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

[pseudomonas.livejournal.com]

Useful; I think I've seen such things before though. I resorted to drawing pictures to explain in a restaurant in Armenia once.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Yes, I don't think it's a new idea. Pictures probably work for most things if you have a waiter who is willing to pay attention... though drawing "I will have an anaphyllactic reaction to shellfish" might be messy and complicated :)

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

I have resorted to using the explanation 'shellfish that have/used to have legs and eyes are fine, those without are a problem', since bivalves have declared war on me.

This usually (a) gets a laugh rather than people assuming I'm being fussy, since I'm giving a thumbs up to the bits that classically weird 'fussy' people out, (b) doesn't involve people understanding more than minimal biology, (c) avoids the linguistically nasty 'shellfish with shells are a problem', and (d) only offends those who would be too squeamish to serve shellfish to start with.

I have yet to determine whether 'temperature goes through the roof, and I get physical stomach cramps - no, not an ouchy ache, actual uncontolled muscle knots like you get in your leg *but in my stomach*' counts as an intolerance or an allergy, since I don't get a rash/difficulty breathing, etc - but I'm disinclined to continue exposing my immune system in case I find out the empirical way! It's certainly not food poisoning, since it's a repeat symptom, and it's only me that's had it even when food has been shared.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Nice description!

It reminds me of a friend who often calls herself vegetarian (she isn't, it's just the simplest way to summarise and make sure she gets something she can eat). She actually eats quite a lot of meat (chicken, fish, shellfish, etc). The slightly longer version is that she doesn't eat mammals - but apparently this requires too much biology knowledge to be a useful thing to say :)

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

'temperature goes through the roof, and I get physical stomach cramps - no, not an ouchy ache, actual uncontolled muscle knots like you get in your leg *but in my stomach*' counts as an intolerance or an allergy, since I don't get a rash/difficulty breathing, etc - but I'm disinclined to continue exposing my immune system in case I find out the empirical way!

Oh, goodness, yes, I know that one! Mostly I figure it is a moot point whether it's an allergen or intolerance, since a)it's unpleasant enough regardless of what's causing it and b)anti-allergy treatments don't work (on me anyway) on stomach symptoms, even for known allergens.

Does your doc recommend interleaving doses of buscopan and mebeverine too for really severe bouts? Utter magic! (But presumably only something to be done on the instructions of a doc!)

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

Do you know, I never considered bothering a doctor with it - so I've no idea!