h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

WOO HOO!

My pet hate at resaurants? When they give you excellent food but spoil it, say giving you a gorgeous cooked breakfast, really special with a lot of effort put in, then chuck a couple of frozen hash browns in... Or they use pre-grated cheese, that sort of thing. If I'm paying for a reasonable (i.e. not canteen basic) meal, I want food I wouldn't pass by in the supermarket!

My pet hate at restaurants is when the chef has decided to cook you a lovely meal of your choice...then decides that everyone in the restaurant gets the same vegetables whatever they're having.

RF

Hahaha! Yep, your places are nicer than mine!

This is where I eat when I go out.

http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/


az

Looks awful.

It does seem that three countries have mastered the art of eating well without killing your wallet: Fr*nce, Spain & Italy. Why is that? And why haven't the Portuguese picked it up?

RF

I ate really well when I was in Lisbon last year, and it wasn't expensive. No tapas though...

az

My life would be empty without Greggs

I have Domino's & a local curry house in my favourites for speedy online ordering. They've got my credit card details to make things quicker. The curry house sent me a Xmas Card (honest )

Yes, I cook, but I'm not a fanatic about it and quite often I just can't be bothered. Food comes from the supermarket 'cos it's convenient.

I have an all-day breakfast at a greasy spoon at least 4-5 days a week.

I have a balanced diet, sort of. I don't eat most veg or any fruit, although coke has plant extracts doesn't it?

On my two visits to Portugal I've found them devoid of decent cookery. Admittedly, they were to Albufeira and Madeira. Still, you'd have thought they'd get the hang of it in Madeira.

RF

"coke has plant extracts doesn't it?"

Indeed, but it can't compare with beer. Barley AND hops - that's two of your five a day in one glass. And as for grape juice...

Mmmmm... grape juice.

az

Why is it, despite knowing I don't eat cow food, when vegetarian friends come round they expect a veggy meal? Yet when we go round to them, there's never a steak in sight? If I see another mound of green puke in some kind of fruit for a starter, I'll erupt in boils spontaneously. Probably the only thing in the entire meal I'll eat are the potatoes. The surreptitious shuffling onto Mrs SWL's plate is constant.

And another thing why, when you ask for steak and chips at a restaurant do they bring you steak, chips and more plant life than existed in Swampy's oxters? I don't want it. I never asked for it. Tomato juice soaks into chips and totally spoils them.

And why oh why do they put sweetcorn in chicken noodle soup? When I order chicken noodle soup, I want chicken and noodles. I don't want sweetcorn. If I'd wanted chicken noodle and sweetcorn soup, I would have asked for it.

Corn in anything but corn soup is an abomination

There are few restaurants nearby. There are none at all in the nearby hamlet, and the only decent one in the town 40 km west was burned down last year due to a lover's spat or something.

The town 30 km east had a decent italian place, but the owners sold it a couple of years ago, and I have heard Not Good Things about the new proprietors

The city 75 km northeast has a few very good restaurants, including a seriously tangy Indian and an award-winning multi-oriental one

But mostly I fry my own onions.

Corn on the cob, with anchor butter and plenty of salt and pepper, and a bit of grated quality mature cheddar...

And if it's fresh cobs you've grown in your back garden, even more

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Tal, did you know that a very popular pizza topping in the UK is tuna and corn? When I first moved to Bristol I couldn't believe it at first, but apparently it's true.


az

Oh yeah and I've taken to making proper mexican tortillas lately with corn flower, goes brilliant with any chilli, refried beans and tomatoey and peppers mince thing....more

tuna and corn Never heard of it. You'd have to be really, really pissed to eat that.....

Mmmmmmmmmm... corn on the cob.

And the very best, effers, is picked from your back garden and cooked immediately. I just like butter, salt and freshly ground pepper on mine. Never tried it with cheese - wouldn't it fall off?


az

The chedda if finely grated, melts on the hot cob. But I only add cheddar sometimes. I often just like it with the butter and salt and pepper.

If you do add cheddar it has to be really good strong stuff.

Oh cripes I'm getting all peckish. And it hasn't been long since I had my poached egg on toast fro brekkie..

Tuna and sweetcorn is a standard sandwich filling, as well.