ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - February 20, 2004

What a week! I just got back from Germany a few hours ago -- glad to have gone ... and very glad to be back! As you may recall, I was invited to speak at a hospitality industry trade fair called Intergastra, the largest trade show in that part of Germany.

I am happy to report that my talk was very well-received (always an unknown quantity when dealing with other cultures) and there was some discussion about having me back again, always a good sign whether it happens or not. Now if the dollar would just stop losing value ...

Technical Difficulties
One part of the trip that surprised me was how difficult it was to get online. There were virtually no Internet cafes in the small towns that we prefer, I could not make a dial-up connection work and even the Wi-Fi (wireless) hotspots in the hotels were often troublesome ... and I didn't even have those until the end of the trip!

The end result is that I was not able to upload the daily travelogue and photos. For those who looked for the running account of my cultural encounters, I apologize for leaving you hanging and hope to resolve this dereliction of duty over the weekend.

The German Report (Condensed Version)
My colleague Joel Cohen talks about the phenomenon of similar restaurants with similar menus, similar service and similar decor serving similar markets at similar prices. It is boring when it happens here and once the novelty of ancient buildings wears off, it is boring there.

In general, I found the food quality and cleanliness were excellent but the restaurants were virtual carbon copies of each other. If you leave out the ubiquitous McDonald's and the occasional quick service outlet, the dining option was either traditional German or pizza and pasta ... and there were a lot of places to eat.

Tipping is not expected and while the staff is generally friendly, they are not particularly attentive to the guests. Getting a second beer is a struggle since waiters rarely even LOOK at the table until it is time to clear the plates. Certainly you have to ask for the check, also a challenge in the absence of eye contact.

With so little to distinguish menu, price and service -- at least for this foreign visitor -- the deciding factor for us was often the decor. If it looked like an interesting place, we gave it a shot. The photo is of a restaurant in the town of Dinkelsbuhl in Bavaria. I can't even begin to guess how old this cellar is, but imagine what you could do with a room like this in the US!

Click here for the story and photos of the Germany trip (after 2/22).


The Perpetual Question
What did you learn from your staff today?

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