to not understand why Americans call a main course an entrée?

[flummoxedworried]

Does anyone understand why this happens?

ILoveBanff - I know, that's exactly what I thought!! It was in Vancouver... Maybe I was saying it wrong!

Washcloths!! American's can't seem to live without them. I'd never heard of one.

"Fanny" I can't say that word out loud!

"Fanny" I can't say that word out loud!

FANNY!!!!!

I only came on this thread to say Fanny!!!

payitforward

My husband is English and I'm American.

We visited my Grandma for Christmas in America and every Christmas she gives people some homemade washcloths. My husband was fascinated by them and had his Mum make him loads when we came back home.

You can use them for everything! Wash down the countertops, wash your body in the bath. It's like a washable paper towel, what's not to love?

Oh also regarding the entrée, we never used it at home, or whatever, but in restaurants you often have an entrée and side dishes. Which makes sense from the old use of the word to mean a heavy meat dish. So for example you might order the steak as entrée and then your choice of two side dishes.

itsonlysubterfuge YY! An elderly lady I help out makes knitted ones for me in all my favourite colours and to match my house decor, they're brilliant!

By washcloth, do we mean flannel?

I don't use the word 'flannel' either, and I'm from the UK. No one says that round here. It would be a 'facecloth'

LostMyDotBrain I guess so, mine serve as flannels, dish cloths, surface wiping cloths, all purpose cloths

I've made knitted washcloths (like a knitted flannel or dishcloth, made from robust cotton). It seems to be much more of an American thing and the knitting site I get patterns from has mostly patterns from US-based people for them

"Afternoon tea and high tea are not the same. Afternoon tea is dainty sandwiches, cake, scones and tea. High tea is something hot and stodgy like macaroni cheese on toast or cottage pie, accompanied by toasted teacakes, cake or something else sweet to follow."

Yes this is my understanding too. I have never had high tea

I remember my old Enid Blyton books always mentioned the school-girls packing stuff like flannels to take back to boarding school. I think it's old-fashioned in UK now. Face-cloth would be the word now.

I say flannel for my flannels that are made of that towelling stuff!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner (or supper) in the US. My grandparents called it supper. The first time I was invited to tea in the UK I assumed I was going to be served a cup of tea!

Interesting that someone mentioned not being understood when asking for water.

I have the same issue asking for quarters!

Yep, I use 'flannel' for little facecloths made from towel. Dishcloths are a similar but different thing. I'm very intrigued at the idea of knitted facecloths.

We always say flannels not face-cloths. I was brought up in the 70s saying face-cloths though so I think that is old fashioned.

The water thing makes me laugh! I'm in the opposite boat. When I first moved over to the UK from USA my DH and I went out to eat and he ordered a water. All was fine. Then the waiter asked what I would have and I said "I'll have a water as well please" and he had no clue what I had said! My DH said they aren't used to people being polite as customer service is much different between the two countries and that I probably threw him off

Knitted facecloths are amazing Lost gently exfoliating and get your skin squeaky clean. I was dubious but I'm a convert.

Here's another thing about the US I've heard. Someone I know who's travelled a lot to the West Coast says that you are expected to use the same fork and knife through your starter to your main course (entree). You don't get another set of cutlery!

Has anyone else heard of this?

@floraeasy From what I've seen it seems to be the same in both countries! If you go somewhere a bit more fancy/posh they'll have numerous sets for you to use throughout the meal. If you go somewhere more casual it's just the same set unless you ask!

Meal names aren't just regional, they're class related as well. And they can be affected by where you are. In schools, the room children eat lunch in is usually called the dinner room, so it gets called dinner by everyone, even if at home they have a strict lunch = midday, dinner = evening.

A roast dinner is always called that, even if eaten at lunch time. So my parents have a roast dinner for lunch.

High tea is an entree, followed by afternoon tea stuff such as sandwiches, cake etc. It's more of a northern thing, but my parents both had it at weekends in the boarding schools they went to, so we always had it on a Saturday. It's served around 5 - 6 pm, rather than 4 pm for afternoon tea.

Wisconsin still has supper clubs, so not just a Southern thing in the US.

Oh - I live in Michigan and if I have a starter I keep the knife and fork (and cll it flatware or silverware).

btw - I live on a road that has 2 hard D sounds in the name, and I cannot say it so that Americans can understand me. I was having a plumbing emergency with water literally spraying all over me, and just could NOT get the plumber to understand what street he had to come to. I had to calmly & clearly spell out my address whilst being pelted with water.

flatware

That confuses me too. Does it refer to cutlery only? Or crockery as well?

A fork isn't flat to me. Or am I being too literal?