Saturday, March 22, 2008

Ramekins

I'm watching Frasier season 10, and enjoying it greatly.

Frasier is explaining to his father the difference between "ramekins" and "tapas dishes". And I'm wondering, are there really people who live like this? Use immense amounts of time and money and concern on what seems to me to be absolutely trivial differences in the products they buy and the culture they enjoy. (Or "enjoy", perhaps.) Who has four different kinds of forks and cares deeply if anybody uses the "wrong" kind of fork. Who will spend thousands on little objects d'art because of the prestige more than the aesthetics. For whom all these little cultural minutia are tremendously important.

I suppose they exist, but I've never met any in real life. Do you know anybody like that?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Along the same lines:

Frasier and Niles are desperate to watch "Antiques Roadshow" on TV, but their dad wants to watch his gameshow. Y'know, the one where: "everybody brings in their old junk, and the host tries to put a value on it..."
Then the penny drops.
Generally I can't stand that show, but it does feature some very funny exchanges.

(Just don't get me started on that repulsive twat Seinfeld...)

Jeff R.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

"It was a rotten thing you did."

"Yes it was. But in my defense, I have done much worse."

(Daphne's mother.)

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Jeff, I'm curious, what comedy shows *do* you like?

Anonymous said...

I've never met anyone like that personally, but my dad's told me about people he's known. It sounds like almost like a very alien existence compared to my throw stuff in the floor, wear the same clothes for days, don't care how I eat as long as most of it ends up in my mouth lifestyle.

I prefer Cartoon Network personally. :D

Alex said...

Would you say beer is like cider? Would you say crepes are flapjacks?

I thought there was a clear difference between tapas and ramekins. Now hors d'oeuvre are like tapas.

There are some things you should differentiate, and some things say what the hey. Just as long as you have the 2 sizes of fork you should be okay (salad forks can double as dessert forks).

I guess the one thing to remember is that miso soup does not need a spoon.

Anonymous said...

The West Wing (yes, I know - but it has some great lines.

Vicar of Dibley (especially the credits joke) no-no-no-no-no-no-no-yes!

Two and a half Men.

Fawlty (of course)

There's more, but that's all that springs to mind.

Jeff R.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Yes, I like all those shows.

Dharma and Greg too. I hope they'll soon release the rest of the seasons on DVD.

Alex said...

I've never heard anyone talk about "Dharma and Greg". I was beginning to think it never made it outside San Francisco.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Oh goodness, I've seen it both in Denmark and UK.

When they finally put out the first season on DVD, I was a bit uncertain, but I loved it as much as the first time. Maybe more, watching a season in a week is the superior experience, I think.

Alex said...

When the kids have grown up, and the job gets easier, I may try that.

Meanwhile, I am squeezing in one TV show every three days :-o

Anonymous said...

"(Just don't get me started on that repulsive twat Seinfeld...)"

Now, Jeff, you know that you're not qualified to judge, being a repulsive twat yourself.