It looks good, it tastes like nothing one earth

[venta]

Here is a useful thing I just came across. At least, it is useful if you are planning to go to Japan and are not omnivorous:

Cut-out-and-keep cards explaining various dietary restrictions, in Japanese

I think these are a great idea, particularly for countries in which your average foreign person is all at sea with the language. It occurs to me that I haven't bought a phrasebook in a long time - maybe these days they have a handy set of stock phrases for common allergies/intolerances/choices?

Comments

[the-alchemist.livejournal.com]

That's interesting - I get the opposite thing. People claim there's wheat flour in sauces because they can't be bothered to check, and when I make them check, it turns out to be cornflour.

[venta.livejournal.com]

In fairness, I am half-remembering this from being told ages ago, so I may be getting it wrong! It may have been one particularly up-itself French restaurant that had that problem or something :)

(However, you have accidentally answered something I've been wondering about for ages, which is "is cornflour gluten-free". I thought it was, but only because I couldn't find anything saying it did have gluten in (as opposed to something definitely saying it didn't). It's nice to have someone informed make an authoritative statement on it :) )

[leathellin.livejournal.com]

Personally I think cornflour is a better thickener anyway.
Also buckwheat - really quite misnamed.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Buckwheat isn't wheaty? I had no idea.

(I don't currently cook for anyone who's gf, but I try to consider occasionally what I might do in case a friend suddenly springs a gf gf on me, or something :)

[leathellin.livejournal.com]

Buckwheat - not even a grass.
Used to make galettes (the second kind in the Wikipedia article), and galettes are served in a french restaurant in Richmond where it is possible to have some form of pancake for all three courses :-)

[venta.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm familiar with the eating of buckwheat, just not its antecendents :)

Mmm... galettes.

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

gf gf
Gah!

[venta.livejournal.com]

Sorry!

I persistently read "gf" as girlfriend, despite any context. I spent a long time once wondering why on earth the_alchemist was making a fuss about wanting "girlfriend pizza" before common sense kicked in.