Why FDH no need to go through a probation period !

[Koen]

French toast is one of life's simple delights and Juergenw in fact anyone would be more than correct to expect it from someone who claims to a Westerner they know how to cook. However not, and this is a big NOT from an untried Filipino.

Juergenw in this Im absolutely sure you are not alone. Despite these hoards of bored disbelievers here who obviously don't have a cook a large majority of FDH are indeed from the Philippines and if they had one they would know Filipinos don't exactly have a knack for cooking. Ever heard of a Filipino restaurant? No? Thats because their food is possibly one of the few cuisines in the world that rather effortlessly rank as the very worst in the world.

If you want a good cook you must do a bit of asking around, people who do a lot of entertaining, try and find one with a good reputation from someone who is leaving is usually the best way. They will have spent years training them if they're any good. Or ask more detailed questions on the matter before hiring as suggested, very detailed questions. Computer skills are useful as is supplying the FDH with one of those cheap ipads.

But even when you've found one don't let your defences down for a second, you're still likely to find Hellmann's mayonnaise in your cheese cake.

[Gruntfuttock]

I'm a westerner, I've eaten fairly widely, but I'm only vaguely aware what French toast is, and definitely have no idea how to cook it. My expectation is that this would be true for the majority of westerners I know.

[INXS]

[QUOTE=Gruntfuttock;2581689]I'm a westerner, I'm eaten fairly widely/QUOTE]

Is that in her contract?

[Koen]

As for French toast, I'd never heard of it until I visited the US. I'm pretty sure that even now my family back in the UK have no idea what it is. I always thought it was more an American thing?

French Toast is/was a staple of British Public schools, I still lust along with things like sago, rice and bread and butter pudding. The reason probably is the heaps of stale bread they generate, making it into a tasty meal at the end of each weak is good economy.

Not sure that it didn't actually come to Hong Kong via British nawabs, in the days when most DH were local Chinese.

Never tried the American one. The bread they use in the HK one is too sweet so everything's tipped in favour of sweet sweet sweet.

[juergenw]

Perhaps if she's never heard the term French Toast, she was trying to figure out what you meant and the closest thing she could come up with is French Fries, as she is familiar with it. Maybe she has a hard time understanding your accent.
I'm also trying to understand what being in HK 6 years has to do with this. If her previous employers didn't ask for French Toast then how would she possibly know. I'd suggest writing it down so she can show the person when she goes to order it for you.
As for the cooking, maybe you should have her write down the directions in her own language as you are showing her, that way she doesn't need to do it all from memory.

Funnily our old helper, before she left wrote a cook-book in english & tagalog with at least 30 recipes in it - lets say almost perfect to follow. Cooking unfortunately need also a "little talent" - some have it, some not.

[juergenw]

French toast is one of life's simple delights and Juergenw in fact anyone would be more than correct to expect it from someone who claims to a Westerner they know how to cook. However not, and this is a big NOT from an untried Filipino.

Juergenw in this Im absolutely sure you are not alone. Despite these hoards of bored disbelievers here who obviously don't have a cook a large majority of FDH are indeed from the Philippines and if they had one they would know Filipinos don't exactly have a knack for cooking. Ever heard of a Filipino restaurant? No? Thats because their food is possibly one of the few cuisines in the world that rather effortlessly rank as the very worst in the world.

If you want a good cook you must do a bit of asking around, people who do a lot of entertaining, try and find one with a good reputation from someone who is leaving is usually the best way. They will have spent years training them if they're any good. Or ask more detailed questions on the matter before hiring as suggested, very detailed questions. Computer skills are useful as is supplying the FDH with one of those cheap ipads.

But even when you've found one don't let your defences down for a second, you're still likely to find Hellmann's mayonnaise in your cheese cake.

Hi Koen - we have only asked her to go down & buy the FRENCH TOAST (this is some tea-set) - we even not dare to ask her to make one by herself, as surely this she dont know & this we also do not expect from her to know. So it seems this is now the FRENCH TOAST THREAD.............So then I suggest from now on every helper in HKG must make a "french toast test" before getting hired.

[Koen]

I'm a westerner, I've eaten fairly widely, but I'm only vaguely aware what French toast is, and definitely have no idea how to cook it. My expectation is that this would be true for the majority of westerners I know.

Thats why there are cooks.

No, can you reliably conclude that based on your own anecdotal evidence?

Yes some expats are straight from das vaterland and would expect knoodlen (yummy) and lederhosen but these days it's more than likely that they've had a broad culinary exposure right in their home town too, where "arme ritter" French toast is also a favourite.

Because you don't know what it is means......you eat healthily no doubt, frying not for you, you're from Groningen your staple is cheese?

[jgl]

Can we please just call it Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey Toast?

[Koen]

Hi Koen - we have only asked her to go down & buy the FRENCH TOAST (this is some tea-set)

Sorry I didn't mean to turn this thread into anything it's not, did I?

I didn't know you could buy French toast from the supermarket are you sure? Is it cold, long life or do you have a "frying tonight" style place near you? Maybe its baguettes (French bread in American) you wanted or those little toasties handy for canapés?

I think a Tagalog English cook book is a very good idea.

[Mat]

A toasted french dude anyone?