----- Original Message -----
From: J. van Baardwijk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> That's *quantity* you're referring to, Ronn -- not *quality*.
>
> Besides, I can't blame the French for not opening French restaurants in
the
> US. (Allow me to throw in yet another stereotype). The French probably
fear
> that when that most delicious French food is served (after the chefs have
> been slaving for over an hour to prepare it), you culinary challenged
> Americans will ask for a bottle of ketchup... :)
>
Actually, there is a much better reason. There are plenty of French in the
US to open French restaurants. We have a wide variety of cooking in the US,
including a number of genuine US cuisines as well a international cuisines.
With all the immigrants in this area, restaurants owned in operated by the
corresponding nationality is the norm.
Just around my local neighborhood, let alone Houston, we have a wealth of
different types of restaurants. For international flavor, we have Chinese,
Japanese, Greek, Indian, French, Italian, Thai. (We have an Outback
Steakhouse about 5 miles from here if that counts as OZ cooking.)For local
flavor we have Tex-Mex, Cajun, Southern, bar-b-que, New York Deli. We also
have the standard pizza, burger, and salad joints. An intersting variation
on this is the fact that we have
One thing about eating here is that its cheap. Obviously the Golden Arches
are very cheap: $3.00 for a full meal. But, one can do very decently for
$10.00 per person.
What you get as American food in Europe is usually the fast food. It serves
a purpose. When I need to eat something on the run that is cheap
predictable and quickly available, I go there. When I'm going out as a
social occasion, I go elsewhere.
Dan M.
