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British Flirt Their Way Up the Corporate Ladder

February 26, 2009 by
British women "dress to impress" for a raise or promotion.

British women "dress to impress" for a raise or promotion.

Leave it to Bridget Jones to do something drastic to get the boss’ attention…and I don’t mean keeping a diary. Like the fictitious character, many British women sleep with their bosses, but several new studies reveal that British workers will do this to actually get ahead at the office.

In tough economic times, it is not unheard of for workers to resort to unorthodox tactics to score a raise, promotion, or even extra perks at work. But recent studies suggest that British workers would rather “earn” their promotion by proving their skills as lovers rather than workers. Just last week, a study by the UK recruitment scoring group, HireScores, found that 1 in 5 British workers would sleep with their boss, while 1 in 4 would kiss their boss, all for a quick promotion. A similar 2008 survey found that 1 in 5 British would flirt with the boss to get the same.

Although the study found that men were more willing than women to use their charm to advance their careers, women are no strangers to using their looks to get what they want at work. Earlier this year, a study by fashion forum Web site, theragtrader.com, found that British women are willing to dress provocatively at the office in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder. The study showed that 27% of those surveyed would wear a “risky” outfit to work if it meant that they had a better chance for a raise or promotion and 20% revealed that they use this tactic on a regular basis.

But all British workers are not without scruples. Nearly 40% of British workers surveyed reported that they would work their way up the corporate ladder by working hard, long hours with no guarantee of a promotion or raise.

How far would you go for a raise or promotion?

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , ,

French Officials Say "Don't Drink Wine"

February 24, 2009 by

French Authorities Advise Citizens to Put a Cork in It

France without wine? Mon Dieu – that’s blasphemy. Who would have thought that a country full of vineyards and wineries would recommend against drinking their own product? Well, France has done just that!

Last week, France’s Ministry of Health (MoH) released guidelines stating that wine – and any alcohol – can lead to cancer. This declaration is based on findings from the National Cancer Institute (INCA) in France. The MoH has, therefore, recommended that the French people stop drinking their beloved wine. How can this be? For years, medical reserarch has touted the health benefits of wine. It has been shown to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. The MoH and INCA want citizens to forget about all previous health benefits linked to wine consumption and focus on the fact that alcohol facilitates cancers of the mouth, larynx, oesophagus, colon/rectum, and breast. And, as the MoH kindly points out, even one glass of wine a day can increase your chance of developing cancer by 168%. 

“Small daily doses of alcohol are the most harmful. There is no amount, however small, which is good for you,” said Dominique Maraninchi, INCA’s president.

France advises citizens to stop drinking wine.

France advises citizens to stop drinking wine.

Good Intentions, Unanswered Questions

I know that the French government only wants what is best for its citizens. And, for a US citizen, I am thankful to the French government for taking a stand on this issue and for making me, and the rest of the world, more aware of the negative effects of wine as well as its benefits. However, the new alcohol guidelines leave many unanswered questions.

Now that the French know the negative health effects of wine, what will the government do to help citizens stop drinking alcohol? And, more importantly, will the French recognize these new findings and take the initiative to stop indulging in their favorite drink? Possibly, but this feat will be a difficult undertaking. Take cigarettes for example. In the early to mid 1900′s, smoking was nearly a national pasttime in the US and for many countries around the world. Even when the US Surgeon General reported that cigarettes were linked to cancer, people continued to smoke and many are still smoking today. But, unlike wine, there have been no health benefits linked to smoking cigarettes. 

Grape Expectations

Ask a Frenchman to stop drinking wine? You may as well tell a fish to stop swimming. Wine has been a natural part of the French culture for centuries. Expecting the French to stop drinking wine immediately or even in the near future is unrealistic, especially when the French consume an average of 13 gallons of wine in a year – that’s nearly a 1 gallon jug of milk per month. For the French, and many other countries, wine has been thought of as part of everyday life, and even medicinal. Getting the French to stop doing something they know and love will no doubt be a challenge, for the idea alone challenges a vintage belief. Besides, wine is seen by many as the national drink of France. What would replace this national standard –  Perrier?

What about the rest of us?

The new guidelines also leave the government in a Catch-22 situation. Now that the French government recommends against wine consumption, will they still permit the export of wine? France is a major exporter of wine, with 34% of the world wine market coming from French exports. If they do continue to export wine, it is like saying “we don’t want our citizens to drink wine, but we can sell wine to other countries who don’t know any better.”

Yet, if they do stop exporting wine, what will happen to the 2,134 acres of land used for vineyards across France? The economy in France and the rest of Europe is bad enough, take away a huge money-maker like wine, and the country may be financially worse off than before.

Now, the most important question, if the French can’t smoke (Amen to that!) and can’t drink wine, what do these poor French souls have left for indulgences? Well there’s always cheese, pate, and extramarital affairs. Vive La France!

Filed Under: Food & Wine Tagged With: , ,

It's Mardi Gras…Bring on the Pancake Races!

February 21, 2009 by

Ahh, Mardi Gras…a time of extravagance, gluttony, and pancakes? Yes, pancakes. You may think that pancakes seem a little bland for Mardi Gras, compared with the Polish Paczki or New Orleans King Cake, but for our British neighbors across the pond, pancakes and even pancake races are major elements of Mardi Gras.

Celebrate Mardi Gras like the British by trading your Paczki for a pancake.

Celebrate Mardi Gras like the British by trading your Paczki for a pancake.

The British don’t actually celebrate Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday by name. For them, the day is called Shrove Tuesday. The word Shrove is actually a variation on the Old English term shriving or absolving. Shrove Tuesday is similar to Mardi Gras and Carnaval in that the day marks the symbolic, yet temporary, end of indulgence and the beginning of the Christian time of Lent, a time of penitence and absolution. In other words, these celebrations represent the last day to “feast” before 40 days of abstinence and fasting. Unlike Mardi Gras and Carnaval, Shrove Tuesday has never really taken on the “party” image. Shrove is more of a time to focus on or even prepare you for the spiritual aspect of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Still, the Brits have their own, very unique traditions for celebrating this religious season.

My Pancake is Faster than Yours

The British may not consume cases of jelly-filled donuts or hide plastic babies inside sugary danishes, but they are not without their indulgences in the cake area. Shrove Tuesday has traditionally been associated with making and eating pancakes, of all sizes and varieties. Pancakes have been synonymous with Shrove for hundreds of years.

Runners race with their pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.

Runners race with their pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.

They are believed to represent one of the richest foods to eat before Lent, because they are made with many ingredients that were once avoided during Lent, like eggs and milk products. Pancakes have become so important to the Shrove celebration that many cities and even Parliament hold Pancake Races. These highly competitive contests involve running as fast as you can while holding a frying pan with a pancake in it. The catch is that you have to flip the pancake a predetermined amount of times while you’re running – a skill many in Britain have seriously perfected. Many believe that the tradition of Pancake Races began in the early 1400′s when a woman was making breakfast on Shrove Tuesday. She is said to have lost track of time and began running to the church for services, frying pan in hand, complete with a pancake still in it. Although the origin of the pancake race is still unclear, one thing is quite certain –  Shrove Tuesday and its pancakes are an important part of British culture and tradition.

Have Your Pancake and Eat it Too

For Americans, celebrating Mardi Gras like the British can be a fun and more refined alternative to donuts, colored plastic beads, and raucous street parties. So, if you’re not up for a huge Mardi Gras party or can’t make it to Spain for Carnaval, celebrate Shrove Tuesday by making a batch or two of pancakes. And, although the idea of pancakes is traditional in and outside of Britain, your pancakes needn’t follow the traditional recipe. Check out some of the more unusual pancake recipes online, like chocolate pancakes with chestnut cream or hot whiskey pancakes with raspberries, they are sure to tempt even self-proclaimed pancake connoisseurs. And remember, whether savory or sweet, fluffy or thin, a pancake is more than a pancake when eaten on Shrove Tuesday.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , ,

Confessions of a British Shopaholic

February 18, 2009 by

Confessions of a Shopaholic May Reflect British Women Spending Habits

If you’ve ever read the book, Confessions of a Shopaholic, by Sophie Kinsella, you will know that it doesn’t quite follow the recently released movie by the same title, mostly because the main character Rebecca or Becky, is not from New York, but rather London. But the book and the movie share one big similarity, the main character is indeed a shopaholic by the best (or worst) definition. Ironically, the leading lady in Confessions, who can’t pass up a full price designer handbag, let alone a sale, may not actually be too far off from real British women and their overspending practices.

British women's shopping habits reflected in best-selling novel.

Shopaholic book may reflect real British women's spending habits.

A 2007 survey from Uswitch revealed that at least 3% of the British population are shopaholics, with more than 765,000 of these being British women. Shopaholics are defined as people who shop at least once a week and spend an average of £182 per month (about $260), far above the national average of £86 ($122) a month. Furthermore, these spendthrift women will go to any length to get their fix for fashion. More than 2% of British women admitted to sneaking fashion purchases on their significant other’s credit card, while 16% have admitted to lying about how much they spend on their purchases. These out-of-control spending behaviors have left British women with an average of £5,000 ($7,100) in unsecured debt.

Despite Economy, British Women Still Spending

What’s even more surprising, is that even with the poor economy, British women have reported that they will continue with their extravagant spending habits. In 2008, Elle UK surveyed 4,000 British women and found that more than 1/3 admitted their fashion shopping habits have not changed due to the economy. Furthermore, 70% of British women said they thought about buying new clothes “nearly every day”, while 1/4 said they spent between £25 and £100 ($35 and $142) a month on shoes alone. 

Are you a shopaholic? Take the test and find out.

God knows that you don’t have to be British to be considered a shopaholic. If you’re worried that your spending habits may be unmanageable, a simple test can tell whether you are just a typical shopper or if you are truly a shopping addict. The test, which was published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of Consumer Research, includes six statements, for which you rank on a 7-point scale, with 1= strongly disagree and 7=strongly agree. Using this scale, decide how strongly you feel about the following statements: 

  1. My closet has unopened shopping bags in it. 
  2. Others might consider me a “shopaholic.” 
  3. Much of my life centers around buying things. 
  4. I buy things I don’t need. 
  5. I buy things I did not plan to buy. 
  6. I consider myself an impulse purchaser.

Now, add up your total score. If your score is 25 or higher, you would be considered a compulsive buyer, or a shopaholic.

If you are a shopaholic, you may want to curb your purchases until you get your shopping habits under control. Sounds simple, but like all addictions, a shopping addiction can be hard to break. There are many books and Web sites that can help shopaholics change their ways and many offer step-by-step guides on how to do this. For example, GetRichSlowly.org suggests the following: 

6 Steps to Curb Compulsive Shopping

  1. Get rid of your credit cards. Although, you still need to pay them off!
  2. Use cash to pay for everything. You may be less likely to spend if you actually see your dollars leaving your wallet.
  3. Keep a diary of your purchases. Log everything you spend your money on. You may be surprised or even disgusted at how much you’re spending at Starbucks!
  4. Trick yourself into spending less or not spending at all. Do this by making yourself wait 30 days to buy new clothes, gadgets, etc.
  5. Avoid temptation by not going into your usual spending haunts. 
  6. Ask for help from friends/family or even a professional.

If you’re still not sure how you rank on the shopaholic scale, read the Confessions book or see the movie. If you can relate to Rebecca, and feel a stinging guilt because you do, then you may want to reevaluate your spending, not to mention avoid the spring and summer sales at Macys.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: , , ,

I said Tapas Bar, Not Topless Bar.

February 15, 2009 by

Tapas or Topless?

Tapas have been around for centuries in Spain and for many years in the US – so it always amazes me when people don’t know what they are or have never heard of them. I remember when my mother, who lives out of state, first learned about tapas. I called her as I usually did on Saturday afternoon to see how she and my father were doing. During our light-hearted conversation, she asked where I was headed that evening. I replied that I was going to a new tapas bar with some friends. At this point, there was silence for what seemed eternity, then she asked again, “Where did you say you were going?”. “A tapas bar,” I replied. “But why would you want to go to a place like that?,” she answered. I finally realized that what she thought I said was “topless” bar, which explains her surprise. When I explained to her what tapas are and what the restaurant is, she seemed relieved and then continued on the conversation in an upbeat manner. In my world, this was not the only time “tapas” had been mistaken for “topless”. Nowadays, if I am taking an out-of-town guest for tapas and I know he/she really doesn’t know what they are, I might try to joke with the person by never explaining what tapas are until the very last minute. They are just as surprised and relieved as my mother was years ago on the phone to find out the true meaning of tapas.

Tapas: Small in size, huge in flavor.

Tapas: Small in size, huge in flavor.

What are tapas

Tapas is a style of eating, rather than a way of cooking, that involves eating bite-size snacks or small appetizers. Tapas can be served cold or hot and can be made with just about anything. Typical Spanish tapas are dishes that include cheese, egg, meat, vegetable, seafood, relishes, such as olives and spicy peppers, and rice. Don’t be fooled by their size – these bites may be small but are customarily packed with huge flavors, like paprika, curry, and garlic. 

Origin of Tapas

Tapas are believed to have originated in Spain centuries ago, but as to how they originated, that story will change depending on what region of Spain you are in. One of the most popular theories is that the first tapas were eaten when, due to an illness, the Spanish king Alfonso the 10th, had to take small bites of food with some wine between meals. However, after he recovered the king decreed that no wine was to be served in any of the inns in the land of Castile, unless accompanied by something to eat. Although tapas have evolved over the years in regard to ingredients and style, the tradition of eating small plates is ingrained in the Spanish culture.

Where to find tapas

Tapas are a staple all over Spain, but in the US, tapas or tapas-like restaurants can be found in just about any major city in the world. Also, there are some restaurants that may not be considered tapas bars, but offer a tapas-like menu. Nowadays, many tapas bars include full-size meals on the menu to accommodate bigger appetites or those people who failed kindergarten and never learned how to share.

I absolutely love tapas. In fact, whenever I go out of town for business or fun, I do a little research ahead of time to see if there is a trendy tapas bar that I can try. I’ve had tapas in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington,DC, and, of course, in Spain.  If you’re looking for something different for a Friday night dinner, check out the local tapas bars in your area or your destination city.

How to order tapas

From my experience, tapas are meant to be eaten with a group, but they can also be fine as a dinner for two. As is customary, each person in the group will select one item off of the tapas menu and, when these items are brought to the table, everyone shares each others’ dish. At this point, the second “round” of tapas is ordered. This can go on and on for hours. You’d be surprised how filling tapas are, so don’t order too many at once, until you’re sure you’re hungry enough to eat more. Give yourself plenty of time for tapas. It’s not a quick meal and it is intended to be shared with friends, family, and/or colleagues. In Spain, the locals will actually go from tapas bar to tapas bar, sampling the house specialties, meeting up with old friends, and making new ones as they go. 

Classic tapas

Although every tapas bar will have a signature dish or several specialty tapas that distinguish it from a competitor, most tapas bars/restaurants carry at least a few of the classic Spanish tapas, including:

  • Patatas bravas – Potatoes in a spicy red or cream sauce.
  • Spanish tortilla –  Spanish style quiche or omelette.
  • Croquettes – Lightly breaded, fried fritter made with ham, chicken, and/or cheese.
  • Paella – Saffron-rice-based dish almost always made with vegetables, shellfish, and other fresh seafood. This dish is similar to Italian risotto in that it is so filling it could be a meal on it’s own.     

    Olives make simple, but flavorful tapas.

    Olives make simple, but flavorful tapas.

  • Serreno ham – Famous salty Spanish ham. It can be eaten on it’s own or wrapped around dates, figs, or served on bread.
  • Manchego cheese – The most widely used cheese in Spain – made from sheep’s milk. It can be eaten by the slice on a piece of bread with olives or served in a variety of dishes, from potatoes to soups.
  • Pa amb tomaquet or pa amb oli - This is essentially sliced country style bread rubbed with oil and garlic, or oil, garlic, and a tomato half. 
  • Chorizo sausage – A widely-used, very versatile spicy Spanish sausage made of cured pork. Can be eaten on its own, with vegetable accompaniments, or used in soups or sauces.
  • Creme caramel or Catalan – A thick, custard-like dessert similar to the French creme brulee.
  • Sangria – Although this is technically not a tapa, this fruit-based iced drink, made with red, white, or sparkling wine (cava), is widely popular in tapas restaurants in and outside of Spain.

Tapas at home

A good way to experience tapas, is to host a party where everyone brings a dish (so that you’re not making a bunch of time-consuming little appetizers). I know a couple who host a tapas party every year with two rules: 1) no one can bring the same dish twice and 2) you must bring the recipe to share. As you can imagine, after a few years of this, they have significantly increased their tapas recipe collection. 

These days, nearly any food that can be made or cut into bite-size pieces could be considered tapas. But, if you’re not sure where to start, here are 7 recipes to get your tapas party rolling:

Easy Tapas Recipes

  1. Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts                                 
  2. Crostini with roasted red pepper and feta 
  3. Patatas bravas 
  4. Ham croquettes
  5. Chicken satays
  6. Ginger-lime shrimp 
  7. Couscous and feta stuffed peppers (use mini-peppers for bite-size version)

Keep in mind, half the fun of tapas is experimenting to see which tapas you like the most, which are easiest to make, and which are the most original. So no matter what you make, keep it fun, keep it interesting, and keep the tapas flowing!

Do you have a favorite place for tapas or a favorite tapas recipe? Share it!

Filed Under: Food & Wine Tagged With: ,
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