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Modern and Traditional Japanese Culture: The Psychology of Buddhism, Power Rangers, Masked Rider, Manga, Anime and Shinto. 在日イギリス人男性による日本文化論.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

 

British Menu Book with No Images

British Menu Book with No Images by timtak
British Menu Book with No Images, a photo by timtak on Flickr.

There is no plastic food in showcases at British restaurants. There are rarely even any images in their menus. Even if there are images, these may be just to set the atmosphere rather than be images of the food that one can purchase.

But, especially having lived so long In Japan where there are often visual aids to choosing food at restaurants, and copious photographs in all Japanese cook books, I was surprised to find that this British recipe book should have no images inside its pages at all. The only image is the one that adorns its over and it is not made clear which of the 262 recipes therein contained the image depicts. Even assuming that it is in the small print, the decision as to whether to cook and eat the any of the soups and stews described has to be based on the name, the instructions and the ingredients. This maybe testimony to the power of the British imagination but I think not. I think that rather it shows that the British, compared to the Japanese, do not really care what their food looks like so long as it tastes good and is healthy. This morning we had a yoghurt and broccoli soup which, as you can imagine, looked not unlike some bodily fluid or other, but tasted quite delicious.

I am informed that this recipe book is also quite good for those that wish to learn English.

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Comments:
I have come across your blog quite by accident and as an English person thought I would just let you know that English cook books often do have pictures although, some older fashioned ones have only a few. We do not necessarily eat healthy food either. The yoghurt and broccoli soup sounds awful and is not typical of English cuisine! Not to be rude but, to dine in a restaurant that had a picture style menu would be seen as a place that is quite cheap. Most people would not consider eating something that looks like a bodily fluid and I can only assume that your book is rather out of date! I hope this helps in your understanding a little. Kind regards.
 
I have come across your blog quite by accident and as an English person thought I would just let you know that English cook books often do have pictures although, some older fashioned ones have only a few. We do not necessarily eat healthy food either. The Not to be rude but to eat in a restaurant say that had a picture style menu would be seen as a place that is quite cheap. Most would consider a broccoli and yoghurt soup to be quite a disgusting prospect to be quite honest!
 
Perhaps it is just that I am looking at older cook books. However, we have bought two, and both have very few pictures at a time when Japanese cook books would have had pictures.

I think in Japan too, strangely, it is cheaper restaurants that have pictures but about half of them do.

I really need some data. Pictures per page of cook book and restaurant menu, etc.

Thank you very much for your comment
 
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This blog represents the opinions of the author, Timothy Takemoto, and not the opinions of his employer.