I am fortunate enough to be in the sunshine this week, albeit on business. Yes it's the annual sales and marketing conference, this time in Anaheim, California. I won't tell you about the conference as it's all Top Secret, but I will let you in on the tea and toast situation.
As we all know, there is nothing better than a Nice Cup of Tea and a Sitdown. So every morning, ridiculously early, my colleagues and I report to the ballroom for breakfast.
The mostly veteran waiting staff attempt to herd us in a certain way, which has given reign to military speak about digging in and not advancing forward.
We then proceed to the lines of buffet: scrambled egg, eggs benedict, ham, cereal, oatmeal (as porridge is called) and waffles. But no toast.
Back at the table, we ask for toast. On the first day a glorious plate of toast arrived, enough for everyone. Hurrah! But yesterday, just two slices.
Meanwhile we have put our request in for tea.
Yesterday it arrived, nice colour, and we were all happy. Until we tasted it. Cinnamon?! It was some sort of weird fruit tea. The waitress was very apologetic saying she had used the wrong tea bags, and was kind enough to make us a new pot. But sadly we were getting told to move ourselves to the arena so we hardly had time to drink it.
At least now we have two BKMs (best known methods): ask for toast for the table, and black tea also known as English breakfast tea,
See you soon!
5 comments
Who said anything about the English being stereotypical tea drinkers... oh wait...
Wow, you mean she actually MADE a pot of tea instead of just handing you the bag and a pot of hot water? The flub was unfortunate but I am impressed. If I were a Brit in America I would be hand carrying my own PG Tips. It's good you had toast made for you as well. Most buffets just supply bread and a toaster and you're on your own. But lucky you, out in the sunshine!
You are absolutely right -- we do NOT do toast or tea well here in the states. The tea part is obvious and well-known, but I had never thought about the "Toast Gap" before. As a tourist in England, I was always charmed by seemingly unlimited toast in those little wire holding racks. It just doesn't seem to be a priority here. Huh.
At least you're in California rather than New England, where you would be freezing cold and snowbound as well as toastless and tealess!
Had a good laugh at this, it's the same here in Germany, the *English* tea is always a shock for Brits! Love the pic on your blog of those peeping ladies! Thanks for visiting my blog, too! Hugs, Valerie-Jael
Well during these top secret conferences it's quite possible to get iced tea for your breakfast, unless you SPECIFICALLY ask for "hot tea"... At least I had this experience / Paul Borokh
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