Originally Posted By MPierce >> Hmmm, yes, the UK is interesting and getting better. Traditionally the food is quite bland, but some is very good. For restaurants, Indian is very popular (in fact the Scots voted curry the national dish - it is a carry over from the colonies). << Funny, Dave I asked you this question in another thread. >> I do think the UK has the best chocolate and cheeses in the world. << Very surprising since you have such an abundent supply of excellent cheese, and choclates all around you to choose from. A very interesting post on the different regional foods of the UK. This is the sort of thing I was hoping to encounter in WE. Unfortunately it is just a hate filled forum over there.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Chinese in Beijing do frequent KFC (there must be one on every corner) and McDonald's as well as Pizza Hut and Papa John's, << What could be more American than Fried Chicken, Hamburgers, and Pommes Frites, and Pizza? >> which are considered premium brands over there and of a MUCH higher quality than what you get in the USA. << You mentioned this once before when we were discussing the quality of McDonalds in the UK compared to the USA. Could you please elaborate again. Is the food quality better or the Service or the Atmosphere or all of the above?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo This is interesting. I think in Europe (and my experience in Dubai and the far East), McD's is more like a chinese take out type experience. The food feels fresher and not as mass produced. Also the decore of the restaurants and the uniforms are more in line with Star Bucks or some even nicer coffee place. There is no self service drinks and portions are smaller (minus or plus dependent how you look at it). and the really try hard with the business sector - free newspapers and wifi. Some city locations have vases with flowers on the tables, and in Kensington in London, there is a player Grand Piano, leaded mirrors and crystal chandeliers. In the 80's, McD's were very similar to the US ones in style. Now, they are world's apart.
Originally Posted By judyf Wow over 2 pages off topic. I was looking for Epcot info as I am very interested,I keep following this thread.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Sorry, MPierce, no cornbread. Regular stuffing mix with onions, celery, butter, Puck's veggie broth, and hamburg. This year I added cranberries to the stuffing, no one complained.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Oh Dave, my husband really liked the bangers & mash at Rose & Crown, his favorite was the mushroom soup they USE to have, he tried the steak & kidney, didn't like it. My son really likes a steak & fish combo they had. I can't go beyond the fish/chips. There is something so much better about their breading than anything I can get elsewhere. All the deserts we've tried were very tasty.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad MPierce, my mother made cornbread dressing this year......It was delicious
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Dave and Spirit, Thanks for answering my question................................................Dave, I had no idea that their menu would be so diverse. It sounds like they have picked and chosen the best from their long history to create a great dining experience...................................................................................Spirit, I believe I once saw that American restaurants in China were very expensive for regular Chinese workers. Is this true or am I confusing it with Russia?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You mentioned this once before when we were discussing the quality of McDonalds in the UK compared to the USA. Could you please elaborate again. Is the food quality better or the Service or the Atmosphere or all of the above?>> The food quality of McDonald's is MUCH higher in EVERY country I have visited than it is in the USA. It's WalMarting doncha know? I live in a very affluent community that has three in our city. They are all dirty and two of them have severe bug problems. Regional management knows and couldn't care less. They only care about money (sound familiar?) In China, they are all near spotless. Most have large plasma screens. Food is all made fresh. None of these plastic bins where the food sits for hours. Hong Kong makes the Mainland look like the USA though. They are all 24 hrs, all have McCafes inside which are like Starbucks (only better products for less money) with coffee drinks served in REAL glasses, gourmet pastries and sandwiches ... again at the same place you can get a Big Mac and fries. They also have more menu selections at HK locales than Mainland. Oh, you also can get Diet Coke in HK, you can't in Beijing. The cleanliness and FRESHNESS of the units is just amazing. I almost felt like if you took an average Chinese person from Beijing and plopped them down in a typical South Florida McD's that their reaction would be 'what a dump!' It seems to me the only places where McDonald's still consistently serves quality fresh food in clean units that are bright and welcoming are in small towns. Some of the only positive McD's meals I've had in the USA the last few years have been in small towns in Oklahoma, Arizona, Vermont and Mississippi. Any specific McD's questions?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Spirit, I believe I once saw that American restaurants in China were very expensive for regular Chinese workers. Is this true or am I confusing it with Russia?>> That is largely true in China ... at least Mainland. HK is a different animal entirely. But I did go with a group to the Hard Rock Cafe in Beijing and my team hadn't gone because they thought it was very pricey. They said the same about TGI Friday's as well.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>> There is something so much better about their breading than anything I can get elsewhere.<<< The secret is the type of beer used. Yesterday I had a leaving lunch at a Gastro pub (expensive English). It was a beautiful steak and ale pie served on mash with fried leeks (think onion ring type taste - a little stronger) washed down with a French wine. Very nice. I then went to a Belgian bar and had 6 of the 120 varieties of beer with frites (belgian fries with mayo) and mussels in garlic to snack. We then had a late balti for supper with Indian Beer. Quite a leaving bash - gotta, go though, off to another party today.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Wait until Spirit reads about the Wal-Mart employee killed by stampeding shoppers, in NY. Animals. Dave is it your leaving party? You mentioned a few weeks ago about changing jobs, then nothing else.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed I had a leaving party on Friday and then the new company christmas party on Saturday night. I need to dry out now ;-)
Originally Posted By MPierce Congradulations on the new job Dave. It sounds like you are already in better spirits.
Originally Posted By MPierce Just once I would like to taste a Big Mac made fresh. If the UK, and Mainland China can deliver that quality why can't the States?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks MPierce, I am the closest I have been to myself in at least 9 months. I hope the old (but now wiser) me sticks around. Today we went to McD's in Milton Keynes - fresh Quarter Pounder for me, fresh Big Mac for the wife and some fresh cheese wedges with caramilised onions. It was very clean, and fresh. The delivered the food to the table as we had to wait a little while.
Originally Posted By Admin >>>Topic: Overlooked Epcot and other park details<<< Can we bring this back on topic please.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad OK Admin how bout this, The CM dressed like vines is a really neat touch in AK. I wish they would bring back the stick guy. Also the talking little palm tree is cool. It a great interactive attraction (which we didn't see either of the two days we were at AK this year). Is that still around?
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 DeVine is freaky. All of a sudden I was face to face with her & didn't dare move. Loved it. Like EPCOT's Living statues.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad I forgot about the statues. they should do more of that kind of thing. we love it.
