Reading European Menus
 

It's fine to go to all those restaurants in Europe that everyone recommends, but what do you do with the menus when you get there? I have found a new pocket-size aid for the English speaker-European Menu Translator-that looks quite nice, for menus in French, Italian, German and Spanish. It's convenient, efficient and readable. It's on www.europeanmenus.com and www.Amazon.com and www.bn.com (Barnes and Noble). Anyone know of a better one?

hi snodgrass,<BR><BR>I am not sure about any of the other countries and cities, but paris I simply did not need a translator but for one resturaant. most menu's had english translations or the wait staff was extremely helpful.<BR><BR>

Hi<BR><BR>Once, many years ago, I had an interesting experience.<BR><BR>In Domodosola (Italy), after we had struggled with a hand written menu, and the remaining Italian Lire, and finished the meal, a flemish Belgian at a nearby table said "it is, what you say? charming, to eat a meal in a foreign language !"<BR><BR>And she was right. Many things ordered don't arrive as planned, but that is experience ?<BR><BR>And you will know in future !<BR><BR>Peter<BR><BR>

Your approach is probably good if you'll be going to lots of countries on a single trip, but if you're going only to one or two, better to invest in a guide to restaurants or food of the country with a really good glossary. I especially recommend for travel in France the Patricia Wells Food Lover's Guides to either Paris or France--same glossary in both. Very complete. Fred Plotkin's guide to Italian food has a wonderful glossary for Italy. Harder to find something good for German. Sandra Gustafson's Good Eats books have pretty good glossaries but not as complete as Wells' or Plotkin.

Just make sure you know what you are talking about. In France "La Champagne Americain" is code for Coke. Also, if you are in a really good restaurant and get a 300$ meal, get wine as your drink. I have heard horrible stories about people ordering soft drinks and getting thrown out.

I swear by "Eating and Drinking In ...", by Herbach and Dillon. I've used the ones for Italy, for Spanish Speaking Countries, and for France. I believe the France one is now caleld "Eating and Drinking in Paris", but it works in the whole country.<BR><BR>They're available from Amazon.com, and I've seen them (I think) in the travel sections of Borders. Besides menu translations, they give an overview of the types of eating establishments and recommendations too.