travellyn

We had the opposite experience from Can't Figure's. In our hotel in France, they kept small containers of ketchup on the table no matter what we were eating. I assumed it was because they knew Americans often asked for ketchup, and since they didn't know what dishes we might want it for, they were covering all their bases. <BR> <BR>At a restaurant, I motioned to the waiter to ask for some more water, and he asked "ketchup?"

Spider

Just an FYI. Catsup/ketchup is nothing more than corn syrup, tomato paste and salt. The main ingredient being corn syrup. If you have a sweet tooth then you're more likely to enjoy it. I personally prefer vinegar (yes, I am an American). <BR>

fiona

One slightly annoying thing in our trip to the Far East was that no matter what we asked for tomato ketchup was put was on our table.( no one round about got any) We are not even American!!Nasi goreng with ketchup!!!???

BTilke

I'm an American and I hate catsup or ketchup or however you spell it. Always have. Can't Figure, come to Belgium. Restaurants, especially budget restaurants, would love to hear you ask for ketchup--they get to charge you for it! <BR>BTilke (Brussels)

anon

ketchup/catsup?? FYI catsup comes for the saying "look what the cat's brought up!"

Can't Figure

I guess I haven't been making myself very clear. Every time I asked for ketchup in Europe, the waiter brought it to me. <BR> <BR>My question has to do with his attitude. Like my asking for ketchup for my fish and chips was , I don't know, low class or something. <BR> <BR>I don't understand why ketchup is looked down on, but other condiments such as vinegar seem fine. <BR> <BR>Also, many of you keep saying do as they do. Do you eat cat or dog when you go to China? Do you eat raw seafood in Japan? I'm sure some of you do, but just because it is offered there, doesn't mean that you have to eat it if you are a tourist in their country. I believe that in England, they don't like a sweet on the same plate as a savory, so they don't like sausage on the same plate as syrup. So, does that mean that if I eat at McDonald's there (maybe the only place you *can* get pancakes in England) that I shouldn't put syrup on the same plate as my sausage? See my point? People and cultures are different, but I don't see why we have to do *everything* the same way they do it just because we are visiting their country. <BR> <BR>Again, I am only wondering why the attitude. Not whether I should eat ketchup or vinegar.

KT

I'm not a big ketchup fan, but for the record ketchup does contain vinegar, as well as seasonings.

dont

to Can't figure <BR>haven't you just answered your own qestion?? After all, would you ask for brown bread in England?????

mjs

If you all eat chips as the British do while in Britain, does that mean you all eat them with mushy peas?

Can't Figure

dont, huh? I have had brown bread in England. Ireland is not the only place where you can find it. Even had it in Wales once. (you do mean soda bread, right?) <BR> <BR>Lots of people use ketchup in England. It is not unusual. But it seems to be frowned on there. <BR> <BR>It definitely is frowned on in France. There is *most definitely* an attitude there when you ask for ketchup. But I have always gotten it when I asked for it there, too.

Can't Figure

mjs--hahahaha, you're funny. Thanks for reminding me about those mushy peas. Yeah, I have to admit that I do eat those. And the broiled tomatoes with bread crumbs on top. But I just can't do the kippers. We had some once and , oh my, were they strong. Made my eyes water.

don't

kippers? But have you tried kedgiree for breakfast???

peter

if you desire ketchup that much why do you not carry the small envelopes of prepackaged ketchup. they are widely avaible in the states and it solves your problem!!!

Can't Figure

Oh, geez. <BR> <BR>Look, I always had ketchup whenever I wanted it in Europe. Not a problem. <BR> <BR>I can't believe so many people have misunderstood what I have said. <BR> <BR>Okay. You can get ketchup in Europe. Easy. <BR> <BR>But it comes with an attitude. <BR> <BR>Why?

xxx

Can't Figure, just chalk it up to a cultural difference. Clearly the people who give you an "attitude" about using your catsup/ketchup find it distasteful because they're not used to it. I had a French friend in the U.S. who couldn't understand how Americans could eat peanut butter and jelly together. I had colleagues in Asia who didn't understand how Americans could drink iced tea as opposed to hot tea. Its just a matter of what you were raised to think is normal with respect to food. I'm sure there are French and English dishes that you look at and wonder how someone could eat it.

Can't Figure

xxx--I'm sure you are right, it has to be that. <BR> <BR>You right about the other stuff, too. I know I sure was surprised about the peanut butter and jelly aversion, because it seems so natural to me, and delicious. MMMMM MMMMM <BR> <BR>Regarding hot vs. cold tea, I was on a cruise and my every-night tablemates were three British couples who watched us night after night order iced tea. Finally, one night they all spoke up and said that they were getting so curious, they just had to all order some "ice tea". Five of them loved it and ordered it several times during the rest of the cruise. The other one only sipped his and never ordered it again. His wife said he was a "purist" and would never try anything new.

deepa

You may have better luck if you called it -'Tomato sauce'which is what ketchup is called in UK at least.

sylvia

"You may have better luck if you called it -'Tomato sauce'which is what ketchup is called in UK at least" <BR> <BR>Just out of interest, ketchup/catsup started out made of mushrooms. You can still get it if you look. As for brown bread in England. I'm English and I've never eaten anything else since the 60s. There was recently a post saying that the English don't eat green vegetables. Where do these people go? Every supermarket has a veg. section and there are more small greengrocers than I've ever seen in the US.

Saucy

I live in the UK but am not British and have never had anyone look down their nose at me for asking for Ketchup/Tomato Sauce it is really common over here. Most people seem to call it Ketchup though. Unless it was a very upmarket eating establishment I doubt that anyone would care less if you requested Ketchup (certainly not if you were just eating fish and chips). <BR> <BR>Maybe you had a bad experience once and now everytime you ask for ketchup you anticipate a reaction and look for it. <BR> <BR>It is certainly not an unusual request..one I've made plenty of times and I've never had a reaction yet!

Tony Hughes

I was given some bright green catsup/ketchup in a Burger King in Montana a few months back. Tasted fine but looked awful to everyone over 3 years old.