I think there are 3 sources of meat in Spring Hill, FL. The Wal-Mart Supercenter, Winn-Dixie Marketplace and Publix. Which is best known for organic meat?

"I think" are often dangerous words. Here is a list of about 1000 independent meat markets "near" Spring Hill. Some, including Miquel's, Prime Cuts Meats, and Country Smokehouse are right in Spring Hill.

Wal-Mart??? ROTFLMAO

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2pewg5

>American beef, served in any of a hundred ways is the best meal available anywhere. <

Oh pish tosh.

>Europeans have long served meats of dubious quality magnificently masked with superb sauces.<

This remark is at least 20 years out of date.

I would choose wild Georgia shrimp over the best beef, any day.

I would prefer Maine lobster to GA Shrimp.

I would rather have Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs over Maine Lobster.

Moving across the pond, I would rather have good French veal instead of US Beef.

I would prefer Czech wild boar to French veal.

I'd take pike-perch from the Bodensee over Czech boar.

I would choose duck breast from the Dordogne over the pike-perch.

>The Wal-Mart Supercenter, Winn-Dixie Marketplace and Publix. Which is best known for organic meat?<

Certainly not Wal-Mart, where almost all of the "meat" contains up to 25% of "a solution". They don't say what the "solution" is, but I think that it is sodium phosphate.

Of the other two, just toss a coin if you have to have beef.

Hi SC

It's spelled "Semmelknödeln".

Not to worry. My father died in 2005 (perhaps from the beef) and my mother is 'enjoying' her advanced stage of Alzheimer's in her nursing home in Paris, where I brought her after liquidating everything for a fraction of the value.

I still take my mother to the restaurant every Saturday, and I wish I had some American 'mush meat' because she has forgotten how to use a knife and tries to cut everything by pressing down on it with the edge of her fork. Doesn't work on French meat. Thank god for Léon de Bruxelles.

Hi PM,

Keep in mind that the Euro is up to $1.39. That makes 15E about $21.

I'm not familiar with your neighborhood.

If you like mussels, the Leon de Bruxelles chain has meals with a dessert waffle for about 15E. You can look them up at www.pagesjaunes.fr.

If you walk down to the Ile St. Louis, there are some creperies that are quite good, and in your budget.

Do you like Chinese foood? They are usually quite inexpensive.

Sorry, I can't be of more help.

NeoPatrick, Such a hearty response you have received! Part of traveling IS sampling local cuisine - most of us would agree with that. I'm from Texas, but I lived in Scotland for several years and, other than blood sausage, watery canned/frozen shrimp with Marie Rose sauce, and haggis, ate anything served quite happily. It was part of the experience. Still love neeps and tatties; love their fish and chips: love a Ploughman's Lunch! Every so often, though, the bar-b-que restaurant by the central Glasgow train station called my name - just because it was bar-b-que or I was a bit homesick or just because. Though it may not have been exactly that which I was used to, it tasted GREAT to me. Folks should not get slammed out of tackiness because they like to eat what they like to eat, on either side of the pond or this forum.

Honest to god, it is posts like this that remind me of high school. Who cares if someone scorns you if you eat over easy eggs in Paris. Eat what you want.

I haven't read all the posts carefully, but in Bianca's defense she does have a point about eating local foods in the country where you are visiting.

Bianca said something to the effect that you can eat the American food favorites when you return home. That is how I feel.

When in a foreign country I like to learn and experience as much of that culture as possible.

I don't want to eat hamburgers and tacos, or watch locals play American football.

ira - wal mart doesn't say what the 25% solution is - probably because they don't have a clue what it is either.

nanabee,
So to you American food is Hamburgers and Tacos? I am surprized you didn't say french fries and pizza too.. Becuase everybody in the world knows thats all us Americans eat.

to roadlesstraveled -- I agree -- it does feel like high school. The original question was why the double standard? I offered my opinion on the matter and then had to see dozens of strangers question my intelect and taste. Not fun. I never said people shouldn't eat what they want when traveling. Everyone should do what makes them happy. I was just saying that I choose to eat only local while abroad since I have my fair share of American food back home. Thanks nanabee for the words of support. This forum has really made me question whether offering my advice is really worth it. Not really when it makes me feel like crap for trying to share my experiences and getting the remarks I have received.

Oh, and just so i don't get bashed again -- I know intellect has two ls. I was typing too fast and didn't catch it.

Neo, I think you brought up an interesting subject and one I have thought of many times myself.

As an American who loves traveling abroad, I must admit that my taste buds don't match the majority on these boards. I am a picky eater. Sad but true and its something that I am not proud of but unfortunately can't help too much. I have sought out American-style restaurants in Europe on occassion because its just easier for me to find something I like. No, I'm not proud of it, but its more of a comfort zone for me. I appreciate a good meal as much as the next person, but because my tastes are limited I can only have pasta, chicken and pizza so much in Italy before I start craving a burger.

What I don't think is fare is the several posts I have read throughout my several years posting regularly on fodors is the people who will attack someone who wants something "American" in x city. Usually about 40-50% of the replies will tell him/her to stay home if they don't like the food. I find this utterly ridiculous! Not everyone visits Europe to eat gourmet meals. I liked very few of the French meals I ate, with the exception of those eaten at cafes (soups, omlettes, etc) and I was ashamed to admit it on here when I came back because I didn't want to get flamed for it. But I absolutely adored Paris and would go back in a heartbeat, even if I don't particularly care for the cusine.

I think that for many of us our tastes are accustomed to what we are surrounded with. I didn't travel overseas until I was 23, about 5 years ago, so I was never exposed to other types of foods (and I don't think Olive Garden counts as being exposed to Italian food!). My parents were meat-and-potato folks so I grew up eating meatloaf, chicken and dumplings and the such.

So basically I think that the double standard definitely isn't fair. We should be able to eat where we want on vacation and not feel ashamed of it!

Tracy

bianca, I think your posts are helpful & hope that you stay around. However, I would like to kindly share what my parents told me & I shared with my children, "it's not just what you say, but how you say it". Hope you stick around & share your knowledge.

tcreath, I know from other posts that you & I are alike in food tastes. I truly hope that you are not actually ashamed for liking what you like & stating so! After all, those of us on this board do not socialize with each other! My vote is that you freely speak your mind about what you like & don't like!

Now for me, this often posted food topic is a total mystery! I can't figure out how people can get so into eating! As you said, some think one should select a country by what food they like - how weird! Some seem to travel on their stomachs, IMO Sure a good meal is nice once in a while, but some folks seem to worship the activity so much! I've actually seen posts that eating together is romantic???? Sitting across from each other & watching each other put food into the mouth & chewing - that is romantic? Taking hours to eat? What a total waste of time for me - there are too many places to go & too many things to see! Give me a stroll; sitting in a beautiful setting; laughter; experiencing an awesome view or wonderous site; delicious conversation. Now to me, that is romantic. Eating? Hmmmmm But that is OK. I can accept that others relish eating while traveling. Just wish others could be so generous with those of us who don't do so.

Happy travels everyone, Julie

Tracy, that is exactly what Patrick was saying! Americans shouldn't be ridiculed or put down for wanting some "American" food while on a trip to Europe. A lot of people here do ridicule them for that, while they don't ridicule a European if they want European food while in the US. That was his whole point!

"I offered my opinion on the matter and then had to see dozens of strangers question my intelect (sic) and taste."

No, bianca, you didn't. You did offer your opinion, but it had nothing in the world to do with "the matter" -- the original question. I am certainly not alone in this. Why do you thing five or six people ALL commented that you were totally missing the point? It had nothing to do with your opinion or your taste, but you're right -- it did have to do with your intellect. You couldn't understand the question, even after it had been re-explained three or four times! In all honesty, I think you still don't understand it. You seem to think that stating how bad American food is compared to European food had ANYTHING to do with the question. It didn't.

And nanabee, I agree with you 100% (and with some of bianca's points as well), but again that has nothing to do with the original question. Basically the original question could be defined as: if what you say is true and that people should be "chastised" for wanting American food when in Europe -- then why don't people chastise the Europeans who are looking for European food in the US? That was the original question. Not whether people should or should not eat or seek out their native foods when traveling, but why is it that it seems to be a bad thing when Americans do that, but an OK thing if Europeans do it.

Right, Neo.

She STILL doesn't get it. It's some right-brain/left-brain thing or a serious reading comprehension problem, or maybe a stubborn insistence on just putting forth her own POV about a topic that's tangential to the one you were trying to discuss, but at this point I think it's best to just let it go. She's not ever going to get it, is my guess.

It's been acknowledged that there is a double standard and that that standard is kind of ridiculous. Nuff said. You've made some of us aware of something we hadn't probably given much thought to, and that was useful. Thanks.

bianca - You STILL just don't get it!!! So what if you have lived in Europe, this makes you an expert? I think you are just a snob!!

As a Chef here in the US, you are SOOOO WRONG when you say that American food does not rate to 'French and Italian' food. What makes American Cuisine so great IMHO, it is defined by the many varied regions of this country.

I mean, just in the South alone, you have Creole (One of my FAVES), Southern Comfort, I mean, who does not LOVE Fried Chicken, and others just to start with!!

Then there is the Southwest and the MANY takes of TexMex! And up here in the Pacific Northwest, Salmon Capitol of the world, I have seen countless, and I mean COUNTLESS, ways to incorporate Salmon into a menu.

Neo, I really appreciate you bringing this up. Even though I LOVE traveling in Europe and it's cusine, sometimes I do get a bit homesick food wise.

Tom

pbase.com/trsw

neo patrick
yes, good question re: double standard.
sometimes the question does get a little off track.
but, i was just putting in my thoughts about how i like to eat what the locals eat. it would be the same if i was a european traveling in the us. so for me it would not be a double standard. but i fully understand your question and what you are getting at.
if it is true that only americans get slamed for wanting american food while europeans don't-- then I agree about the double standard.

The original question was -- and I quote: "Can anyone explain the 'double standard'?" I offered my thoughts on the double standard. If the 5 or 6 of you who called me out by name don't agree with my opinion, fine. My problem is that you 5 or 6 are violating the terms of the message board -- which clearly say "It is absolutely fine to disagree with another poster; we only ask that you do so without resorting to rudeness. " I find that calling another person a snob to be quite rude. Also, questioning my reading comprehension is rude. Using a (sic) when quoting me after I had immediately corrected my typo was not fair game. I hope that we can all learn to be more civil to each other in these posts. I looked back at my posts on this thread and never have I personally insulted or attacked anyone. It is not wrong for me to feel that French or Italian food is better than American cuisine, or to feel that that is the reason for the double standard that undeniably exists ( which was after all the original question). If other people feel there is a different reason, then please talk about it. But refrain please from the name calling and the abusive remarks.