France V USA
best meal ever...Lobster Bisque followed by Surf and Turf cooked by a michelin star chef at a guesthouse in france (it was his guesthouse that he'd only just started renting out and we paid the standard DBB rate that you would have got from a novatel :D)
worst meal ever...Anything cooked by the Yanks that isn't a Burger.
(Bushcricket, Thu 26 May 2011, 17:47, 16 replies)

Eh?
I've had some great ribs, "buffalo wings" and steaks (rare but tender) in the US as well as things like 'gator tail and conch. I'll admit I've not been to France but unless they're some kind of magicians compared to the other countries I've been to I doubt any USian efforts would pale in comparison.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Thu 26 May 2011, 17:59, closed)

Outside of maybe five or six major cities
the food in the US pales into insignificance next to any other country on the planet. Including ex-soviet states who live exclusively on boiled potatoes and rotten cabbage and whichever sub-Saharan area is currently experiencing a famine.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 26 May 2011, 18:02, closed)

I'm not convinced.
I'll certainly agree that there are probably more shit places to buy food in the US than anywhere else -- by percentage of places even. I'll also agree that what USian chefs can cook well is probably a pretty small amount compared to most European chefs. What I disagree with is the idea that none of them can cook any dish well. I've yet to have a steak as good as one I had in Orlando, for example, despite havung eaten steak in a few European countries. I still rate Floridian conch pretty highly too, despite having eaten similar in a few European cities.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Thu 26 May 2011, 18:07, closed)

Fair enough.
It might or might not be interesting that your argument for the quality of american food consists of a list of grilled meat.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 26 May 2011, 18:10, closed)

It is interesting (well, relevant anyhow).
Though conch isn't a "grilled meat", well, OK, it's a fryed molusc so may count as "meat".
I also declare that Pappa John's is definately not the worst pizza provider in the world -- the UK has all sorts of places that do it worse.
Still, my point is more that USians do a few things well (the aforementioned meat) and are certainly not the worst at a great many others. To declare "anything cooked by and American" as the worst, or even sub-standard, is incorrect.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Thu 26 May 2011, 18:24, closed)

OK.
It's a good job nobody has actually said that then.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 26 May 2011, 18:50, closed)

"worst meal ever..Anything cooked by the yanks that isn't a burger."
Thanks for playing.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Thu 26 May 2011, 18:54, closed)

You illiterate tit.

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 26 May 2011, 19:35, closed)

If I weren't married I'd propose to you.
You contrary little man, you.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Thu 26 May 2011, 19:40, closed)

We can still have smelly knee-tremblers down the back of Aldi though, right?

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 27 May 2011, 8:26, closed)

Aldi! What kind of guy do you think I am?!?
M&S, perhaps -- as long as we take it in turns being the "girl".
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 27 May 2011, 17:17, closed)

Steak
If you ever get across the pond to a little place called Dublin, try a restaurant called Shanahan's on the Green for their steak. I still maintain that it's the best in Europe. Slightly furthe afield, if you ever get to Dubai try a restaurant called La Parilla at the top of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel for their steaks. I've had my fair share of steaks in the US and, whilst they compare relatively favourably to other places, these two absolutely blow them away.
( Hunter Stockton was murdered by a bicycle wielding axolotl,.,.,.,., Fri 27 May 2011, 14:37, closed)

I've had plenty of fine meals in America. The absolute best Cornish pasties I've had came from an Italian deli in New Jersey and the owner had never set foot in Cornwall either.

However, there is one kind of food in America which is inexplicably crap.

Chinese food

I have no idea why but every single Chinese meal I had in the US, whether it be restaurant or takeaway, East coast or out west, sucked like the cold, hard vacuum of space. I'd love to know why.
(Dildo Bugger destroyed a ring on, Thu 26 May 2011, 19:41, closed)

I've found
that in general the Yanks prefer quantity over quality. So a huge plate of anything is preferred to a tasty meal of something. Of course you can have very fine meals in the USA, but my experience tells me that most American's idea of a good meal is an all you can eat buffet. My (English) father in law has a similar view, although for him it's grams of food per pound paid which is important. The cheaper the meal the better.
(Smale is stuffed, Thu 26 May 2011, 21:13, closed)

most of the meals in the states weren't horrible
they are just a bit bland and uninspiring. chain restaurants outnumber individual restaurants 10 to 1, and they tend to cater to the unadventurous palette to maximise returns. they are slowly discovering real food and beer, especially in the pacific northwest, but have a long way to go with cheese
( cumquat may will not be commenting further on the allegations, Thu 26 May 2011, 22:03, closed)

I think it's actually illegal for cheese to taste of something in the US.
They've gone proper mental for real(ish) ale and microbreweries though.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 27 May 2011, 8:26, closed)