Comments on: Are you a water snob?

By: Jeremy Jacobs

Jeremy Jacobs — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:52:32 +0000

In proper food orientated countries, like Spain, wine and water are provided.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:22:49 +0000

Quasar – it has to be really good lager to drink in preference over real ale, IMHO.

But then again, I’m a beer geek.

By: Quasar9

Quasar9 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:26:27 +0000

Thanks Steve,
it is not that I do not enjoy the occasional pint of real ale, it is that in real hot summers and real hot weather I prefer chilled lager or ice cold soft drinks

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 13:49:24 +0000

I would never pay for bottled water in the UK unless I was somewhere I couldn’t get tap water – like a train, for example.

Bottled water is a complete con.

Quasar – British ale loses its flavour if it is chilled. But it should not be served warm either. It’s ideal temperature is around 12C – the temperature of a cold cellar.

By: Diogenes

Diogenes — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:59:48 +0000

Caffe’ Vergnano (Charing + Rd.) would not dream of giving you an espresso without a glass of water, and a little choc, and a tray. The coffee is perfection. Well worth a visit if you are in that neck of the smokey woods.

By: Quasar9

Quasar9 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 11:46:54 +0000

Hi Elle, I think the custom in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean of serving a glass of water had a twofold purpose:
1) To taste the espresso coffee or ‘morroccan tea’ intense & thick (with or without sugar), and to rinse or refresh the mouth after with the water, and
2) Simply because on a hot day or hot summer, you may still want to enjoy your coffee (or tea) but you need a glass of cold water to cool down

And of course lager, beer and even guinness must be served chilled on a hot summer day – luke warm beer & ale belongs to the dark ages and cold winters.

By: Dean

Dean — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:01:29 +0000

Plastic bottle pollution is just horrendous, everywhere I run, all I see is discarded plastic water bottles. I no longer buy bottled water as a personal stand against this trashing of our environment, I use a Hydropal instead, which allows me to drink filtered tap water wherever I am, I got my hydropal from http://www.hydropal.com.au, regards

By: jmb

jmb — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:24:37 +0000

We don’t have this problem in North America, almost as soon as you sit down you get water with lots of ice. The problem is getting water without ice, if that’s what you want.
My favourite is also San Pelligrino, I loathe Perrier. But tap water is fine with me too.

By: Ellee

Ellee — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:05:35 +0000

Q9, I agree, I like to drink a glass of water with my coffee too. Strange to enjoy a hot and cold drink simultaneously.

By: Quasar9

Quasar9 — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:59:43 +0000

One think I still can’t get my favourite coffe shop to do, is automatically offer a glass of water to go with my espresso (or coffee).

Seems they too have been told by management to only serve ‘bottled’ water that can be charged for.

However instead of having my water hot in a mug with my coffee, I like my coffee espresso – and my water ‘cold’ in a separate glass

Fortunately most waiters & waitresses at said establishment are cool, and are always happy to oblige – so I haven’t had to change establishments. I shall continue to use it as my Third Place, as long as the water flows.

PS – We should drink 2 litres of water a day, preferably with less of all the additives and colourants, bubbles and sugars we become addicted to in (from) childhood. Naughty Mamas!