bel - I'm loving your posts about maple syrup.

One of my favourite stunts (shy little thing that I am) is to do just what you mentioned. Couple of things to note but:

(a) Tipping maple syrup over bacon, hash browns, eggs etc at breakfast is unheard of in Australia - and a practice most would thing revolting.

(b) When I do it (showing my New England roots probably), I make sure it's in public just to get the reaction from those mentioned in (a). In the breakfast buffet lineup at hotels and restaurants is the place - guaranteed to hear some whispers behind me in the queue, "Oh yuk - look what he's doing - maple syrup on bacon - Oh gross!"

FYI - The syrup laid out for the patrons is regarded by the populace as being for the pancakes - and the occassional North American passing through one presumes.

stales