Hi everyone, I'm sure the basic world foods idea is correct. I'm also sure the pickling was taken very seriously by the Germans. When we visited in Germany, one place we ate was a huge buffet meal. When I sat down to eat, I discovered that every item on my plate was pickled - the vegetables, the meat, the condiments - everything! Sandra bigband@ocean.net > From: Barbara Walters Eberly <beberly@WCU.CAMPUS.MCI.NET> > > There are definitely certain basic foods in the world. > As for the pickled foods, putting > something in vinegar is one of the easiest ways to preserve > food.