7 Things About the American Midwest That Shocked Me

[@evan]

Since topic 1 caused such a spicy debate, here’s a summary of the 2 types of comments about me not finding any fruit in Chicago in the comment section: 1. Of COURSE you didn’t find any fruit in Chicago downtown! You were in a business district. Fruit is expensive to sell there where no one lives! 2. Actually there’s fruit everywhere in Chicago! You had bad luck. Why didn’t you search your phone for a grocery store? (One commenter literally compared fruit to… a bag of flour without any sense of irony) So fruit is both nowhere where I was and everywhere depending on who you ask. But the amount of commenters lumping fruits into things you HAVE TO go to a grocery store for are missing my point. I’m just used to fruits being more readily available. Lots of random shops offering fruit. (And lmao NO fruit juice does NOT count 😂) I didn’t want to have to look up a grocery store on my phone (10 minute walk in the opposite direction) as I expected to just grab some fruit along the way like I could do so so so easily with donuts, cookies, and candies. But I could not! THAT was what was surprising to me. I even had some commenters politely say well Chicagoans just bring fruit from the suburbs with them to downtown… but do you not see that as an issue? My whole point here is that one should not have to SEEK fruit same as one shouldn’t have to seek water. But comparing a fruit to a bag of flour shows an american mentality of eating fruits i suppose. I will concede that maybe I was just quite unlucky with my specific journey in that it didn’t cross a single place selling fruit. But then as mentioned the fruit I had during the trip was also terribly underwhelming so… Chicago. Incredible city. Phenomenal food (not the cake shake. Grim). Hot dog miles better than New York’s. Stunning architecture. Not as easy to grab a fruit as a donut. Also I pretty much shared all this on insta stories (it's currently on my profile as a highlight) live as it was happening for those who for some reason think I'm just making this up haha

[@psirrow]

I always got fruit from Meijer (a grocery store) when I lived in the Midwest. The main reason for this is that "eating out" is for special occasions and I wouldn't waste money on that if I was just walking around somewhere. Thinking back, I also remember that the fruit I did see outside of grocery stores never looked that good. Probably because it has been sitting there for so long with nobody buying it. The main issue seems to be a disconnect in expectations. There's the idea of "I'm here and I would like some fruit" vs the "why would I pay you to put fruit in a basket when I can do that at home". Also can you imagine being asked to tip 15% for grabbing an old apple from a basket?

[@fredashay]

Yes! We have something called "zoning" here in America which basically forbids homes and restaurants and food stores and doctor/dentist offices from being in walking distance to each other. I.e. it's all government's fault! Fruits and veggies have a short shelf life, and so are expensive to truck around and keep on store shelves, so you have to go to a major food store to get them. And major food stores are generally out in the suburbs because they have thin profit margins and can't afford to exist in city centers.

[@psirrow]

@@fredashay That's true... More so in some places than others, but still true enough that it's something we should try to fix. But I'm more speaking about a different source of confusion. It seems one side is asking "why don't these places have fruit" while the other is asking "why are you looking there for fruit?". In my mind, you pick up a bunch of fruit for later whereas this is more a buy it as you want it approach. Although, I will grant that it's weird for a restaurant to not have some kind of salad options. I gotta say though, the response from the tourism person mentioned in the video is maddening. How hard is it to point someone at the closest corner store!? "We're too busy for fruit here" WTF!?

[@wessexdruid7598]

@@fredashay Shouldn't donuts have a short shelf life?

[@fredashay]

@@wessexdruid7598 They do, but they sell out fast? Ever go to DD late in the day and try to buy a doughnut or a bagel? Good luck with that...

[@anonnymouse2402]

Fruit is especially healthy in Chicago, as you burn thousands of calories trying to find it.

[@andy_criola]

Please tell me you're joking😅..you can't find fruit in a major city? As someone who live in a country with Mediterranean diet that's insanity...we eat fruits everyday, it's a big part of our culture.

[@alienwandering]

Not joking. Trying to find fresh fruit or veg outside of a major grocery store is impossible. At a restaurant you MIGHT find a fruit cup option of a side on the kids menu, but it will be cut fruit from a can in a sweetened syrup. Oh, and the grocery store? To have fresh fruit and veg, it will have to be in the "right" side of town.

[@whydoineedanameiwillneverp7790]

​@@alienwanderingIs this true all through the year? Or just a harsh winter thing - where not much grows locally, and so not much fresh produce is available?

[@beccasalt8960]

​@@alienwanderingwow, that's so shocking

[@CyrusCageSCWS]

Aussie here. I am absolutely shocked. You guys must all be so so sick.

[@Plumtopia]

You've reached the point where Americans don't consider you American and Europeans don't consider you European Welcome to "Schrodinger's nationality" 😂

[@JdeBP]

I for one think that M. Edinger has achieved the status of Londoner, long since. Only a Londoner would lump the whole of the north of England into Yorkshire. Well, mayhap only a Londoner and some of the more ambitious Yorkshire folk. (-:

[@ObelixCMM]

He said Jersey, not New Jersey, twice. And as far as I know Jersey is still part of Europe.

[@Plumtopia]

@ i mean yes but, I doubt the person in the story even knows that the European Jersey exists, I've dealt with that kind of person before, geography usually isn't their strong suit (I'm sure you've seen Americans getting all "but actually" when someone talks about Georgia (country) and they're all "no lmao Georgia isn't a country it's a state") If someone with Evan's accent said they were from Jersey I'd assume they meant New Jersey, because shortening it is pretty common.

[@ObelixCMM]

@@Plumtopia Obviously that waitress dealt with Evan kind of person before so she preemptively stopped him. I understand Georgia mix up, Georgia (country) was USSR republic and nobody ever mentioned it just like Azerbaijan or Uzbekistan.

[@elchicharron9503]

The US today is nothing like the US twelve years ago. The guy really isn't an American anymore. His America is a world that no longer exists.

[@SashaPlata]

In regards to the tipping, this is the mantra I abide by: If you order at the counter…don’t tip If you order through a drive thru…don’t tip I only tip when I talk with a hostess and am served by a waiter or waitress. Also, with the tolls, when I go on road trips, I always put in google to avoid tolls. I haven’t paid a single toll. I don’t care if my drive is a bit longer, I’m not paying tolls.

[@bulshock1221]

Only exceptions I make are delivery and coffee shops. Both those workers typically follow the waiter wage of being reliant on tips in order to live.

[@joshuadavid1804]

It shouldn't be arbitrary based on your own criteria... take some time to learn how the employees are compensated at the places you patron and adjust your arbitrary "self policy"

[@jonc4403]

@@joshuadavid1804 No. Absolutely not. I'm NOT going to tip at a drivethru. If the employees don't like it, they need to join a union and strike. We're already being price gouged at every fast food place these days, I'm not going to supplement the owner's excessive profits by paying the employees for them.

[@joshuadavid1804]

@jonc4403 wow, did you copy paste that from your soundbyte folder? Or did you actually think this statement all the way through?

[@Heavens_girl86]

​@joshuadavid1804 so you want us to research private wages on every place we frequent so we can tip accident at places we never tipped at until covid?? Mmmkaaaaay have fun with that

[@eileencarroll6418]

Chicagoan here. Fruit can be found at convenience stores in downtown Chicago. 7-Eleven, White Hen and the little private shops on the ground floors of office towers usually have fresh fruit. Not up to bodega standards, these private shops carry whatever their customers ask for at below corporate vending machine prices. In my building, the shop that started as a tobacconist with magazines and a shoe shine, then added pastries, fresh fruit, beverages, chips, cookies, candy, ice cream, umbrellas, small hand tools, pantyhose, first aid, sewing kits, brushes, toothpaste, greeting cards, wrapping paper, birthday candles, frozen microwave dinners, etc. and eventually dropped the tobacco. To be fair, the deli next to it sold fresh fruits and fresh salads, but the deli had shorter business hours. The evolution of the private convenience shop mirrored the evolution of the business week from M-F 9-5 to ?am to 12:15 am last train and take work home with you and keep emailing until the work was done. Yes, I saved my pennies, retired early at 55 and stayed home where I enjoyed fruit and veggies as often as I liked. If you visit Chicago in summer, you might enjoy the Chicago Architectural Foundation Boat Tour which gives you a guided tour up and down the Chicago river while you sit comfortably on a boat. The other worthwhile experience is to rent a Segway for 3 hours. They teach you how to ride it and give you a round trip tour from the north end of Grant Park and as far south as Northerly Island (that used to be Meigs airport). Time it right and you could take advantage of one of Chicago's many free music festivals. Time it wrong and you could get stuck in gridlock traffic and street closures due to Lollapalooza, NASCAR, Chicago Marathon or any sports teams' home games. Just do your research. GOOD LUCK.

[@Rose-nw7px]

yeah, it seems like he didn't even try. there's even a target+grocery in the Loop

[@spaceshot485]

Seemed more like trying to have material to have hubris about rather than really trying. I traveled to Chicago for work,never had been there, had none of these issues. Had to give up on the video.

[@Rose-nw7px]

@@spaceshot485 he's real defensive salty in his comments. I don't often thumbs up or down any video but this was an instant down

[@nancys5547]

My first thought was 7-Eleven.

[@Summitperry]

I was scratching my head every gas station and convenience store has a fruit rack.

[@ALZulas]

As a midwesterner, I will tell you that passive aggression is the most common kind of aggression 😆We're very good at it

[@alastairhewitt380]

"You're coming over here to vote so people like me might have access to healthcare and paid vacations. WELL AREN'T YOU SPECIAL!" Although to be fair neither of the two party nitwits were offering this

[@BenjaminKlahn]

@@alastairhewitt380 We do have mandatory time off in Illinois. The PLAWA mandates employees earn 1 hour off per 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year. It's not much but we do have something. I believe the city of Chicago has a slightly more generous system with sick leave as well. And the IL legislature is considering a couple different proposals for universal healthcare or public insurance. I believe they're mostly looking at the math, since we're one of the biggest economies in the country it seems like it should be doable.

[@HopeGardner3amed]

I hate that part of our culture

[@terryomalley1974]

Much like Canadians.

[@davechristianson1802]

We're pretty good with cold contempt slightly disguised, as well

[@j03man44]

6:45 as a Michigander, bringing up politics switches the conversation from "midwest nice" mode, to "tell me what you really think" mode in 0.01 seconds. And saying you're from Jersey did not help! Midwesterners, especially in the rust belt, are used to being condescended to by 'the coastal elites' not just europeans.

[@thisisdumbwhatthe]

Midwesterners are condescending just as much and most of their perceived slights are just in their heads and not based on reality. Living in a city and I never hear anyone say anything bad about rural America, but when I lived in rural America, endless bitching and moaning about California and other places that people had never even been to.

[@daanachmad4032]

But, the fact that person said “Europeans” means is not a grievance against coastal elites, that person just doesn’t like it when foreigners talk about US domestic affairs… Which is rich considering how neocon US foreign policy is.

[@CHEFPKR]

Chef of 20 years here. Large hotels, multiple restaurants, etc. In most cases, having fruit on the menu isn't reasonable. Why on earth would I keep cases of apples, oranges, bananas etc for the 1% of people that ask? It's a waste. I'm not saying it's right, but it's business. The ONLY time we had fruit on hand was when I managed a major hotel. Hotels are a different monster though, and we had EVERYTHING on hand. So yes, you could get fruit at a hotel restaurant.

[@evan]

Yeah it’s just an interesting difference in perspective. And it was only such a big thing for me because I was actively looking for something I’ve come to expect as normal London. The same could be said if a Chicagoan visits the UK and goes “Where are all the water fountains?? Don’t Brits get thirsty???” And I’d be like… yeah you’re right. I guess I’d argue that if healthy food like fruit is always an option, it’s easier to add it to your diet naturally without effort. But overall I was blown away by Chicago and immediately wanted to come back with my partner so she could try all the amazing food I had

[@isaacburgess1964]

​@@evan I think part of the issue here is that you went downtown to look for fresh produce. It can 100% be found but the residential population in the loop is actually relatively sparse, it's basically a giant office park. I can probably name 5 places around my office that I can get. A reasonable selection of fresh fruit. You're have an easier time in more residential neighborhoods outside of the business district.

[@sianchild]

​@@isaacburgess1964I sort of agree with Evan that it's weird for fruit not to be available where there are large groups of people. There would be in the UK/Europe. Don't those people in downtown Chicago also need access to healthy food during their day?

[@isaacburgess1964]

@@sianchild for sure, can't say I've been to a business district in Europe so can't compare to that. Downtown has seen lots of businesses close as the commuting population has taken a big dip so that may also play into it as there are fewer casual food options now. Like I said, I'm familiar with the area so I could easily find several places to find some fresh fruit but maybe it's just because I've gone down there enough. He already addressed it in a pinned comment but it's wild to actually think you have to drive to the suburbs to find fresh produce in a city with 3 million people lol

[@amyb1078]

I can't say I'm looking for fruit when I go to a restaurant. Vegetables, yes. And I'm surprised Evan says the restaurant he tried didn't really have vegetables. Most places will have salads at least, and also, entrees come with broccoli or whatever, unless you're at a burger place or something.

[@ProgressiveRoxx]

Evan's quest for fruit explains to me why characters in US tv and film always seem to treat finding a Farmer's Market like they discovered the Holy Grail.

[@evan]

Depends on the city tbh! NJ was full of fruits and veg. Cali too from experience.

[@slavkovalsky1671]

@@evan Wouldn't there be *some* fruit in corner stores... convenience stores... well, whatever the local word for bodegas is in Chicago? Two red delicious apples (which are certainly red) and three Granny Smiths from the harvest of 2019?

[@FJA---]

@@evan Go to Lincoln, NE. You'll find fruit and veges everywhere in the city. Being a vege I found it a lot easier to get good food there than back east since I retired and stupidly moved back here.

[@absentmindedjwc]

@@slavkovalsky1671 There absolutely is. Evan didn't look too hard, there is a convinience store just a block away from his shot at 1:59 that sold fruit. Were he to just continue walking in the direction he was going, he would have found fruit. But beyond that, at that point in time, he was a couple blocks away from a whole-ass grocery store/market that for sure had a bunch of fruit and vegetables. That "Chicagoans don't have time for fruit" garbage had to just be some straight-up touristy garbage she was spouting. When I worked in downtown Chicago, I would have a piece or two of fruit for breakfast damn near every day. Hell, in the process of getting that shot mentioned above, he walked passed a restaurant that focuses on healthy stuff - and absolutely sold fruit (either whole, or in the form of a smoothie)

[@Patrick-qed]

@@slavkovalsky1671 Writing from Chicago here. Yes, absolutely, it is easy to find whole fruits just by walking into a Walgreens or a Target. The Starbucks near my home (in Lakeview) and work (downtown in the Loop) have fruit. And you certainly don't need to go to the outskirts of the city to find a grocery store. I can walk 5 or 10 minutes from home to Mariano's, Jewel, or Whole Food. Food deserts are a real thing in parts of Chicago (and across the U.S.), and need to be remedied, but Wicker Park and downtown are not food deserts. That said, I'm happy Evan got to experience our absolutely beautiful architecture. The skyscraper was invented here, after all. Do not forget all the parks (which are everywhere) and the world-class museums. It truly is one of the most beautiful cities.

[@MaskedReviews]

I live in Minnesota and went to school in Michigan. I have never had to pay for a toll road. Toll roads are not the norm in the midwest.

[@sallyprzybil2404]

In Chicago area….yes!

[@tomfields3682]

Um, Tristate Tollway, Ohio Turnpike, Indiana Turnpike, Kansas Turnpike...?

[@emilyc9380]

I never take the skyway. He also says there’s no train. There’s 2 trains that can take you into the city. And plenty of free roads. This guys video is pretty stupid.

[@silverseen8300]

@@tomfields3682there’s like none in Minnesota.. I’ve never once seen one, I thought they were made up shit from the movies

[@MaskedReviews]

@@tomfields3682 toll roads are incredibly rare in the northern half of the Midwest. That means they are not the norm for the region as a whole. Yes, some areas have them (especially the southern states of the region), but it's not a Midwest thing like he suggested.

[@johnlabus7359]

At the same time that Evan is surprised to be called a European, he totally responds to the USA like a European.

[@colleenmarin8907]

Not European, just level headed and pragmatic - oh, wait, the average American is allergic to those things, aren't they?

[@andreacarreiro5436]

No, he responds as a reasonable person.

[@napoleonfeanor]

I'm European and we don't usually go this far. He sounds like an upper class green party voter. He's surprised there are massive election campaign bombardment just before an election.

[@InsoIence]

@@napoleonfeanor Yeah dude, that type of election campaign is unhealthy. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@pipercharms7374]

@@napoleonfeanorwhat European country do you come from? In the UK, all we get is sometimes a person at your door and some letters. I don’t see any many advertisements either unless I look for it. I have some American friends and they are talking about text and emails while they were away from the US. In the UK you barely get emails unless you signed up for something, no texts either, no poster boards, etc So to people who live in the UK, and used to our elections, US advertisement for their election WOULD feel like a bombardment and too much.

[@mads_as_a]

Being someone who was born and raised in the Midwest the quality of fruit is beholden to if it's in season. Not sure if this is different in big cities like Chicago, but in small towns this is the case. Say you wanted watermelon, but it's not in season. Any you find is going to either be old or really processed and not going to taste good. This is also why you can only find good sweet corn in mid to late summer cause that's when all the farmers harvest theirs.

[@lilaculots]

Yup. It's farm country here, so you can get good quality produce if you know where to look. Obviously farmers markets, but stores like Berkots or Woodmans too

[@rinatail7248]

I used to live in Detroit and until AFTER I left, you couldn't get fresh fruit outside of a farmers market. I mean, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and supermarkets sold fruit, but it wasn't local or in season. NOW they sell that stuff, but not when I lived there. You had to drive out to the suburbs or small towns when there wasn't a farmers market going on. Well, some very small businesses sold fresh, in-season fruits if the owner had connections.

[@mads_as_a]

@rinatail7248 oh okay. I've only ever lived in small towns where it was easy to get fresh produce locally. Even in the slightly bigger towns produce was easy to find. Could also be cause I'm from Iowa so it's mostly farm land here lol.

[@tammycenter8757]

Exactly right. This is how most places do it. Hell I lived in Arizona for 3 years and never found a plum anywhere at any store. I finally asked grocers if they carried plums and they didn't even know what a plum was. I was in Pennsylvania and there were quite a few items I could not find there even when it was in season. I lived in Chicago for a year and had no problem at all finding fruit. This is why I can't stand Americans who move to Europe and then act like they are more enlightened than everyone else. Yeah right. I have spent a lot of time in Europe and I can tell you that America has so much more in our stores then I ever saw in any store in Europe. That includes fruits and veggies. Hell just take a look at all of the videos of Europeans shopping in stores in America when they visit here. They freak out and do not know what to think about how they can find everything in one store and they especially are impressed at how we have more fruits and veggies than they do back in their European countries.

[@travcollier]

​​@@tammycenter8757He repeatedly mentioned that he knew the big grocery stores in the suburbs had fruit and veg. And I'm sure Evan knows what towns and local farms are like.. NJ is nicknamed "The Garden State" for a reason. He was talking about how crazy it is that in the middle of Chicago he couldn't find fresh fruits. It's a giant city. In most European cities, small shops will often have some decent fruit and veg, though not a huge variety of course.

[@robertodriscoll7686]

Wicker Park resident here, love you buddy but as a fierce Chicagoan and let me see if i can help at least through the first few minutes: - You went to Dove's, a luncheonette. It says "luncheonette" on the side by the door. Luncheonettes are not terribly common, and you'd really only find them in a sort of "yuppy" type neighborhood like wicker (I'm assuming you were staying at the Wicker Park Inn, the neighborhood hostile and basically feet away from Dove's). Anyway, just like the name says, it's a place meant for lunch. They basically only do lunch, that's their thing. They don't get asked about fruit much because not many people go around asking for fruit at lunch time. The other places you showed, one was a coffee and donut place (forget the name) next to Dove's and the station, but again, they wouldn't have fruit, because they sell coffee and donuts. - Wicker isn't really the right neighborhood I guess. A breakfast neighborhood? Like Cow Hollow, In San Francisco back where I'm from. It's not that. It's a nighlife spot, for sure, but there's not much going on there during the day. People usually are jamming down the sidewalks at 60mph to damen station (the train station you went to, across the street from Dove's), trying to ge to the loop or wherever to work, they aren't worried about eating as much. There's almost nothing even open in WP or bucktown until like 11 at the earliest. People come here for the bars mostly, and all the gd thrift shops (there's like 7 up milwaukee alone, its nuts), not to mention the sheer density of bougie little restaurants (like Doves). The kinds of places that have very specific, special menus and are like open 6 hours a day, but none of that is fruit. Speaking of bougie, I wish I'd been out that day and ran into you man, I'd have saved you time and directed you to: - The Kanela Goddamn(citation) Breakfast Club just minutes up the street. You were like 5 minutes from fruit man. seasonal fruit cup, 5.99. Im kinda shocked the person at Dove's didn't tell you about it, everyone adores that place. Also, if you keep going just a few more minutes, you get to jewel, bountiful with fruit. Which brings me to th last: - In the midwest, grocery stores fruit you. At least in Chicago. You won't find fruit in bodegas, which is mostly the other option at 8 am. We're no different than NYC in that way, another place you hear this complaint. Growing up in SF, I wasn't able to get fruit really anywhere in little mom and pops, either. I think thats most old cities? I don't know, I've lived all over, I've heard this complaint pretty much in every major urban area. At least for Chicago, most of us get our fruit at the common grocery store and then keep it in our fridges.

[@evan]

Still one of the best American cities I’ve visited :)

[@bellablondie712]

Another Wicker Park resident here! That was a perfect response! ☺️

[@that_plant_guy]

Y'all don't eat fruit at lunchtime??? I typically eat fruit with breakfast, lunch, and probably a snack throughout my day, but I'm from Michigan.

[@williamconrad1087]

Random thoughts on a crazy video complaining about a fruit deprivation. Robert, the four of us read your explanation of Chicago fruit availability and it was spot on, I grew up in the north suburbs. I’m questioning our sanity when we devote so much time to commenting on the trivial matters of KZbinrs complaints. I’m only halfway through his video and I’m experiencing schadenfreude over his fruit problem. Also, wife and I will be visiting Sanfrancisco after Valentine’s Day. Not sure what to expect because I haven’t been there since Reagan was president.

[@zaffora]

@7:20 That woman was being "Midwest nice". It's like when you go to the South and someone says, "Oh, bless your heart." Both those things are a backhanded way of saying, "f**k you"

[@sharonchorba6995]

Maybe people are just being nice. I try to be nice to people. I'm not trying to say "F U"

[@danbear5254]

I’m nice, I also say FU though.

[@broncobra]

Lived in Houston 12 years. The words you speak are true? lol.

[@thisisdumbwhatthe]

Lots of Midwestern "nice" is just BS facade. Grew up there, people will be super nice to your face, but gossip and talk shit behind your back, and plenty that would screw over their neighbor if it benefits them. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of legit nice people, but it really is just the same as everywhere else. Only they demand a veneer of politeness so they can keep thinking they're better than other people (which they are quite vocal about their way of life being better). I don't even think the veneer of nicety is unique, as I've seen roughly same levels of all of it living in one of the largest US cities for almost a decade. Most people will be polite to your face (I constantly get "how are you?" greetings from people just passing by in a major city), but they're shades of gray once you get to know them.

[@ticklezcat5191]

'Midwest nice" isn't always a backhanded thing, it's largely dialect, it's physically hard for a midwesterner to give a straight "no", we always need to give a reason why we can't instead.

[@fulicious2991]

It's really funny to see an American turned European getting reverse culture shock from America LOL

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

It’s not the first time he’s experienced that.

[@TesterAnimal1]

It’s a whole genre on KZbin.

[@fulicious2991]

@@phoenix-xu9xj That is true, but it's extra potent this time around

[@shinnam]

American, lived in S.Korea for 10 years, Sweden 16, now back in Korea. I have All kinds of culture shocks.

[@minxxoxo]

You don’t even have to leave America 😂 going to different regions inside this large country is enough!

[@jijitters]

Evan, you might like Minneapolis. No tolls, access to farmer's markets, actually kind people (most of the time), Culver's and Caribou (far superior to Sbucks or Dunkin), the best airport in all of North America, reasonably walkable, beautiful parks and skylines and art and architecture, the artistic and business relevance akin to a mini NYC. In terms of both cultural norms and weather we're closer to Nordic countries than any other place in the US, and we do indeed brag about it.

[@seameology]

At one point it had the nickname Miniapple.

[@firebros03]

Or even Wisconsin

[@noname6389]

I miss Culver's 😅 very good quality for a fast food chain.

[@iza729]

I live in Chicago, there's at least 8 stores within walking distance from my house where i can buy fruit

[@criticaloptimist]

@@andy2641yeah man, fruit cups at restaurants are usually not that great anyway. You’re way better off grabbing one at a grocery store.

[@BettyBoop111]

@@andy2641 I found exactly the same problem as Evan, the first time I visited the US. San Francisco had no fruit! I tried grocery stores, I asked everywhere, eventually, I found a liquor store with 6 mandarins, at ten times normal price. I bought them all. I was told there was no fruit in the grocery stores because big companies buy all from the farmer for frozen or tinned juice. I had no car, so driving around looking for a farmers market was not an option. I did not want to drive on the wrong side of the road!

[@myra0224]

​@@andy2641In the UK they are sold at those places. It's also accessibility. There's always a little spot for fresh fruit or fruit cups that are actually great-tasting (and I'm not from the UK)

[@skillcoiler]

@@andy2641 Well and I just made this comment but at 2 minutes in he is literally one store front front from a 7/11 that has fruit and vegetables.

[@evan]

@@andy2641comparing easily consumable fruit with unprepared raw ground beef is the most American response to this situation possible

[@PocketfullofSpanish1]

I’m a Caribbean boy living in Chicago and I was shocked when I realized that I had to go to Mexican stores to get good veggies 🥗 ; P.S you are not alone.

[@paulthomas8262]

Do they not have any Caribbean grocers in Chi Town? This is inconceivable in London when I used to live. In my local area there was 1 Jamaican bakery, 1, Jamaican takeout, and several Caribbean stall in the market, granted the the African and Asian grocers catered for a lot of the same stuff because they will sell to multiple communities. This wasn't even Brixton/Stockwell/Norwood but Tooting which is more South Asian.

[@murlthomas2243]

Or Asian.

[@TheFrugalMombot]

As an ex Chicagoan BS. Absolute BS. To both of you.

[@paulthomas8262]

@@TheFrugalMombot tell them where to go instead of getting mad.

[@Anon54387]

It isn't only Mexican stores where they have good veggies. Sorry, you are full of frijoles.

[@amandajo340]

I’m from Illinois, near Chicago and I definitely noticed a difference after moving. The culture is very nice 😊

[@unicorn12345]

I’m a little surprised he had such a tough time finding fruit in Chicago. Most convenience stores have some sort of fruit, and any hotel continental breakfast will have it.

[@peacefulminimalist2028]

Because a continental breakfast is a European breakfast as it refers to the continent of Europe and we usually have fruits, yoghurt, musli etc for breakfast. Maybe he thought a breakfast place would have it too.

[@ceothawne]

Yeah I would think that convenience store like here would definitely have some fruit available and there would be loads in the city itself

[@Noodle797]

They do. This guy just conversed with dopes, or he wasn't looking in the right place. He's bitching about every pastry shop not selling fruit, but to me that's on par with going to a fruit stand and asking for fresh baked bread. Maybe that's common in Europe, but it's not here. Any corner shop where you can buy a newspaper, cigarettes, lotto scratcher, etc. will also sell fruit. I honestly couldn't even finish this video, this guy's voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard, and all he does is complain. Oh, he also said we're nice. What a backhanded compliment after all the other bitching about our crappy transit & lack of fruit.

[@katiewyatt4399]

@@Noodle797 Do you rub one off while looking at an American flag? Calm down, people can dislike some things about the US. It won't kill you. Stop being so sensitive.

[@AM-dz2sh]

@@Noodle797 He is American, why can he not comment on what he noticed. I find it weird how defensive everyone is being. Drinking the cool aid?

[@dziooooo]

8:11 Americans "oh, how convenient, I don't even have to get out of my car!" Europeans "oh, how inconvenient, I have to actually DRIVE somewhere?"

[@L4NC3_L0T]

This gets ironic the very second americans complain about gas prices. ;) ...or buy the biggest gas eating trucks and THEN complain about how much they pay at their gas station.

[@sdonoho]

The people who buy the big trucks either use them for work or are morons lol ​@@L4NC3_L0T

[@Spudz76]

I would use trains if I could drive my car onto it like a land ferry.

[@dziooooo]

@@Spudz76 that misses the point of both trains AND cars. Impressive.

[@tomfields3682]

Yes, I absolutely MUST bring my "vehicle" to work with me!😅 ​@@Spudz76

[@melodieokoye]

Omg i lmao the entire video. Also from nj, currently living in the Midwest, I can totally relate to all of this. I love your content. Keep making great videos!

[@GHar94]

“I don’t know how you guys put up with it” “I’m not paying for smiles” Yep, Evan, you’re European now.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

He's got a point though. Why are US Americans putting up with this?

[@sheep4483]

I'm pretty sure like every american is saying this, the difference is how much empathy they give to the employees when they say it

[@pjl22222]

It's a lot easier to hit the "no tip" button if you use your righteous indignation at their sense of entitlement to help you push the button.

[@GHar94]

You people are taking this way too seriously lol

[@pjl22222]

We're just tired of being expected to tip people who are already being paid to do their job. You tip wait staff because they aren't getting paid to do their job and you're expected to instead.

[@vvsuschevskiy]

As a part-time Chicagoan, i am confused as to why you were looking for some fruit in a donut shop and completely ignored grocery stores. It is like going to an Mr.Beef and asking for a vegan sandwich. Dude!

[@excessivemalarkey]

Yeah, if you can't find groceries or vegan places in Wicker Park, extra googling might be required.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

The issue is that in any UK city or town, fresh fruit is readily available from anywhere that sells foods (even McDonalds) and because of that, there is no need to get your phone and search for places that do have fruit. It's an obvious shortcoming of the US markets.

[@lVlegabyte]

@@Thurgosh_OGbuying fruit at a restaurant sounds very weird. Unless it’s prepared like grilled pineapple or something. I’m not paying a markup for the same thing I could get cheaper with a better variety at a grocery store. 10 miles is completely fine because of the best invention man has created - the automobile! But I’m in Texas, so if I want super cheap and delicious fruit there’s always a Mexican selling some out of his truck.

[@catsy-Demeter]

@@lVlegabyte a banana from a local supermarket or fast food breakfast option is hardly 'marked up' as people wouldn't pay for it because they could get it literally anywhere else. The guy only wanted one piece of fruit! He wasn't trying to buy in bulk at wholesale prices!

[@catsy-Demeter]

He was looking in a doughnut shop because, if you watch and listen; he said someone who he asked told him to try in there. For instance, if I went to McDonald's now for breakfast I can buy porridge (oatmeal) and probably some fresh fruit (I wouldn't because I could have that at home, really cheap £1 for a huge bag of oats. But I would love a breakfast wrap and hash brown! 😋)

[@wendymiller9284]

Wisconsinite here- summer is where its at for any kind of fresh organic farm grown food! Farmers markets are everywhere - and fresh stuss is available all over. Even many convenience stores have locally grown fresh produce, cheese , coffee from WI - come on by in the summertime!!

[@wendymiller9284]

And Culvers - from Wisconsin!!

[@mzaliwa]

Apropos tips. I have had this experience at least three times recently in different English restaurants. They all had credit card machines to allow customers to pay with plastic. Each time the staff member offered the machine and either hit the no tip option them self before proffering the machine or they just said "You just have to hit the No tip button before waving your card."

[@Hathsh]

If it's not a tip, it's asking for a donation to one charity or another Including at supermarkets and other shops not just restaurants

[@better.better]

more so as the holidays approach

[@sabrinabrandenburg7370]

It's annoying. One employee once explained that that's just how the credit card readers work & it's okay to hit the "no tip" button, but I recently encountered a similar circumstance to you story about buying a water (I collected my goods & went to check out) where there wasn't even a "no tip" button. You had 2 % options or a custom. I hit "custom" an typed 0.

[@aurora6920]

at least they said that not, "do you want to tip?" "you just have to hit tip" which is more awkward. It's hard to say no when someone directly asks so it's easier this way. But at least in the UK we don't have to tip as they get paid enough for their job where as I hear American's don't even get minimum wage at their service jobs so they need tips.

[@Kowzorz]

Its a knock-on effect from using shady big tech solutions to card processing who charge a percentage of money transferred. These tech companies are incentivised to raise the bill total in any way to raise their kiosk profits, with a dash of "you (the vendor) can justify lower wages because the cashier gets tips" subtext thrown in. Afaik, there typically are options to disable it, but thats a losing proposition as the vendor business, assuming the GManager/owner is even IT-competent enough to disable it.

[@mikearndt8210]

As a native Chicagoan, I think that it's important to say that the city is sometimes called "an architect's playground" because of how beautiful the skyline is. I'm not the biggest fan of a lot of American things, including cities, but I am so proud to live so close to what I think is the greatest city in the US.

[@evan]

It was so pretty

[@_NoDrinkTheBleach]

Chicago is such a rare gem of more or less the entire middle of the country. There are so many beautiful places to take stunning photos of the skyline. Doesn't matter if you're taking a shot of a tower from a street corner, or the entire loop from a pier or boat. It's just amazing. Unfortunately, most midwesterners act like Chicago is some sort of blight on the entire country, and not a special place that should be seen by everyone at some point in their life.

[@jennievrchota2284]

For the tip thing, it is just something thats built into the computer systems at any returant/coffee place. I dont feel uncomfortable saying no to tipping in places unless its an actually sit down restaurant or if im getting multiple drinks at a coffee shop. Same with the donating a dollar/rounding up to nearest dollar thing, i always say no.

[@cellofellow5115]

I know a lot of people do it anyways, but I don't think most employees actually expect tips at these kiosks. Starbucks must do it intentionally though, its annoying and uncomfortable to pay for everyone involved 😅

[@rogerk6180]

Still exhausting if everyone is constantly begging you for money.

[@jijitters]

@@rogerk6180 But they're not. The employees hardly notice the computer tipping requests, it's just part of the credit card transaction.

[@Bigdog5400]

I was staying in Chicago last month and my hotel had a Trader Joe's right across the street, so I would pop in there and pick up something for breakfast instead of paying $30 for overpriced eggs. I think the issue might've been where you were looking in Chicago, not necessarily a problem with the city as a whole itself, but I understand the point you make. However as a native Northeastern OH/ Western PA native, I'm glad you enjoyed Pittsburgh and Akron as much as you did; they're definitely slept on cities.

[@evan]

I wish I’d spent more time in both! Particularly loved Pittsburgh. Such a lovely city

[@BEdwardStover]

The only tolls I am aware of in Michigan are for the Mackinaw Bridge, for every bridge or tunnel to Canada, and to tiny little Grosse Isle, which is $10, but that is just the bridge at the north tip of the island, there is another bridge several miles south that is free. Most people who live on Grosse Isle live north of the free bridge. I experienced a $20 toll in Toronto, for a road that was parallel to the free road. In San Francisco the bridge tolls all go one way, so you pay for a round trip, and are automatic, you either get a free RFID tag for your car, or for rental cars they read the license plate and you get the extra bill added to you credit card 2 weeks later (it was $14 for SF airport to the upper bay area, then a trip to Muir Woods, and a return to the airport). If you live locally and do not have the RFID tag they read your plates, give you the normal charge plus an additional $5 fee for not using the free RFID tag all mailed to your home. If you do not pay, it is added, along with a fine, to your vehicle registration for the next year. My worst charge trip was in Chicago. I took a cab for 1/2 miles, maybe 10 minutes, in 1995 and I was charged $25. Insanely expensive for 1995, but it was a business trip and was a reimbursed expense. I have been told since that the driver was overcharging and taking advantage even though the charge showed up on the meter. I agree we have to pay people a living wage and eliminate tipping. I get tips now and they are extremely unreliable. Yesterday I made less than nothing when my costs were taken into account.

[@StarManta]

About niceness, I like this way of describing it: People in the midwest are nice, but not necessarily kind. (They're pleasant and polite, but don't often go out of their way to help you out) People in New York are kind, but not necessarily nice. (They'll help you carry your stroller down the stairs to the subway platform without question, but aren't likely to say a nice word to you while they do it)

[@DarthSoto78]

Exactly. I’m a Michigan fan that lives in Toledo Ohio. I have been told to f-off in the nicest way possible.

[@tapirsareunder-appreciated2272]

Definitely depends on where you are. In the big cities, that's fairly accurate. If you go to the rural parts or the deep midwest (Wisconsin, Dakotas, anywhere along the Canadian border), folks are SUPER excited to help you with anything. If anything, they're overly-friendly in a way that feels uncomfortable at times.

[@FizzBuzz-ce9wz]

I'll stay in Texas where most people I interact with are nice and kind. Actually, I'm moving to Honduras where the people are even nicer and more friendly unbelievably. I had two friends from Elroy, IL. and they were very wonderful people. I think it's more of a city thing in the USA.

[@Aydrenn]

I live in Wisconsin and this is easily not true. I have never been in trouble and not been met with kindness and a helping hand. I've been stuck in the ditch in the middle of the night in a snowstorm, and a complete stranger came, stopped, and helped me out. I've made an offhand comment to a customer at work about not being able t afford school supplies, and he left and came back to tip me $100. Kindness is in such abundance here.

[@smowka]

@@Aydrenn I was literally going to say what is this dude talking about… People from Chicago are their own breed of Midwest lmao Wisconsinites and Minnesotans are the originators of “Midwest nice”

[@kcp6030]

I lived mostly in the Chicago area until retirement. My first reaction is, "Why would you look for fresh fruit in a restaurant?" As others have pointed out, there are bodegas, convenience stores, etc all over Chicago.

[@PeterS-r4o]

Well - because it's a major food group . . .

[@myra0224]

Because if the US wants to become healthier, fruits and veg should be more accessible.

[@roadrunnercrazy]

Why would there not be fresh fruit in a restaurant? That is where one goes when they want to eat, is it not?

[@KellyS_77]

@@roadrunnercrazy Most people eat at home, or they bring food from home.

[@Grey-Honey-Badger]

@@roadrunnercrazy F*ck no. This is where you go to eat something that is different from normal. If you want some fruits and veggies, eat at home.

[@BEdwardStover]

The voter lady was telling you not to tell her to vote. She was NOT going to vote and probably has never voted. In US national elections, with the greatest turnout of any elections, we get about half the people who are eligible to vote voting. i don't mean registered.I mean eligible, they can get registered and vote - but they can't be bothered and get pissed off when people tell them they are the problem. Frankly their voting would be a mistake since they don't pay attention - to anything. People who are extremely gullible also should not vote since in the US you can legally lie in an election. Thus the gullible vote against their own best wishes and/or needs every time.

[@absentmindedjwc]

Speaking as a Chicagoan.. I routinely grabbed a quick breakfast of a banana or an apple or something on my way in to the office in Downtown Chicago. Like.. hell, at 1:59, were you to continue straight, just right passed that hotel entrance, there is a convenience store right there that 100% has some sort of fruit available for purchase. Were you to go back about a block to State Street and go north, just over the Chicago River is a small grocery store/market that has a bunch of different fruits and vegetables. Hell, depending on the time of year and the day of the week, were you to go back two blocks to Dearborn and go south a couple blocks to Washington, you may very well have seen one of Chicago's biggest farmers markets at Daley Plaza. The "Chicagoans don't have time for fruits" was probably just some touristy shit.

[@waltzingaranel]

@@srslyawkward3095 only half way thorough the video. He had a map of all the states he’s visited. He talked about driving through other states and stopping along the way. Do you need the time stamp. I think the map was near the beginning. Hello, I’m from Misery...Missouri. Sounds like a typical tourist complaints. Nothing over the top. Maybe I have a higher tolerance since I enjoy “roasts” and I think he’s funny.

[@ggjr61]

@@srslyawkward3095it does get old when American expats get on KZbin so they can trash the US. There’s an American woman in Germany who needs to give up her US citizenship and take German citizenship if they’ll let her. At least this guy will occasionally toss in something nice.

[@aurora6920]

@@srslyawkward3095 so American treats aren't "overly sweet" in comparison to UK? it's not meant to be hateful, just sharing opinions on food, we all have different tastes.

[@evan]

@@aurora6920 she’s just an American that hears any outside opinion that threatens her worldview and screams that it’s “hate” 😂 don’t worry

[@Flounðer]

@@evan This does not look very good on your part, completely generalizing people saying "Oh well she's just American" very rude to be saying that Evan. We're not all "just an American" as you so distastefully put it.

[@proudestmonkee07]

I'm really glad you did the architecture tour! As a local, it's something that I always try to take people to when they visit. I love it every time and always learn something new. The Architecture Foundation is the best one because the tour guides are all volunteer architecture nerds so they're not just reading off of a script, they give tons of fun stories and fun facts that they love. And bonus - they don't take tips since they are volunteer!

[@litsci1877]

Architecture tour is the bee's knees. 100% local-grown nerds.

[@dermusikman]

Chicagoan here: I find fruit in most 7/11s. And we have grocery stores all over the city. I know the Jewel in Wicker Park. We don’t have to leave town to go grocery shopping. I’ve got 5 grocers within a 20 minute walk of my apartment.

[@revivedprism4207]

Fun fact! Michigan only has one toll road entirely in the state (not counting the borders to Canada) on the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the 2 penninsulas.

[@KatjeKat86]

I would say it's not a toll road but a toll bridge.

[@Gomaberry]

Minnesota also doesn’t have toll roads! And I drove through MI and it was lovely! Just the one toll road.

[@BoraCM]

I saw you on an Elizabeth line train yesterday (when we got on at Paddington), on a day out with my friends from uni. I left you alone so as not to be a bother (you had earphones in so were probably listening to something). If you remember 4 uni students at all, one of them was me. Hello!

[@evan]

I was grinding through my Spanish on duo haha in a zone!

[@BoraCM]

@evan That's cool, we got off at Hanwell (lovely station) and also found ourselves on the Greenford branch line at some point (got off at Drayton Green, the least used station in London).

[@xDanKaix]

A lot of toll roads are privately owned so although they're annoying sometimes they also use the money to pay for roadwork because taxes won't pay for private property. Some other states use toll roads to pay for the work but have lower taxes as the payoff. It will vary from state to state but it isn't just for profit, obviously that's part of it though.

[@guywithinterwebs]

Any 7/11, quick trip, Walgreens... really any convenience store, corner/drug store, department store, grocery store (obviously) or medium sized gas station will have fruit. You will find fruit where people live, but it is certainly harder to find it where people work. I live downtown Minneapolis. You can get fruit within 5 blocks of any location. Maybe not sold specifically from a fruit vender unless you are near the farmers market, but so many places sell it.

[@kicknpost]

And the best part of the Toll you paid on the Chicago Skyway is that the money goes to an Australia company

[@evan]

WHAT

[@kkarllwt]

@@evan Chicago sold the skyway about 20 ? years ago.

[@CEverett9979]

@@evan You should take a gander at Climate Town's video - Chicago Doesn’t Own Its Own Streets. I only watched it because Matt Parker's Stand-up Maths did a collab with Rollie Williams. But I had previously heard about it from Steve Lehto, which just kicked my interest in it a notch. Crazy what happens you undermonitize something like parking meters and sell the rights to a corporation.

[@angrymads]

@@evanyep!! street parking also isn’t paid to the city. it’s a private company!

[@Dwarg91]

@@CEverett9979never expected to see another person who watches all those channels out in the wild, but here we are!

[@sarahferrell5458]

When my parents took us to northern Illinois in the mid-70’s to grow up, my mother’s reaction was that she LOVED the people, because they are hicks (not Chicago, but…lol). When I visited some years back, I remember meeting someone who was soooo nice, I felt bad for her. She was just super naive. An adult. I live in a small city in the south… it was a SHOCK talking to her. Like an alternative reality.

[@sarahferrell5458]

Why, you ask, Evan??? Lower taxes, fewer services. PERIOD. If I could defect to Europe, I would. Most of Illinois does not have toll roads. Chicago is way more expensive than the rest of the state.

[@skhootman]

Yep. As a Midwesterner, I can confirm. Nice tones. Full sarcasm underneath, at least when annoyed.

[@famitory]

it's even more intense in canada lmao folks will basically tell you in the most polite, sacharine tone that they think you deserve to die

[@wintersnowowen2254]

Not American but we visited Chicago last summer, we stayed opposite a Wholefoods downtown…we did our shopping in there, they had a tonne of fruit. And that woman’s reaction was strange.. America is your country!

[@valarya]

As an American, I can assure you that every single grocery store has fruit and vegetables lol. I don't know where else he expected to find them. 🤷‍♀

[@alwynemcintyre2184]

​@@valaryamaybe a store in downtown Chicago that sells fruit and vegetables

[@ggjr61]

@@alwynemcintyre2184he would have found them if he had gone to a grocery store downtown like the guy above did when he went to Whole Foods.

[@jonok42]

Yeah, I would say if you haven't lived in the US for twelve years, and you speak about the UK with more familiarity than you do the US, you probably don't belong here anymore. He should switch his citizenship.

[@utha2665]

@@valarya I think the point he was making was that most restaurants have fruit and vegetables on their menus, as a side order in the form of a salad, or pieces of fruit available to buy. He did say there was only one menu item with any vegetable and that was onion.

[@musicIistener]

Your point about the political advertising is something I agree with too. David Sirota has a podcast called Master Plan about exactly this issue-the slow legalization of corruption and the main battleground for the first act was campaign funding/pacs/corporate bribes. Very stomach churning stuff but important for all Americans to be aware of! Sadly, many are not.

[@brianmessenger]

To the person shocked that you were voting, maybe you should have said “no taxation without representation”

[@autohmae]

Very fitting for someone who has been in the UK for years. 🙂

[@91Muzzle]

@@autohmae He will still have to pay taxes in the US.

[@autohmae]

@@91Muzzle IF he wants to keep his passport and citizenship yes. That said, I meant it's funny because "no taxation without representation" is what the people in the current US said to the people in the UK, so it's perfect for someone currently living in the UK to say to people in the US. 🙂

[@91Muzzle]

@ fair enough :)

[@aidenharper6013]

Im not gunna say he DOESNT have the right to vote. However i do wonder about the logistics of someone living somewhere else for 12 years, then coming to vote while on vacation.

[@jinni0611]

Here in Michigan, I’ve seen fruit for sale in hotel lobby vending areas. You can also get an apple at Panera as that is an option with every meal (chips, apple, or baguette). And convenience stores as others have said. But you’re right, it should be more readily available

[@TracyII77]

Yes! Michigan is a fruit growing state. Illinois not so much. And if he comes to Detroit, he can take a walk or ride a bike up the Dequindre Cut from the Riverfront to Eastern Market, where one of the oldest farmer's markets in the US still operates.

[@dougstrother5184]

As a Michigander I’ve never had to pay a toll in my home state and I’m thankful for that

[@StephMcAlea]

To use a Star Trek analogy, America thinks it's the Federation but are actually the Ferengi.

[@alienwandering]

Since I can't like a comment more than once, I will comment to say, "Spot on!"

[@heinzerbrew]

The federation puts their military everywhere. they stick their noses into everyone's business. If you have an inferior society they ignore you and forbid others to visit and trade with you. Also if your society is too inferior they won't even help you if you have a natural disaster or plague. I think you are right, America is not the federation.

[@braemtes23]

Using your analogy, Europe IS the Borg.

[@tookitogo]

@@braemtes23 Uhhhh… no.

[@CyanideSunshines]

​@braemtes23 um no. That's Russia

[@susanhansell3435]

Evan, I live in Chicago and I eat fruit, I have no trouble finding it. Wicker Park should have had multiple bodegas, and/or grocery stores. In fact there is an Aldi in Wicker Park, perhaps you should have just asked for a grocery store. I think you're exaggerating the situation. And yes, it true, the fruits here are not the best, it's because they have to be shipped in from parts farther away.

[@myra0224]

From parts further away? Do you think the UK has the climate for all fruit and veg? Yet they are able to make pineapple taste good. So what's your actual excuse?

[@evan]

My goal was to find fruit along my journey. 10 minutes to the restaurant? Nothing. The restaurant? Nothing. The 20 minute walk in downtown? After help, a banana. I shouldn’t have to look up a place that sells fruit. That’s my point. I bet there were grocery stores somewhere. But nowhere along my walk was anywhere selling a fruit and the longer I walked without finding one the more funny and annoying it was

[@evelynwilson1566]

I thought from what he was saying that there were no such shops in the city centre😂. I wonder why he went to bakeries and restaurants- you wouldn't do that in UK either, you'd go to a greengrocer, mini market or supermarket. A quick Google maps search would find a food shop in a town you don't know. Most of our fruit needs to be imported but it's relatively cheap. Scotland is good for growing berries, so you can buy them close to the source but other fruits are usually imported. They're still fairly cheap ( although part of that is because supermarkets treat farmers pretty badly.

[@andyleighton3616]

@@evelynwilson1566 Although I would expect fruit in a sandwich shop or something similar - even if it doesn't have a great selection.

[@isaackellogg3493]

@@evanChicago had local fruit 200 years ago. Then the railroads came in and they outsourced their fruit to farther away. Then automobiles and trucks came in and they outsourced them even further away (trains are superior to trucks for cargo haulage, but they require way more infrastructure, and small cargo trucks can go on dirt roads or even off-road, which trains absolutely cannot). Chicago rebuilt itself for economic efficiency-it was far cheaper to buy fruit from out of state than to grow it locally, so they moved all the gardens and orchards farther away to make more room for factories and housing in town. They have fruit sellers in town, but local gardens or orchards have to be deliberately built (rather than organically occurring), and the cost of land there is way to high unless your apples are $200 apiece. But as others have pointed out, you were not only a block and a half away from a fruit sellers’, but had actually already passed one on your journey. So any response about “back home it’s different” just sounds like arse-covering at this point.

[@kpyrz]

In downtown Chicago, there is literally a 7-Eleven on almost every corner which usually has fruit, not to mention a gigantic Target in the Loop (which, determining your location from the video you took, was LITERALLY right where you were) with a huge produce section. I'm sure if I went to London and started just jumping in random stores asking for fruit, pretty sure I'd get the same results you did.

[@adammiller9029]

3:00 I live in chicago, you can get fruit from 7/11 or another convenience store. Cheaper dinners/fastfood probably don't sell fruit because its expensive and the people going there want something cheap... the average small as hell fruit salad (no, not a fruit cup, a fruit salad, with fresh fruit) anywhere in the greater chicagoland area is going to cost you like 4-5 dollars. In fact when its late at night and I want a fruit snack, I will order from 7/11, they have like cups of fresh grapes and such. You were just looking in the wrong places bub.

[@professoraviva4628]

So, FYI, you don't need to take the Skyway to get out of Chicago. Keep your navigation on, plan on taking 94 East. Only take the Skyway if 94 is seriously backed up. Often, taking 94 (no tolls) is quicker than the Skyway anyway.

[@AngryPacifist-kd6md]

This is so funny. You have turned native (British). Like ‘Dances with Wolves’. You didn’t even notice.

[@montyollie]

I, a Canadian, have road tripped through 49 states! It's my thang, your National Forests and National Parks and seashores take my breath away. I will say, having driven hundred of thousands of KM in both Canada and the US... the worst is ... drum roll please. Toronto at rush hour. Even the DC Beltway and LA and Chicago and NYC don't compare. The scariest experience of my life... the Jersey Turnpike. My god. I thought I'd crapped my pants. Two cars drag racing and criss crossing in front of me an others.

[@auntlynnie]

Do yourself a favor: if you haven’t experienced the Long Island Expressway at rush hour, DON’T.

[@kathinka123123]

I promise we have fruit in Chicago 😂 the problem is that you were in the Loop area, a part of downtown that is dedicated to work, some entertainment & restaurants and non-food shopping. The best you can get in that area are some bananas/apples/oranges in a 7-11 or a Sbux. If you were to go more north up the Michigan ave, you’d hit more residential areas with Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. The more out of the downtown area you go, the more grocery stores you’ll get and there’s a ton of ethnic food stores with the most obscure type of fruits and vegetables. As for great custards and ice cream - that’s all thanks to Wisconsin. It’s the world of dairy and there’s a reason why it’s ‘the cheese capital.’ And you’ve experienced the ‘Midwestern nice’ in MI. People are very nice, but also very passive aggressive because they avoid direct confrontation as much as possible. It’s a huge difference from a lot of the cultures in Europe. I grew up in one of the countries in Central Europe and this passive aggressive stuff is something that bothers me still. But after 20 years of living in Chicago, it’s just something I got used to.

[@sassenachdragon]

Aren’t there any Jewel-Oscos close to downtown?

[@elizabethb.1346]

Next time you come to the midwest, come to Minnesota! :) We still have the passive Aggression, horrible billboards, and terrible public transit.... BUT I've never struggled to find fruit here! Gas stations, cafe's, chain coffee shopt, grocery stores, convenience stores, malls, fast food places, all have fruit. basically all year round. And there's almost no toll roads at all. I'm not saying we're the best mid-west state, but I'm definitely saying we're the best mid-west state. 😁

[@ziyadow12]

The cozy lighting is chefs kiss, please make more videos like this

[@evan]

Ah thanks! I was unsure people would like it as it’s dark but it’s just my living room’s natural state

[@nightsazrael]

I didn't realise New Jersey was in Europe. You learn something new every day. 😹😹😹😹😹😹

[@sams797]

My unnecessary take on the fruit thing: As someone from the east coast that has worked in retail/fast food spots here. People typically aren't willing to buy fruit from these places because who wants to spend a dollar for a subpar banana when the local grocery store has a better on for 30 cents, y'know? The places that used to have fresh fruit either stopped carrying them or ridiculously lowered the quantity on hand so that only 3 people could get some that day which is honestly about the number of people willing to spend the money on them anyway.

[@jijitters]

Exactly. I rarely eat fruit at all tbh, but if I do, it'll be fresh from a grocery store or farmer's market, not something that's been sitting out in some random shop.

[@colleenmarin8907]

THIS is why Chicago hotdogs have tomato on them - it's the only time they can get their fruits and veggies!!

[@emjayay]

Tomatoes: a vegetable that is a fruit. Covers both bases.

[@evan]

The hot dogs WERE great tho

[@Spudz76]

@@evan The secret is, celery salt.

[@svenstubes]

A new jersey person talking about PA drivers is HILARIOUS. Sincerely, Philly.

[@edoardobarbieri9968]

The foliage in North America looks incredible ngl but Evan, you HAVE TO come to Scotland next autumn! The foliage here on the west coast is lovely, I was driving around the Trossachs with my da last month and we were both stunned

[@huwfylt]

I'm from New England, one of the parts of the US renowned for its foliage, and living in Scotland now, and I agree. The foliage here is beautiful.

[@catshousekeeper2004]

Also Perthshire in Scotland in Autumn is beautiful

[@MeFreeBee]

In 1997 I spent 6 weeks in a very smart hotel in Chicago's Loop. After 6pm you would be hard pressed to find any food of any description. Even McDonalds closed when the office workers went home. To add insult to injury my room's window gave a fantastic view of the statue of Ceres, goddess of agriculture, on top of the Board Of Trade across the street.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Parts of London around the financial district close at the weekends. Saturday morning went for a Starbucks was closed.

[@brennadryl]

“It’s almost like an art gallery - for buildings”. Alright I’m sold, catch me in Chicago in the new year

[@davidburrow5895]

You can find fruit in any Walgreens or 7-Eleven, both of which are everywhere in Chicago. Downtown you could also go to the Target on State Street. There are also many major supermarkets and also Aldis in several neighborhoods close to downtown.

[@essaboselin5252]

I know, right? He didn't find any fruit because he deliberately looked in places that wouldn't carry it.

[@DavidJrReeves]

Plenty of neighborhoods in Chicago also have what I would call a NYC style bodega which is basically a large convenience store with produce and a small hot food and/or deli selection

[@lindasweeney969]

I don’t think he deliberately looked in the wrong places. He just expected to find it everywhere and that is not always the case. You have to know where to look and that usually means local knowledge. But a local should still have been able to point him in the right direction. He just asked the wrong person or she was annoyed at being asked😂

[@ib9rt]

@@lindasweeney969 In Britain, anywhere you go to get breakfast or lunch, where they sell sandwiches and stuff, there will be fruit items available. A standard lunch would be sandwich, fruit, and a drink. I think Evan was pointing out the missing fruit part of this combination. You can, of course, find fruit in grocery stores, but that is more for home shopping, less for eating on the move. (But every British grocery chain also has a sandwich section with sandwiches, fruit options, and drinks. Often with a good value "meal deal".)

[@martalli]

@@ib9rt You can find this in a lot of grocery stores, at least in the Midwest. Dierbergs, Hy-Vee, and even Wal-Mart have grab-and-go freshly made food. Hy-Vee often has a fully functional deli.

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

Michigan is where I am from. We don’t have tolls because we want tourists to come into our peninsula and they have to go out of their way to do so.

[@auberjean6873]

@ColorJoyLynnH Clever!

[@Jess140594]

Im a Brit that doesnt mind tipping if the server has earned it, ill also tip my hairdresser. One time that i was very bothered, though, was when a waitress didn't inform me that the tip was automatically added to our bill - she didnt ask us first if we wanted it added, as she should have. Straight away, when we saw, we requested it be removed. Had she asked us if we wanted the tip added to the bill, we'd have tipped her but she did it sneakily so she got no tip from our table. Manager was great about it and said she should have asked us if we wanted it added.

[@jwems]

Few people LIVE downtown. A lot that do have shopping services that deliver their fresh veg/fruit.

[@StormCrow42]

Getting asked to tip at counter service restaurants annoys me. I'll tip a barista for making something that takes a few minutes, but I'm not tipping you for handing me my food and making me go across the store to the soda fountain. What I really hate is all the charity begging that shops do though. If they want to donate to a charity, well they've just taken my money and can use some of it.

[@HeyHeyItsAlex]

Chicagoan here. There’s a little market that sells fruit across the street and 2 plant-based restaurants within one block from Dove’s lol.

[@jahanas22]

I'm really curious as to where he is looking. I live in Chicago and would have no problem finding places with fruit. Is New Jersey that much different?

[@HoneyWaterRain]

I thought I kind of wanted to leave the US but now I know I NEED to leave the US. Thanks Evan!

[@mfratus2001]

Where do you find fruit where you are from? The library? Go to a grocery store.

[@petretepner8027]

I could pick a banana off a tree as I walk by, though it might be a little too green for immediate consumption.

[@BenjaminKlahn]

@1:30 Uh... why are you going to a restaurant and not a grocery store? This sounds like a skill issue on your part my dude.

[@evan]

Silly of me to think a restaurant would offer foods within 2 of the 5 food groups

[@rm-mq3on]

@@evanmost would just get fruit at a local grocer.😊

[@PandorasFolly]

​@@rm-mq3on in the US cvs/walgreens/Duane reeder, convenience stores, and gas stations will usually have some kind of healthy snacks section even if it's just fruit cups and adult Lunchables.

[@rinatail7248]

​@@evanfruit are an unprocessed food product. Restaurants are where people go to eat food PREPARED by others. Even a salad is prepared for you at a restaurant. What would they do at a restaurant, peel your orange for you?

[@aurora6920]

@@rm-mq3on you should be able to get fruit from a restaurant/cafe, how unhealthy, especially for kids.

[@aprilkurtz1589]

Evan, I lived in Chicago for thirty years, and there were plenty of places to buy fruit! I could not deal with no fruit for that long!

[@chasingparkedcars]

Chicagoan here. If you typed grocery store into your maps you would have found two in walking distance from Wicker Park and four in three directions from downtown/Loop (5-10 minutes walk). Fruit is better at Mariano’s but more affordable at Jewel.

[@vera599]

Australia invented the flat white - it's a latte with not much foam... It's flat.... And white. You can order it any size you want. The UK only seems to give you a tiny cup of strong coffee. I was recently in the UK (first time in 4 years or so). I was a bit surprised to ask for a medium flat white in the UK and to find out it only comes in one size. I think I prefer the Australian take.

[@evan]

New Zealand has entered the chat

[@LiqdPT]

​​@@evanafaik, the flat white isn't really a thing in the US (I mean, you can probably get it I guess, but I've never heard anybody order one or actually noticed it on a menu). I'm in Seattle, so you'd think... The only time I've ever heard the term is from UK KZbinrs (sorry Australia, follow more people from the UK than Aus, but I see you and your flat whites) Edit: just checked the Starbucks app for reference. Yup, it's there. But again, not a thing I've heard people ordering or that I've noticed on coffee stand (which are plentiful around here) menus

[@dh10b90]

It is def a thing at 3rd wave coffee shops in my area of the US. Most of them make a "8 oz capuccino" the same way as an 8 oz flat white even though they're supposed to be different

[@LiqdPT]

@@dh10b90 I don't doubt it exists some places . AFAIK, it just doesn't seem to be the thing a lot of people order like in the UK.

[@kathrynstemler6331]

During my mid-west road trip I got all my coffee from Love’s because they let me sleep in their parking lot. They’d often have these power-up shots next to the creamers which made it better.

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

I live in Lansing Michigan (the state shaped like a Mitten, nestled in the Great Lakes). It’s about 3 1/2 to 4 hours to drive west to Chicago. It’s about two hours or so east to get to Toledo. If I want to take a train to Toledo, I have to take a train from East Lansing to Battle Creek to Chicago, then change trains and then go back (past the entire width of lower Michigan) to Toledo. For the record, Michigan is known for building automobiles. We culturally believe everyone should have their very own automobile. I have a friend who has a husband and two children and they had four cars in their driveway. This is not uncommon in a town with several Automobile factories (and buses that only go in downtown areas).

[@amandaski]

I find it so ironic that Michigan is both the car capital of the US and simultaneously has the only city in the US where cars are banned. 😂

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

@@amandaski excellent point.

[@skillcoiler]

@@amandaski Also Michigan has the worst roads in the US.....

[@amandaski]

@@skillcoiler That's actually Hawaii, followed closely by Rhode Island, and then several others before Michigan is even in the running. That comes directly from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

[@BellaBellaElla]

I am so confused that this is how the video started.. I can name SOOO many places in wicker Park and downtown to get fruit... This was wild jajaja

[@stellaz2595]

I just googled 'grocery store in Chicago downtown'. Yelp listed 10 in the downtown area. Maybe you should have used your phone to search for one of them.

[@evan]

You should not have to SEARCH for fruit. That’s the point. It should just be available all around. That’s the key difference

[@better.better]

I mean surely every diner and coffee shop has fruit options, right?

[@captaincookie72]

@@evan unfortunately unless its roadside you basically have to use google maps to find anything in the midwest as they like to hide things if its not owned by a billion $ giga corp which are always on main roads to be in view of everything

[@allywallydd]

@@better.better That's adorable. No, not even a little bit lol. It's becoming better around the country, plenty of newer shops are more health and eco-conscious. But especially older chains or places, not likely. Grocery stores are for fruit, donut shops are for donuts, coffee shops for coffee (and usually sweets/cakes), and so on. Random fruit or fruit cups are really not commonplace "everywhere".

[@martalli]

@@evan Are you sure? It is for sure how I would find the closest grocery store, pharmacy, etc. in an unfamiliar place.

[@nekoti.8-2]

Just because you didn't find fruit in the downtown area doesn't mean it's not there. I did a quick search and found quite a few markets that have fruit. Hotels and some vegan restaurants usually have a fruit dish. Also, there are drive thrus in the UK. Maybe not where you live. But they're there. Tipping is out of hand here. Just don't tip when no service is actually given. Case closed.

[@rinatail7248]

You laid it out perfectly!

[@WhatDayIsItTrumpDay]

Evans, did you ever think of going to an ACTUAL GROCERY STORE? The Fresh Produce Section is literally right there when you walk in the place.

[@mikesveganlife4359]

Hmm, always can find some bannana's and citrus at larger chain gas stations around the midwest it seems. Either Speedway or KwikTrip always seems to have some fruit around, and veggie cups in the fridge.

[@rodney-m7g]

Americans don't go to restaurants for fruit . They buy fruit at grocery stores or fruit markets and eat it at home . We always have several different types of fruit in our fruit bowl at home which vary by season . When I grew up in Alabama , we never had any candy in the house , but during season there was always a bushel basket of peaches , apples , oranges , plums, or pears in the kitchen for a quick snack .

[@ianb5949]

My first view of Chicago in 1975, was at two in the morning, as we were finishing a yacht delivery from the Caribbean. I was fabulously surprised, as I had no idea how beautiful the city could be. My presumption was that it would be like a 1920's black and white replica of the time of Al Capone and co. Now, I would recommend anyone to visit there.

[@creaturesfromelsewhere203]

Experiment suggestion: open a small fruit stand, with quality fruit & good selection, in downtown Chicago & see if anyone buys any fruit.

[@coolnatkat]

We won't because we know where the fruit is. It's not in the donut shop

[@wiiztec]

no, see if anyone asks for a donut

[@BEdwardStover]

I finally figured out you were talking about convenience stores (here in Metro Detroit they used to be commonly called party stores - not so much anymore since there now exist party stores, that is stores with supplies for parties, decorations primarily, whereas 40 to 70 years ago chips, beer and pop were all that was needed for a party, which modern party stores do not have, btw pop may be called soda many places in the US Coke in the south but carbonated beverages the rest of the world over). Here in Metro Detroit we still have a super large grocery store near downtown where on weekends are also a very large farmers market - called Eastern Market, and regular grocery stores throughout the city. However convenience store sell no fresh fruit or vegetable because they do not sell enough of these items. They rot. Which means they cost money instead of make money so no convenience store will sell them. You can find, in the larger convenience stores (those not part of a gasoline station) apple sauce, fruit cups and lots of stuff with some food swimming in so much preservatives as to no longer resemble food. Sorry I took a shortcut and called fruits and vegetables food. As far as that goes, raw meat is also not available for the same reason. Basically convenience stores have some milk, a few other dairy items and everything that will be exactly as edible a year from now, even if they have sell by dates that suggest they do not last that long. Pretty sure a Slim Jim will last 40 years (in case you do not know a Slim Jim is a plastic encased fatty meat item that has more salt than meat, thus lengthy shelf life and horrible flavor favored primarily by people too drunk to taste regular food).

[@smolkatie]

Wisconsinite here. 1. Passive aggressive pizza lady is typical in the Midwest but more common in the smaller big cities (Milwaukee, Detroit, etc.) from my experience 2. I have not had those tip interactions in drive thrus absolutely hate that but yes it’s annoying everywhere else (in person interactions) 3. Wisconsin also has no tolls 4. Political Billboards are ANNOYING. The ads seemed more constant and worse this year imo. Absolutely awful. Muted the tv or whatever bc of it. Local news channels seem to be less local news nowadays which is sad. 5. Kopps frozen custard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thank me later. You’re welcome.

[@Lollypop1226]

Haha, I thought my family members were the only people who muted the political ads. They were so obnoxious this year!

[@firebros03]

I don’t think the people showing the tip screen care if you hit no tip. It’s not their choice to show it, it’s only because of the stupid POS system that it has the option

[@travellinmark2745]

Did you not try 7-11 or mini-mart stores in downtown Chicago? I am sure hotels that have big breakfast buffets have fruit, I know there are plenty of food stores in all the suburban towns around Chicago. I suspect that in the more resident-dense parts of town, that you would also find fruit.

[@chaoskind9012]

Yes probably but in Europe it feels like every little store on every corner has fruit.

[@catherinehata2499]

Omg Evan I love you, you're hilarious - I feel the same about the new auto tipping ugh.

[@SilverSkyeStarlight]

We have so many great farmers markets and grocery stores in Chicago! I think that in general since things are more expensive nowadays (& businesses are more expensive to run), fruit can be an easy cut for money reasons. Nobody wants to spend money stocking up on fruit for their business when it will likely go bad and get thrown out in one day (when most people eat a banana at home or in a smoothie).

[@mrsawiggins]

If you think the nice top and hidden contempt are bad in the Midwest... you need to spend more time in the South. Bless their hearts, Midwesterners only brush the surface.

[@Connie-the-Gamer]

"Outside the city" IS readily available in the Midwest. If you're shopping for fruit, you're going to find it either at a farmer's market, an orchard, a local grocery store, or a general store/supercenter (walmart, target, meijers, costco, etc...). Also, please remember that Midwestern states are larger than Germany in size, so a 10 minute drive via car or taxi is considered really close by, by most people's standards here. ☺️

[@TheJustineCredible]

Unlike many Europeans, Midwestern US residents tend to shop once a week or less, sometimes once every two weeks. This means we plan out our shopping which includes fruit purchases. This means we buy our fruit in advance at a grocery store. Not at some convenience mart or restaurant. There are plenty of grocery stores INSIDE the city. I don't know where/what neighborhood you were staying in, but I think you're being fairly hyperbolic on this.

[@rinatail7248]

Even the convenience stores sell bananas, though? I don't know why he couldn't find any.

[@mariaroman8726]

There are certain restaurants downtown Chicago that have vegetarian, smoothie and gluten free options. If you searched on your phone to find such a thing it’s there.

[@HackerJack42]

Any 7/11 or convenience store near the downtown area typically has bananas or apples near the checkout. People tend to want something light on their way to work.

[@Tazallax]

I agree with your tipping diatribe, but companies do not get tax breaks for their customers donating money. That is very illegal for them to write off customer donations.

[@kimlange1902]

Yeah, I live in the city of Chicago - remember the city is a lot bigger than just downtown - and I live two blocks from one large grocery store and four blocks from another large grocery store. Plenty of good fruit and veg at both.