[Essay] Why can't she put ketchup on her veal?

[registered]

I'm reading a story, which is about how a young man finds his major and life direction. At first he was confused about his future and didn't know what major to choose. So his parents held a dinner party for some of their friends who could share their majors with the young boy. At the party, the boy thought none of these guests "seemed particularly suited for their chosen professions. Dr. Elkins, the dentist, had spinach in his teeth. Mrs. Jenkins, the industral chemist, put ketchup on her veal. And Mr. albertson, the hydro-engineer, kept knocking over his water glass."

What's wrong with Mrs. Jenkins here? In English culture, people don't put kechup on veal?

 

[Tarheel]

Apparently, it's a faux pas.

(If you are talking about somebody choosing his major you might want to mention that he is going to college.)

 

[SoothingDave]

Ketchup on steak is supposed to be unsophisticated. I guess the same applies to veal. It's an insult to the cook, the thinking goes.

 

[Tdol]

Many regard ketchup as something tacky that should not be put on good food.