Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Transitions 5

Going out to eat is a challenge in and of itself. Lithuania has not embraced the American Motto," The customer is always right", but more like,,"If you don't like it....tough." Most menus, we have observed, are translated into English, but what that may mean is still a mystery. Our favorite wrong translations are "Shrimps" and "Fruits". You can really find some good entertainment reading the menus. "Almonds" on the menu are almost always peanuts when you get them and nothing seems to arrive looking the way you imagined it would look. Anytime I see something that sounds familiar I never order it because it never comes the way I think it should. We usually find stuff we like and stick with it forever! Though you will never get the same thing twice, even if you order it day after day. Somehow they always make it different:) It keeps you from getting into a rut or depending on filling a food addition craving. Well, you can just forget it, you will be disappointed every time:) You learn to just appreciate what you get and if it is exceptionally good, well then you just enjoying it:)

Nothing feels like home in the restaruants here. The glasses are small, the drinks are warm, you have to pay for water and it is never enough to quench your thirst so you must buy your refill. The place settings are given for the amount of food dishes ordered so we are always having to ask for more forks and spoons. There is no salt on the table and ketchup cost 50 centu. The food comes out spuratically and you may get your appetizer at the end of the meal. The check does not come unless you ask for it and the waitresses rarely smile. Regardless of all these things it is still quite a privelege to go out to eat because for a Lithuanian it is very expensive. We take the family out to eat, maybe once a month.

Some of the nice things about going out the eat are: The atmosphere is wonderful. Most places are layed out for you to stay for a while. The check doesn't come until you request it because the waitress doesn't expect you to eat and run. Many of the nicer restaurants have couches and low tables, though it isn't convenient to eat at, when the meal is over it is quite comfortable to lounge around and visit.

Lithuania has a flare for laying out a dish too. Even at an average restaurant it is no surprise to get a plate that is garnished beautifully. A gourmet look at a reasonable price. The food here is good too. Potatoes come in every way shape and form and are fresh and delicious. Mayonaise is used in just about everything, especially in the salads. Salads here do not consist of lettuce at all. In fact, a lot of time, the lettuce is the garnish that holds the salad often made of shredded carrots, cabbage and raw garlic. Oh and of course mayo:) Along with cut up tomatoes, cucumbers and pickles (made fresh usually) on the side.

There are only a few fast food restaurants here. McDonald's of course and another new burger place called "Hessburger". And a couple of places that serve "Kabobas" , which is meat in a pita. We haven't eaten there yet. It is very expensive to eat at these places so we generally don't eat out with the whole family. There is no Mexican food to speak of around here and we miss that more than anything:) So we have taco night at our house every few weeks. We pretty much eat at home these days. I am really loving to cook too so that is good eh?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

mmmm... those easter eggs look like chocolate... yum! they're beautiful, too. :)