A find the Trip Advisor "experts" for particular cities rather amusing.

[Chief Arrowhead]

It seems that every city has at least one, if not several, "experts". All with multi thousands of posts. Day after day they scour their little corner of the World Wide Web and when someone posts a touristy question they ... POUNCE .. with advice.

Problem is their advice is the same. Sort of like "This is the answer. What's the question?"

There's one guy on the St. Louis forum that continually advocates for anything downtown. Downtown hotels, restaurants, activities, etc. Nothing against downtown, but it ain't for everybody. Especially not a family with three kids under the age of 6 who have never been in a city before. That's just an example. EVERY forum has a guy like that.

What's amusing is if someone interjects with a recommendation that displeases the "expert". Oh boy ... :hehe:

Get Off Of My Cyberlawn!

[Berni]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Do you get many tourists visiting St Louis? I suppose you're just across the river there from Minnieopolis?

[Classic Jorge]

And, as I'm sure you know, BBQ is inexplicably huge right now

[Berni]

I'd forgotten how good it was. :love:

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

It really is rather wonderful.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

[Chief Arrowhead]

Forgive me. It's a bit early and I neglected to don my English facade, as is my custom here. Pip pip

[Berni]

Mind you, there aren't many that don't have a bad track on them.

[Chief Arrowhead]

However we do get our fair share of touristy types, mostly families, from smaller towns around the Midwest. Many come to see the Arch and the St. Louis Cardinals (baseball).

We also have lots of places that are free like the zoo, science center, etc. that cater to families. It's a cheap vacation.

[Berni]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I guess you don't get to pop to the seaside for fish and chips?

[Chief Arrowhead]

However we do have many "English Pubs" that serve what I am sure is a vastly inferior product.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Tell me Chief, do you barbecue or do you grill? You are aware that what you call grilling we call barbecuing, and what you call barbecuing is unknown on these shores?

[Chief Arrowhead]

In my world grilling is cooking over direct heat, right over the coals. Burgers,steaks, etc. Lid off. as hot as you can get it.

Barbecue really means cooking over indirect heat, i.e. coals on one side of the kettle and the meat above the coals but on the other side. Lid on with the lid holes over the meat. Good for things like a whole chicken, roasts, etc. Temp is good at about 175C

Smoking is the same as Barbecue, but one must keep the heat very low, like 110C. Ideally a firebox is used and the heat and smoke permeate the "oven" part, but there are no actual burning coals or wood in there with the meat. Good for briskets, turkey, etc. Lid on obviously.

I like to BBQ ribs, but some prefer the smoking method.

So this nomenclature is different there, SC?

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

buy some frozen burgers and a packet of sausages. The more adventurous may purchase some chicken portions slathered in a 'barbecue marinade' of chemicals and E numbers. All these items will be placed over direct heat until they take on the same colour, texture and flavour as the charcoal, then eaten with every sign of enjoyment washed down with cans of tepid lager.

It's a joyous thing.

[Classic Jorge]

[Ashberto]

[eastgermanautos]

[eastgermanautos]

[redgunamo]

Not me though, of course :african:

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

[redgunamo]

[eastgermanautos]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]