The totally off-topic thread

[JohnK]

I said some cultures JohnK. .

I am asking if it's part of most cultures as it is part of our culture as well. As you said to show respect for the host that they have provided enough food.

 

[Pushka]

I am asking if it's part of most cultures as it is part of our culture as well. As you said to show respect for the host that they have provided enough food.

I think Aussie culture is to clean the plate. Its just that my stomach is usually full well before most. Unless it is Thai red curry chicken and rice. I can wolf that down easily.

 

[blackcat20]

I think Aussie culture is to clean the plate.

And its no wonder the nation's waistline is growing....

 

[RAM]

'better to have a bad belly burst than let good food go to waste"

The first 7 years of taking the family to see my 90+ year old aunts in Europe - I followed that line.

None of the three kids would eat the plane food, not even the bread rolls after the very first flight on the very first trip.

At the QF Pub pre-flight and eldest was tucking into the cabanossi & cheese (despite multiple warnings) then proceeded to drink copious OJ on the flight. Luckily 'event' occurred at flight end (Bangkok) as she got out of the plane (and even more luckily we delayed to be nearly last off as no rush and three under 8s...)

From that moment on - no plane food passed their lips. Plain bread rolls were food of choice for two (quick trip to bakery before going to airport) and nearly a 2kg container of jelly sweets and a roll of Pringles for the other.

Still the hosties insisted on giving them a kid's meal which most of the time was more enticing than the adults.

Could not bear to see the food go to waste. Even not ordering a meal seemed to be over-rode in the various airline systems as a kid's meal always appeared.

Once, on China Airlines - the Chicken Nuggets (on menu) each was more the size of half chicken breast fillets, lightly crumbed & crisp & golden. None ate them, so rather than let it all go to waste -I'd eat the mains and desserts and my wife would polish off the salads. The 'plane' bread rolls often were wasted.

That is until in year 8 I encountered a scales three days after landing (and not having over-indulged in the UK). I'd gained 2.5kg.

Previously I'd put the weight gain down to 'holiday' effects NOT flight clearing.

This time around (yr 11 and 1 aunt going strong at 99) they still don't eat the food (one has made an exception of the plane bread roll) and it was tragic to see the beef curry, chocolate mud cake, strawberry something, lightly fried chicken etc going back on the trolley.

But I did arrive back in OZ 2.9kg lighter than I left.

 

[coco50]

I think Aussie culture is to clean the plate. Its just that my stomach is usually full well before most. Unless it is Thai red curry chicken and rice. I can wolf that down easily.

I think our serves are far too large, both within the home and dining out. I had a fish lunch at a pub last week and the serve was massive. I couldn't get through it all. I hate waste. Why don't food service establishments have small, medium and large portions and the customer can select?. Is there this cultural thing where the portions have to be massive or where the plate has to be covered. Will testosterone-fueled men complain if there isn't 3 large potatoes' worth of chips on the plate? I find myself asking for children's serves. At home we use small plates. After all - enough is as good as a feast!

 

[RooFlyer]

I think our serves are far too large, both within the home and dining out. I had a fish lunch at a pub last week and the serve was massive. I couldn't get through it all. I hate waste. <snip>

No-one makes anyone have any particular dish. Most eating establishments will tell you how big (relatively) the servings are, if you ask. If offered, 'appetisers' and 'entrees' handily indicate to anyone beforehand that the portion is going to be relatively small.

<snip> Will testosterone-fueled men complain if there isn't 3 large potatoes' worth of chips on the plate? <snip>

Gosh, I don't know.


My first posting to a mining camp, when I was still a uni student, I was blessed to find in the camp dining hall the good old 'super foot of steak' which drooped over the entire circumference of the plate. (Might explain a few things later in life ...) Had to have a separate plate to put the chips on!

 

[JohnK]

Somehow as I was flicking channels last night I landed on that 'Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' show - OMG - that passes for television content / entertainment in 2016?

I am still confused as to how reality TV has lasted this long. People must be really bored to watch that garbage or people are really....

I don't watch TV anymore. Reality TV was one of the reasons. But I can happily say I have never followed any of that garbage.

 

[coco50]

I am still confused as to how reality TV has lasted this long. People must be really bored to watch that garbage or people are really....

I don't watch TV anymore. Reality TV was one of the reasons. But I can happily say I have never followed any of that garbage.

Why don't they make good shows any more like Maverick, Bourbon Street Beat, Hawaiian Eye, Rawhide?

 

[Katie]

<snip>
I noticed my then girlfriend do the same type of thing. She would leave food half eaten when we would buy a simple meal like chicken and rice. Why? Her explanation was that Thai people like to sample many types of food when they eat. And I have seen this in the bars where 4-5 bargirls would eat lunch/dinner together.

This would be similar to me going out to dinner and ordering a steak, a lamb chop, a pork chop, half a chicken and chips and taking a small bite out of each. What an atrocious attitude especially from a country where the overwhelming majority are in poverty and don't really know where their next meal is coming from.

My wife knows she could not possibly get away with anything like it unless we go to a buffet and even then we try not to put more than we can eat on the plate.

This has just reminded me that in certain cultures (a certain culture?), it's considered rude to leave an empty plate. It's an indicator that your host has not given you enough to eat - there should be plentiful food, and too much for you to eat. I'm not sure where, though, but think it's somewhere in Asia.

 

[Hvr]

Why don't they make good shows any more like Maverick, Bourbon Street Beat, Hawaiian Eye, Rawhide?

I think the horses died.

Actually agree with you re the amount of utter rubbish dished out as 'entertainment'. But having said that there are shows I watch that others would dislike. I enjoy Survivor, Undercover Boss, Pawn Stars and so on.

It's just a matter of finding new shows and discarding the dross very quickly.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I enjoy ............. Pawn Stars and so on.

I love Pawn Stars - I thought I was the only person in Australia who did!

 

[penegal]

I also enjoy Pawn Stars... in small doses.
Deadliest Catch is in the same boat.

One of the best bits of cable TV is Switzer's "dad" humour on Sky News Business. He's such a dag, but it's entertaining.

Richard Quest on CNN actually has tolerable content, good guests and questions, but his voice and style are intolerable - killing his segments for me.

 

[penegal]

While talking about TV - Anything with James Spader gets a thumbs up from me.

The Practice
Boston Legal
The Blacklist

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

While talking about TV - Anything with James Spader gets a thumbs up from me.

The Practice
Boston Legal
The Blacklist

I LOVE James Spader. The Blacklist is excellent.

 

[JohnK]

Why don't they make good shows any more like Maverick, Bourbon Street Beat, Hawaiian Eye, Rawhide?

They were the classics. Is it really that more expensive to produce a show today?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I also enjoy Pawn Stars...

Only cause it's like lookin' in a mirror for you!

 

[RAM]

My first posting to a mining camp, when I was still a uni student, I was blessed to find in the camp dining hall the good old 'super foot of steak' which drooped over the entire circumference of the plate. (Might explain a few things later in life ...) Had to have a separate plate to put the chips on!

D R O O L .,.,.,.

Never read the TOT thread before eating.

 

[penegal]

I LOVE James Spader. The Blacklist is excellent.

I love it. Pity Channel 7 are cough at airing it and keeping up.

 

[rogerkambah]

Probably one of my favourite TV programs is 'Judge John Deed' with Martin Shaw in the lead role. Oh wait, its on tonight on 7Two! Not sure though whether a judge would become as involved in cases as he does though.

 

[Hvr]

Probably one of my favourite TV programs is 'Judge John Deed' with Martin Shaw in the lead role. Oh wait, its on tonight on 7Two! Not sure though whether a judge would become as involved in cases as he does though.

Agree, and he does surround himself with some quite attractive women as well. Also repeated at 0300 the next morning.

The family Law based on the book written by Benjamin Law is hilarious. While the some of the humour is derived from their ethnic background there is a lot that any normally misfunctioning family will recognise.