Charlene Leonard

Peter, The Glass Blower is near Piccadilly Circus

so do you LML but we don't mind that!

Tatty Bogel's is still there, my boss goes there all the time for the karaoke!

don't worry Peter, I am sure Martin has no intention of trying to pass himself off as you.

oh my god you are so right! strangely appropriate...Gilbert and George's 'Hunger'

you don't expect anyone to have watched this whlist Tricky Dicky was 'fessing up to Gail on Corrie at the same time do you??

No 't'ain't. See my post above. Boizot sold it back to Pizza Express last year

haven't the House of Commons opened their restaurant doors to the hoi poiloi due to the lack of business now parliamentary hours have changed?

any suggestions of places which are better, greatly received!

i do. although your wording is a little strong. sorry, wasn't suggesting anyone did, just posing a question. How about the person who is taking his wife out for a 10th anniversary which he has saved up for, he is willing to spend a lot of money, at the same time a regular big bucks man comes in, there is only two portions left of the 'foie gras and sea urchin 10 ways', who should be offered it?

are we talking about daily specials though? Aren't you talking about making a request for something above and beyond what the restaurant would offer to everyone? Does anyone think that because one spends a lot of money that this entitles one to a better choice of food than is offered to others who spend less? Would anyone stop going to a restaurant if he/she thought that the 'daily special' wasn't being held back for him?

Steve, we SO move in different circles!

you're a saint Basildog.

and just how many cocktails have you had when these things happen?

how is this in 'the interest of fair play and reciprocity? You have already told me what the entire population of the United States of America thinks of me. I have? I'm quite stunned with this news. I doubt that I've said what the entire population of the U.S. "thinks of you." In fact, I don't believe I've even said what I think of you, which is generally quite favorable. What I believe I said is that I am quite certain that no resident of any country (including mine and including yours) likes it when residents of another country starts telling them what is wrong with them (particularly insulting implications that they are fat primarily because they are lazy, greedy and wasteful), and what they (the residents of the "superior" country) suggest be done about it. All of which has nothing to do with what I, or anyone else, thinks of "you." I get angry at my mother for the exact same reasons, and I'm positively crazy about her. i'd love to stay and debate this but it is almost home time in London and I don't have a PC at home so goodbye until Monday morning

that's it! Tommy has hit the nail on the head, I have nothing else to say on this matter

how is this in 'the interest of fair play and reciprocity? You have already told me what the entire population of the United States of America thinks of me and you're now offering to do it again. I've only offered MY opinion. P.S I am actually very interested in people's opnions on this subject, in fact some of those who agree with me are themselves American. Sorry, of course you are right, what was I thinking? offering an unsolicited opnion, how dare I?

OK, we are all in agreement that in general people get fat because they eat too much and exercise too little. Tommy, you seem to be saying that this has nothing to do with large portions but what I am trying to say is that if some people are giving the opportunity to eat 'just one more mouthful' because it is there in front of them sometimes they are going to and this is going to result in obesity for some people. I am not, repeat not, saying that everyone who eats out is fat or that all Americans are fat but in my logical brain there has to be some connection.

blimey, Tommy telling me to stay on topic

My intention was not to make a sweeping "all american's are fat" generalisation and if that is how it came across I apologise. My post says that a) US has one of the highest obesty levels on the world - fact , b) that the portions of food in the US are large - fact. If that is a result of 'rampant, healthy, hearty and wildly enthusiastic capitalism' then so be it, but my stance has probably been passed down to me from the rationing of post war days - it just seems wasteful. I think doggie bags are a great idea, at least the food isn't going to waste but I do have a problem with montains of food being served 'just because we can' and then being thrown away. Thanks Jaymes, it's good to know that I can freely express my opinion on this site and have you respond on behalf of 250m people.

so that fact that the US has one of the highest obesity levels in the world has nothing to do with the amount of food served in restaurants?

does anyone know why there is such a difference in the portions in the UK and US?

I really don't think this is what Britcook is saying. Portions in the US ARE huge for everyone except the very hungry or very greedy and I agree that the high level of obesity in the US must have something to do with the fact that when you eat out the portions are big enough for a small hippo. I for one will eat what is put in front of me and have no doubt I would be the size of a house if living in US. Is it common practice when one has guests for dinner to pile the food sky high so as to satisfy the appetite of the hungriest person there? or do you make your own informed judgement about average portions sizes? if os, why can't restaurants do this? I get what you are saying that some people have bigger appetites but it is downright wasteful and a sad indictment of a 'have it all' society when people expect there to be more food on the plate than they can eat - I am sure over 50% gets thrown in the trashcan rather than taken home or given to the homeless. I can honestly say that 99% of the time when I eat out in London I do not think 'Blimey, I'm still hungry' because the portions are not too small and we don't expect to be served half a cow with our hashbrowns or an entire lettuce in a salad.

what about those granules you can buy which turn into 'tea'? yuck.

doggie bags are something we really don't go in for in the UK. I don't know if it is because the portions are bigger in US, or that we eat more in UK and therefore there is nothing left to take home or the fact that British reserve means it is just not the done thing? On my recent trip to NY I noticed that a lot of the restaurants have their own bags,presumably for the purpose of handing out doggie bags but my husband just didn't get it... Edit: Just seen the other thread on this subject so ignore above!