For anyone interested, my observations as a European tourist

**Dutchie** · 04-02-2010, 03:29 AM

As a lot of you know, I am just back from the US.

This trip was different to our usual ones in that we stayed in a very luxurious business hotel paid for by the company and I was with normal Americans for a lot of the time as opposed to being surrounded by tourists and being in a tourist hotel.

Because we are usually in the US together for a vacation, this time was different because dh was working and I was out with my friends or at their home. (Most times dh goes alone to the US for business, but this time he was in the same town that my friend and her parents live and I was able to go along with him.)

I made some observations but I don't know if this is the norm or was coincidence. A couple of the things were familiar to me because of what I read here on the forum.

My friend told me that America is hurting financially but no matter where we went together the restaurants were full. The only time that I ate in a restaurant that was almost empty was at a mall.
The mall was almost empty and the stores were almost empty too.
Whereas I am usually overwhelmed at the amount of people working in a store, here there was a distinct lack of people working there. The people who were working there were extremely helpful and friendly as usual.

On saying that regarding how full the restaurants were, I also have to say that the prices for food in a restaurant are unbelievably low (for us). I don't get how it is done. We had lunch at a TGIF. I got a HUGE plate of pasta with some veggies in it (very oily) with a very large piece of grilled salmon on top - $ 5. UNBELIEVABLE!
Here you couldn't buy the ingredients for that price.

However I was hard pressed to find healthy options on any menu anywhere except for the ever present caeser salad (dressing on the side).

The size of the portions - in one word HUGE!!!! I could never finish the food on my plate (and believe me I can eat).

Almost everywhere we ate (even with dh's colleagues) there was a very short wine list. The choice was usually one blush, one white chardonnay or one burgundy red. The only time that I could have a glass of wine that I really liked was on the last evening where they had a somewhat longer list of wines and I was able to have a sauvignon blanc. This is maybe just coincidence and not the norm.

The other thing that I noticed was the lack of independent restaurants, most everything was part of a chain, which gives a certain uniformity of food. In fact I didn't see any independent restaurants at all (but maybe that was just where I was and I didn't see them).

The one thing that really impressed me (and always does each time) was the friendliness of EVERYONE. The willingness to please and be helpful at all times. It amazes me. It is also something that a lot of Dutch people working in retail or in a restaurant could do well to learn.

**Greebo** · 04-02-2010, 04:29 AM

Originally Posted by Dutchie

I made some observations but I don't know if this is the norm or was coincidence. A couple of the things were familiar to me because of what I read here on the forum.

My friend told me that America is hurting financially but no matter where we went together the restaurants were full. The only time that I ate in a restaurant that was almost empty was at a mall.
The mall was almost empty and the stores were almost empty too.

Most US families these days are either two job families, or single parent families. This results in a lot of eating out because there's "no time to cook".

On saying that regarding how full the restaurants were, I also have to say that the prices for food in a restaurant are unbelievably low (for us). I don't get how it is done. We had lunch at a TGIF. I got a HUGE plate of pasta with some veggies in it (very oily) with a very large piece of grilled salmon on top - $ 5. UNBELIEVABLE!
Here you couldn't buy the ingredients for that price.

That's possible here because most of our 370 million people congregate in cities, leaving vast - VAST expanses of land available for food production. Plus...

However I was hard pressed to find healthy options on any menu anywhere except for the ever present caeser salad (dressing on the side).

... the crappy food is cheap.

Almost everywhere we ate (even with dh's colleagues) there was a very short wine list.

The other thing that I noticed was the lack of independent restaurants,

Both of these are "the norm" - in that the chain restaurants are everywhere, and don't offer much in the way of wine. We're a beer nation.

There *are* independent restaurants - but you won't find them in the shopping areas, you find them scattered out here and there, in the corporate business parks, along secondary roads, etc. When you go to them, you'll see prices and get service and selection more like what you'd see in European fine dining.

If you're ever in Baltimore, let us know - we'll take you to a few. (We'll go dutch...of course... we're still frugal after all

)

What do you call it when you go out with someone and each pays their own bill?

**Dutchie** · 04-02-2010, 05:07 AM

Originally Posted by Greebo

If you're ever in Baltimore, let us know - we'll take you to a few. (We'll go dutch...of course... we're still frugal after all

)

What do you call it when you go out with someone and each pays their own bill?

Well thank you.

We call it 'sam-sam'.

My dh was in beer heaven and he didn't miss the wine at all.

**joyofsix** · 04-02-2010, 06:52 AM

Ooh, I love hearing about different perspectives. I think rural America would be a different experience for you too. I think everything can be inexpensive because of the chains and economies of scale. If you ever find a reason to visit the rural midwest (why you would I have no idea), please come by. I'll show you a different view again.

**ruderring** · 04-02-2010, 07:52 AM

Yes, I agree joyofsix dutchie would be in a totally different world in the rural area. Kindnesses are even more prevalent in our neck of the woods. Dutchie, what city did you visit? Being from rural Iowa and a very small town you would be totally blown away by how our lives are so different. I live in a farming community where as the old Cheers tv show states where everybody knows your name. This is so true. If you ever visit Iowa look me up and come see what real food is. We have small cafes owned by independents who charge more, but typically serve wonderful home grown food produced or raised here in Iowa. We even have several vineyards that dapple in the wine making business. Some very close to where I live. As for the US as a whole we are an unfit nation because we (not me so much) eat out at fast food places a lot. That is why we have a high obesity rate and have many many health related problems starting with our children. I included have some of these problems but I am taking measures to remedy these problems by choosing to raise our own organic veggies and fruits and we buy our meat from a local farmer who does not use nasty growth hormones. My hubby and I finally get it. Hopefully more people will get it soon too. Thanks for your perspective of your visit. It was interesting to see what you thought.

**Rebookie** · 04-02-2010, 07:53 AM

I also don't think we make a point of drinking wine with our meals..

I think of people who drink wine with meals are a little more financially sound. Families that are lower to middle class don't want to waste money on alcohol (which is some times 5+ dollars). That's sometimes the amount of a whole meal!

**Pemberleyan** · 04-02-2010, 09:18 AM

Interesting. I don't know which city or area of the country you visited, but America varies tremendously even within states.

In my part of the deep south US, you would find quite a few independent restaurants, but almost no wine. It's just not a part of our lifestyle. I'm not saying there aren't any wine connoisseurs, but many, many households drink no liquor whatsoever. Almost none of my friends or family drink wine with their meals, and those only on rare occasion. So you can imagine that in this sort of local culture, wine lists at restaurants are very short.

You would find the people extremely friendly here. I was reading recently about life in Switzerland as compared to here, and one of the things mentioned was the high cost of food.

**Rebookie** · 04-02-2010, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Pemberleyan

In my part of the deep south US, you would find quite a few independent restaurants, but almost no wine. It's just not a part of our lifestyle. I'm not saying there aren't any wine connoisseurs, but many, many households drink no liquor whatsoever. Almost none of my friends or family drink wine with their meals, and those only on rare occasion. So you can imagine that in this sort of local culture, wine lists at restaurants are very short.

None of my family drinks alcohol... It's not a religious thing, we just don't drink. I didn't even have alcohol at my wedding. It made sense seeing that Eric and I just don't drink.

**Dutchie** · 04-02-2010, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by ruderring

Yes, I agree joyofsix dutchie would be in a totally different world in the rural area. Kindnesses are even more prevalent in our neck of the woods. Dutchie, what city did you visit? Being from rural Iowa and a very small town you would be totally blown away by how our lives are so different. I live in a farming community where as the old Cheers tv show states where everybody knows your name. This is so true. If you ever visit Iowa look me up and come see what real food is. We have small cafes owned by independents who charge more, but typically serve wonderful home grown food produced or raised here in Iowa. We even have several vineyards that dapple in the wine making business. Some very close to where I live. As for the US as a whole we are an unfit nation because we (not me so much) eat out at fast food places a lot. That is why we have a high obesity rate and have many many health related problems starting with our children. I included have some of these problems but I am taking measures to remedy these problems by choosing to raise our own organic veggies and fruits and we buy our meat from a local farmer who does not use nasty growth hormones. My hubby and I finally get it. Hopefully more people will get it soon too. Thanks for your perspective of your visit. It was interesting to see what you thought.

I was in Harrisburg, Pa.

**KathleenCG** · 04-02-2010, 10:26 AM

Your observations were very interesting to read! Thank you for sharing! With the number of chain restaurants here, the landscape across much of the US can look pretty much the same; in some areas one really can't tell the difference between one part of the country and another. Also, if I go to one mall in one state, it pretty much looks like any other mall in another state. I have also noticed that the stores have less clientele (and less staff). It has been my experience that wine lists tend to be pretty limited unless one goes to a more upscale, independent restaurant. There, the wines can be quite impressive, and include listings from all over the world.

**Greebo** · 04-02-2010, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dutchie

I was in Harrisburg, Pa.

2 hours from us. We could have met!

**shoiji** · 04-02-2010, 12:45 PM

Really liked reading your observations. Where I live there is a strip mall down the street. I think there may be one business still there. All of the other businesses are gone. Go about 5 miles in another direction and there are a whole bunch of new strip malls with new stores opening up some more upscale with restaurant chains and they are constantly busy. It always makes me wonder what is going on.

All in all it sounds like you did enjoy yourself.

**Dutchie** · 04-02-2010, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by shoiji

Really liked reading your observations. Where I live there is a strip mall down the street. I think there may be one business still there. All of the other businesses are gone. Go about 5 miles in another direction and there are a whole bunch of new strip malls with new stores opening up some more upscale with restaurant chains and they are constantly busy. It always makes me wonder what is going on.

All in all it sounds like you did enjoy yourself.

I had THE best time ever.
It was so nice to see my friend and her parents.
Her parents are 82 and 86 and are young at heart and enjoy life to the fullest in spite of having huge health problems.
I hadn't seen my friend for almost 10 years but it was as if we had seen each other just last week. And we chatted like we were continuing where we stopped the last time.
Yes, it was great!

**PlainCash4** · 04-02-2010, 02:07 PM

I loved your observations and glad you had a good time in Pennsylvania. Where i live (Charlottesville, VA) we have a quite a few independent restaurants, but Chains ones are increasingly popping up here and there.

**Contrary Housewife** · 04-02-2010, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Dutchie

As a lot of you know, I am just back from the US.

My friend told me that America is hurting financially but no matter where we went together the restaurants were full.

There are still a lot of people doing well enough to eat out, and as you commented, the food at some places is extremely cheap. We produce huge amounts of food here, have an efficient system for getting it around quickly, and probably waste more food than many Europeans eat.

We had lunch at a TGIF. I got a HUGE plate of pasta with some veggies in it (very oily) with a very large piece of grilled salmon on top - $ 5. UNBELIEVABLE!
Here you couldn't buy the ingredients for that price.

TGIF is an inexpensive, almost "fast food" type restaurant. Their food is not the greatest, and they are cheap, as you noted. Good in a pinch but not fine dining. Which is where you'd find better wine lists. They cater to the younger and faster moving crowd.

And yeah, portions are huge. I almost always end up taking half of it home. Here, if you serve normal (small) portions you are seen as skimping, even if people aren't going to eat it.

Glad you enjoyed your trip.