The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

Apart from being a Gaijin, having pancakes with a few pieces of bacon (and sometimes hushed potato)in the morning is my greatest pleasure of staying in the USA. Because the very American breakfast (for me), a mass of sugar, starch, and fat, is by no means looking like “breakfast”: they look more “big snack” to me.  But in the State, I have a good excuse to indulge myself – “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” I enjoyed my privilege not having my own kitchen (If we stayed at a room with kitchenette, my husband would expect  me to cook “healthy” breakfast for him ).

Although the inn we stayed in offered pancakes as a part of its free “continental” breakfast (I am not sure which continent they refer to—American or Eurasian?), I prefer going to places outside for pancakes (and occasionally waffle)to getting full with free, factory-made breakfast items. I get fatter anyway, though.

This time I tried four pancake places in attempt to find No.1 pancake place in the town I stayed in. Three restaurants which serves morning menu and one supermarket café (that opens at 5:30 am!). I ordered more or less same menu in each place as long as the menu allowed; pancakes, bacon, sunny-side up(s), and coffee to make fair comparison.

The price ranged from US$ 6 to US$15 (excluding tips). Having had them, here is my tentative conclusion:

The price is not always in proportion with what you get. To be honest I couldn’t see or taste the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive, in terms not only of the taste, but of the portion size, of the service of the place, or of the presentation (serving plates, silvers, napkins, and other stuff accompanying with the pancakes). Only décor of the places and amount of tips I was supposed to leave were different.

And here is an issue that seems to need further researches:

Is it OK to leave syrup, butter, and other pancake accompaniments unfinished? For me, they are too generously served.

Being Japanese, I have been told it is an ill manner to leave anything served unfinished. And being a housewife, I feel very bad about pouring leftover liquid into drainpipe.  But however much efforts I made, it was physically impossible to use up syrup and butter served with the pancakes unless I am prepared to get heartburning and diabetic. They were simply too much. Which is the most acceptable manner?

a)     Assume this is a great American generosity, and do not feel guilty to leave some syrup;

b)    Assume the syrup is like soy sauce served with Sushi in Japan, and do not feel guilty to leave it unfinished;

c)     Assume the Americans really use up all of these, follow the American manner and get diabetic;

d)    Ask the waiting person a half portion of the syrup and butter (If I am confident enough about my English or feel energetic enough to get my request understood) and leave extra tips.