American Dining: Breakfast

[peacetraveler22]

Every weekend, I look forward to delicious breakfasts with my family. Sometimes I'm treated to a home cooked meal from my parents, but often the entire family goes to a restaurant for Sunday breakfast. This weekend, I decided to take a few pics with my iPhone to show you what we eat. I don't think American breakfast differs much from the Russian version. In many parts of the world, people are eating eggs and meat to start the day, and we do also. My favorite thing is pancakes! You can see based on this photo that the American version is much thicker than typical Russian pancakes. We have so many varieties of this dish, with various toppings. I always get chocolate chips baked into mine. Not the healthiest option, but tasty! Weekends are meant for indulgence. :)

1. Of course, you can eat the pancakes bare and plain, but most people pick a more decadent option. The most common are pancakes covered in various fruits like strawberries or blueberries, topped with jam and whipped cream. Personally, these options are too sweet for me first thing in the morning. You will see that the American theme of "red, white and blue" is even woven into part of the breakfast menu.



2. Other breakfast options. Prices are very cheap for a lot of food. A large portion of eggs, meat, potatoes and bread for under $8 USD. Easy to find cheap, good food almost everywhere in the States.



3. At this restaurant, known as "Bob Evans," I always get the same meal. "Farmer's Choice" breakfast which includes eggs, choice of ham, bacon or sausage, potatoes and either pancakes or French toast. Common for Americans to put cheese in almost everything, and I always get cheddar cheese and onions added to my eggs. In most places, it's easy to make menu adjustments to your liking by adding or subtracting ingredients. I'm very anal about my scrambled eggs, preferring them lightly scrambled with no hint of brown or burned pieces from the grill. On this day, the cook made them to perfection. :) Cost for this meal is around $8 USD.



4. My dad gets the same meal, but with French toast instead of pancakes. Do you eat this in Russia? It's thick slices of bread, dipped in egg yolk and then pan fried. Usually, we cover it with powdered sugar and cinnamon. I don't like it.



5. You can order breakfast at anytime, but lunch and dinner options are only available after 11 a.m. In the past few years, it's become common for American restaurants to offer package deals where you get salad or soup, meat, vegetable, potato and dessert for one price. At this restaurant, prices for the combo meals are between $11 - 13 USD. On this photo, you can see a baked sweet potato, covered with butter and cinnamon. It's a type of orange squash or yam.



6. My sister ordered the smokehouse chicken, with baked potato, broccoli soup, banana nut bread and a strawberry sundae for dessert. We often add a lot of toppings to baked potatoes like butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives, etc., but this one is naked.



7. Other combo options. Turkey, fish, steak, burgers and chicken are all choices.



8. Almost all restaurants have separate kids menus, with a lot of options. Usually the menus are interactive, with games, puzzles and pictures for coloring. I didn't notice kids menus in any Russian restaurants, but I wasn't really looking for them.  A lot of places provide crayons for coloring and drawing on the menus. The meals are only $2.99 USD, and on Tuesdays kids eat free at this place. Typical kids food like chicken fingers, mac 'n' cheese and spaghetti. But also healthy options like grilled chicken, and fruit is a side option instead of fries. They always try to decorate the kids food with funny designs, making pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse or a pig.



9. I saw the most creative kids pasta in Latvia! How cute, to make the pasta meal into an insect. :)



10. Typical to have a counter for solo diners, where they can sit and enjoy a meal in silence or chat with neighbors if they're in a social mood. I have no problem going to a restaurant and sitting at a table or booth by myself, but some people find it strange and awkward.



11. Here's the bill for breakfast. Total cost for four adults and one child - $49.41.



12. If you're in America, look for this restaurant. They are located all over the States, and you will enjoy some good home-cooked food, with large portions - American style! Maybe some of you have already eaten here?



13. Restaurant decor and motto - "You won't go hungry around here!" I think the same can be said of any American restaurant.



It seems to me that Americans eat at restaurants more often than most Russians. We have a lot of options, can eat good food for cheap prices, and restaurants are woven into our social culture.

What's your favorite breakfast food? For those of you who have visited America, which restaurant did you enjoy most or least?

Tomorrow I'll show you another restaurant, where I frequently eat dinner. Nom Nom! :))

Comments

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

It looks like you have the same prices as we do. Probably even lower. I will never believe that our restraurants pay to their workers same salaries as American restaraunts do to theirs. So what is the reason? Rhetoric question.

We don't eat outside often. For most of us it must be some occasion. Most of the time most of us cook for themselves. My usual meals are shamefully simple and do not vary much. I put something into the boiling water or in the microwave oven and then when it is ready I put on it a lot of ketchup or mayo or ketchup and mayo and eat it with a cup of some cheap wine.

But of course if my girlfriend comes and I need to feed her I google something like "quick and easy meals for dummies" :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You eat bachelor style! :) I also eat boring meals during the week because I live alone and it's difficult to make tasty dishes for only one person. So, I almost always make a turkey sandwich and eat canned soup. However, I really like to cook. You can become a good chef, it just takes practice. In America, waiters and waitresses mostly earn money from tips. It is is customary for Americans to tip 15 - 20% of the total bill. I know, I used to be a waitress at an Italian restaurant during university. :) I never understood tipping protocol in Russia. Is it common, how much tip do you usually leave for a waitress?

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

Little.0-70 rubles. Not more. Believe me whatever your waitors get as salaries our waitors get at least two times less. Why are you saying waitress? Guys do not work at this job in America?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I just became lazy in typing, it's a common job for both men and women. Biggest tip I ever got was $200 on a bill of $50 USD. :))) It was a miracle! The person who left it looked like an ordinary man, but was probably very, very wealthy.

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

What is canned soup? We have some soups that you don't have to cook, just pour hot water wait 3 minutes and it's ready. But they are awfull. I mean they may seem tasty for the first and second times but then they become a torture. We call them "Бомжпакеты" or just "Бомжи" which is rude word for homeless.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Like in this photo. The most common brand is Campbell's Soup. Hundreds of different soups in cans, simply pour into a pot and heat on the stove or microwave. Very tasty! :) I also make a homemade vegetable soup, where I just pour beef broth in a large pot and mix with carrots, onions, green beans and celery. Simple to make.

[sineglazzka2301.livejournal.com]

There is no strict protocol, everything is up to the customer. They say 10% is ok, but it is not a common rule. And it depends much on a waiter. If he/she is slow or inapt, he/she may get nothing at all. Tips for lunch are usually smaller than those for dinner, or, especially, a party.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you, now I know! What about taxi drivers. Do you tip them? In America, we tip everyone!!

[sineglazzka2301.livejournal.com]

No, never (if only to leave a change of 10-20 roubles, just not to bother with coins). The price is usually fixed and set in advance (not according to the register). It's rather difficult to catch a taxi in the street, it's easier to order it by phone or Internet. You tell the address, get the fixed price and pay. I personally have a family account with two taxi companies in Ekaterinburg, so when I need a taxi, I don't even pay cash.
Tips are generally not popular in Russia. Restaurants are probably the only place where they are commonly given. In Russia we never tip drivers, salesmen, hairdressers, men in gas stations.... who else? Sometimes we start tipping hotel service people, when on vacation, but not always.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I took several cabs during my last stay in St. Petersburg, and always left a tip. Now that I know it's not customary, I will save my rubles for something else during my next visit. In America, cab drivers expect a tip and get angry if you don't leave one. Just a few weeks ago I had a very rude cab driver who was talking very loudly on his cell phone the entire cab ride. It was annoying and disrespectful, so I left him no tip and he called me a nasty name when I got out of the cab. :)

[sineglazzka2301.livejournal.com]

Ooops, SPb drivers will kill me for spreading the info!:)))
Really, I can't imagine a cab driver saying anything rude to me, they are usually quite decent without any tip.

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I believe that giving tips is a very good custom and even if everything was just awfull you should give at least 5%. It's better to give tip to someone who doesn't deserve it than not to give to somebody who does indeed deserve it.

But that is just what I think. I don't follow this rule myself. If I'm short of money I don't leave tips even if I was served like a king :)

Anyway people who serve you in Russia may have different expectations from Americans than they have from Russians.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I will not tip if the waitress is horrible, unless they show signs they are really trying. It's their job to serve and be pleasant. If they don't like it they should find another job. I hate dealing with rude service personnel, in person or on the phone. And I don't hesitate to tell people when they're being rude or unhelpful. I did this last week in the grocery store. :)

[sineglazzka2301.livejournal.com]

In Russia there is general problem with service. You can easily meet an indifferent waiter or salesperson. Most of them cannot be alterd even by tips or big salary, it's the question of wits and background. I used to run a small shop, and to find polite, attentive and helpful salesgirl was a real quest.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I've complained about poor Russian service so many times in my blog! It's mind numbing. :))

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

Russian service may be bad but Russian customers are even worse as general rule. Much worse I would say. That is why in some resorts they go as far as to create Russian free zones.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Seems to me that average Russians primarily vacation in Turkey and Egypt. I've never seen a "Russian-free" resort, but this would be a great photo for my blog if there was a sign saying "NO RUSSIANS." :)) Russian etiquette sometimes lacks refinement, this I've experienced first hand.

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

I didn't make it up about "No Russians" zones. It was on ret-tv - Russian official chanel. But I don't remember any details about this place.

I'm just saying that it is good to keep in mind while critisizing Russian services that Russian customers are also sometimes rude, unthankfull, don't know what they want and don't understand that people who serve them are not omnipotent which is not best motivation for doing your best.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I agree with you! This mentality about service is just part of the culture, but hopefully it will change for the better soon. My friend recently went to Russia, and she said service was okay. However, she ate at expensive restaurants, which I rarely do.

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

She is just lucky or didn't spend enouph time here. At least that is what I think.

I've read Lennart Dahlgren's book about his struggle in opening Ikea branch in Russia. Very interesting look from outside. I particularly enjoyed episode where he tells how he bought new big apartment, moved all his things into it and then tried to start a fire in fireplace because he was told that he can do it. It turned out that he can't and the whole place was immediatly in smoke. And he finished this story by saying that if such little misfortune can upset you, you better not to come to live in Russia. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I didn't know about this book, thanks. Sounds like a good summer read for me. I love visiting Russia, but can never imagine living there. :)

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

I've read it in Russian. It's name "Вопреки абсурду. Как я покорял Россию, а она меня". I'm not sure if it was translated to English.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

This problem exists only for cheap resorts (like in Turkey and Egypt) where rednecks from Russian provincial towns go.

We were in Greece in a hotel with more than 90% Russian customers and in Italy with at least 50% Russians.
Absolutely no problems. No drunks, no rude people, no conflicts.

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

Okey, I'm not telling you are wrong or something. I just think that it's better to tip someone who doesn't deserve it than not to tip someone who does deserve it. That's all.