Gebackenes Hund für Sie?

We live in a world in which you can probably get anything you want. The long tail of the market has enabled the proliferation of almost any conceivable product or service imaginable. If you need a product that helps train you how to smile, you can learn more about it here, if you love Chip Shots Margarita & Salt Potato flavoured Chips and want to order it by the truckload, you can learn about it here along with other wild flavours, and if you want delicious Canadian made maple syrup straight from my families’ farm, you can order it here. The depth of choice can be especially deep when it comes to food. With the millions of people that have migrated over the years we’ve been given an opportunity to experience food from all over the world. Unfortunately, that doesn’t necessary mean that the migrants are especially clear on how to order those unique treats.

I was in a restaurant in Vienna called Schmitzberger along with several of my co-workers for lunch. The waitress came around rather quickly to take our orders which was ok because I knew what I wanted and had a pretty good idea of how it was said in German.

German Version

Me: Ein Gebratenes Hund Bitte.

Serviererin: Dies ist nicht ein chinesisches Restaurant. Kein Hund und Keine Katze.

Mitarbeiter: (lachen) Er meinte Backhendlsalat.

English Version

Me: A Baked Dog please.

Sassy Waitress: This is not a Chinese Restaurant. No Dogs and no Cats.

Co-worker: (laughing) He meant fried chicken salad.

Now I maintain that I said Gebackenes Huhn which would have been ok I think, but if there is one thing that I’ve learned while on my AIESEC internship so far is that when you’re handsome, people naturally like to pick on you. My advice is that you shouldn’t knock it before you try it.