Picard’s Tea Order Makes No Sense

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by HugeLobes, Jun 20, 2021.

  1. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I never understood the objection to non-replicated food tasting better. Taste is a matter of, well, taste. Some things taste amazing to me than many regard as strange, i.e. I like teriyaki sauce on multiple food types, and pineapple on pizza. Whether real or imagined the replicator may simply not get some differences, or, more likely, it replicates the exact same pattern over and over again. While I like my chocolate to taste a certain way, my mom and my brother do not make chocolate ganache exactly the same. There are subtle differences in the taste can be detected. For some that difference makes little difference, similar to Captain Holt in Brooklyn 99 or Dozer in The Matrix. Nutritional value is all that matters.
     
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  2. Takeru

    Takeru Space Police Commodore

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    The problem with replicated food might be that it's exactly the same every time, with real food there are differences even if you follow the same recipe, fruits and vegetables don't always taste identical, maybe you use a little bit more salt one week or the texture changes slightly because it's cooked slightly longer or shorter.

    When a dish tastes exactly the same every time (because it is the same down to the last molecule) it will probably get boring after some time and replicated food gets the "meh" label.
     
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  3. Swedish Borg

    Swedish Borg Commodore Captain

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    actually, you could likely randomize some variations in the texture as well as the taste to make it seem completely real, it's easy enough to do now, let alone in the future. Just as Picard can't tell the difference between a holodeck program and reality he would probably not be able to tell the difference between replicated stuff and the real thing unless he knows it was replicated.

    This reminds me of a relative of one of my friends who came on a visit from abroad. I lived in France back then. Anyway, my friend invited him to a fine restaurant where he ate frog legs and snails but didn't know it because it was served mixed in a dish not separate and my friend did the ordering. So after the meal, he was about to tell him what it was that he ate when the relative started telling him how he appreciated all of this and that he didn't try to make him eat these awful things he'd heard about...:lol: Needless to say that my friend didn't have the heart to tell him what he ate.

    To this day that man most likely still doesn't know what he ate that day. That's some nice irony for you.;)
     
  4. Brennyren

    Brennyren Commodore Commodore

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    I've seen it suggested that a possible issue with replicated food is that it's prepared to suit the average taste: not too spicy, not too strong (or weak), not too sweet, and so on. But most people's tastes differ from that average at least in some respect. I, for example, like my coffee stronger than most people do, so I would find coffee made for average tastes incompletely satisfying.

    That said, we've also seen that it's possible to program recipes into a replicator. So if you want plomeek soup just like Grandma used to make, get her recipe! @Orphalesion commented on how much Troi loves her replicated chocolate sundaes; is it possible that she's programmed in her favorite type of ice cream and her favorite chocolate sauce to make sure the sundae is exactly what she wants?
     
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  5. Orphalesion

    Orphalesion Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    IDK, maybe I'm doing something wrong, but when I cook or bake something, it usually taste the same each time, unless I deliberately vary the ingredients, and I wouldn't call a meal tasting the same each time a feature, not a bug.
    Plus, again, since we have evidence that you can program the replicator, I'm sure you could create variants of recipes.
     
  6. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I think it depends on what you want. Obviously comfort style food is (supposedly) supposed to be the same every time. Now, maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I love variety, but I don't measure it. So, it's a bit more "pinch of this, dash of that" style to mess with the flavor. Some times it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Now, many will treat this as sacrilegious but I think this is the closest equivalent for my money.
     
  7. Orphalesion

    Orphalesion Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Yeah, see, I'm somebody who mostly fairly close sticks to specific recipes, I weigh stuff, when I cook I set a timer. And yesterday when I was making Ramen from scratch I was actually disappointed that I cooked the egg a little bit to long (i forgot the timer) and it was almost hardboiled instead of the soft-boiled egg I usually put into it.
    That doesn't mean I don't like variety, but when I vary, then it's deliberate (for example, I make yellow curry once a week, and with that I vary what kind of vegetables or fruit I put into it) and, since you can program the replicator, it seems that should be very easily doable.
     
  8. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I would imagine with a replicator it could be easier but that doesn't mean everyone does it. Data talks about all the cat food for Spot and the Spot prefers a certain variant. I would imagine that there is a tendency to just say the phrase and not worry about "Number 22, less pepper."
     
  9. Takeru

    Takeru Space Police Commodore

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    You could but how likely is it that whoever programmed the Enterprise's replicators did? Those things don't even give you a glass of water without asking for the temperature so I don't expect any randomizing when it comes to food.
     
  10. Orphalesion

    Orphalesion Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    But then it's a case of them being lazy. Can't really fault the replicator to make the same meal every time if you don't take the time to vary it.
    I don't think it would even happen during the time you order your meal, but rather you'd have to program the variation into the replicator by hand (like, for example decrease the amount of salt). If there are presets (and realistically there should be) then you could save that as "Number 22, variation B" or something and that'd be your order and the next week you'd ask for "Number 22, Variation E" or something like that.
     
  11. Swedish Borg

    Swedish Borg Commodore Captain

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    Yeah, it's like they've been designed by complete nimrods without the slightest notion of ergonomy whatsoever...

    Just like on Archer's Enterprise where if you keep your hand on the HANDRAIL, you lose your fingers!!
     
  12. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I don't really fault the replicator at all. I think it has just a rote design to make it as simple as possible. If you want the variety then it needs to be programmed in, as evidenced by Captain Picard's preferred beverage, shaken not stirred, not being present in All Good Things.
    That's not what hand rails are for?
     
  13. Orphalesion

    Orphalesion Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Nah, I meant the characters can't complain about the lack of variety if they don't take the time to add it.
    It's probably and easy enough process. Not as quick as just saying "Chicken Teriyaki", but probably still quicker than cooking it from scratch.
     
  14. Takeru

    Takeru Space Police Commodore

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    Or a holodeck that creates an AI capable of taking over the ship just because you said you want a villain who can Data.
     
  15. Swedish Borg

    Swedish Borg Commodore Captain

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    handrail
    /ˈhandreɪl/
    noun
    plural noun: handrails
    1. a rail fixed to posts or a wall for people to hold on to for support.
     
  16. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Fair point.
    Nothing says you might not loose some limbs in the process. Trip was just being overprotective and clearly values his fingers way more than a 22nd century human should.
     
  17. Swedish Borg

    Swedish Borg Commodore Captain

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    A handrail that makes you lose your fingers... That's called a guillotine.:guffaw:
     
  18. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I thought that was for heads? Don't tell me it does fingers too?


    ;)
     
  19. Orphalesion

    Orphalesion Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Or maybe other roughly finger shaped extremities :lol:
     
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  20. yotsuya

    yotsuya Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Computers are stupid. And you get in the habit of giving instructions in a particular way. Tea first tells the computer what you are asking for, Earl Gray provides one parameter, not another. So the order comprises the item, flavor, and tempurature. And I bet there are plenty of people out there who like Earn Grey cold. I've never minded it when it cools off. No need to heat it, just drink it. So his order makes complete sense. Plus, he may know something you don't. Maybe if he doesn't order it that way the computer is programmed to ask questions. So his order might be the fastest way to address all the variables that computer might ask. It also could be for the computer on the Stargazer which might not have been quite as refined. When you develop a habit it can be hard to break.
     
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