do you pay for ketchup/catsup?

[jeex]

i've heard that in non-american countries when you go to fast food places you have to pay for condiments? i'm not talking about ranch or cheese sauce or anything like that, but mustard, ketchup/catsup, mayonaise..


its free in my region.. but i remember back in the day when you didnt have to request condiments and they just put it in the bag with your food.. now they dont even ask if you want it, they just let you go along without it, unless you specifically ask.. cheap ass bastards. doesnt the fast food industry make enough money without skimping?

if you live in area where the fast food places do charge for condiments, is it also the same at dine-in places?

[Devanshu]

I've noticed that when I go to McDonalds or BK and ask for ketchup, they put in two packets for a lot of food. Cheap bastards.

[Roundabout]

Hey Jeex,

Funny you should mention this. It's one of my pet peeves when I'm in Europe, that they charge for Mayo and Ketchup in a lot of places. Generally, the further you go east (into Russia and Ukraine, etc.) they charge for everything! One time when I was in Kiev (Ukraine) at the Mickey D's, I asked for something as simple as salt...and they didn't have any packets of salt in the restaurant! They finally gave me some on a napkin (loose) and gave me such a small amount like it was gold! If you want Ketchup, they charge for it - not included on the burger...very dry w/o it, I'll tell you. And Drinks? Fuggedaboutit. They measure every drop (in fact, the cups have a line printed on them showing where to fill it to, and you don't get one drop extra!). No ice either, in a lot of places, though thats gotten a little better over there in the past few years. But forget about free refills...they never heard of it, and can't imagine that such a thing exists.
On the plus side, the McD's are among the few places over there where you can take a free whizz, because in many places in Europe they charge to use the bathrooms. In central Prague, there's a couple of McD's and they get used constantly by me, I'll be damned if I'll pay to use the bathroom (no bushes around to go behind either, at least not in that part of Prague).
BTW: the Ketchup costs the equivalent of about $.10 per packet in Ukraine. Don't remember how much it was in Moscow. What a ripoff. Makes you glad to be in America, huh?

[Devanshu]

A dime for ketchup?? Thats ridiculous. I havent been to that many countries in europe but where I've been, it wasnt that bad. Plus, when I go to a foreign place, I stay away from the American "cuisine" or at least delay it until I'm homesick.

Makes you glad to be in America, huh?

Yup

[gmatov]

You guys are aware, are you not, that catsup/ketchup is thick tomato dressing in the US, and possiby the UK, and Canada, but in the rest of the world, each country has its own version of catsup, be it fish sauce, curry sauce, ground cabbage sauce.

So to be charged for a foreign condiment does not seem any more unreasonable than being charged extra for blue cheese dressing, or a slice of cheese is here.

[MOVIEGEEK]

"places in Europe they charge to use the bathrooms"
When I was a boy all gas stations had them,now they are all free(at least in CA).

BTW..I hardly go to Micky D's anymore and I doubt I would go to one if I was traveling abroad.

[pacmania_2001]

In Australia it depends where you go as to whether or not they will charge you for sauce. Big fast food places like McDonalds, KFC or Hungry Jacks (Australian Burger King) will still give you free sauces. As for the smaller places its hit and miss. Some still offer it for free whilst others charge (normally 5 or 10 cents).

This recently caused a bit of a stir in our country when one of our TV show hosts and national radio DJ was discussing it. Ending up leading to 'National Free Sauce Day" were various food places would ring up and say that they would provide their sauce for free on that day (or in the future).

By the way, if you come to Australia ask for tomato sauce not ketchup as the only place that calls it that around here is McDonalds.

[gmatov]

Pacman,

Is that your favorite sauce or do the Ozzies have another? Most countries have their own concoction, but it is possible the US all purpose, to hide the bland taste of food, is going worldwide.

George

Also, a few yrars ago, cities in the US were installing "pissoires", as in Paris, which you paid to use, after, I think half an hour they automatically unlocked and were completely hosed down automatically. If you weren't out, you just got a good douching.

[pacmania_2001]

For the most part tomato sauce and ketchup are about 95% similar in taste so if you are a fan of ketchup you'll probably also like tomato sauce.
It is pretty much the favourite sauce of Australia in general and is used for stuff like meat pies and sausage rolls.

As for your observation about the US's use of it to hide the blandness of their food I'd have to agree with you on that. Things like breads, dairy and natural produce really lack taste in America in comparison to other countries.

Having to pay for a toilet is a rip-off. I think that if restaurants/businesses here did that then they wouldn't last too long. Plus their is plenty of trees to have a wizz behind here.

[Gees]

It's one of my pet peeves when I'm in Europe.

You also don't get free matches when you buy cigarettes. You have to pay for them.

[vitualis]

One of the things I'm always bemused by with Americans is why on Earth would you want to have McDonalds or any other type of "Western" fast food when you go on a holiday to another country...

Try the local cuisine! It will undoubtedly be better and cheaper.

Regards.

[tompika]

I asked for extra mayo in a McDonalds (St. Thomas, VI).

It took them five minutes to get some for me.

I guess nobody likes mayo in America.

[kas187]

I hardly go to any fast food places such as BK or McDonald's. If i do i never get charged at McDonalds for any dips however at BK they always charge 10 pence for BBQ sauce, ketchup, mayo it's ridiculous really.

Don't even get me started with the portions, thats why i hardly go to any of the above chains.

kas

[jeex]

If you want Ketchup, they charge for it - not included on the burger...very dry w/o it..

wow.. i didnt even think about them charging you for sauce on a burger.. i never even fathomed that they would try to charge you..

---


i'm thinking things might starting changing around the united states though.. there are so many companies charging for things that used to be free by charging "fee's" because of the "economy".. the fast food places might start putting price tags on the things we've gotten for free for years..

damn you bush..

[freak_in_cage_10k]

in many chip shops etc (small businesses) they will almost always charge you for ketchup, usually 10p per tiny sachet!! its a rip off! however, in pubs etc they are usually free and the big fast food places, mcdonalds, BK etc wont charge you

[Devanshu]

One of the things I'm always bemused by with Americans is why on Earth would you want to have McDonalds or any other type of "Western" fast food when you go on a holiday to another country...

Try the local cuisine! It will undoubtedly be better and cheaper.

Regards.

I havent been to that many countries in europe but where I've been, it wasnt that bad. Plus, when I go to a foreign place, I stay away from the American "cuisine" or at least delay it until I'm homesick.

[Roundabout]

Obviously, none of you have ever been to Russia or Ukraine. Ever tasted the local cuisine in those countries? If not, believe me, you'd be running for the nearest Mickey D's! At least you KNOW what it will taste like, unlike the local food - bland, tasteless, greasy, and expensive. Only recently are they getting some decent restaruants in Kiev, something approaching "western" standards. It's not like I'm anxious to eat at McD's, but at least I know I won't get dog food. And like I said, the Restrooms are free. You can go in and actually find TP and Soap! If you've ever been in an Eastern European Restroom, you'd know how surprising this really is! That alone could be worth the price of admission, if you know what I mean

A tray liner from Kiev McD's - everything is McSomething - (l.to r.) McPerog(pie), McFlurry, McDream, McSundae, McShake. At the top it says "Dessert Parade!". I joked with my wife when we were there (she's from Ukraine) about the McEverything... Eating at a McTable, Breathing McAir, going to the McToilet, Taking a Mc...well, you get the idea. BTW, we brought our own Ketchup, Mustard and BBQ sauce with us so we didn't have to buy their overpriced stuff.
And Gees...lucky I'm not a smoker - or an arsonist

[Roundabout]

So to be charged for a foreign condiment does not seem any more unreasonable than being charged extra for blue cheese dressing, or a slice of cheese is here.

George, Ketchup is still called Ketchup in Russia and Ukraine, hell, they love the stuff. It's the same word "ketchup", though spelled in Cyrillic. I don't think it's considered a foreign condiment. They sell it everywhere and it's much more common than mustard. They just charge for it because they can. Also, if they didn't charge for it, everyone would take home gobs of it and they see no reason to supply the entire country with it. They have to keep every Ruble they can, because of ridiculous taxes on businesses there. Here, everyone can afford ketchup, so the restaurants can leave it out, and usually people won't take it all. I have noticed that most McD's here are using gallon pump jugs of the stuff inside, so they don't have to give out packets anymore (to dine-in customers). It's only a matter of time before they all will probably start charging if you want it in a packet.

[g_shocker182]

One of the things I'm always bemused by with Americans is why on Earth would you want to have McDonalds or any other type of "Western" fast food when you go on a holiday to another country...

Try the local cuisine! It will undoubtedly be better and cheaper.

Regards.

Americans always dine at a local cusine restaurants when traveling abroad, but sometimes we just want whats (most of the time) guaranteed to be just like what we have back in the US.

[gmatov]

Roundabout,

That's not exactly what I meant. Now I find that in the US, UK, Aus, catsup is tomato sauce. In other countries, cultures, they use such things as fish sauce, have to look up the others, kim-chi, or chee in Korea as a relish.

If you are in one of the countries that uses another favorite as their sauce, then they would not carry cetsup, ketchup, tomato sauce, as they simply don't eat it, just as we would not use curry, ordinarily.

I am sure the Brits have their favorite, the Aussies their own, etc. I think the Brits kinda like malt vinegar, at least the Arthur Treacher fish chain DID make it popular here.

Tompika,

Kinda reinforces my point. The Virgin Islands may be a US possession ( I don't know if it is, iggerant me ) but they apparently don't use mayo there as a normal condiment, as you will never, I repeat, never go into a McDs in the US proper and not be able to get a packet or 2 of mayo. Right under the registers, where the honey mustard McNuggets dips are.

I'll have to look up some of the sauces used as preferred dressings worldwide. Some, I don't think I would care to use, but might be surprised.

Who else from another country will tell this thread what they consider their country's favorite dressing? South American countries might use hot sauces as their "standard" dressing, as hot stuff releases endorphins that cause sweating, which aids in cooling the body.

It's not as simple as an American going overseas and demanding that their food taste just like it does at home.

Jeez, who would want to go to Greece, for example, to eat a 1/4 pounder, or a Big Mac? I can't fault the French for trying to stamp out the "hambourg".

Cheers,

George

BTW, none of this stuff was called "ketchup" in those other countries, no matter what it might be called in Russia. It is only called that for the US trade. Do a search, I think you will find something like catsiup, which simply mean dressing, or condiment, and is country/region specific. We stole the term, assigned it to tomato sauce, expect the world to adhere to it.

Hell, till a hundred years or so ago, more, I think, the tomato was considered poisonous, here in the US. It belongs to the deadly nightshade family, I do believe it was called a "love apple". No one ate them

Sorry, I just did a search for the "love apple" and found that in 1812 Americans began eating them.

Link here: http://www.jcdh.org/default.asp?ID=19&pressID=7

Here's another, little longer, more in depth, but will explain why you may not like the tomatos you buy in the grocery:

http://www.siu.edu/~ebl/leaflets/tomato.htm

[Roundabout]

BTW, none of this stuff was called "ketchup" in those other countries, no matter what it might be called in Russia.

Well, at least in Eastern Europe and Russia/Ukraine it is called Ketchup. Don't know about other parts of the planet, tho. It's in the Oxford Russian Dictionary I have...and on the menu (because they charge for it) at McD's over there. You can buy it in the store there too, as well as mayo. BTW: Mayonnaise is the same word in Russian too. Hey, wadda ya know, the word Vodka is the same in Russian & English too
I understand what you mean, there are many different tastes in the world and many different kinds of sauces are popular, I was only speaking about the fact that they do use Ketchup and they do charge for it in the countries I mentioned.
McD's is pretty popular in Moscow, there used to be lines to get into the one on Pushkin Square, but now that more have opened the lines disappeared. They call a milkshake a "cocktail" - interesting choice of words. The price is a little lower than in the US for most items but it's a lot of money for the locals (a day's salary for a burger and fries) so they tend to just buy soft serve cones for their kids and nothing else. Who'da thought McD's would be a high-priced establishment?

[Sifaga]

Most fast food places here in Melbourne charge you for sauce.

All take away places will charge you

I think its about 25 cents each.

I dont know for sure but i would think thats about a 300-400 % mark-up how much can a dollop of sauce cost?

I refuse to pay for it, I tend to wait till Ive paid then ask for sauce or just get friendly with them at your local.

Best Tomato Sauce is Watties Tomato Sauce from New Zealand.

I Can remember carrying 20 cans of it in my backpack from new zealand. i had to take it on board and i had to walk as if it was light.

I dont buy tomato sauce anymore, i like the BBQ sauces.

[gmatov]

Roundabout,

True, but if you researched the lexicon, you might find that it is a 5 year ago addition to that dictionary.

New words appear in every language today, and for a Russian to say "Ketchup" is just absurd. For a Frenchman to say "ketchup" is absurd. For a Brit or Aussie, OK, they speak English.

The French call it "bifstek", but if you ordered a "New York Strip" in Russia, I'd bet they'd know what you meant, although even here in the states it is not the same cut everywhere.

There's the Pittsburgh steak, a burnt on the outside red on the inside shell steak.

And you expect to go to St. Petersburg and ask for "ketchup" and the counter staff says "Kosta vishe novutz za "ketchup", molim ti."

Cheers,

George

[gmatov]

Sifaga,

Can you tell me what the ingredients are in Watties?

Just to see if it is basically what we call ketchup or if it is what we call sauce, which you would doctor up to put on spaghetti. (Pasta)

Ketchup you have to coax out of the bottle ("Anticipation", sung to a slow beat tune, it is so thick, Heinz ". Sauce is a thinner, almost liquid as tomato juice, product.

Cheers,

George

[Will Hay]

No, they don't charge us in fast food places, although the last time I was in McDonald's I heard someone saying they now limit each sauce to one per meal.
Doesn't bother me, I rarely finish one but man, how much money do they need
W.

[pacmania_2001]

Tomato sauce contatins the following:

Tomato (78%)
Sugar
Food Acids (Acetic)
Salts
Water
Mustard
Spices

We also have a thing called "Tomato Paste" which is used for things like pasta and pizza which is a thicker, gluggier substance. Like Ketchup you also have to 'coax' it out of the bottle.

[gmatov]

Pacman,

It's settled.

Mustard alone tells me you would think a packet of McDs catsup would be tasteless to you. It is well down the list, so, if your laws are similar to ours, ingredients are listed in order of quantity, but I do know, I have made my own mustard, that it does not take a hell of a lot to give something some zing.

I'd like to hear some of our other nationalities name their country's sauce of choice. Can't all be tomato paste base.

BTW, Heinz, our East coast's largest maker has green and purple Ketchup, and, I do believe, is coming out with blue. There IS no blue food. People do not eat blue food. Up untilo very few years ago, there was not even a blue M&M. Now there is to be a blue ketchup.

Now I ask you, how can you turn a red tomato product green? Or do you start with green tomatos and doctor them to taste decent.. Or do you use a ton of green dye?

Doesn't matter, I don't eat ketchup, even tho' our late great Ron Reagan tried to get ketchup on a hot dog in school lunch programs declared a vegetable, so they didn't have to pay to serve the poor kids peas or stringbeans. Would have saved thousands of bucks a year, damn democrats put a squelch to it, as did everybody else in the country.

Cheers,

George

Disclaimer: The above is not a political diatribe. But you gotta admit it is an ******* thing to try to do. School lunch in the US is probably the only good meal half the US student population gets, with half the mothers being single parents, and the other half having to work to help make the mortgage payments.

[Craig Tucker]

There can be only one

[Roundabout]

Roundabout,

True, but if you researched the lexicon, you might find that it is a 5 year ago addition to that dictionary.

I'll ask my wife when she gets back from out of town how long they have called Ketchup "Ketchup" Ya Ne Znayu.

New words appear in every language today, and for a Russian to say "Ketchup" is just absurd. For a Frenchman to say "ketchup" is absurd. For a Brit or Aussie, OK, they speak English.

According to several online sources, the word "Ketchup" is from the Malay language, meaning "Fish Brine"

The French call it "bifstek", but if you ordered a "New York Strip" in Russia, I'd bet they'd know what you meant, although even here in the states it is not the same cut everywhere.

Actually, it's also called a similar word "Bifshteks", in Russian. If you said "New York Strip" to them, I think you'd get a puzzled look.

And you expect to go to St. Petersburg and ask for "ketchup" and the counter staff says "Kosta vishe novutz za "ketchup", molim ti."

Shto? Ya ne panimayu. Ne po-russki... (with my broken russian, anyway)

[Craig Tucker]

As for non tomato sauces, I have several favourites.

HP Brown sauce is really good in bacon and sausage sandwiches, and also for cheese on toast.


I love lea and perrins worcestershire sauce on cheese on toast

And Heinz garlic sauce for Pizza. This is like the sauce you get in a little pot with Dominos Pizza