[PRCo] Re: Streetcars in the Strip District?

[Derrick Brashear]

On Mon, Aug 29, 2011 at 4:18 PM, Fred Schneider <fwschneider at comcast.net> wrote:

> It isn't truly authentic.   Americans would not comprehend going to the bar, looking at the specials of the day on the on the chalkboard, ordering at the bar and then finding a table.  You have to make some adjustments for the locals just like the Mexican restaurant in Brighton that served me a burrito suffed with peas and carrots (ugh?).   But this place comes as close to really British as I've found in the states.

really? i'd have that burrito, but it's not a burrito. reminds me of
the huevos rancheros in Prague. the "salsa" was marinara sauce. the
mexicans running the place were very italian. but we wanted to see
what mexican food was there. and we did.

> To my great sadness, they have removed one of my favorite delicacies from the rotating weekend special menu, perhaps because they could not sell it to Americans who turn up their noses at anything really strange.  That would be the Haggis which he used to serve on the last weekend of every month.
>
> For those of you who do not understand what haggis is, let me extend this convoluted story.
>
> Perhaps 15 years ago I walked into a small hotel in Aberdeen (Scotland for those who are geographically challenged).   Fortunately I was early for dinner and was the only one the dining room for I burst out in gut wrenching laughter as I read the menu.
>
> The owner asked what was so funny?
>
> I questioned, "Freshly caught haggis?"
>
> He replied, "I wrote it that way for the people from London who come up here and have no clue what Haggis is.   You know it is?"
>
> I responded, "The paunch of the sheep stuffed with innards such the lungs, liver and other edibles ground up and mixed with oatmeal and baked."
>
> "You like it?" he asked.
>
> "Won't know until after dinner.  Never had it until tonight."
>
> Answer was, yes, I liked it.   When you are 14 and your peers are telling you that you should not try something, you know it your heart it must be terrible.  But when you have savored so many good things from India to Italy, Finland to France, Belgium to Britain, Scotland to Switzerland, Mexico to Maryland, Poland to Portugal (or Pittsburgh), nothing tastes strange anymore.

i had vegetarian haggis in edinburgh. a friend had the real thing. i
had some of his, also. i'm not a vegetarian. i'm just adventurous.

that night i also had 5 scotches, 2 barrel aged beers and irn-bru (a
soft drink).




-- 
Derrick