SERVERS adding 18% Tip to French diners

While mike and I were cooking at a Saskatchewan glacial lake resort an American came in and told the server he wanted the steak. Made a point of telling her that "you people don't know how to cook it". Then proceeded to order it well done. Mike was ready to go New Jersey on this guy!
I know the folks from Quebec think highly of themselves, but it's like being from NYC and saying your from "the city". The country is a bit larger then Quebec .
The people we experienced were amazing, down to earth, and knew how to eat/cook. So quit pigeonholing an entire country that has many many better practices in place already regarding heritage and people because you don't like the far eastern tippy tip.
Every time we had a reason to visit the doctor, the pharmacy was mortified we were to be charged a cent. Mostly they waved it off. When they didn't, it was $16 for antibiotics.
My only complaint was that they must cook burgers to well even tho they eat the moose, bear, and elk rare to mid rare. And they do produce some delicious ice wine! The taxes of which pay for all the country's health care.

What it boils down to is that there's a huge double standard on the U.S. when it comes to respecting other countries' cultural norms. Many Canadians and Europeans who would never dream of disrespecting the cultural norms of, say, Thailand, will knowingly ignore the norms of the U.S. when visiting us. It's because we're the Duke Basketball, the New York Yankees, The Manchester United of world countries. People dislike us, or are jealous of us, and hence tend to discount or ignore our cultural norms. Sad but true.

I've visited Montreal on several occasions and LOVED it. Really hip modern city. The people were mostly friendly and if they see you actually struggling to speak French( I took Spanish in HS and college so French is a real struggle) then they will respond in English to your querys.
On the other end of the spectrum, Quebec City a is neat place, like Old World Europe in North America. But I didn't think the people were very nice there on my couple of visits. They kind of had that superior Frenchey air about them.
However, I don't know what happens to them all when they cross the border. As a whole Quebecians seemed to me like a high maintanence crowd. Like a whole country that acts like a group of 10 well heeled women at lunch. Not everyone was this way, but I would say most of them that I encountered. Add bad tipping practices into that and you can see where I derived my opinions from.

I've visited Montreal on several occasions and LOVED it. Really hip modern city. The people were mostly friendly and if they see you actually struggling to speak French( I took Spanish in HS and college so French is a real struggle) then they will respond in English to your querys.
On the other end of the spectrum, Quebec City a is neat place, like Old World Europe in North America. But I didn't think the people were very nice there on my couple of visits. They kind of had that superior Frenchey air about them.
However, I don't know what happens to them all when they cross the border. As a whole Quebecians seemed to me like a high maintanence crowd. Like a whole country that acts like a group of 10 well heeled women at lunch. Not everyone was this way, but I would say most of them that I encountered. Add bad tipping practices into that and you can see where I derived my opinions from.

I don't think many could argue with this fair assessment. Let's face it--Quebec is a unique part of North America. And with this, and any other uniqueness, comes the good and the bad. I have certainly had my share of negative experiences. 85% of what Quebec represents is enchanting in my eyes, and 15% gets under my skin.

That said, I think most folk on this forum are glad that at least one Quebecois has crossed the border for a long stay---Ghyslain! I may even ask the folk up in Burlington to send me one of their "Bienvenue aux Quebecois" signs so I can hang it up in my part of town (around Fern Creek) hoping that Ghyslain will see it and decide to bring his third franchise and fresh baguettes closer to home!

That said, I think most folk on this forum are glad that at least one Quebecois has crossed the border for a long stay---Ghyslain! I may even ask the folk up in Burlington to send me one of their "Bienvenue aux Quebecois" signs so I can hang it up in my part of town (around Fern Creek) hoping that Ghyslain will see it and decide to bring his third franchise and fresh baguettes closer to home!

Wellll.... Quebec may be nice but it's not as enchanting as Fern Creek.

CFG
FCHS '72