| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 12:28 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| Coolguy123 wrote: |
| I guess like anything, Japan has good speciality stuff, but when it comes to coffee in general it's mediocre. Maybe they make it more in a style similar to making tea or something. I'm sure Europeans complain about American coffee. |
There are few more depressing sights than a Brit trying to get a decent cuppa in America. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 4:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Pitarou wrote: |
| Coolguy123 wrote: |
| I guess like anything, Japan has good speciality stuff, but when it comes to coffee in general it's mediocre. Maybe they make it more in a style similar to making tea or something. I'm sure Europeans complain about American coffee. |
There are few more depressing sights than a Brit trying to get a decent cuppa in America. |
Do you mean coffee or tea? Both have gotten much much better since the late 90s. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 6:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| rxk22 wrote: |
| Pitarou wrote: |
| Coolguy123 wrote: |
| I guess like anything, Japan has good speciality stuff, but when it comes to coffee in general it's mediocre. Maybe they make it more in a style similar to making tea or something. I'm sure Europeans complain about American coffee. |
There are few more depressing sights than a Brit trying to get a decent cuppa in America. |
Do you mean coffee or tea? Both have gotten much much better since the late 90s. |
Tea.
In British English, cuppa means cup of tea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 7:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| rxk22 wrote: |
| Do you mean coffee or tea? Both have gotten much much better since the late 90s. |
…since the late 1890s…
Ha!
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 6:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ok, couldn't keep it straight.
But yes, coffee and tea in the US are pretty good now. I remember when i worked at Safeway in the late 90's and the coffee was all Folgers(pre ground meh coffee) or that crap Lipton for tea. Now, there are proper tea and coffee sections in most stores. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Coolguy123
Joined: 10 Apr 2013
Posts: 132
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 5:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Lipton is actually a Scottish/English brand  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| My wife is one of those who loves the romantic French image, particularly French fashion and the cafe atmosphere. I gain some leeway in the ordinarily unforgiving gift culture if I present the gift in a nice bag with a French motif. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jmatt
Joined: 29 Apr 2012
Posts: 122
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Vince wrote: |
| My wife is one of those who loves the romantic French image, particularly French fashion and the cafe atmosphere. I gain some leeway in the ordinarily unforgiving gift culture if I present the gift in a nice bag with a French motif. |
I've scored a lot of goodwill with the in-laws by buying a bag of different breads from the Gontran Cherrier in Shinjuku and bringing it home once a week or so. If you're in Tokyo, awesome stuff. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 5:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Coolguy123 wrote: |
| Lipton is actually a Scottish/English brand |
I know. Which is why it is ironic that English complain about American tea. When they were the ones who saddled the Americans with awful tea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 5:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| jmatt wrote: |
| Vince wrote: |
| My wife is one of those who loves the romantic French image, particularly French fashion and the cafe atmosphere. I gain some leeway in the ordinarily unforgiving gift culture if I present the gift in a nice bag with a French motif. |
I've scored a lot of goodwill with the in-laws by buying a bag of different breads from the Gontran Cherrier in Shinjuku and bringing it home once a week or so. If you're in Tokyo, awesome stuff. |
Trader Joe bags are in now. They are only $5 or. I buy a whole bunch and take them with me. Beats paying silly amounts of money for a label.
I think the Japanese obsession with brands has passed into absurdity. Just no reason to pay such premiums for slightly better quality /rant |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| rxk22 wrote: |
| I think the Japanese obsession with brands has passed into absurdity. Just no reason to pay such premiums for slightly better quality /rant |
That's the point! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Coolguy123
Joined: 10 Apr 2013
Posts: 132
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The Japanese are definitely obsessed with quality. To the point where I can't really tell the difference.
However upon leaving I end up kind of missing the quality of stuff in Japan. In the US we also end up paying a lot for quality (especially in terms of food). You kind of have to admire how they constantly want the best at all times (and are willing to put a lot of effort and time to make products that are extremely high quality).
However in terms of value, Korean stuff is probably better for the most part (although they sometimes exploit and underpay their workers). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
1983rm
Joined: 03 Dec 2013
Posts: 12
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 5:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Wonder if that has more to do with the Japanese than the French. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Black_Beer_Man
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 453
Location: Yokohama
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
One way that the Japanese are not like the French - in fact the polar opposite is with perfume wearing.
While the French apply it generously, I get nasty comments from Japanese people if I apply two squirts of eau de toilette. I don't find two shots to be excessive, but if I stand near a Japanese person, he or she acts like he's /she's choking on poisonous gas. 
So, I have had to just do with one squirt - which they can seem to tolerate so long as it is not a strong scent. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
