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[Bill]

..... But to be on the safe side ... refuse everything you are offered at least three times ....

I'd look pretty daft doing that as it was held at a restaurant .

Although I should have eaten before I went that I now realise

Bill

[Bill]

Well I decided to hedge my bets and arrived at the girls parents around 7 . 50 pm I just caught the girls brother leaving with his parents ~ the crafty lady had also arranged her brother would pick up her parents just in case I didn't turn up as luck would have it he actually knew where the party was to be held .

Now this may seem strange but I drove for 25 mins to get to the girls parents house as they live out of town ~ only to drive back into town to a restaurant that I often use that's 5 mins from my home ~ her brother who actually picked them up lives 5 mins away from them and passes their house on the way to town

The meal was awful ~ after the salad and dips a small packet of silver paper was delivered to my plate which on opening I found goats brains ~ passed on that one .

Next up were snails tastefully arranged on a bed of rice ~ passed on that too.

Next came small plates of pasta with lots of grated haloumi on top but sadly I was to slow and it had all gone by the time I got to it~ I couldn't even see any available two tables down so I gave up on that one

Then we went the whole way and a sheep's heads were delivered to the table ~ hmm nice ~ it was beginning to look like I should have eaten before I left home as I passed on that course too.

Next was a plate of very very fatty pork cooked in a wine sauce ~ as I couldn't spot any actual meat in there I passed on that too as I've never been a fan of eating fat that someone has waved a bit of meat over it.

Then came plates of little birds ~ dozens of the poor things all laying on their backs with their little legs sticking up in the air ~ yes you guessed I passed on that as well .

Luckily the restaurant owner had spotted that I hadn't actually eaten anything except a couple of pieces of bread with one of the dips and asked if I wanted a pork mix ~ I gratefully accepted and actually had something I could eat ~ yippee

The arrival of my mixed kebab also coincided with more sheep's heads ( I think ) this time cut in half being delivered to the tables.

Obviously the hosts had ordered the food they like and gave no consideration to anyone else although I must admit most of those present ate everything as if they hadn't eaten for a week ~ talk about move up the trough just about sums it up .

Seats for 45 were booked and 31 actually turned up ~ could it be the food ~ to be fair I have used this restaurant many times and the food has always been superb but tonight as the food was ordered specially it didn't appeal to me at all.

I'll eat before leaving home next time ~ if there is a next time and then I won't have to worry about the food they have ordered .

I got into the usual problems regarding drinking ~ I don't drink and drive and everyone around my end of the table were constantly insisting that I should have a drink ~ I'm afraid comments such as " go on have a drink , it's ok you are in Cyprus now , it's allowed " don't go down very well with me

To finish the night of I noticed the hosts brother disappearing ~ this meant that it looked like I was taking her parents home even though it was well out of my way .

It was without doubt a strange night and I think I'll be declining the next invite.

Bill

[webbo]

Come on then Bill. Where did you go? Was it any good? Will you be looking forward to an invitation next year?

Bubbles x

[Bill]

Come on then Bill. Where did you go? Was it any good? Will you be looking forward to an invitation next year?

Bubbles x

Honest Bubbles everything written in my post is 100% true ~ for a non Cypriot and I would imagine no doubt for some Cypriots it was the meal from hell .

I guessed it was going to be the full traditional jobby when we were told to " sit anywhere" only for my wife to be told later that the seating at that end of the table was "for men only" and she was advised to move to the other end of the table with the other women and children ~ with some people the age old traditions just don't die .

Obviously the "Special" menu was pre ordered and by the comments and speed it was eaten I guess it was enjoyed by all ~ sadly it didn't appeal to me at all ~ everybody congratulated the restaurant owner for the "excellent" meal.

I did feel that I'd been had by being asked to pick up her parents but on reflection her brother isn't that reliable so perhaps I was the back up in case he didn't turn up ~ he certainly dumped his parents quick enough when it was time to go home

I forgot to mention one item on the table ~ we also had chips ~ this time I was quicker than the others and shoveled a load on my plate ~ as you can see I'm a quick learner

To be honest although I wasn't best pleased with the food on offer I had to smile at the grunts and squeals of delight coming from my fellow diners whilst they were eating and when ever a new course was delivered ~ I kept thinking of bacon

So all in all in wasn't a good night out and I doubt if I will accept an invitation again especially if only the special menu is on offer .

I must admit I had to smile at Oracles post re eating before you go as it seems that most of the women and their children had done exactly that as apart from a few chips , the salad and the pasta most of them ate little else and most of the food was shoved up to the men's end of the table

Bill ~ the advantage it seems in cooking a sheep's head is that if you leave the eyes in it will see you through the week

[JimB]

Then came plates of little birds ~ dozens of the poor things all laying on their backs with their little legs sticking up in the air ~ yes you guessed I passed on that as well .

Bill

[CBBB]

Despite being a "Xenos" I love the brains, the sheeps head (especially the meat around the cheeks and tongue) and the the pickled birds (I know this is frowned upon, but they are nice!).

I would have been most upset to find that I had missed out on an excellent feast like this because I didn't know wher I was going!

[JimB]

Despite being a "Xenos" I love the brains, the sheeps head (especially the meat around the cheeks and tongue) and the the pickled birds (I know this is frowned upon, but they are nice!).

I would have been most upset to find that I had missed out on an excellent feast like this because I didn't know wher I was going!

Understatement of the year.

Try internationally and locally condemned.

Idiots like you keep this illegal practice going.

Shame on you.

If I find out which restaurant was selling them I'll report them to the authorities.

[CBBB]

Why, it is only food!

[purdey]

You will have your hands full JimB, they are widely available right accross the island. I know a place in Limassol where the Police come in for a pickled one in the evening, in uniform of course.

[tessintrnc]

are they quail?