Ira,
Normal quantity of mussels for one person is between 1.1 and 1.5 kilos! Of course this includes the weight of the shells.

Peter,
Thanks for the link to the website. My fave is indeed listed!

Hi

................ 2 kilos of mussels!? This is a menu for four isn't it? ...............

A little larger pan than usual, but not abnormal in Belgium. Certainly not part of the surprise !

Peter
http://tlp.netfirms.com

I always smile when Americans say Van Gow. Also when you say Moscow (as in Moscaaw). Nobody else does that.
What do we Brits say that irritate or tickle everyone else? Fortnight? Pavement? Cashpoint (as in ATM)? Chomondley when we pronounce it Chumley or Magdelen when we pronounce it Maudelin..... I could go on!!

Hi

AR ............ Blair as in Socialist ?

Peter

I don't think that Tony has ever used the "S" word! He's the demonic love child of Margaret Thatcher and Cecil Parkinson.

AR; how about the english pronounciation of Beauchamp Place. When I lived there I first pronounced this as French, and the taxi driver didn't have a clue.

Hi,

On the east coast of the US we have Beaufort, NC (bow fort) and Beaufort, SC (Biew firt).

To quote AR- "What do we Brits say that irritate or tickle everyone else?"

I was a server in a hotel resturant years ago that would get filled with British tourists. I worked the day shift and it would just annoy the hell out of me when the Brits asked for a "fresh orange; never orange JUICE, or a GLASS of fresh orange juice...just a "fresh orange". I don't know why but it would just grate on my nerves so much that I took to bringing them a single orange on a plate.

Also, "brown bread" to indicate wheat toast. On one occasion I told a lovely British couple that "once it's toasted, it's all brown so now do you want white, wheat or rye????"

"wheat toast" sounds just as daft to British ears, since white bread is also made of wheat...

Have you had any Yorkshire Pudding lately? Why do they call it pudding?

When my wife and I first went to the US we ended up in Washington DC. For sundowners she ordered a dry sherry - well, for starters, that had the place in a buzz.

And then we were introduced to the great language divide - "Yer wanya sherry straight up?". Startled glances were exchanged between us, while we telepathically concurred that the cherubic young man serving us meant her no physical harm.

Then the metaphorial light bulb appeared in the balloon attached to his left ear - "With or without ice?"

Smart kid. Diplomat material. Whew!!!

Peter

For MyriamC

Myriam, Sorry that I'm cluttering this thread, but since I go there fairly often I just have to know - what is the name of your fav restaurant in Antwerp?

Peter

Sorry, I find this patronizing to Americans. Sorry that you think the average American isn't your language purity standards, Peter, but don't think for one MINUTE that Europeans don't also change how words are pronounced to suit themselves. Why are you acting as this is only an anglophone characteristic?
Thousands (more like millions) of non-anglophone Europeans say Vienne/Vienna instead of Wien, Danube instead of Donau--just two examples.
I know lots of Europeans who can't say Oregon correctly. Should Oregonians post diatribes about how that constitutes "screwing with someone's language"??
European superciliousness raises its head again.

Of course Europeans change how words are pronounced. English is largely based on French - words ending in ...ion, ...ent, ...ant etc. Ask an Englishman and a Frenchman to pronounce the tyre (should that be tire?) company Michelin and listen to the results. Also Norwich is pronounced Norritch and not Norwitch. That's the fun of languages.

Peter has changed his target. Earlier, he posted that Van Gogh should not be pronounced with the "silly hoity-toity 'French' pronounciation". Maybe the French are less receptive to being sniped at for language errors. Or maybe they came back with a few instances of how the DUTCH have mangled the FRENCH language (which they can do, I've heard it often enough). Whatever, there are far more polite ways of suggesting the correct way to pronounce Van Gogh than resorting to a self-indulgent snide little lecture about "Anglo mouth equipment" and "screwing with one's language."

Peter,
At this moment Chez Fl'eau is one of my favourites. Give it a try.

Hi BTilke,

I am sincerely sorry that I upset you and for that I do apologise. The post was meant to be humorous - at least the second reponse suggested that it was received in that vein - but it appears to have gone awry.

Having said all that, I must respectfully point out that I did not mentioned Americans anywhere in this thread. Not once. May I point out further that the Anglo language is also spoken in Ireland, Canada, Australia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, India, New Zealand; South Africa; Pakistan; .....

Also, it was AR who mentioned the funny "howty-towty" pronounciation and the word "American" - not me.

And lastly, there appear to be at least 2 Peters posting to this thread.

Peter - hopefully from the respectful corner.

Peter,
well, ok, I found the original post patronizing to all anglophones, not just Americans. After four years in Europe, I've heard too many unfounded, undeserved, and ill informed condescending remarks about Americans.
Regarding the hoity toity comment, you posted "You cannot believe how many Van Gogh's (not with the silly hoity-toity French pronounciation) there are"...in the Best of Holland thread. (Unless there is another Peter with the a Rocknocker Fodors handle.). But as long as you meant it humorously...

Hi

I said a few words about mussels in Belgium.

Now I'm everones favourite target ?

Peter Languedoc

BTW : my French wife pronounces it Vin Gogg !

Yikes - I'm being stalked <g>

BTilke: You really should see Ireland. Its not patronising to say so. Lovely friendly green country. Great golf.