Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Pivo! Pivo!
So I'm back from Prague. I need to whinge about a few things.
Why are our licensing laws and bars so horrendously bad? Why can't bars stay open as late as they want? It's totally ridiculous. How can anyone think that making everyone drink as much as they can in 2 hours then throwing them onto the street is a good idea? Labour (who's queen's speech was one of the most worrying since the Conservatives banned public assembly with music) promised us they'd reform it but haven't. Bastards. Also, table service is totally amazing, I want that here too. I'm perfectly happy to pay the tips that would be required to fund the staff for it.
Why can't we make decent food? Ok, there are exceptions but in Europe you go pretty much anywhere (except McDonalds) and they'll give you a very decent meal. Here you are most likely to get some microwaved or deep fried crap. Nothing actually prepared properly by someone who can cook. Whetherspoons for example, why put up with this shit?
Proper beer. I want proper nice lager with no chemicals. No reason why we can't make that here is there? Hangovers are massively reduced. It's unbelievable. Plus it tastes loads better.
Surely it's not that hard? Nice places to drink nice food with nice beer and nice service. Why can't we do something so simple? We all need to be more assertive and demanding from our hospitality industry and maybe they'll learn. There are places that do good food and beer, frequent those and never go to the crap ones.
Prague has all that and is set in stunning surroundings. A truly amazing city.
On the music front we caught the end of a battle of the bands at a Rock Cafe, one I really would love to gig... At the end a kind of Czech Jim Bowes came on stage to present the prizes. I had no idea what he was saying but apparently it was funny. He didn't play scissors paper stone. The only band we saw was a quite good at what they do but uninspiring band fronted by a guy we dubbed the Czech Morrissey.
On the first night there was an amazing Blues/Jazz/Covers guy playing in the Marquis de Sade bar who was really good. Don't go there though, it's in all the guidebooks but they don't tell you the bar staff are all off their tits Australians who forget most of every order and are unbelievably slow. They also run out of glasses between every order.
I can't remember much else.
What did I miss here?
Why are our licensing laws and bars so horrendously bad? Why can't bars stay open as late as they want? It's totally ridiculous. How can anyone think that making everyone drink as much as they can in 2 hours then throwing them onto the street is a good idea? Labour (who's queen's speech was one of the most worrying since the Conservatives banned public assembly with music) promised us they'd reform it but haven't. Bastards. Also, table service is totally amazing, I want that here too. I'm perfectly happy to pay the tips that would be required to fund the staff for it.
Why can't we make decent food? Ok, there are exceptions but in Europe you go pretty much anywhere (except McDonalds) and they'll give you a very decent meal. Here you are most likely to get some microwaved or deep fried crap. Nothing actually prepared properly by someone who can cook. Whetherspoons for example, why put up with this shit?
Proper beer. I want proper nice lager with no chemicals. No reason why we can't make that here is there? Hangovers are massively reduced. It's unbelievable. Plus it tastes loads better.
Surely it's not that hard? Nice places to drink nice food with nice beer and nice service. Why can't we do something so simple? We all need to be more assertive and demanding from our hospitality industry and maybe they'll learn. There are places that do good food and beer, frequent those and never go to the crap ones.
Prague has all that and is set in stunning surroundings. A truly amazing city.
On the music front we caught the end of a battle of the bands at a Rock Cafe, one I really would love to gig... At the end a kind of Czech Jim Bowes came on stage to present the prizes. I had no idea what he was saying but apparently it was funny. He didn't play scissors paper stone. The only band we saw was a quite good at what they do but uninspiring band fronted by a guy we dubbed the Czech Morrissey.
On the first night there was an amazing Blues/Jazz/Covers guy playing in the Marquis de Sade bar who was really good. Don't go there though, it's in all the guidebooks but they don't tell you the bar staff are all off their tits Australians who forget most of every order and are unbelievably slow. They also run out of glasses between every order.
I can't remember much else.
What did I miss here?
# posted by Mike @ 14:31 
Comments:
<< Home
Girls, you forgot girls!
Why don't we have extremely fit, friendly girls in every bar in town?
Damn I'm moving to Europe. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Why don't we have extremely fit, friendly girls in every bar in town?
Damn I'm moving to Europe. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
# posted by 
: 3:41 PM
: 3:41 PM 
oooh Mike I do know how you feel. I've been ranting about this stuff for the last 4 weeks now and show no signs of stopping! I still can't handle the idea of being slung out on the street at 11pm, when anywhere else I'd only just be starting on my first vino/beer/cocktail, served most courteously by a suave looking bartender, and surrounded by people who will take the time to talk to you 'cos they're not too busy looking at their watches and slinging the beers down their throats as fast as they can.
so...I have been waging a one woman campaign in pursuit of politeness, better food and better service. It consists mainly of raising my voice and saying 'EXCUSE ME?!' if I feel I am being studiously ignored by bar staff/waitresses etc. I always ask shop assistants how they are cos it freaks them out.
I haven't sent any food back yet, but that's because I've avoided eating out wherever possible so far. And the bar maid who HOSED tonic into my gin the other night from a f**king pipe got a look worthy of the Gorgon. She wouldn't serve me again, but then I wouldn't want another G&T off her anyway. She'd be good as a firefighter, though.
Dirty glass for your beer? It goes back. No questions asked.
COME ONNNN Mike, it's the only way they are gonna learn!!
Stroppy Annie x
Post a Comment
so...I have been waging a one woman campaign in pursuit of politeness, better food and better service. It consists mainly of raising my voice and saying 'EXCUSE ME?!' if I feel I am being studiously ignored by bar staff/waitresses etc. I always ask shop assistants how they are cos it freaks them out.
I haven't sent any food back yet, but that's because I've avoided eating out wherever possible so far. And the bar maid who HOSED tonic into my gin the other night from a f**king pipe got a look worthy of the Gorgon. She wouldn't serve me again, but then I wouldn't want another G&T off her anyway. She'd be good as a firefighter, though.
Dirty glass for your beer? It goes back. No questions asked.
COME ONNNN Mike, it's the only way they are gonna learn!!
Stroppy Annie x
# posted by : 10:32 PM
: 10:32 PM << Home
