Kind of a cross between Jim Royle ( you might need a translator)

............................ and Alf Garnett



The UK version of Archie Bunker

Well tonight I finally got to sample the delights of Red Lobster again after a gap of 15 years or so.

I flew from New York (snowing, 30 degrees) to Phoenix (75 degrees at 8pm !) - talk about contrasts ... and not just the weather!

After checking out of my postage-stamp-sized hotel in Manhattan, and taking a cab to JFK on crowded, snow-covered roads, I land in Phoenix to find shirt-sleeve weather, pick up a rental car in a parking lot that's larger than Manhattan, and drive on empty freeways to my hotel - an Embassy Suites who's rooms must be 5 times larger than the hotel I just checked out of - I swear this place is larger than a typical apartment.

As it was nearing the eating-out witching hour of 10pm, I figured I'd better boogie in order to find something open (not a problem in Manhattan!) ... and found a veritable paradise of chain restaurants on 'Cactus Drive', all within one (very large) block ... Marie Calendars, Outback, Coco's, Olive Garden, and ... Red Lobster. Having eaten some of the best steaks in my life in NY (of course, at non-chain restaurants!), I figured I'd better go for fish so Red Lobster it was.

They've definitely improved the ambiance/decor in the past 15 years, and the menu looked a bit more promising ... with several fresh fish selections. However, I figured I'd go for the Lobster. What a mistake - rubbery, tasteless, overcooked, dry. Having had it moist, juicy, and delicious elsewhere, I know it can be done right ... I have to say, the 'jumbo' shrimp were passable. However, both the dishes I ordered were advertised as 'flame broiled' ... I did not sense even a hint of 'flame' on these sorry dishes.

And of course, my bill came before I was finished, AND, included a 'guest satisfaction survey' that would give me a $4 coupon off my next visit ... I wonder if it will be valid in 15 years ...

New York City is total chaos but - you can get a great meal on almost every street corner in a locally run place ... one of the few things I like about the place.

How close to death from hunger was the first person who decided to actually eat Okra?
How did it ever catch on?

It looks like something from the bottom of the ocean and has the consistancy of Alien spit.

An American will turn his nose up at ye Egg & Chips, yet actually eat Okra?
Mystifying.

Okra is more of a southern thing. The only time I've heard of people that I know eating it is when it's been fried in a buttermilk/cornmeal coating similar to what you use for fried chicken or fried green tomatoes (yum). I've never tried even though my 'mamaw' did make it on occasion.

Not totally on topic but not totally off either - and something I have noticed on Tv and wondered about.

How many American kids really get huge glasses of milk with an evening meal? And why?
And do some people really eat off paper plates or was that just on "Wife Swap" ?

My kids drink milk or water at every meal because I think it's better than the alternatives. Is drinking milk unheard of in your area?

It's a big country, I bet some people use paper plates.

They drink milk, quite a lot of it - but not with a meal. They get water at meals.

I don't know anybody that grew up in the UK drinking milk with a meal but I have seen it done lots of times on American tv.

I love a cold glass of milk on a hot day but I don't think it would mix well with a meal though.

I guess it's what you're used to.

I find it slightly less minging in Indian food.

Its sweeping generalisations like that which only widen the socio-economic rift which is tearing this country apart.

(We use Gypsum for ours)

Milk mixes perfectly well with a meal. I sometimes used to drink it with meals as a kid at home, I drank it as an adult, and I drink it here with a meal if I feel like it too. Sometimes there's nothing better.

I'm used to it, and I'd say a lot of other people are too. Nothing strange about drinking milk with a meal IMHO.

I don't think so either, but Lorna is a special case.

The only reason we didn't drink milk with a meal as kids, is that it cost and water didn't.