Taken for granted

[britman]

I don't think I have ever had such a desire to go to a great restaurant,  sit down and start off with the biggest damn order of calamari they could muster, followed up by a perfectly cooked new york strip, loaded baked potato, and most fattening rich dessert on the menu.  I am telling you gentlemen, when and if this is over, there is not going to be a dime left over for the kids.........

[John Croucher]

When I eat good, I eat at home and alone or with a couple of family or friends.  The Best eating and atmosphere for eating and family time is in a private setting.

I only eat fresh.  Very little pre packaged, pre cooked, canned or boxed foods.  Filet, salmon, Tuna, Sushi, Steak and fresh sides.  Adult beverages?  I can buy a 5th of good liquor for what the cost of 2 restaurant cocks tails cost. 

I like the new world order.  I have everything I need, hardware/home center, groceries, internet shopping for motorcycle parts and clothing are still working good.  And traffic,  it is down nearly 50%.   After mid-night, last night, I drove 10 miles and did not see one vehicle on the road. 

[Kev m]

Man let's talk....

Almost a month ago I was eating in gastro-pub after gastro-pub in Ireland, and enjoying a new found vice (Curry Chips aka fries).

Ha last night I talked to my uncle and it turns out that we just HAPPENED to accidentally eat in a gastro-pub in Carrick-on-Shannon that is owned by two of my cousins. Wish I'd realized it then. Oh well.

And now that we're home, we've indulged in a little grub-hub/take-away, but not too much.

Our favorite Sushi place has closed temporarily to protect the staff and we've since heard a number of Asian restaurants are temporarily closed due to lack of supplies (the Asian grocery distributors have closed for now).

We have a great Lebanese place where we can get unbelievable babba-ganoush and gyros and chicken swarma and the like all delivered! They're still open for now.

And I found out a favorite Mexican place nearby just reopened for take-away only. They have a Churrasco steak that is to die for.

Oh, and another local place will deliver steamed mussels in a spicy maranara sauce, and buffalo wings for the kids (sauce on the side).

So I have no reason to complain, but man I wouldn't mind going out with some friends for a beer or two or three.

And I'm still bitter about missing a week more of those Irish pubs.....

Pics of the last meal we ate out (and it was in Dublin coincidentally):





My stomach is growling thinking about that meal - it was Bangers & Mash IN an Irish stew... with a couple of pints of Guinness of course.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I was just talking with my boss about how much we miss going to our favorite sushi place..  We have been eating there almost every Friday night for 5 years... might have missed it 5-6 Fridays in all that time. I'm worried about our favorite waiter, wonder what he's up to and how he is getting by... I know I generally put about $120 a month in his pocket just from our Friday sushi extravaganzas.

Eating out is one of the great joys in life, I love to show up at our favorite places where we are regulars, get seated with our favorite server, and leisurely eat and drink with everything taken care of for you.


I will probably break the bank on fine wine alone the first month after this bullshit ends. I'm deff pining away to ride over to the Bottle Riot Wine Bar and tipple a couple glasses before heading next door to Bull & Beggar Restaurant for a plowman's cheese 7 pickle board plus a couple bottles of Rose' and Pinot

[Rough Edge racing]

Since my recovery from esophageal cancer my diet is quite limited...And I can eat only very small portions at one time. I can only dream about eating something basic like a hamburger.
 So don,t feel so sorry for not eating out...

[Perazzimx14]

Up until 3 weeks ago I ate out for lunch almost every day M-F and we went to a restrauant 1 to 3 times a week. All of that has thankfull stopped. Haven't had fast food in weeks. Haven't gone to a restrauant for weeks havent had food delived for weeks.

This was all out of convience and lazyness. While do miss Friday night date night with the wifey at the local watering hole if/we I want great meal I'll make it.

There ain't no cookin' like home cookin'

[Siamese]

Shut the %@$ up!  Yer makin' me hungry.

I'm Vegan, but allow fish about once a week or so.  One of the reasons I allow fish, is we spend a month every winter down in Mobile, AL, and my favorite restaurant is Felix's Fish Shack, on Mobile Bay.  Awesome fresh fish.  Crab stuffed whitefish....mmmmmm .   

When the sun sets, you can look out the window and see downtown lit up, as well as the harbor cranes, and the USS Alabama WWII battleship.  That, and a local IPA make the food even better.  About $20.00 plus beer.

Hopefully, the zombie virus has played out by next February. 

[Kev m]

oooohhh Seafood.....

Shrimp and Grits at a little Cajun place near Barber's...



Followed by Cat 5 Hurricanes!

[larrys]

Still getting pizza and beer for Friday dinner from my local restaurant. Takeout only, but you can bring a growler and they'll fill it with craft beer for you...
Be well
Larry

[Perazzimx14]

Shut the %@$ up!  Yer makin' me hungry.

I'm Vegan, but allow fish about once a week or so.  One of the reasons I allow fish, is we spend a month every winter down in Mobile, AL, and my favorite restaurant is Felix's Fish Shack, on Mobile Bay.  Awesome fresh fish.  Crab stuffed whitefish....mmmmmm .   

When the sun sets, you can look out the window and see downtown lit up, as well as the harbor cranes, and the USS Alabama WWII battleship.  That, and a local IPA make the food even better.  About $20.00 plus beer.

Hopefully, the zombie virus has played out by next February.

I'm a Vegan too! I just allow fish, red meat and poultry almost daily

[Mr Pootle]

From mid January until last week all my intake went through a tube direct into my stomach. This week the cottage pie, the macaroni cheese, the cheese omelette, all cooked by my ever-loving, have been up there with anything a top restaurant could do.
Mind you, my taste buds are dormant.

[jwinwi]

Support your favorite local restaurants by ordering takeout or they might not be there when this is all over.

[Markcarovilli]

Mr P

Glad that things are better.....

Mark

[cliffrod]

Being a chef has been very fulfilling, but I'm glad it's not my career right now.    Lots of talk about how current events may have a negative impact upon seating density in the future, which will likely lead to a similar negative impact upon earnings & salaries.  There are a lot of very hard working cooks and chefs who never come close to the take-home income of tipped waitstaff.  Tip a waitstaff well for an outstanding plate of food (which has little or nothing to do with the waiter/waitress) and it's extremely rare that any of it is shared with the kitchen.  Any downward shift will really hurt, especially for mid-advanced career professionals.

At this point, I don't do as much with specific recipes as I do with applying general techniques to whatever ingredients that are on hand.  We rarely buy expensive product. Btdt for many years and have other priorities now.  We usually buy whatever is on the discount rack and then decide what's for dinner.  I'm more interested now in accurate traditional/rustic preprations, especially pre-fusion when food started getting muddy in the early-mid 1980's.

I'm glad to help others learn about cooking, although my explanations get long to avoid assumptions until the basics are clear.  Like many things, it's usually a lot faster to simply do it than explain how to do it.  If anyone has a question, ask and I'll try to help.

Eat well. 

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Cliff youre dead-on here and thats exactly why I left the restaurant world and moved to healthcare foodservice. Is the food great? Not really... honey-thick liquids and pureed foods arent ever going to be appealing.. But i work M-F 6a-3p and am off every weekend plus benefits and 5 weeks of PTO a year.  When I was slugging it out in the trenches at hotels and resorts, on salary as a sous chef and barely clearing $33k/yr for 70+hr weeks, I dreamed of the gig I have now.

[Lannis]

When I was a kid, we used to eat out about once a month.   All we could afford.

Up to now, Fay and I enjoy eating out about once a week, sometimes 10 days.   Mainly little mom and pop places that we've always enjoyed - nothing special, more like a social occasion that brings back memories of going someplace when we were dating.

Nothing in the last few weeks, but that's not really much of an impact on us.   And since we eat pretty plainly (but well) at home, we're happy ....

Lannis

[Vagrant]

it's amazing how inexpensive it is for two people to go out for lunch. at least as long as margaritas aren't involved. rare it exceeds $25 and usually under $20. as old retired farts it is the major meal of the day with a light supper at home. I MISS IT DEARLY!

[Cam3512]

I'm a Vegan too! I just allow fish, red meat and poultry almost daily

I'm a member of P.E.T.A.   People Eating Tasty Animals....

[Huzo]

oooohhh Seafood.....

Shrimp and Grits at a little Cajun place near Barber's...



Followed by Cat 5 Hurricanes!

Nice little bit of social distancing there Kev..

[Kev m]

Nice little bit of social distancing there Kev..

Dude that was October at Barber's, didn't I just say that in that post. Well I said at Barber's and that happened in October...

[Perazzimx14]

Dude that was October at Barber's, didn't I just say that in that post. Well I said at Barber's and that happened in October...

Looks like only Jay is the only one who requires a barber

[Cam3512]

Looks like only Jay is the only one who requires a barber

And the only one that couldn't handle all those Hurricanes!  Lack of testosterone maybe?

[Huzo]

Dude that was October at Barber's, didn't I just say that in that post. Well I said at Barber's and that happened in October...

Yeah fair enough Kev..
‘Got what I deserved there..

[Bulldog9]

I don't think I have ever had such a desire to go to a great restaurant,  sit down and start off with the biggest damn order of calamari they could muster, followed up by a perfectly cooked new york strip, loaded baked potato, and most fattening rich dessert on the menu.  I am telling you gentlemen, when and if this is over, there is not going to be a dime left over for the kids.........

That's what I had for dinner Wednesday night............. followed by a bourbon and cigar. Wood fired grilled NY Strip & Potatoes with Asparagus and finished with something between Flan, or Creme Brulee.  Well..... minus the squid.............. .  Last night was home made pizza. One Greek, one Traditional, one Tomato and Garlic Pie, and Pepperoni bread......

We have 2-3 friends that own local restaurants, we are trying to order out 1x a week from each. Our favorite is a Greek/Italian Place, and from what we see, they are super busy. Same with many of the local mom and pops. One place is awesome, they are a Taco/Mexican Street food place. The owner lives 2 doors down and on Tuesday does a Taco Tuesday delivery. It's good to see communities coming together. Hopefully things will return to normalish soon.

Sorry, you can't come over. Social Distancing and all...... But I hear you.

[cliffrod]

Cliff youre dead-on here and thats exactly why I left the restaurant world and moved to healthcare foodservice. Is the food great? Not really... honey-thick liquids and pureed foods arent ever going to be appealing.. But i work M-F 6a-3p and am off every weekend plus benefits and 5 weeks of PTO a year.  When I was slugging it out in the trenches at hotels and resorts, on salary as a sous chef and barely clearing $33k/yr for 70+hr weeks, I dreamed of the gig I have now.

Glad you're happy and settled, man.  The regular kitchen schedule & number of hours is better than milking cows, but not much.  Two very good friends have been EC at the local hospitals here for years. 

When we thought we were so broke that I needed a real job instead of the studio, I've interviewed for a couple of contract food service positions.  People that knew me inquired/recruited me and set things up.  All said I was far overqualified for the position/level and either not stay in such an underpaid position or would be moved up too quickly within the company to GM at regional level to satisfy the current need.  The companies wanted me on board, but not to "just" be the EC over a local single unit.  Great money, benefits, etc.  But I wanted to be in a kitchen (even if it is contract food) with normal set hours and home- not on the road.   It's a drag to work yourself out of a job. 

The higher end private club and public restaurant work I did had all staff on regular hourly wage or salary.  Tips were pooled to be divided among everyone on staff, usually based upon seniority.  Far more equitable.  Some regular restaurants are moving in that direction, but it's slow.

[LowRyter]

cars in a Food Bank line, yesterday.

[Bulldog9]

I'm a member of P.E.T.A.   People Eating Tasty Animals....

Exactly....... And let's not forget, the best beef is produced from a completely Vegan diet............

[LowRyter]

Truthfully, Bev and I have enjoyed cooking some fabulous meals during this time.  But it's also pretty serious times for many struggling losing their paychecks.  Perhaps some right here on WG.

[alanp]

I don't think I have ever had such a desire to go to a great restaurant,  sit down and start off with the biggest damn order of calamari they could muster, followed up by a perfectly cooked new york strip, loaded baked potato, and most fattening rich dessert on the menu.  I am telling you gentlemen, when and if this is over, there is not going to be a dime left over for the kids.........

I'm with you.  Really looking forward to a nice meal out. 

[Perazzimx14]

We're strugglin' for a good meal. Tonight Broiled haddock with paprika, black pepper butter and lemon. A steak cooked in butter for the non-fish eater complimented with baked asparagus drizzled with olive oil and Janes crazy salt with a side of homemade 3 cheese risotto.



And to think we could have had this if we ate out