The edge of a biscuit tin works fine too - that's what I use with the ragged edges on my rotis.

I thought the wiggly chapati was the most savory relic of the British Empire. How far they've fallen. A real comedown for a country previously known for having "a thousand dishes and one sauce" -- brown.

It hasn't really given a Mexican flavor to the Chinese food.

I now wait to be corrected by the unmedicated nitpickers of Salon who will tell me that Chinese food was invented by Mexicans.

The "Chinese food" most Americans (or Europeans, for that matter) know, is not known to most Chinese people. So presumably, it was either invented or transformed by Americans. Thus, it doesn't matter whether an actual Chinese person makes it.

Where I live, a college town in Connecticut, just about all the Chinese restaurants are staffed by Chinese people. More interestingly, at least to me, is that two Mexican take-out restaurants have opened in my town that are operated entirely by Chinese staffs and supplied by the same company that makes Chinese restaurant supplies. The menus are exactly like those of Chinese restaurants except on yellow paper instead of white and with Mexican food instead of Chinese.

having lived in england for a year, existing almost entirely on indian food (because nothing else had any flavor at all - except, as previously mentioned - when drowned in the ubiquitous brown sauce) this could be disastrous for all residents and/or visitors to england who possess taste buds. then a wiggly chapati would be the least of their worries. let the indians stay and continue to provide flavorful nourishment to all!

"I now wait to be corrected by the unmedicated nitpickers of Salon who will tell me that Chinese food was invented by Mexicans."

Here's one. Oh, no, wait, I meant to contradict you--in the Boston area, Chinese restaurants are staffed, front and back, by Chinese. Guaranteed.

I feel sorry for the Chinese food lovers in your area...

I believe I read in the Thai press that the Brits are kicking all the Thai kitchen workers out too.

As has already been mentioned, Indian food is the savior in the UK as far as finding something good to eat, particularly if you're a vegetarian. They need to make it easier, not harder, for good Indian chefs to enter the country. It's a matter of protecting tourism, if nothing else.

No you don't. You're sure I'm an ignorant redneck truck driving republican gated community asshole who should be tied to a pole and shot in the coming revolution. But that's ok, I forgive you.

That's funny. I was just thinking the same thing about YOU. What with your snide remark about "unmedicated readers" and Chinese food being invented by Mexicans and all.

If you can't afford expensive French food, and you're tired of fish and chips and shepherd's pie and that coagulated mess that passes for "salad" in the average pub, then what will be left to eat?

By the way -- I'd recommend against eating Chinese food anywhere outside of China or America. And don't bother eating Mexican food if you're anywhere east of the Rockies.

pops up here in the US.

Doesn't this discriminate against people who aren't good at learning languages? And while I assume one must be smart to cook, since I cannot, when we have these "learn English" rules here I often think that discriminates against people who aren't terribly bright as well.

Personally, if I were in that position and I had to be "fluent" in a second or third language, I'd be toast. I've studied Russian, German, Latin, Spanish, and French-- all A's, mind you-- and I think I can speak about one word in each. Immersion? I just seem to have a tin ear, once you start talking to me in any of those languages I can't pick anything out. Move me to France and I would be the dumb cousin who needs everything translated.

I am, however, college educated and a hard worker (and a Shakespearean actor and scansion acting coach) and a lot of other things a country would want. And yet, if I'm too "dumb" to read and write your language fluently, I'm not welcome. (Good thing I like it here a lot.)

Just think about those who aren't good at languages when you start debating or enforcing these laws-- perfectly nice, quality people may be discriminated against because they can't do this one thing, not because they don't want to, but because of their age, or a learning disability, or other reason.