Your rights if a hotel refuses to serve English food on a foreign holiday
A consumer rights champion has explained the rules after one woman had to eat Greek food every day on her Greek holiday
https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/news/your-rights-hotel-refuses-serve-35352881Open linkView original on leminal.space
151 replies
Imagine seeking out British food in fucking Greece.
You mean chicken tikka masala?
Invented by a Pakistani Brit in Glasgow. However you think about it, it's not Indian.
That is highly contested mind you.
https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2014/who-owns-chicken-tikka-masala/
The British attempts to claim chicken tikka masala for their own have been heard in India, and they have raised ire. Rahul Verma, a New Delhi street food expert, bluntly rejects the Shish Mahal story, claiming to have tasted chicken tikka masala in Uttar Pradesh or the Punjab earlier in the 1970s. Hemanshu Kumar of the website Eating Out in Delhi, has gone on record calling out the silliness of the designation campaign, and offered an alternative origin for the dish in a recipe from the 1961 edition of Balbir Singh’s Indian Cookery. And Zaeemuddin Ahmad, a chef at New Delhi’s Karim Hotel, which was established by the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, claims that his family invented the recipe for chicken tikka masala many, many years before all of this. The general consensus being that Sarwar’s Glaswegian campaign [to obtain European Union Protected Designation of Origin status for Chicken Tikka Masala] was anything from absurd to offensive and imperialist, pillaging South Asia’s culinary culture in a type of aggressive culinary neo-colonialism.
But the biggest problem for Sarwar’s campaign, and for any attempt to pin down the origins of chicken tikka masala to write it into the story of British food, is that the Glaswegian origin story is definitively a crock of shit. The real origins of the dish are incredibly diffuse. “Many chefs have claimed to have ‘invented’ [chicken tikka masala], but it was certainly not Ali Ahmed Aslam of Shish Mahal,” says Grove. “The restaurant did not open until the ‘60s and there was already a Glasgow claimant in the shape of Sultan Ahmed Ansari, who owned Taj Mahal and claimed to have invented it in the late ‘50s.” But more than just the fact that there’s an earlier Glaswegian tale of CTM [chicken tikka masala is so ubiquitous that it has its own acronym], the very story of the fussy patron and the tomato soup was pure drunken invention. “Along with Iqbal Wahhab, now of Roast Restaurant, I started the urban myth of CTM being tikka with added Campbell’s tomato soup and spices for a joke,” admits Grove. “Yet somehow it has become accepted as the official explanation the world over.”
Invented in response to persistent questions of "where's the fuckin' gravy?" followed by threats of mayhem.
Greeh'vie
Kinda? From what I can tell, CTM isn't an Indian dish, it's more a British dish made of Indian elements. Kinda like American Chinese food.
British dish made by the Indian diaspora. The people matter as much as do the "elements".
Sure, same as with American Chinese food. But the dishes are also driven by western palates. It wouldn't exist if some Glaswegian didn't ask for sauce with their chicken tikka.
Fish and chips are kinda okay.
What the hell is going on with your thumb? It looks like a tiny dickhead peeping out from behind its foreskin
It’s barely passable
Least bad English food
Oh god, I just did. How horrible! 😭
To appease the Brits who are rightfully enraged, I have eaten some wonderful food in Great Britain. I have, however, also eaten the absolute worst of the worst I've ever tasted there.
To be absolutely fair, the good stuff was mostly from countries you've invaded in the past 😅
I'd rather not, thanks.
I'm about to go to sleep and I wouldn't want to have nightmares.
Or indigestion
Dragons?
It's easy if you try...
Someone went to the papers because she went to Spain and there were too many Spanish people.
There's wee villages in Spain made of British "Expats" who basically live like they're back in the UK. We literally have TV shows selling this lifestyle.
Brits go abroad purely for the Sun and nothing else.
Can I eat bacon with ulcerative colitis?
Spoiler: no, you should not eat bacon when you have ulcerative colitis. She was probably better off health wise on that vacation than she was at home.
Yeah... she is definitely a Karen
She's an idiot but that guidance is not universal :( I have UC and I do fine with bacon
Or she's just lying about her malady. She prob had a tummy ache, put the symptoms into ChatGPT, and it told her she had it.
I definitely misread "ulcerative colitis" and, while intrigued, I still thought it odd to bring up in an article about food.
bet she isnt controlling her UC symptoms.
What on earth am I even reading? 😂
Karen had a bad trip.
british karen at its finest.
This poor woman sure does seem to be living a miserable existence. Does the UK have voluntary euthanasia?
It’s called Butlins.
Skegness looks pretty pleasant, actually.
I wish
The problem with vacationing in other countries is they're so full of foreigners - that woman probably
"The problem with Scotland... Is that it's full of Scots!"
This is absolutely NotTheOnion material. It's refreshing and rare to see something SO fucking oniony. lol.
I'm the "father" or /r/NotTheOnion - building that place up to what it became. I've said before and say again that it's hard to run a subreddit like that - or community here - because deciding what's fun/weird vs. what is ACTUALLY truly "nottheonion"-y is hard. Truly nottheonion stuff is kinda rare. So it's always a matter of - do you want that one really oniony thing once per month, or do you allow more stuff that's less oniony?
Because articles like this one don't come along that often. lol.
My point is just that this article was a truly wild ride.
It's the mirror so it's fake
"Susan, who has ulcerative colitis, said: "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce. There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage."
Oh no Mozarella and tomatoes? Atrocious. Funny thing is fatty and processed foods like bacons and sausage are in the avoid list for people for ulcerative colitis (so is dairy for some to be fair but that is more case specific I think).
If you have a medical condition that requires a special diet... you have no option that planning ahead, you cannot expect the world to be ready for any possible medical requirement
Just reading those three words in that order, "mozzarella and tomatoes" just made me crave a Caprese salad.
So fucking good. What kind of loser whines about being served that godly combination of foods?
Idk, I have UC and the things she mentioned are fine for me. I struggle with scratchy fibrous foods: whole grains, seeds, fruit skins, raw veggies. I don't have an issue with bacon or fat in general.
Yeah seems pretty person specific, where I looked it says soluble fibers are fine, dairy is bad if you are lactose intolerant, fatty foods are bad during flare ups.
Right? She "can't" eat kebab, but demands bacon and sausage?
Why even travel abroad if you won't eat the food?
I have a disease that desires trash food too, it's called shame, not ulcerative colitis. I think she got those mixed up.
A while ago I watched a YouTube video where an American creator gave the pros and cons of sailing in the Mediterranean. Since I only sail in the Mediterranean, I was curious to find out what the differences are between sailing in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. One of the pros of sailing in Greece was “There is a decent tavern in every small town/village.” The cons were “You can only find Greek (and sometimes Italian) food. No Chinese, no Mexican…”. My first reaction was WTF!!!
Americans are accustomed to having access to worldwide cuisine options 24/7/365. She must've had a psychological breakdown finding herself in the middle of the Mediterranean sea with only Mediterranean food options 🤣 How out of touch must some one be to not only subconsciously feel troubled by something so insignificant, but then to set up her ring light & camera to consciously rant about it out loud & post it on YouTube 🤦🏼♀️
There is definitely something cool to be said about living in a place where one day I can eat some amazing Greek food and then the next day have Chinese or Mexican. The US has some amazing options on almost every street corner (in a city, get fucking rekt suburbia)
It's not that they don't expect there to be Greek food or that they won't want to eat Greek food. It's that Americans used to having a huge variety of food available, and may need to be warned that they will not have that available.
I can get pretty much any style cuisine (my choice betweem authentic or Americanized version) for lunch any day. I could have Bao on Monday, Schnitzel on Tuesday, Tikka Masala on Wednesday, Carne Guisada on Thursday, and Injera on Friday all without having to travel more than 5 minutes.
And it's not just urban areas. Even the tiny backwoods town my parents live in has country cooking, Mexican, Chinese, and Italian restaurants (though the Chinese and Italian are really bad)
its always western people going other countries expecting the countries to have the food that they are used to, very strange thing, you might as well stay in the country you are from.
"western food" is something that only exists in foreign countries anyways, like "asian food". If it is something that is available, it's not really what I'm used to from home, but some weird mish-mash of what someone thinks the typical american/british/german/other (in that order) eats. And on top of that, it's usually terrible quality, not due to a lack of skill, just well, not having the right ingredients, not knowing the nuances of the food or what it's supposed to taste like. So between a postmodernist interpretation of what someone thinks I eat, or proper local food, I really don't understand why you'd ever not eat the local food.
But it's not only western people. Japanese/Taiwanese/Chinese traveling in Switzerland do like to buy/bring instant noodles and cook them at the hotel instead of eating local food (not that there really is local swiss food, there's like 3 dishes and then it's mostly an amalgam of italian, french and german cuisine). Part of that is the high price, but not only. And from the few times I traveled in other european contries with friends from those asian countries, it seems common enough that they prefer to eat at asian restaurants. Except for italy, where everyone loves the local food.
It seems like she should've confirmed with the agency that there would be food she could eat made available. Or maybe made other arrangements for her meals, maybe brought some snacks with her.
Why would Karen take accountability for her self. It is the universe that should be thinking ahead for her. /s
She could've eaten the food described in the article just fine with UC. She's just a massive Karen.
This isn't about her disease. She specifically mentions wanting/missing fried bacon (and presumably also sausage, since those are also traditionally part of a full english), which are both terrible foods to eat with UC.
If she'd asked for white bread and baked beans, that would make more sense and be suitable for UC, but bacon ain't it. She's just a karen who's using her disease as an excuse to bitch about not getting what she wants.
White rice, fish and cooked vegetables, which are at least some of the food she was complaining about, are conversely actually an excellent meal for someone with UC
As someone who doesn't like Greek food I've come up with an easy solution to not liking the food somewhere: I just don't go.
Most Balkan food is just... Mostly not overtly offensive.
Greece is amazing, but if you want a wild ride, try what passes for "Mexican" food there. If you don't laugh, you'll cry. Makes Taco Bell look legit.
European tacos are the funniest shit.
Funniest as in "laugh or cry"
French tacos is uh.. Something
I'm picturing a crepe with beef crumbles
I was served a sausage wrapped in a savory crepe by a Balkan woman in Paris when I asked what the "authentic taco" was.
So like, not a taco. It was dope but it was not a taco.
Look it up online it's quite something
Ok a vegetarian version of that would slap tho. Absolutely not a taco, but I'm in
I mean I'm aussie and ours aren't exactly quality product but even I look at European "Mexican" foods and know that ain't right
No lol you should look up what french tacos are, it's nothing remotely Mexican
I would prefer the worst Greek Mexican food over the best Greek food.
I think a food tour of what countries imagine other foods to be would be quite fun.
Can I ask what specifically you don't like about it? I'm just curious, no judgement at all.
The combination of flavor profiles and textures just aren't for me. For example, I don't like feta cheese or olives and they're in just about everything.
I do like me some grilled lamb, though.
Fair!
You'd lose your shit in Australia. It's all souvlakis and open plate gyros
An American gyro with a big pile of iceberg lettuce and sliced onions and tzatziki sauce is pretty awesome. Can they do that?
My dinner last Saturday
Fuck all?
Lord do I hate people like this... I once sat, as a foreigner, in a small Japanese restaurant when some American woman started arguing with the young waiter about not wanting some ingredient (might have been eggplant?). She was loud, rude, and entitled. The poor waiter spoke very little English and our Japanese wasn't good enough that we could help.
When you travel it's up to you to know the words of foods you don't like or can't eat. If you get something you don't like you politely eat what you do or order something else. Enjoy the cultural exchange ffs.
It did mention that there may be a case against the company that sold the vacation package if specific promises were made about the meals. Like something specifically marketed towards people with dietary restrictions.
International travel requires at least some flexibility and the lady in the article has none.
There is no dietary restriction that exists that requires a person to eat only full English breakfasts.
It's called being a wanker.
A full English breakfast too, is what she demanded. That is no small task.
Talk about being a cunt. The best part of trying new foods while traveling is not knowing what it is and going for it. I get that things like peanuts being able to kill you and all and well not everyone wants to eat a living squid but overall you're there for the experience. Also, I would have told that American woman to just STFU or GTFO. Don't ruin my meal or insult the staff. ugh
My favorite one of these is this from 2017: https://www.nine.com.au/travel/couple-thinks-all-inclusive-resort-wristband-covers-island-20170503-p5n9z3.html
Oh no a vacation of falafel, baklava, and lamb.. Oh the humanity
We don't do falafel in Greece. We've started adopting it over the last decade (mostly as a vegetarian alternative to meatballs and stuff) but it's definitely not a traditional Greek thing.
Would you like some feta instead?
Spanakotyropites please!
Fuckin love feta and anything with olives Basamic vineger and oil Mmm
My favorite is fried feta covered in sesame, honey, and balsamic :D
She should have given me her ticket, I will eat all of that regardless of where I'm at. A nice salad that wouldn't make me bedridden is a dream ('Merica, fuck yea)
They've got a Super Karen!
TBF Helen Dewdney is a consumer rights person. She generally explains and advises on misleading consumer practices. She is not championing the ladies gripe, she is commenting on the complaining ladies rights, which were provided by the travel provider, who kinda lumped everything under the idea of a 'package holiday' providing everything you require. She did actually say that it was probably not reasonable to expect English food as part of that.
There's a big difference between knowing and advocating consumer rights and being a super karen. The internet has made standing up for your rights a aspect of shame or ridicule rather than something you should protect and practice.
And she's a self proclaimed cow!
I mean it's her job to bitch on our behalf, that's not Karening, that's being good at an important job.
her last name was totally made up in her parents head.
OMG. I just remember my ex-MIL pulled this shit in Morocco. She ordered a salad expecting leafy green. She was given a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers. Didn't like it. Picked from our pates instead.
This would be so terrible. I hope no one ever does this to me, but forever. I would so hate to eat Greek food for all 8 meals per day for the rest of my life. That would be so bad please don't do that.
8 meals a day?
Breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, noonsies, lunch, tea, dinner, and supper.
Did they stutter?
Yes, but if it's Greek then especially 8, I don't want to miss out on any suffering
...do you not?
Planning a trip where meal options depend on what food the hotel one happens to be staying at serves sounds like a very limiting choice to make.
I'd pay good money to see her travel through Asia.
"Today I'm here in Singapore, eating in McDonalds."
"Today I'm here in China, eating in McDonalds."
"Today I'm here in Japan, eating in McDonalds."
I don’t get the point of going to another culture……. To just eat and experience the Americanised stuff.
So they can say return home and ask their friends and family, "do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?"
Something about pound her with cheese? I didn't know they had such hard cheeses in France.
It's always fun to try it once while you are there, fast food chains outside of the us tend to taste better and sometimes have different options then back in the states. But it's usually a once and done type of deal, I want to try the local cuisine more than anything!
"Ah'll just 'ave some chips an' a Big Mac please, duck."
You'd love "An Idiot Abroad," the show of an average British bloke (Karl Pilkington) puttering around like an idiot in other countries.
Wow what a terrible life Susan! Must be nice if that's the worst thing in your life.
Of course it's a Brit or American. It's usually those brand of white people that feel overly entitled to everything like the whole world belongs to them. The British empire collapsed ages ago, grandma.
When even The Mirror is forced to tell the British boomers that they are shit outta luck, you know it was a garbage claim to begin with.
You have the right to fuck off.
What happened to her? (Wrong anwsers only)
English diet
We said wrong answer only
Her food was obviously prepared near spices
The toast for her beans and toast was too rare but the waitstaff refused to take it back
She ate one (1) gyro and instantly shriveled up like a witch.
Stray black pepper flake
she wants the guy beside her to just stop talking so she can enjoy her food
The didn't have boiled meat and nuclear green peas.
she OD'd on too-spicy meth.
That photo at the top of the article is just a random image the editor found. There is a photo of the actual person who complained that she only got chips for one night of her 7 day holiday further down the article.
She's had to go, to Burger King.
She found an angel at the bottom of a lake who gave her a mince pie and from then on it was her birth right.
Watery tarts handing out pies is no means for a system of cuisine!
especially because those pies would have soggy bottoms.
Ok, but can I sue if someone tries to serve me English food in Greece?
Turns out, yes. Assault is a crime in Greece.
Jesus christ just post it to me woman. All of it.
She should have bring her own food, like the Dutch do when they travel to Spain/south of France.
It's hard to survive without bitterballen.
When I travel I pack a couple Sheetz sausage shmiscuits to keep me from getting depressed from traveling.
She should've gone to Benidorm.
A few of the Greek islands have a resort town that is basically all Brits, one that is all Germans, and so on. I stay away from those, as it’s kind of sad going to Greece and not enjoying the tavernas.
It's also sad going to Greece and complaining it's not British enough, like Going to Morocco and complaining it's not raining..
I refuse to go to places named like ointments for athlete's foot.
The Mirror... Says it all.
The article explains jack shit
That's because there's pretty much jack shit to explain, unless you're a Karen expecting your daily tasteless crap no matter where you go.
I still can't wrap my head around a whole country eating canned beans for breakfast every day of their life.
It's just bizarre.
British diners and pubs are a blight in SE Asia
English food is just horrible. They have the worst kitchen of the whole world.
I wonder if this was less about "English food" and more about wanting a more substantial (and protein-filled) breakfast instead of some breads and jams.
I could see someone seeking compensation from a travel agencies that told her "oh yeah, they have an amazing breakfast, so you don't need to worry about that! You won't need to eat until supper if you stay at that hotel!"
Nah she actually was super upset she wasnt getting English staples lol. She wanted toast and bacon and sausage and fries.
They gave her rice and fish and she said after "she never wanted to look at a plate of rice again", and she was complaining that she never got sausage or bacon, and while at first I thought they weren't giving her much meat... She complained about the kebabs and said that was the worst part.
I'm impressed that that woman managed to make her way out of her house, let alone out of her country
She even got toast and chips (“fries”)!