Doggy Bags

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8240268.stm

I was happy to read this story this morning that Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall was encouraging people to ask for left overs to be wrapped up in British restaurants. I've always thought that it was a shame that getting food wrapped up was a bit of a taboo in the UK since it just leads to overeating (in my case at least) or food wastage.

I also think it's funny that a lot of Brits seem to think we literally ask for a 'doggy bag' and find such amusement in that. I don't think I've ever used that term in my life!

I often ask for "take-home boxes" (you'll get funny and confused looks for a "doggy bag") if there's a significant portion of my meal left. But I find that portion sizes are more reasonable here than in the US, so I don't need to ask for them as often as I would there. I've never, ever been refused one, and the waiters have occasionally encouraged me to add stuff like bread from the basket on the table as it'd be binned, too, and they also hate seeing waste.

My (British)  grandma asked for a  doggy bag at the Harvester last week. In fact, she has been asking for doggy bags as long as I can remember. (She always uses the term doggy bag too). I guess i would feel a bit embarrassed to do it in a more upmarket establishment though.

We always asked for food to be wrapped up when our kids were little and only ate two bites of it - especially pizza and Wagamama's.  I have had them 'forget' and toss it in the bin anyway though.

But I find that portion sizes are more reasonable here than in the US, so I don't need to ask for them as often as I would there.

Very true.

I didn't know it was considered taboo in the UK....I hardly ever eat my full meal when I'm out because between starters and salads and drinking a beer with dinner I wind up full pretty quickly. I never got looked at funny if I asked for something to be wrapped up...though Tim did think it was strange because he was raised to "clean the plate" no matter what. 

The only time I ever recall leftovers being called a "doggie bag" was when I was 10 and we were at Disney World. The bag they put your leftovers in had Pluto on the front and said "Doggie Bag" on it. 

I think it's a great idea to have more doggy bags over here - I nearly always end up leaving some food when I'm eating out and I've never felt that I can ask to take it home with me.

My brother tried to ask for a doggy bag in Wetherspoons once (we were there for Sunday Lunch) and the manager told him they weren't allowed to let him take the food home in case he heated it up at home, got food poisoning and tried to sue them !!

I've always thought that it was a shame that getting food wrapped up was a bit of a taboo in the UK

It's not taboo -- I've been doing it for years and no one has ever expressed that they thought it was strange or 'not cricket'.

I guess i would feel a bit embarrassed to do it in a more upmarket establishment though.

Me too, but not just in England.  I would feel uncomfortable doing this in the US too.  If the server offered...maybe.  Luckily, upmarket places generally focus more on quality and presentation and less on quantity, so it's not usually an issue.

I have asked for take home boxes at places like Pizza Express and Indian places.  They have never seemed to bat an eye.