Just back from Paris. At dinner, a woman from the US at a nearby table ordered the dreaded veal kidneys (in a mustard sauce), which the waiter translated as "veal pieces". When the dish arrived, she ate one bite, raised her eyebrows, and realized it wasn't quite the dish she was expecting. She tried to pawn it off on her husband, who would have none of it. <BR> <BR>If you witnessed this, would you have provided some help before the dish was ordered as a gesture of kindness?

All I can say is that if that woman was me, I would have welcomed someone telling me that veal pieces were kidneys.

Nope. Wouldn't have done it. Let it go. You never know if it's one of those people who just decides to "go for it" and eat like the locals really do eat. I don't stop anyone from ordering escargot or frogs' legs. Figure they know what they're doing, and if they don't, should open up their dictionary and find out what they are doing. If it's not in the dictionary, I don't order it. <BR> <BR>Hubbie had experience like that with "tete de veau" -- I laughed my butt off. His reaction? "The waitress seemed to think it was a good idea". Oops.

Realized after I posted that it was the server's translation that was bad. In that case, I would have given it more thought. <BR> <BR>But, still comes down to having the dictionary handy. Some things don't translate.

What's wrong with veal kidneys? Why do you dread them? They're delightful. A bit heavy on cholesterol I believe, but quite tasty, indeed, when properly prepared. Rognon de veau ... look for it on the menu the next time you're in Europe. <BR> <BR>twenj

I don't speak French, and on my last trip, French speakers frequently bailed me out of trouble. I would have appreciated the help.

You know, I have to place these things on a case by case basis..It would all depend upon the type of restaurant and it's formality. The impression I had of the American lady. We tend to be a pretty gregarious couple when we travel so I might, but you never know when someone will be humiliated and/or insulted by unsolicited information. I know if it was me... I would have really appreciated if someone had told me in advance that the pasta I ordered was smothered in TUNA, yuk!!! (Long story)so really it would all depend

It depends on the formality of the restaurant, noise level, etc. The waiter was clearly wrong in his translation and if I were right next to her and could butt in fairly quietly I would have told her what they were as she clearly did not know. I have translated for Americans in some French restaurants when sitting nearby and overhearing that the waiter wasn't quite sure the English word for something; the waiter didn't mind at all, he thanked me. These are in casual restaurants, cafes and bistros, however. Sometimes there are actually health reasons for doing this due to allergies; I remember translating raspberries once for someone when the waiter couldn't remember that exact word in English (there are a lot of berry words) that could be important.

Jason, <BR>Interesting question & situation & worded in a very interesting way. (Intervention? Makes me think of the Betty Ford clinic!) <BR> <BR>Anyway, Christina does indeed make a very valid point about food allergies & as a sufferer of such an allergy, I would have appreciated it, had I been in such a situation. <BR> <BR>Having said that, I assume you were close enough to their table to hear all that transpired. IF you did/do choose/chose to intervene, I think it would involve a fairly heavy level of diplomacy---"Perhaps I might be of some assistance to this lovely American lady?" This way, neither waiter nor diner are offended. Then ask the waiter politely if you could have a moment to speak with the lady. If he will give you leave, this gives you an out to not insult the chef's work, or food that is considered a delicacy in that country in front of the waiter. You would certainly only be explaining to the lady what the dish actually was, but sometimes misinterpretation on the part of the wait staff leads to someone's feelings getting hurt needlessly. My point is, this mission can be accomplished, but requires a bit of finesse to pull off without injury to feelings. <BR> <BR>BC

TTT...........

Of course! I'm the oldest child, I would have to, I could not help myself, it's a curse! <BR> <BR>Plus, many kind-hearted souls have bailed me out when I was dithering over what to order. <BR> <BR>Sandy

I have "this thing" about not hurting someone's feelings and I like to treat people as I would like to be treated-so I would try to put myself in their position. And, it does depend if the situation is condusive to "getting involved" but I would tell the person in the most friendly way I could (of course, I could not do that now since I don't speak french)like "I hope you don't mind my telling you this, but, I could not help but overhear your order and just wanted to make sure you knew you ordered veal kidneys-which you may just love, but some people don't and thought you might want to know." If they did not know I would tell them I could have done the same thing myself, not knowing the language. (putting them at ease). <BR>(I am trying to learn some of the language since I leave in less than 2 weeks!!) <BR>Patti <BR>

By accident one time I ordered veal kidney's in a French restaurant because my husband didn't know the word for kidney so I thought it was "regular" veal. One bit literally left me in tears. It was the worst thing I have ever eaten by far in my life. Hubby wouldn't eat it either and he's eaten things like sweetbreads. I sure wish someone had overheard us and told us what I really ordered as it would have save us a bundle on food we had to throw away. And I was still hungry.

If I knew what the dish was, I would have told her and would not have expected her or the waiter to take offense. But, I would not have ordered for her. <BR> Years ago in Munich I became the designated translator of our group(of 8) due to my limited college German(1 year). This did not include knowledge of how to read a German menu. At a resturant I interpreted what little I could of the menu and everyone was able to order something from the choices I described to them. Everyone, except one young lady who insisted she didn't want any of those things and demanded I come up with something else, even though I again explained to her that couldn't understand the rest of the menu. I then asked the waitress, who spoke no English, to recommend something nice that the young lady would enjoy. She recommended what she said was a chicken and rice dish. The young lady agreed. The dish turned out to be chicken livers over rice! The young lady hollered at me for ordering her something so stupid. She wouldn't touch it but just sat there crying through the whole meal. <BR>I've learned my lesson.

Just a little more on the actual situation. Dinner was at a cafe (casual). The woman who ordered the veal kidneys clearly understood little or no French. I was sitting at the table next to theirs. By the way, she ate most of the rest of what was on her plate, and when the server took it away (with 95% of her veal kidneys left) she politely said that everything was delicious. <BR> <BR>Is it farfetched to suspect that the waiter deliberately avoided using the word kidney so as to help sell the meal?

Maybe he didn't know the English word, after all he is French, and if the American didn't know the word, Rognon, why should he&gt; I doubt if he was trying to Sell the dish, it is quite popular and I'm sure there were other diners waiting to order it.

If it were clear the woman didn't know what the item was, and she received inadequate info from the waiter, I would have quietly and politely explained the dish. I'll eat almost anything, and my sister is even more daring, but both of us bit into kidney which was on a kabob in a Turkish restaurant - and quickly spit it into our napkins. I definitely would save somebody from *that* experience. <BR> <BR>At a local Mexican restaurant a winter visitor was telling the waiter she loved spicy food, so he recommended a dish - made with habaneros. I leaned over and said "I, too, love spicy food, but I can't handle habaneros; on a scale of 1 to 10 for hot, those suckers are a 15". She called the waiter back.

Well, I'm french and I did not know that "Rognon" was kidneys (but I knew that "reins" was kidneys... <BR> <BR>French language can be quite misleading on food, sometimes, even the French people don't really know what they are eating since they have a different name for the body part when it comes to eating it in some cases. <BR> <BR>exemples : <BR> <BR>amourettes (food name) = testicules (real name) <BR> <BR>Rognons (food name) = Reins (real name) <BR> <BR>In Europe they eat just about every part of the animal. Parts that are throwned out here are eaten there (like ears, eyes ect.. <BR> <BR>If I would hear someone giving a bad translation to a client at a nearby table I would not hesitate to help with the translation. Always bring a dictionnary with you when travelling to a place when you don't speak the language

I think that most French people know that foreigners (specially Anglo-saxons) are grossed out by kidneys, liver, and other strange parts of animals. For me, it is only courtesy to avoid a visitor being disappointed by his/her food and to help with translating the menu. Most waiters will be grateful for the help, too.

Always help if you can do so politely and courteously, not upsetting the waiter or the "American lady" - you certainly don't want to offend either. I wish someone had saved me from a similar fate years ago on my first trip to Paris when I ordered "tete de veau" which I thought would be some sort of roast veal - I was literally horrified to find presented on an enormous platter a wobbling jellied calf's head resplendent with a stylish necklace of parsley and various other adornments - I certainly learned my lesson and always check my dictionary before ordering something I am not sure of!