Mark....you make these comments....you forget I worked with you all those year ago (
apologies Mark Bixby who I emailed incorrectly ). I know you are going to give me me
stick for this but...what exactly was 'good English food' ?

By the way....the same question could be asked of Australian cuisine too...we like
to think it now a blend of the multicultural society we are...but then do not come
to Mudgee and ask that....three veg and a slice of lamb or steak is the answer !

cheers..back to the footy...( friday night here ! )

Mark Wilkinson wrote:

> Hi Craig et al..
>
> It's actually 17.5% for VAT which is the UK equivalent of State Sales Tax so
> tipping is customary *in addition to* paying the VAT. 10% is the norm for
> tipping.
>
> Also, Japanese restaurants are taking off big time in London with Sushi bars
> popping up all over the place. My favourite is a restaurant called Kulu-Kulu
> near Piccadilly Circus - fortunately I work in that area <g> You can get a great
> lunch for around 12-15 quid. They take cards for amounts over 10 quid.
>
> Also, I wouldn't recommend eating in pubs - pub food is a last resort for me.
> Mind you, we have a dish (quite nice and served in pubs) called a "Ploughmans"
> which is a green salad with a big wedge of cheddar cheese, sweet-pickle and a
> big hunk of bread. You may get other cheeses like stilton or red leicester on
> your plate too. In general though, pub food is mass-produced, quick-frozen crap.
>
> I would recommend sticking to Indian, Chinese and Italian food. For a taste of
> GOOD British-style food though, go to the Strand Palace Hotel Carvery. They do
> an all-you-can-eat meal - Roast meat (lamb, beef, turkey) with all the trimmings
> (roast potatoes, steamed vegetables, yorkshire pudding, various sauces, gravy
> etc etc). This is about as good as you can get for traditional British cooking.
> Their cold-buffet starters are really good too.
>
> Let's just say I've eaten out a lot in London (ahem...)
>
> Mark W.
> SPE.
>
> "Craig L. Solomon" <[log in to unmask]> on 11/06/99 01:21:42
>
> Please respond to [log in to unmask]
>
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> cc:    (bcc: Mark Wilkinson/UK/EU/SPE)
> Subject:  Re: Travelling to Europe -building a checklist
>
> I know you are getting a lot of email, most of it just jokes and
> Brittish comments.  I used to Live in Hertfordshire Stevenage north of
> London off of the A1M... Plus I travel to Germany and England every
> few months.. here are a few things to help
>
> If renting a car, National has good cars and rents cellular phones at
> a nice rate. Also they are now enforcing the law saying you can NOT
> chat on a cel phone and drive.  You must pull over.
>
> Practice driving on the "B" roads on a Sunday when it is quiet so you
> don't crack up the car.  The hardest thing to get used to is looking
> to your Left to see the rear view mirror.
>
> There are no speedlimits signs posted on the "A" or "B" roads except
> under special case.  That would be closer to Heathrow and Gatwick.
> Just stay with the flow of traffic and remember the right lane is the
> fast one.
>
> Customs in Heathrow is so easy you will think you have missed
> something.  Also don't try to buy with thinking what the item cost
> converted. You will get angry when you realize what have to pay for
> things there.  Once you realize that a McDonalds extra value meal is
> 2.99 sterling and not 2.99 american, they you think... Hey, I just got
> ripped!  $4.50 for a Big Mac... Yuck.
>
> Eat in the Pubs, try the Ale's or Lagers (I like Carling) you will
> find it more fun.  Remember a lunch drink is called a Shandy. 1/2
> Lager and 1/2 7Up.  Actually it is quite good.
>
> If you need a hotel, Travelodge and Novotel are a safe and reasonable
> bet.  If you are not used to the UK stay away from B&B's.  You will
> think you have gone to motel hell.
>
> Other Things...
>
> Gas = Petrol and it is VERY expensive... so rent a small car.
>
> Distance is still shown as Miles.
>
> ISP = Netcom has a local provider and that is who I use.
>
> Modems = Headache.  Set to NOT detect tone.
>
> Power adaptors almost never work.   Things still blow up.
>
> If you buy Cuban Cigars, smoke them there.
>
> Visit Harrods, you won't regret it.
>
> Don't go to a mens store to buy Suspenders, they will think you want a
> Bra for a man.
>
> Eat Indian Food while there!  Wonderful.
>
> Don't expect dinner before 7:00 pm... it won't happen.
>
> Breakfast is the same... cold or a hot English
>
> Hot = Fried Eggs, Baked Beans, Mushrooms, Bangers (sausage) and
> something that looks like ham but it is their version of Bacon.
>
> Don't mention the French, they still don't like them.
>
> French Fries are Chips and Potato Chips are Crisps.
>
> Don't Tip!  everything includes 18.5% VAT
>
> American Resturants don't serve food that resembles anything we eat in
> America.
>
> If you ask for ICE you will get 1 cube, Ask for Extra Ice you will get
> 2 cubes
>
> Watch out for Cream in the Tea.
>
> Coffee is getting better and more popular in the UK.
>
> Most Cars do NOT have air conditioning
>
> Most Hotels Do NOT have air conditioning unless you are paying $$$
>
> Buffets are called Buffettes (like Jimmy the singer)
>
> Filet's are called (Fill-Ets)  (remember thy don't like the french)
>
> Most people in the UK don't like to shake hands more then Once!
>
> If you smoke (I don't) cigarettes are VERY expensive.
>
> There are no Cookies, just biscuts.
>
> There is no pudding in Yorkshire Pudding (bread cup and gravy)
>
> Pudding is desert (Any Kind)
>
> Take the train whenever possible, the London Underground is great.
>
> Visit Piccadilly Circus and take the train.
>
> Safe Trip
>
> Cheers (You will use that a lot)
>
> Craig
>
> Craig L. Solomon
> Manager of Consulting & Information Technology
> Lund Performance Solutions / Lund Consulting Services
> Consulting / Training / Technical Support / Project Management
> Phone: 541-926-3800 /  Fax: 541-926-7723
> Mobile: 503-580-5127 / Pager: 888-694-1819
> http://www.lund.com/lcs/  or  http://www.lund.com
> [log in to unmask]  -Work   |    [log in to unmask] - Home
>
> On Fri, 4 Jun 1999 09:01:25 -0400 , Tony Furnivall <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> >Hi there globe-trotters!
> >
> >I'll be travelling to Europe (UK) this summer with my trusty lap-top, and I
> >wondered if there is a readily available (or else, let's create one
> >together) list of the "right stuff" to take with me (wrt the laptop, that is!)
> >
> >I'm thinking:
> >
> >Power:    Adapters, plugs, transformers, etc
> >Modem:    Do they work in Europe?, cables, adapters(?), etc
> >Phone:    DO US cell phones work in Europe?,
> >Pagers:   Do any paging services have a global presence, and how do they
> compare
> >          in Europe?
> >ISP:      What ISPs have a global presence, and how do they compare in Europe?
> >          Is it worthwhile signing up temporarily with a local, or "free" ISP
> >          for the duration?
> >Other?
> >
> >My itinerary is (at present) strictly UK, but helpful hints for the mainland
> >would also be appreciated.
> >
> >Thanks in advance,
> >
> >TOny