Doggie bags outside the U.S.-yes or no?

Taking leftover food home or 'doggie bags' are the norm here in the States obviously, but when you travel abroad, would you ask the restaurant to pack up the leftovers? France and Italy are good examples of having a reputation for not being particularly accommodating or friendly toward the diner who wants to take home the leftover food that was paid for, so would this put you off from asking. Have you had bad experiences trying to take food with you or haven't you had any problems?
So how did you handle it, curiosity compels me to ask!
Needless to say, customs vary widely from country to country, so would love to know which are customer friendly and which aren't, and is there much difference between how acceptable this is in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Of course, I would ask for a "take home" box or foil or whatever they wanted to put the food into. Once you paid for it, it is your food. I know people who take their own little containers because they cannot usually eat the giant amount the restaurants serve, especially here in our town. Circumstances dictate when I bring leftover food home. Am I going home immediately? If not, I do not take the food. If I ordered a salad and the usual giant one is too much, I do not take it home.
I do take meat, fish, pasta, and half sandwiches. One time dessert came with the price of the dinner and Yes, I asked for a box to take that home.
As for asking for take home box while traveling in other countries, I would ask, of course. However, if I had no way to refrigerate, there is no point.
Personally, I would not care if asking was acceptable or not....since I am a bit of a rebel, I do what I feel is the right thing to do and am not afraid to say or do what I know is the right thing. What would the restaurants be afraid of? Are they thinking you are going to take the food back home to deconstruct and discover some secret ingredient?

I don't ever remember having food left over in France or Italy.

Same here. Nor do I in the U.S. or Canada (where, because of where I live, I dine out even more often than I do in the U.S.) when I'm eating at the type of restaurant I prefer, where each plate is a well-composed ensemble and not some giant hunk of meat with your choice of sides.

When you travel in other countries, do you find that the food served is less than what is served here?

When you travel in other countries, do you find that the food served is less than what is served here?

Karen/NoCA,

Is that a question for the board or for Stuart specifically?

When you travel in other countries, do you find that the food served is less than what is served here?

In terms of portion size, the US seems to top the heap.

When you travel in other countries, do you find that the food served is less than what is served here?

In terms of portion size, the US seems to top the heap.

Bill,

Where do you typically eat in the USA?

I find portion sizes to vary within the US. Here, for example, they tend to be larger than in California.

To answer Karen more directly, in Northern Italy (I spent most of my time there in Piemonte), the portions tended to be large, but the food was so good, I ignored my stomach's "FULL" warning.

Bill,

Where do you typically eat in the USA?

Up and down the west coast, ranging from fast food to high end. The higher the 'end' the smaller the portions, it seems.

Bill,

Where do you typically eat in the USA?

Up and down the west coast, ranging from fast food to high end. The higher the 'end' the smaller the portions, it seems.

I understand now. So it has been your limited personal experience on the West Coast in a few states that convinces you that the USA is at the top of, as you say, the "heap" regarding larger portions in the USA versus other countries?

Hello Shel,

When travelling to other countries (or even travelling in the US) I don't take leftovers to go, for a few reasons. First, if the food is really good and the portion size is larger, like Stuart, I tend to eat the whole thing . Second, if I am visiting, I am usually staying in a hotel, where there isn't any means to store or reheat the food. Finally, if I am in a country where the food is maybe not "great" I usually seek out nicer places that have tasting menus with small portions.

When I was younger, I did backpack around Europe and there were many times I ate at little dive places that served decent food but was too much for me. I never asked to take the food with me because were would I put it (staying at hotiles or renting rooms). I noticed most of these places would give the leftovers to their dogs or cats...so I didn't feel bad about wasting any food .

To the original question:

1. It seems that the taking left-over food home in the "doggie bag" is an acceptable form of behavior. That this is actually only quasi-acceptable and an automatically embarassing behavior is demonstrated by the mere fact that the term "doggie bog" is used - that implying that we are not taking the food home for ourselves but for our pets. In up to mass-market restaurants in the USA, I suppose I would not hesitate to ask for the left-overs but would let it be known that it is to take home for later dining. And I would not accept it if it were offered in a sack labeled "doggie-bag". In an upswing restaurant in the USA I would not personally dream of asking for the left overs. If I could not get to the dessert however, I would not hesitate to ask for that to be wrapped for me to take home.

2. In most of Europe at anything above the fast-food level of eatery I would not be caught dead taking left over food away with me.

3. In Israel, asking for left-overs to be wrapped is perfectly acceptable. At least here no-one asks for "doggie bags".

Ye faithful European curmudgeon
Rogov

I have not heard "doggie bag" used for taking leftover food home for a very long time. In Redding, they are refered to as "take home box". Or they ask "will you be taking the rest home?" Some restaurants bring the box to you. Others take the food away and bring it back in the box. Personally, I'm glad they don't refer to "doggie bag" anymore. I never did bring it home to my dog....it was for us humans to eat for lunch the next day. Those white bags often leaked and made a mess. In fact, some of the better restaurants here are using a black box to put the take home food into. A little more classy.

I understand now. So it has been your limited personal experience on the West Coast in a few states that convinces you that the USA is at the top of, as you say, the "heap" regarding larger portions in the USA versus other countries?

No, that's only part of the basis.

I haven't heard the term "doggie bag" in ages and only used it in the title of this thread for instant recognition of the topic.
I don't think anybody is embarrassed anymore (in the U.S anyway) about taking leftover grub home, after all it's been paid for and will only get tossed if you don't take it.
Which brings me to, curious, why Rogov wouldn't you dream of taking leftover food away with you in France or Italy? Is it the resto owner/server disapproval, condescension or air of superiority toward any diner who wants to take leftovers, that puts you off?
I view it as a compliment to the chef and resto that I'd want to take the remainder of the food to enjoy later and would hope that even the haughtiest Frenchman/woman would understand that.

I don't ever remember having food left over in France or Italy. I did in Germany and England because the food is so bad, but then a doggie bag becomes a non-issue.

You couldn't have been in England since the dark ages, the food in general is terrif and in London specifically, right at the top of the 'food chain'. London has more varieties of ethnic cuisine than anywhere I know, and could make a good case for being the best dining capital in the world.

I don't ever remember having food left over in France or Italy. I did in Germany and England because the food is so bad, but then a doggie bag becomes a non-issue.

You couldn't have been in England since the dark ages, the food in general is terrif and in London specifically, right at the top of the 'food chain'. London has more varieties of ethnic cuisine than anywhere I know, and could make a good case for being the best dining capital in the world.

Yeah, I think he left when the Inquisition got after him!

Yes, London is a very cosmopolitan city foodwise these days - I just wish that the prices were a bit easier on the wallet.

Germany can be hit and miss. You can certainly find excellent food, but you have to look for it. I breathe a sigh of releif when you get down to southern Switzerland, because that is the first place where good food becomes an expectation rather than a lucky shot or the product of prior knowledge or research.

By the time you get into Italy or France, every roadside truck stop in the country offers pretty darned good grub.

You couldn't have been in England since the dark ages, the food in general is terrif and in London specifically, right at the top of the 'food chain'. London has more varieties of ethnic cuisine than anywhere I know, and could make a good case for being the best dining capital in the world.

Been there a dozen times in the past 4 years. Ate at exactly one place whose food I would call "good." Admittedly, I haven't ponied up a mortgage payment to eat at Gordon Ramsey or that molecular gastronomy place (Ruptured Duck?), but I did sample a variety of places in the under-$200-a-person range. My companions (who were carnivores) came away with a similar impression.

I had an excellent meal in Newbury, but I cooked it.

You couldn't have been in England since the dark ages, the food in general is terrif and in London specifically, right at the top of the 'food chain'. London has more varieties of ethnic cuisine than anywhere I know, and could make a good case for being the best dining capital in the world.

Been there a dozen times in the past 4 years. Ate at exactly one place whose food I would call "good." Admittedly, I haven't ponied up a mortgage payment to eat at Gordon Ramsey or that molecular gastronomy place (Ruptured Duck?), but I did sample a variety of places in the under-$200-a-person range. My companions (who were carnivores) came away with a similar impression.

I had an excellent meal in Newbury, but I cooked it.

I suppose this is a good example of why we have horse races.
Also, please excuse me if wrong, but are you a vegetarian? If so, lots of great cuisine items in London you don't eat.

I am, but my companions weren't.

You couldn't have been in England since the dark ages, the food in general is terrif and in London specifically, right at the top of the 'food chain'. London has more varieties of ethnic cuisine than anywhere I know, and could make a good case for being the best dining capital in the world.

You can't be serious. What food chain are you identifying here ? Shel, I know you must have your opinion, but this is the first time I've heard of, or read or seen in any media, serious suggestion that London be considered even in the running as a "best dining capital city" in the world. Hell, it's not changing that fast. Sure, I could agree that a renaissance is under way there near the high end.

You couldn't have been in England since the dark ages, the food in general is terrif and in London specifically, right at the top of the 'food chain'. London has more varieties of ethnic cuisine than anywhere I know, and could make a good case for being the best dining capital in the world.

You can't be serious. What food chain are you identifying here ? Shel, I know you must have your opinion, but this is the first time I've heard of, or read or seen in any media, serious suggestion that London be considered even in the running as a "best dining capital city" in the world. Hell, it's not changing that fast. Sure, I could agree that a renaissance is under way there near the high end.

Hey Jeff, afraid we're gonna have to agree to disagree.
I base my contention...no let's call it an assertion, that I lived in London for 17 years starting in the dark ages of their culinary imperfections and bitched for years about how bad it was, and eventually it did improve and improve to where some of the best meals to be found anywhere are in London. I still have an office there and go back 4-5 times a year, so my "opinion" is current.
You don't agree/think I'm speaking out of the back of my derriere, fine with me, but do enlighten us with a list of better dining capital cities.

I lived in London for 17 years

That explains it. Probably ruined your dental work, too.

Culinary capitals? IME, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Lyon, Strasbourg, Alba, Florence, Turin. For non-local cuisine, New York and Paris.

Among Bad Food Countries, Vienna.

Shel,

Sorry dude, but you brought this matter of expertise up. However, I'm not taking your bait. I am not staking claim here to knowing which capital bests which, in which market segment, in what style, in which year, during which ownership period or chef's tenure. Because that's where you want this to go.

But I am not going to use this thread to go further off topic. Feel free to start fresh with a new topic and let's see the board members tear this up.

But your arrogance here is already enlightening. It's clear whose opinion really matters. You go to London five times a year. You already know what is best. You are the world's culinary expert that you think you are.

I am humbled.