Thursday, July 3, 2008

American pet peevs (II)

You go to an upscale (or not so upscale) restaurant in the US and the menu is divided this way:

- Appetizers

- Entrées

- Desserts

At first I thought: "Wow, they have two types of starters here! But they are really expensive... Where are the mains?"

I'm all for using french words in culinary, I think it sounds great and is oh so much more chic! But can anyone please hand them a French-English dictionary so they can know that "entrée" does not mean main course?? It's everywhere! Can they not see the resemblance to the word "entry"??

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Ethnicity

Every time I apply for a job I am asked this:

Ethnicity:

Caucasian - All persons having origin in any of the original peoples of Europe, Northern Africa or the Middle East, not of Hispanic origin.
African American - All persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa, not of Hispanic origin.
Hispanic - All persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
Asian or Pacific Islander - All persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the subcontinent of India, or the Pacific Islands. This area includes, for example, China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands and Samoa.
Native American/Alaskan Native - All persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintain cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
Decline to Self Identify

Who are the "original people of Europe"?

Are Spanish not "original people of Europe"? If they are, are they not of Hispanic origin?

What about Brazilians? Where do they fit?

And I'm sure there are Africans that are not American...

I'm confused...