernor's is excellent, and I am utterly boggled by the thought of Faygo as a specialty pop--around here it's in the 4-cans-for-a-dollar or a buck-and-a-quarter for a two-liter category. Now Stewart's, I'll pay close to that kind of price for.

On the subject of weird food, I have been served and tasted both horse and dog. The former in Europe and the latter in Asia. Horse was quite good, dog I only tried because I had to. It was a delicacy for the tribe I was working with. I know all you dog owners out there probably hate me now (I try to avoid telling people in North America that I've tried it).

I'm sure there are other weird things, but those are at the top of my list. The first time I tried rabbit I was at this tiny roadside place in France. While we were waiting to be served we could hear the chef at work in the kitchen with a cleaver. And for the rest of the day I had the "Killed a Wabbit!" Loony Toones episode stuck in my head. The one where they sing it to The Ring by Wagner? The rabbit and pommes frites was delicious.

If you like mustard on fries (or mayo) you'll get along famously in Europe. I hate Frenchs yellow mustard, only because it is so YELLOW! It stains everything. I can't bear to touch it. A good brown dijon is fine.

Actually, the Faygo out here comes in little glass bottles like Stewarts, all painted up to look 'Old Timey'. Every time I go to BevMo (where I purchase most of my wine, which I go through entirely too fast) I have to comment on the rediculousness of it all. Now hubby just asks me to get the rant out of the way in the car on the way to the store.

Okay, I looked it up. It's $1.29 for a 16 oz glass bottle of Faygo at BevMo. Not as bad as $2, but still WAAAAY overpriced for Faygo. Aren't 2 liters 49 cents in Michigan?

Source

ETA: I am going slowly insane. Some maintenence guy is filing a pipe in the bathroom down the hall and it sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Why do they have to do this during the middle of a work day? *shudder*

I'm new to these forums, though I've been lurking for the last few weeks. I've only recently gotten into TAR. Uhh, about three weeks ago. It's been interesting, to say the least.

Regarding the child(ren) question: I have a daughter. She's 11. I separated from her father a number of years ago, although we remain friends and he's very much a part of her life. They only just returned from a trip abroad. She's certainly not perfect - and we've certainly had our share of awful fights - but most of my friends think she's quite sweet, helpful and thoughtful. So, I must be doing something right. Though I wish we'd fight less. *le sigh*

When I was much younger, I used to bug a friend of mine about having kids and if I could go back and change that, I would. Because it's so wrong.

Regarding food and cooking for guests: I hate mayonnaise, miracle whip and anything like that. HATE. So gross. I also really dislike mustard. Though I do keep Dijon mustard around for certain recipes. I love ketchup, but I use it appropriately - for fries, veggie dogs and burgers. I'm not fond of eggs and will generally only use them in certain recipes. My fridge would have to be pretty bare for me to actually eat a cooked egg.

My other big thing is that I have a serious food aversion to fish and seafood. I usually explain it away as an allergy, because most people don't get it. No, I won't go into shock if I eat it, but I will become very ill. I've eaten non-fish/seafood dishes that tasted fishy and reacted to that.

When I lived in France, I stayed with a family. Another family they knew invited them to dinner and I was to come with. When we arrived, the mother proudly showed off the main dish - some kind of fish that the father had caught. Instead of throwing a fuss, I calmly explained to them that I wasn't trying to be rude, but that I couldn't eat fish due to an "allergy". Basically, I didn't want them to feel badly or miffed that I wasn't eating the fish that they had so proudly proffered. I was happy to eat whatever else they had prepared. The mother insisted on making me a cheese omelette. I didn't refuse, even though I'm not an egg person, but I did awful about her going to the extra effort.

The only time I threw a "fit" over food being served to me was when I was in high school. A local pizza place had offered to provide pizzas for the cast and crew of the play I was involved with. The thing is, easily a third of the cast and crew was vegetarian. I politely asked if the director (also the drama teacher) might mention to the pizza place that a vegetarian pizza or two would be appreciated. She steadfastedly refused, because it was a gift. Come the night of the wrap party, all the vegetarians were off in a corner by themselves not eating, because there was nothing for them to eat.

If I'm going to have guests over for dinner, I try very hard to take into consideration their tastes and dietary restrictions and work these around my tastes and dietary restrictions. I couldn't fathom inviting people over, serving them something they hate and expecting them to eat it.

It does pose a bit of a problem when your guests are following the South Beach diet and you're a strict vegetarian. But because I really wanted to have my friends over, I worked out a menu with them ahead of time. I figure, they're my friends. I love them dearly. They're worth the effort.

Cooking for my parents is the hardest. My dad isn't exactly adventurous when it comes to food. So, he always puts up a fuss when I cook something that he hasn't had before. However, I don't make him eat things I know he hates, such as mushrooms or spinach. That said, I'm not about to go out and purchase a bunch of steak for him either, mostly because I don't want to cook it. So, as a compromise, I usually pick up a selection of fabulous deli meats from a local Italian store.

If I'm in a situation where nothing meatless is being offered, I eat what I can and leave the rest. Or, if possible - and this only happens when I volunteer for functions at my daughter's dance school - I discreetly ask someone to pick me up a veggie sandwich at Tim Horton's, if it's not an inconvenience for them.

I LOVE the taste of horse. In Switzerland, it's very common to eat horse in fondue, and it's great. I used to be able to get it at the St. Lawrence Market, but now I have to special order it. I have an ex-girl friend who nearly broke up with me because I like horse meat.

The food I hate the most is Ketchup...HATE!!! I have this irrational hatred of the stuff. I don't even like to touch a plate that has it on it. That's one of the reasons why I quit my job as a dish washer...well that and it was a crap ass job. Seriously if I was on TAR and we had to eat a bowl of Ketchup instead of cavier, I would have flipped. I would still be there.

I used to be a picky eater, but I was raised that if someone serves you something you eat it. It was because of this that I didn't eat over at a lot of friends houses. Now I'll eat anything...well except for ketchup.

Big old word. Expecially to the bit about mushrooms, blech. I will eat around the foods I don't like, smiling politely the whole time. In the same token, I don't drink cola of any kind, including diet. The only sodas I like are the lemon-lime variety or cream soda. And most people don't have those in their houses. So I just drink water and live with it. I don't expect people to supply non-cola choices just because I can't stand the taste.

I got a taste of what some of you allergy people have to live with while breastfeeding my son who had issues with dairy. I had to avoid dairy in every form. Yes mom, that means no cheese in my potatoes, no milk in my decaf coffee, no ice cream for dessert. No one could *ever* remember that I had to stay away from dairy, especially since the baby was the one with the problem, not me. And after my parents spent one horrible afternoon with the gassy, screaming baby before I cut out dairy, you'd think they'd remember. I think they just blamed the breastfeeding in general and not the dairy, my dad made a comment the other day alluding to that fact. Then again it took my family *years* to remember the non-cola bit, I stopped drinking it in college.

Love watermelon, coffee and mayo, hate Miracle Whip. It is of the Devil. Mayo on fries is really good, gross as it sounds. I do like chocolate, but prefer desserts of the non-chocolate variety if I have my choice. Mushrooms are really the only thing I won't eat, and if I don't know it's there, and find out later, I don't freak out. It's a texture thing, so if I didn't know I ate it then I'm all good.

As for bugs and snails and puppy dog tails, it's cultural sensitivity thing. If I was served fried ants, I would at least try them and compliment the chef. I don't think any Colombian would expect me to eat a big old pile of fried ants if I didn't like them. The tasting is the important part. My husband actually had to eat ants during his training (we weren't married yet, so I didn't have to). He said they're better raw (I've had live raw ants, and they're fairly good if they're the lemony kind).

As for dogs, most countries that serve dogs know well enough not to serve them to American diplomats (cultural sensitivity, again). We get briefs on different countries before we serve there, and food is mentioned. In Colombia, you are not supposed to serve anything even remotely spicy to guests. Food here is very mild. You won't even find pepper on the table. You can give a Colombian a wicked tummyache with spicy food, which is poor diplomacy.

Bosnia will be very tricky because it's predominately Muslim, which means no pork and don't show the soles of your shoes. You're also not supposed to serve chicken wings, as Bosnians do not consider them fit to eat. They're garbage in Bosnia. However, the main advice in the brief was, "Listen a lot more than you talk."

ETA: Apparently in Canada, it's an insult if you eat a sandwich or other large food while walking down the street. Seriously? Is that true?

Mmmmmmmmmme too! I inherited the mustard gene from my mom. We both always put so much mustard on our hot dogs that it was basically a mustard sandwich with a weiner somewhere in the middle. (hee "weiner"!) We could never eat hot dogs in public.

I'm weird when it comes to meat. I like any meat that doesn't resemble meat. Like hot dogs or anything made from ground beef, but I absolutely DESPISE any of the really, er, "meaty" meats like steak, pork chops, roast beef, etc. (Oddly enough, I *do* like roast beef when it's sliced thin like from Arby's. But that roast beef isn't really "meaty". Yeah, I'm weird like that.)

nck, this line should totally be on refrigerator magnets or embroidered on throw pillows or something! (And by that I mean that I like it and want to remember it, not that I think you're totally cheesy.)

Heh, I was one of those people who couldn't eat pork for a long time after Babe.

But don't forget everybody, if a cow ever got the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you care about.

Speaking on behalf of Canadians from my neck of the woods, I do not believe it would be rude to walk down the street eating a sandwich. Even a large one. It could be messy though.

I can see why they would discourage diplomats from doing it. I'll have to walk down to the American Embassy one day during lunch (it's just down the road) and see if they follow the rule!

The things you learn here... who would have thought there were lemony ants?

And this?


Is just plain good advice most anywhere. (Says jpgr who has been very very very chatty on the forums today)

As a born and bred Canadian I must say that is not true that I've ever heard of. Although walking and eating are generally not done together in my experience.

Were all the pizzas covered in pepperoni or sausage? I have many vegetarian friends who eat regular pizza all the time, so I'm having trouble figuring out why 1/3 the people couldn't eat it. I've picked many a pepperoni off slices of pizza in my day as well.

Cows on a rampage....why do I find this image amusing? Actually cows are vegetarians, aren't they?

WedsAddams You are a gastric hero! I could never eat anything that still looked like the original animal. I love meat, but please chop off the head and arrange it into an unrecognizable form before putting it on my plate. It took me years before I could bring myself to peel my own boiled shrimp. I still cringe a little. Much better to eat them fried into little brown crunchy things. Same with chicken....I much prefer boneless/skinless pieces.
The most exotic animal I've eaten is goat at a Mexican restaurant (mmm....mexican food!). It didn't look like goat so I tried it. It was actually pretty good.