Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?

When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.

We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
from New England's bland Cantonese style.

What's customary where you live?

gloria p

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask for
> it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a lot
> of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change from
> New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> What's customary where you live?


Some do some don't in SoCal. Tea is not usually served unless requested.
Down here most people seem to want soft drinks as often as tea. I myself
order tea with my dinner, not lunch. Good tea is not cheap, in fact it can
be quite pricey, so you'd expect them to charge for it. One way or another
they charge for it, even if it does not appear on the bill.

Paul

On Jul 13, 2:27*pm, "Paul M. Cook" > wrote:
> "Gloria P" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> > When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> > brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask for
> > it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> > We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> > when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> > find a $2 charge on the bill for it. *I think it was in L.A. *We ate a lot
> > of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change from
> > New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> > What's customary where you live?
>
> Some do some don't in SoCal. *Tea is not usually served unless requested.
> Down here most people seem to want soft drinks as often as tea. *I myself
> order tea with my dinner, not lunch. *Good tea is not cheap, in fact it can
> be quite pricey, *so you'd expect them to charge for it. *One way or another
> they charge for it, even if it does not appear on the bill.

But decent green tea, of the quality you get free at a Chinese
restaurant, is cheap. Very cheap.
http://nature-and-herbs.amazonwebsto...B0009OYAJE.htm
>
> Paul

--Bryan

Bobo Bonobo® > wrote in news:ac48f720-365d-4a88-87f6-
:

> But decent green tea, of the quality you get free at a Chinese
> restaurant, is cheap. Very cheap.

I prefer Oolong to green tea. Oolong is a rich amber colour. It starts
light to open the appetite and gets more pronounced as the meal advances
(assuming you have a proper-sized pot) to cleanse the mouth of oil in the
later stages.

Chinese food made in the more traditional method has little fat in the
preparation but a lot in the cooking process.

Here's a question. How many here actually eat more rice and vegetables
than meat (as is appropriate) in Chinese restaurants?

--

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest
of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest
good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

Gloria P wrote:
>
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.

It's been a while since I have been in a Chinese restaurant, but when I
was working and going out for lunch and dinner breaks we frequented a
number of Chinese restaurants and they charged for tea. They also
charged for rice if you ordered it. If you didn't order rice they
usually brought it out anyway and did not charge.


> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
> from New England's bland Cantonese style.

Some places offer cheap prices without the extras. When I was working we
also went out for breakfast a lot and could usually get breakfast
specials for $2.50-3.00 including coffee. There was one place that had a
99 cent breakfast.... 2 eggs, fried potatoes and toast. Bacon was extra
and coffee was a $1.50 when most other places were only charging $1. So
if you ordered bacon and eggs and coffee it usually ended up costing
more than breakfast specials at other places. But people were sill
impressed with 99 cent deal.

On Jul 13, 12:22*pm, Gloria P > wrote:
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
> [snip]
> What's customary where you live?
>
We go mostly to the San Gabriel Valley in SoCal and there is no charge
for tea that I can recall. For dim sum we usually specify a
particular tea (pu er with chrysanthemum) and there's no charge for
that either. If you don't specify they serve jasmine. -aem

aem wrote:
> On Jul 13, 12:22 pm, Gloria P > wrote:
>> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>> [snip]
>> What's customary where you live?
>>
> We go mostly to the San Gabriel Valley in SoCal and there is no charge
> for tea that I can recall. For dim sum we usually specify a
> particular tea (pu er with chrysanthemum) and there's no charge for
> that either. If you don't specify they serve jasmine. -aem

I wish we had a dim sum joint around here, we learned to love the stuff
on visits to Hong Kong.

Gloria P > wrote in message
...
>
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?

Alas, it's going the way of the former "glass of water." The last two
Chinese restaurants I was treated by Nationals, when I asked for tea, I was
indeed charged. I didn't see that a premium tea with silk purse and gold
string were used in either case warranting the charge of $5.95 and $7.50. I
then joked with my table mates that I understood why water was such a great
deal with them.

I'll stick to the "Americanized" houses where tea is still included,
thankyouverymuch. This roundeyes don't need "authentic" that bad.

The Ranger

Gloria P wrote:
>
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> What's customary where you live?
>
> gloria p
Around here whatever hits the table is on the bill. Most of our Chinese
restaurants are of two kinds, buffet, or take-out. Mostly Cantonese plus
the occasional Schezwan dish.

George wrote on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:46:25 -0500:

> Gloria P wrote:
>>
>> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>>
>> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the
>> waitstaff brings a free pot of tea after taking your order
>> even if you don't ask for it, and it's usually quite a nice
>> tea.
>>
>> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the
>> 70s when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other
>> drinks, and find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I
>> think it was in L.A. We ate a lot of Chinese and Japanese
>> that trip because it was such a nice change from New
>> England's bland Cantonese style.
>>
>> What's customary where you live?
>>
>> gloria p
> Around here whatever hits the table is on the bill. Most of
> our Chinese restaurants are of two kinds, buffet, or take-out.
> Mostly Cantonese plus the occasional Schezwan dish.

You know, I don't ever remember being charged extra for tea or the
refills that were supplied cheerfully, neither here or in San Francisco.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Gloria P > wrote:

> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?

Here, always, and they offer more than one kind, with some that aren't
listed on the menu. Generally, green, jasmine, pu err (which should be
ordered as "bo lay" at Cantonese/dim sum places), oolong and Iron Buddha
are available. Refills are free (tilt the lid on the pot to indicate it
needs to be filled).

> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.

At some places here, they will bring you fruit for dessert and/or a
glass of plum wine free of charge, especially if you are a regular
customer.

Victor

Victor Sack wrote:
> Gloria P > wrote:
>
>> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> Here, always, and they offer more than one kind, with some that aren't
> listed on the menu. Generally, green, jasmine, pu err (which should be
> ordered as "bo lay" at Cantonese/dim sum places), oolong and Iron Buddha
> are available. Refills are free (tilt the lid on the pot to indicate it
> needs to be filled).
>
>> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
>> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
>> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> At some places here, they will bring you fruit for dessert and/or a
> glass of plum wine free of charge, especially if you are a regular
> customer.

Same here.
You also don't pay for the rice which comes with the main course.

Cheers,

Michael Kuettner

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask for
> it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a lot
> of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change from
> New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> What's customary where you live?
>
>
In Noo Yawk bottomless tea is free... and I don't ever drink tea/pond water
except at Chinese restaurants. Sheesh, $2 buys enough tea to cover a pot on
each table. And what do you mean bland, every style of Chinese food, from
Chun King bland to Hunan fiery, is readily available all over NYC. I've
eaten west coast Chinese, I think it sucks... all the China Towns throughout
Canada from coast to coast are far better than LA and Frisco. On the west
coast the water is too disgustingly hard to brew decent tea or coffee.. it's
really not suitable for cooking.

Gloria P wrote:
>
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> What's customary where you live?
>
> gloria p

I have only been charged a few times.

Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
ask I think simply because so many people are into soda. I don't
understand New England being bland. You can certainly find cuisines
other than Cantonese in New England.

On Jul 13, 3:52*pm, George > wrote:
> I have only been charged a few times.
>
> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
> ask I think simply because so many people are into soda.

Or beer. Beer is excellent with Chinese food, including dim sum. -
aem

"aem" > wrote in message
...
On Jul 13, 3:52 pm, George > wrote:
> I have only been charged a few times.
>
> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
> ask I think simply because so many people are into soda.

Or beer. Beer is excellent with Chinese food, including dim sum. -
aem

Now you're beeing funny... beer is excellent with every cousine... it's even
what's for breakfast. LOL

"aem" > wrote in message
...
On Jul 13, 3:52 pm, George > wrote:
> I have only been charged a few times.
>
> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
> ask I think simply because so many people are into soda.

Or beer. Beer is excellent with Chinese food, including dim sum. -
aem


I love a frosty Tsing Tao. Beer and sushi is divine.

Paul

On Jul 13, 9:01*pm, "Paul M. Cook" > wrote:
> "aem" > wrote in message
>
> ...
> On Jul 13, 3:52 pm, George > wrote:
>
> > I have only been charged a few times.
>
> > Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
> > ask I think simply because so many people are into soda.
>
> Or beer. *Beer is excellent with Chinese food, including dim sum. * *-
> aem
>
> I love a frosty Tsing Tao. *Beer and sushi is divine.

Wrong country?
>
> Paul

"John Kane" > wrote in message
...
On Jul 13, 9:01 pm, "Paul M. Cook" > wrote:
> "aem" > wrote in message
>
> ...
> On Jul 13, 3:52 pm, George > wrote:
>
> > I have only been charged a few times.
>
> > Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
> > ask I think simply because so many people are into soda.
>
> Or beer. Beer is excellent with Chinese food, including dim sum. -
> aem
>
> I love a frosty Tsing Tao. Beer and sushi is divine.

Wrong country?
>

Sushi is Japanese of course, and I like beer with sushi as much as Chinese
food. I assumed everyone knows Sushi is Japanese. Beer goes great with
almost any Asian food.

Paul

On Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:16:19 -0700 (PDT), John Kane wrote:

> On Jul 13, 9:01*pm, "Paul M. Cook" > wrote:
>> "aem" > wrote in message
>>
>> ...
>> On Jul 13, 3:52 pm, George > wrote:
>>
>>> I have only been charged a few times.
>>
>>> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
>>> ask I think simply because so many people are into soda.
>>
>> Or beer. *Beer is excellent with Chinese food, including dim sum. * *-
>> aem
>>
>> I love a frosty Tsing Tao. *Beer and sushi is divine.
>
> Wrong country?

all those wog beers look alike.

your pal,
blake

aem wrote:
> On Jul 13, 3:52 pm, George > wrote:
>> I have only been charged a few times.
>>
>> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
>> ask I think simply because so many people are into soda.
>
> Or beer. Beer is excellent with Chinese food, including dim sum. -
> aem

For sure, I mostly patronize the mom & pop places that do a few
fantastic versions of something. The cost of a liquor license usually
doesn't work for that kind of place.

George wrote:
>
> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
> ask I think simply because so many people are into soda. I don't
> understand New England being bland. You can certainly find cuisines
> other than Cantonese in New England.



Thirty-forty years ago (except in Boston's Chinatown) it was all
Cantonese all the time.

gloria p

On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:36:53 -0600, Gloria P wrote:

> George wrote:
>>
>> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
>> ask I think simply because so many people are into soda. I don't
>> understand New England being bland. You can certainly find cuisines
>> other than Cantonese in New England.
>
> Thirty-forty years ago (except in Boston's Chinatown) it was all
> Cantonese all the time.
>
> gloria p

but thirty-forty years ago, if you wanted something foreign or 'exotic'
chinese or italian was about it in most places, unless you wanted to spend
the big bucks on french.

there was a szechuan place that opened in d.c.'s chinatown in the seventies
that made a big splash. (damn good food, too. sadly, gone now.)

your pal,
blake

blake murphy > wrote in
:

> there was a szechuan place that opened in d.c.'s chinatown in the
> seventies that made a big splash. (damn good food, too. sadly, gone
> now.)

Only one? We have about twenty or so just five blocks from here.

--

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest
of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest
good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

"Michel Boucher" > wrote in message
...
> blake murphy > wrote in
> :
>
>> there was a szechuan place that opened in d.c.'s chinatown in the
>> seventies that made a big splash. (damn good food, too. sadly, gone
>> now.)
>
> Only one? We have about twenty or so just five blocks from here.


The Chinese restaurant business has changed tremendously over the years.
When I was a kid, the only kind available was Cantonese. Hunan and Szechwan
didn't become popular until the 70's.

Now, most Chinese restaurants are buffets. Some are pretty good but most
are pretty ordinary.

FWIW - In the places I have been, a pot of tea is still usually served
(without additional cost) at non-buffet Chinese restaurants... and is seldom
served at the buffets.

George L

On Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:28:15 -0500, Michel Boucher wrote:

> blake murphy > wrote in
> :
>
>> there was a szechuan place that opened in d.c.'s chinatown in the
>> seventies that made a big splash. (damn good food, too. sadly, gone
>> now.)
>
> Only one? We have about twenty or so just five blocks from here.

did you note 'in the seventies'?

your pal,
blake

blake wrote on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:26:07 -0400:

>> George wrote:
>>>
>>> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now
>>> you need to ask I think simply because so many people are
>>> into soda. I don't understand New England being bland. You
>>> can certainly find cuisines other than Cantonese in New
>>> England.
>>
>> Thirty-forty years ago (except in Boston's Chinatown) it was
>> all Cantonese all the time.
>>
>> gloria p

> but thirty-forty years ago, if you wanted something foreign or
> 'exotic' chinese or italian was about it in most places,
> unless you wanted to spend the big bucks on french.

> there was a szechuan place that opened in d.c.'s chinatown in
> the seventies that made a big splash. (damn good food, too.
> sadly, gone now.)

30 years ago, Szechuan restaurants were very common around here. It was
such that I regarded the "Szechuan Palace" as my local restaurant. Now I
don't even know where to find one around Rockville. The Szechuan Palace
has become the inferior "Jade Billows", still Chinese but....

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

In article >,
says...
>
> On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:36:53 -0600, Gloria P wrote:
>
> > George wrote:
> >>
> >> Usually they simply brought a pot of tea without asking. Now you need to
> >> ask I think simply because so many people are into soda. I don't
> >> understand New England being bland. You can certainly find cuisines
> >> other than Cantonese in New England.
> >
> > Thirty-forty years ago (except in Boston's Chinatown) it was all
> > Cantonese all the time.
> >
> > gloria p
>
> but thirty-forty years ago, if you wanted something foreign or 'exotic'
> chinese or italian was about it in most places, unless you wanted to spend
> the big bucks on french.
>
> there was a szechuan place that opened in d.c.'s chinatown in the seventies
> that made a big splash. (damn good food, too. sadly, gone now.)
>
> your pal,
> blake

Yeah - now it's the Italian restaurants that are the high priced and the
Indian et al lower priced.

In article >,
Gloria P > wrote:

> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> What's customary where you live?

I have dined at Chinese restaurants in San Francisco, New York, and in
my home town of Philadelphia and I don't remember ever being charged for
a pot of Chinese hot tea.

"Stan Horwitz" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Gloria P > wrote:
>
>> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>>
>> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
>> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
>> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>>
>> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
>> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
>> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
>> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
>> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>>
>> What's customary where you live?
>
> I have dined at Chinese restaurants in San Francisco, New York, and in
> my home town of Philadelphia and I don't remember ever being charged for
> a pot of Chinese hot tea.

Of course you pay for it. They just mix it in with the mu shu pork and the
wonton soup.

Paul

In article >,
"Paul M. Cook" > wrote:

> "Stan Horwitz" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article >,
> > Gloria P > wrote:
> >
> >> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
> >>
> >> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> >> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> >> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
> >>
> >> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> >> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> >> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
> >> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
> >> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
> >>
> >> What's customary where you live?
> >
> > I have dined at Chinese restaurants in San Francisco, New York, and in
> > my home town of Philadelphia and I don't remember ever being charged for
> > a pot of Chinese hot tea.
>
> Of course you pay for it. They just mix it in with the mu shu pork and the
> wonton soup.

No one's denying that. The question was is it usual for a Chinese
restaurant to charge a separate fee for the pot of tea? In those Chinese
restaurants that do charge for tea, do they have lower prices on the
other food items because they aren't building the cost of the tea into
them?

On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:22:04 -0600, Gloria P >
shouted from the highest rooftop:

>
>Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?

When I first came to New Zealand in the mid-seventies, there was maybe
one or two genuine Chinese restaurants in Auckland and they were very
popular. The rest were Western-Chinese restaurants that served a
combination of Western and Westernised-Chinese cuisine.

But since the increase in Chinese immigration over the past decade or
so, we've benefited from a corresponding increase in genuine Chinese
restaurants, many with a regional focus.

Free tea? It all depends on the restaurant.

In the top, first class restaurants (usually full of Chinese diners)
the tea is free - although you might have to ask for it in some
places.

In a few of the better Western style ala carte Chinese restaurants
(the only Chinese are those working there) sometimes you often have to
order it and sometimes you're charged for it. Otherwise, it's
complementary.

In most of the cheaper, mass production buffet-style Chinese
restaurants, you have to order/pay for it.

Ironically, the most memorable exception I've experienced in a first
class, expensive Chinese restaurant was at Auckland's top yum cha and
dim sum house.

Then it could have been the fact that we were almost the only
Westerners amongst the several hundred Chinese lunchtime diners and
that everyone, including the staff, were speaking Chinese.

Our tea cups were kept full, the dim sum was non-stop and everything
was exquisite, even though I didn't know what I was eating half the
time. But I almost choked when I got the bill. Those tasty little
things can add up very quickly and we were charged for everything but
the air we breathed.




--

una cerveza mas por favor ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
Wax-up and drop-in of Surfing's Golden Years: <http://www.surfwriter.net>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask for
> it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a lot
> of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change from
> New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> What's customary where you live?

I've never been charged for the tea. It's always good, too! Nice and hot.

In article >,
Gloria P > wrote:

> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> What's customary where you live?
>
> gloria p

To pay for everything except water. :-(
Except at Saigon Palace where Tony frequently brings us something on the
house.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - good news 4-6-2009
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."
-Philo of Alexandria

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article >,
> Gloria P > wrote:
>
>> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>>
>> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
>> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
>> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>>
>> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
>> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
>> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
>> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
>> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>>
>> What's customary where you live?
>>
>> gloria p
>
> To pay for everything except water. :-(
> Except at Saigon Palace where Tony frequently brings us something on the
> house.

You don't pay for the water also? What's wrong with you!?!

Bob

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article >,
> Gloria P > wrote:

>>
>> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
>> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
>> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
>> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
>> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>>
>> What's customary where you live?
---------
>
> To pay for everything except water. :-(
> Except at Saigon Palace where Tony frequently brings us something on the
> house.


Yabbut I bet you take him jam every time, too!
You are a very generous lady with that jam and deserve
all the benefits it gets you.

gloria p

Gloria P wrote:
>
> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in L.A. We ate a
> lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
> from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> What's customary where you live?

In Pittsburgh they charge. When I lived in So. Calif. it came
with the meal. However there's a Vietnamese place I go to here
that does'nt charge. And they have a very unusually flavored
tea. I usually don't care about tea. But I love this stuff.
I asked them what it was and they just said it was Vietnamese
tea. Whatever that means. I think it must have something else
in it to flavor it - maybe some sort of flower blossoms or
something. I don't think it's lotus though.

Kate

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

Kate Connally wrote:
> Gloria P wrote:
>>
>> Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>>
>> When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
>> brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
>> for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>>
>> We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the
>> 70s when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other
>> drinks, and find a $2 charge on the bill for it. I think it was in
>> L.A. We ate a lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was
>> such a nice change from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>>
>> What's customary where you live?
>
> In Pittsburgh they charge. When I lived in So. Calif. it came
> with the meal. However there's a Vietnamese place I go to here
> that does'nt charge. And they have a very unusually flavored
> tea. I usually don't care about tea. But I love this stuff.
> I asked them what it was and they just said it was Vietnamese
> tea. Whatever that means. I think it must have something else
> in it to flavor it - maybe some sort of flower blossoms or
> something. I don't think it's lotus though.
>
> Kate
>
> Kate
>
The other popular "flavor" for Vietnamese tea is jasmine. Could that be it?

On Jul 14, 12:56*pm, Kate Connally > wrote:
> Gloria P wrote:
>
> > Do your local Chinese restaurants charge for a pot of tea?
>
> > When we lived in New England, and now in Colorado, the waitstaff
> > brings a free pot of tea after taking your order even if you don't ask
> > for it, and it's usually quite a nice tea.
>
> > We were quite surprised on my first trip to California, back in the 70s
> > when things were cheap, to ask for tea along with our other drinks, and
> > find a $2 charge on the bill for it. *I think it was in L.A. *We ate a
> > lot of Chinese and Japanese that trip because it was such a nice change
> > from New England's bland Cantonese style.
>
> > What's customary where you live?
>
> In Pittsburgh they charge. *When I lived in So. Calif. it came
> with the meal. *However there's a Vietnamese place I go to here
> that does'nt charge. *And they have a very unusually flavored
> tea. *I usually don't care about tea. *But I love this stuff.
> I asked them what it was and they just said it was Vietnamese
> tea. *Whatever that means. *I think it must have something else
> in it to flavor it - maybe some sort of flower blossoms or
> something. *I don't think it's lotus though.
>
> Kate
>
> Kate
>
> --
> Kate Connally
> “If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
> Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
> Until you bite their heads off.”
> What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?
>

Kate,
If you can take a look at the box or container the restaurant gets the
tea in, I can find out what is is from my Cambodian grocer, George.
PS; When you come west, could you bring a recipe/picture of
"Spiedies". Jane and Michael Stern have been writing about Pittsburgh
food forever!

Lynn from Fargo Ografmorffig wrote:
> Kate,
> If you can take a look at the box or container the restaurant gets the
> tea in, I can find out what is is from my Cambodian grocer, George.
> PS; When you come west, could you bring a recipe/picture of
> "Spiedies". Jane and Michael Stern have been writing about Pittsburgh
> food forever!

Lynn, I would love to bring you a recipe or picture of spiedies.
However, as far as I know they are not Pittsburgh food. I've never
had one, and I've never seen or heard of them in Pittsburgh. Sorry.

I think I saw some place that had them out east. Trying to remember
if it was in northeastern PA or in New York state. I think it must
have been somewhere in upstate New York when I was on vacation with
my sister. She tried them, I had something else.

I hope to get to Pho Minh sometime next month and I will see if
I can get them to show me the tea container.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?