The eatery and the drinkery

I was thinking of this as I went out with one of my friends for lunch yesterday what our food habits say about us. And also what we expect in restaurants and cafes.
Sorry for those who may still be in lockdown and actually can't get out and about to places! So think back to when you did go out for lunch or dinner.

My friend is really into cooking and her food. But its kinda makes her quite fussy about where she goes, and if the service is bad, we won't go there again. If the hosts are christian, you can tell the difference in subtle ways because hospitality is important to God.

Sometimes you just have no time for a long lunch. The parking meter is ticking...and your tummy is growling. That's why people like fast food. Or order from the cabinet. No waiting around.
Also, you've made up your mind what you want and it costs under $10 and you can take it away and sit under a tree and eat it.

But other places were you might pay extra money...if the kids have to wait for longer than 15 minutes and there's nothing to do but sit...there's only so much chit-chatting you can do. This is why appetisers/entrees are good. Preferably free! Or maybe a drink or water or at least something...to whet one's appetite.

Menus. If menus are too complicated or in foreign languages and not translated that's a bit off-putting. I like menus with pictures!
Noisy music. Why cafes and restaurants want everyone to go deaf by blasting rock music at full volume I have no idea. Sure the chefs in the kitchen might like it but some people want to hear each other converse.
Portion size - some people prefer to share their meals, but this is usually discussed at the beginning if it isn't obvious. There's nothing worse than ordering something that you can't finish and not being allowed to take a doggy bag or something and it just gets wasted.
Happy waiters/waitresses. They need to know their food.

I think it's fun to go out for lunch or dinner. Or do you think it's a drag? Maybe you've got dietary requirements and can never find anything to eat!
I think the worst thing is being really hungry, going out for lunch and not finding anywhere that's got any decent food or it's way too expensive. Of course you can make your own lunch beforehand, but sometimes you want something a bit more substantial than a bread and peanut butter sandwich and water. lol
 
Hi Lanolin;

Your thread is right up my alley. Hazel and I love to dine and would like to share some points you shared.

Because of pandemic some restaurants offer outdoor dining with heaters all over, and we had a good time. The food was breakfast, eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, wheat toast and lots of coffee. lol! This is a treat because at home we usually have a light breakfast, love salads and soup.

I personally don't like dining in a restaurant with TV's on. It takes the romance and "get a way" out of dining out.

Here in our community "order and delivery" has become good business for the restaurant, take out, pizza, Chinese food, etc...We don't mind supporting the food business.

I enjoyed your thread.

God bless you, Lanolin, and your family.
 
My wife, mom and I love to go out and try different restaurants. Not possible at this time, but we can enjoy them again in the future. I especially loved visiting New York City they have authentic restaurants from countries all over the world. I hope they are doing alright because I would hate to lose that special treat.

My wife usually orders when we go to a Chinese restaurant and we are always on the lookout for Taiwanese food which are few in number in the Seattle area and mostly not good. We stay away from most Cantonese often Americanized restaurants.

Meanwhile my wife is an excellent cook and I look forward to that treat every day. :)

cp
 
Hi Lanolin;

Your thread is right up my alley. Hazel and I love to dine and would like to share some points you shared.

Because of pandemic some restaurants offer outdoor dining with heaters all over, and we had a good time. The food was breakfast, eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, wheat toast and lots of coffee. lol! This is a treat because at home we usually have a light breakfast, love salads and soup.

I personally don't like dining in a restaurant with TV's on. It takes the romance and "get a way" out of dining out.

Here in our community "order and delivery" has become good business for the restaurant, take out, pizza, Chinese food, etc...We don't mind supporting the food business.

I enjoyed your thread.

God bless you, Lanolin, and your family.
Question Bob - what are 'love salads'??
 
Bonus. I've been out to eat twice this week, as friends called to go out tonight so met up with my friend again plus two more! Yesterday went to a Vietnamese cafe/restaturant, and tonight went to dinner to another different Vietnamese restaurant in another suburb.
I think we on a Vietnamese binge because my friend and I are going to enrol in a South East asian cooking workshop including vietnamese foods!

Tonights one was a lot better than the one we went to yesterday. We had to wait 45 minutes for lunch, and it wasn't even very busy, and the food wasn't very good, I ordered a lemongrass chicken but I couldn't really taste the lemon grass. My friend had pho and we shared but I'm not much of a fan.

But tonite's dinner, we only had to wait about 7 minutes, the menu had pictures, I had wonton soup which was nice, and my friend had hainese chicken, and the other gals had seafood noodles and chicken vermicelli.

I think the first one was because we went to richer area where Europeans eat out, and it's never authentic. The decor is stylish, but they spent far more on the decor and fancy tables, plates, wallpaper, with hats hanging off the walls than on the food! Plus I don't understand why some restaurants are so dark you can barely see what you are eating. And they played this loud rock music. We didn't know anyone there. The waiters were European. We hoped they had Vietnamese cooks but you'd never have to wait that long for food in Vietnam I'm sure, as if they took that long in Vietnam I'm sure we would have left and gone to the one across the street!

The second one was in an area where there's lots of asians eat out, they don't spend too much on decor, families were going there to eat, with babies in high chairs and celebrating birthdays, you could actually see what you were eating, and the service was fast, the food was hot and we could have a conversation! And we saw some people there that go to our church. The cooks and waiters were Vietnamese.

Such a difference. I think a lot of restaurants really depend on who is managing the place. And you are right when they aren't authentic it's just kinda disappointing. My Japanese friend used to get annoyed with all the fake sushi places run by Koreans lol.
 
lol! Answer - I love salads!
The friend who has gluten and soy intolerance was really happy with her meal as we can't often go to European restaurants that put wheat in everything, or Chinese ones that have soy. And I don't think she likes eating just salads!

When I go out, I don't want to eat rice as I eat it everyday at home, I want to try something different. Friend suggested I have salad and I'm like what. Chinese people don't eat salads. Or only when there's nothing else. We cook our veges! What is the point of going to a restaurant to have salad? I could just chop up veges without cooking them at home. It's like eggs on toast. I can easily make that at home too. I'd choose a dish that I know takes time and effort to make and that I don't have everyday!
 
Difference between European and Asian places. Europeans only serve free water with meals.
Asians always serve free tea.
 
As the result of government orders and selective, merry-go-round lockdowns area to area, checking restaurant websites for status before leaving for a meal, seems to be the normal these days. Menus have changed, staffs have changed and service may or may not be what persons who dine out are accustomed to.

Last year, In most of the USA, restaurants were ordered to close completely or supply take-out only in many areas. This was under guidelines from the Federal CDC and enforced by state Governors - and varied widely from state to state. When restaurants were shut down nearly a year ago, the wait-staffs were laidoff and were supplied with extra government supplied unemployment compensation for an extended period of time - which actually involved more money per week than they were receiving when they were working. As restaurants were slowly allowed to reopen, those laid off workers did not go back to their jobs in most cases, because they were making more money from the 'government' than if they went back to work. Therefore, restaurant owners had to post those jobs and add new staff members who had to be trained to a particular way of doing things. This has led to some poor service, but seems to be getting better with time. I was told by two restaurant owners recently that the original employees, who chose to get cash from the government rather than going back to work, will not be welcomed to return to their old jobs once the government hand-outs expire.

Our family dines out at least two times each week, indoors, to do our part in supporting restaurants that need financial support right now to remain open.

Restaurant owners that we have encountered in recent months are always thankful for our business and while things may be this way for some time yet, things are slowly returning to normal.
 
The friend who has gluten and soy intolerance was really happy with her meal as we can't often go to European restaurants that put wheat in everything, or Chinese ones that have soy. And I don't think she likes eating just salads!

When I go out, I don't want to eat rice as I eat it everyday at home, I want to try something different. Friend suggested I have salad and I'm like what. Chinese people don't eat salads. Or only when there's nothing else. We cook our veges! What is the point of going to a restaurant to have salad? I could just chop up veges without cooking them at home. It's like eggs on toast. I can easily make that at home too. I'd choose a dish that I know takes time and effort to make and that I don't have everyday!

My wife loves salad and fruit. She has lived in the USA since the late 1970's so some of her eating habits have changed over the years. We eat a few fried foods, but mostly boiled, steamed or baked.

When going out to Chinese restaurants we try to avoid MSG which can be very difficult it gets added in a lot of foods for taste.

cp
 
My wife loves salad and fruit. She has lived in the USA since the late 1970's so some of her eating habits have changed over the years. We eat a few fried foods, but mostly boiled, steamed or baked.

When going out to Chinese restaurants we try to avoid MSG which can be very difficult it gets added in a lot of foods for taste.

cp
Most chinese restaurants here don't add any MSG. I think they used to a lot, but it was having bad effects on people. It was like sugar. Nowadays McDonald's restaurants have zero sugar drinks. I think they use something else, but I don't know if it's worse or better.

For flavour I would just add salt and pepper or soy but most foods you don't really need to add extra.
Vietnamese, Malay and Indonesians like to add chilli! I can't handle too much chilli. A little ok, but too much and everything is running, my eyes, nose, and mouth lol.
 
As the result of government orders and selective, merry-go-round lockdowns area to area, checking restaurant websites for status before leaving for a meal, seems to be the normal these days. Menus have changed, staffs have changed and service may or may not be what persons who dine out are accustomed to.

Last year, In most of the USA, restaurants were ordered to close completely or supply take-out only in many areas. This was under guidelines from the Federal CDC and enforced by state Governors - and varied widely from state to state. When restaurants were shut down nearly a year ago, the wait-staffs were laidoff and were supplied with extra government supplied unemployment compensation for an extended period of time - which actually involved more money per week than they were receiving when they were working. As restaurants were slowly allowed to reopen, those laid off workers did not go back to their jobs in most cases, because they were making more money from the 'government' than if they went back to work. Therefore, restaurant owners had to post those jobs and add new staff members who had to be trained to a particular way of doing things. This has led to some poor service, but seems to be getting better with time. I was told by two restaurant owners recently that the original employees, who chose to get cash from the government rather than going back to work, will not be welcomed to return to their old jobs once the government hand-outs expire.

Our family dines out at least two times each week, indoors, to do our part in supporting restaurants that need financial support right now to remain open.

Restaurant owners that we have encountered in recent months are always thankful for our business and while things may be this way for some time yet, things are slowly returning to normal.
That's weird were their employers under-paying them? Our wage subsidies in NZ were just what we were ordinarily earning. It wasn't extra!
 
That's weird were their employers under-paying them? Our wage subsidies in NZ were just what we were ordinarily earning. It wasn't extra!
The USA legislature added $600.00 per week to the standard unemployment compensation rate - making the government hand-out more, in almost all cases, than what employees were making by working. It has been reported in some media that the extra $600.00 hand out per week was 'politically motivated' - most likely in exchange for election votes.
 
? Ok maybe they just really wanted people to stay home. Generous of them?
I have heard that some of the more fancier restaurants in nz are finding it hard to get staff. Because most of the best cooks are migrants.


I've washed dishes before but only for a day. The pay was the same as any other job. But they gave you free lunch.
I was considering maybe going into catering but they only needed me when they were short staffed.
One of my friends does waitressing for a fancy hotel. She says the food is great but pricy. She's hosted VIPs like prime ministers and presidents.

In most other jobs they don't give you any free food or meals. At most you would get a cup of tea, maybe biscuit, or some fruit, not an actual meal. Shared morning teas you need to bring a plate, and maybe once or twice a year there's one put on by senior staff but you can't live off that! Most workplaces you need to pay or bring your own.
 
In high school my first job was part time at KFC. I got to take home all the chicken I wanted. That job lasted 3 months.

I also worked as a dishwasher and remember the owner got upset when he heard dishes drop and break. He reminded me how much it cost and didn't want his customers to use paper plates. lol!

In college I worked as a busboy and it was at this time I felt the need to earn my pay. I had rent, tuition and books to pay for. So the meals after my shift helped me a lot.
 
Prior to Covid, my wife and I used to eat at local restaurants often. There is a tourist area down by a lake in the area with several nice places to eat. We haven't been able to go there for awhile.

We do more planning and buy food in larger quantities less frequently so we can stay at home more.

When we go visit our sons, we pack all our food and avoid restaurants on the road as well as while staying there.

We still do drive-thru ocaisionaly (not really fine dining, but...). Several times when we notice that someone pull in line behind us, we ask the cashier to let us pay for their meal, particularly when it is an older car with several kids in the back. They may or may not be in a challenging situation, but regardless it may make their day brighter.
 
The friend who has gluten and soy intolerance was really happy with her meal as we can't often go to European restaurants that put wheat in everything, or Chinese ones that have soy. And I don't think she likes eating just salads!

When I go out, I don't want to eat rice as I eat it everyday at home, I want to try something different. Friend suggested I have salad and I'm like what. Chinese people don't eat salads. Or only when there's nothing else. We cook our veges! What is the point of going to a restaurant to have salad? I could just chop up veges without cooking them at home. It's like eggs on toast. I can easily make that at home too. I'd choose a dish that I know takes time and effort to make and that I don't have everyday!

lol! Lanolin!

Imagine all the good food grown in a garden. For years when my co-workers went out for lunch or when our friends went out for dinner, salads can be a work of art - tomatoes, artichokes, olives, avocados, carrots, raisins, berries, surrounded by lettuce, etc...

At home I like to experiment with vegetables and a little fruit and surrounded with Asian Cashew chopped lettuce. Then with a side of kimchi and takuan the salad is delicious and very low in calories.


Anyways, at this writing its 650pm, Saturday evening and am getting hungry. I'm going to make me a custom salad.
 
I like sushi, even if it's made by Koreans and not Japanese.
Only because I would not make it myself, and the presentation of the different selections is so exquisite.

Was talking with my sis in hotel quarantine. They give her pretty useless bamboo cutlery, disposable, so she's got like 30 packets of knives and forks. They aren't given any plates. I said what, why don't they just cut up your food for you and eat it with chopsticks? And you can just wash the one pair of chopsticks.
She didn't like my common sense and said it was the way the world was and she wanted to be civilised. Plus she is not a child who needs food cut up for her.

I'm like, so, do people think those who don't eat with knives and forks aren't civilised???

I'm pretty sure that if given a huge slab of meat and given a knife and fork to attack it doesn't really make it civilised.
 
Years ago I didn't care for sushi so I always ordered a bento box or the whole works, and would give my wife any sushi that was served.

But I learned to appreciate sushi and sashimi, but I still prefer sushi wrapped in rice, seaweed or vegetables. I also enjoy it with a side of ginger lightly sliced.

Growing up there were many foods I ate for the first time and my parents taught me to try just a little bit on my plate. Unless I knew I wasn't going to care for it they wouldn't force me. But the foods I tried just a little bit, I ended up enjoying it to this day as an adult.

My parents taught us children how to use chopsticks when I was 8. Today in our home I prefer a nice set of sticks, but since we enjoy ordering Chinese, Japanese and Korean we now have like a million wood chopsticks in the kitchen drawer. I wanted to throw them all out but uh-uh, no way.

In the Philippines it is a custom to eat food with one's fingers. They say it tastes better which I can respect. I would also imagine from watching all the Bible movies that's why the ancient nations or Israelites ate with their hands.
 
Subjects like this remind me of how much I've learned around my wife. I've tried many kinds of foods even before meeting my wife, but never really had traditional Chinese foods nor did I learn to eat with chop sticks until I met her. While dating my wife, I worked hard to learn to use my chop sticks well. Her parents tended to only put chop sticks on the table, so it was sink or swim.

I learned to like sushi with my wife. I don't like sashimi mostly because I'm aware of the issues with raw seafood. My wife worked as an accountant for a number of years at a seafood distributor and we learned about the chemical treatments and worm issues with much of the seafood these days.



cp
 
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