Poll: When we go out to eat, I'd rather...

[Moemg]

We usually stick with our favorites but sometimes we discover a new place . I downloaded the app "Fast Food Nation " . This will stop you in your tracks from dining at most casual restaurants . The calories & sodium content are horrendous .

[MBAustin]

Cooking is my hobby so we don't eat out much, but when we do, we generally try new places and if we go to someplace familiar, we rarely order the same thing.

One exception - a brewpub that we've been going to for years has the most amazing appetizer - roasted garlic (2 full bulbs!) served on goat cheese crostini. MMMM...reminds me that we haven't gone there in a while!

[JOHNNIE36]

Y'all got me to thinking now and that's dangerous. For some time now, I've been thinking about going out to eat more often. Like every day if we could. Even though DW liked to cook in the past, she getting sick of it and I'm getting sick of cleaning up the kitchen (my part of cooking). One of my golf buddies goes out to eat three or four times a week. They only go where there is a coupon like BOGO. Forgetting the coupon deal, let's say you could get by on $25 for two dinners including tax and tip. That's $750/mo and $9000/yr. Lets say you could recover half of that by not buying equivalent groceries. I wonder how my budget would react to that. We really don't operate on a budget, but I bet I would have to if we followed this schedule. Any thoughts that might convince me to go this route?

[Chuckanut]

I like to order things I would not normally cook for myself at home.

[harley]

I like to try new places and new dishes. DW isn't as adventurous. But we tend to eat at the old same place most of the time for the above reasons - price, convenience, comfort.

But what's wrong with cuy? Looks yummy! Probably right up there with possum and muskrat.

[ShortInSeattle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grasshopper Being a vegetarian/vegan with two dinner choices within 20 miles of home, in cattle country. How do you think I voted?

Ouch. I suppose you've developed good cooking skills?

[Sarah in SC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley I like to try new places and new dishes. DW isn't as adventurous. But we tend to eat at the old same place most of the time for the above reasons - price, convenience, comfort. But what's wrong with cuy? Looks yummy! Probably right up there with possum and muskrat.

Eek, you should have seen that one cuy stand, right past the toll booth, where everyone is going slow anyway. It was a 55 gallon barrel cut into two halves, with the little guinea pigs split open and spread out on top, just sizzling away! Yikes! I might have considered it if I'd had the option of a filet version. I'm told many restaurants keep a pen of the little guys in the kitchen so they are fresh when ordered! <shudder>

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah in SC Eek, you should have seen that one cuy stand, right past the toll booth, where everyone is going slow anyway. It was a 55 gallon barrel cut into two halves, with the little guinea pigs split open and spread out on top, just sizzling away! Yikes! I might have considered it if I'd had the option of a filet version. I'm told many restaurants keep a pen of the little guys in the kitchen so they are fresh when ordered! <shudder>

If you ever had to study for exams while working in a pet shop where the little b****rds are squealing all night you wouldn't have any problem with munching down on them. Tastes like chicken.

[Ronnieboy]

We tend to stay with tired and true favorites.

I venture out every once and awhile to try something new, but as I am a very picky eater, a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I am usually disappointed if I try something new and don't like it. Not only due to the expense of buying the new item and either not eating it and feeling that I wasted $$ but also that I tried something new and didn't succeed.

That is why I usually stick with what I know I like because I have had it before

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moemg I downloaded the app "Fast Food Nation " . This will stop you in your tracks from dining at most casual restaurants . The calories & sodium content are horrendous .

Gosh, that's precisely why we go to Taco Bell & Costco pizza in the first place!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNIE36 Y'all got me to thinking now and that's dangerous. For some time now, I've been thinking about going out to eat more often. Like every day if we could. Even though DW liked to cook in the past, she getting sick of it and I'm getting sick of cleaning up the kitchen (my part of cooking). Any thoughts that might convince me to go this route?

Let me suggest the "Lean Cuisine", "Weight Watchers", and "Healthy Choice" brands in your local grocery store's frozen-food aisle. Anything between 300-350 calories is usually pretty good with a salad or a fruit side. You'll really appreciate the cleanup part of the meal, too.

This menu might seem unacceptably dull to many, but consider that my palate was developed during 90-day underwater patrols where you couldn't just stop in at the local 7-11 for a Slurpee...

[obgyn65]

I don't eat out that often, but when I do I like to try new places and new dishes. I have a sweet spot for chocolate desserts.

[obgyn65]

What is this dish ? Looks like a BBQ rat to me

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley

[Katsmeow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNIE36 Forgetting the coupon deal, let's say you could get by on $25 for two dinners including tax and tip. That's $750/mo and $9000/yr. Lets say you could recover half of that by not buying equivalent groceries. I wonder how my budget would react to that. We really don't operate on a budget, but I bet I would have to if we followed this schedule. Any thoughts that might convince me to go this route?

Well, the economics of it depend upon how you cook at home. I've read some articles saying that the cost to make equivalent foods at home to what is bought at a restaurant is usually very close with making it at home often more expensive.

Of course, we don't cook restaurant foods at home so eating out more does increase our costs.

Other alternatives as mentioned would be frozen foods and possibility meal services. For example, around here you can buy My Fit Foods and I am current buying a lot of meals from them so there isn't much cooking going on.

[obgyn65]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley If you ever had to study for exams while working in a pet shop where the little b****rds are squealing all night you wouldn't have any problem with munching down on them. Tastes like chicken.

Well at least it's not this pet

[Huston55]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obgyn65 Well at least it's not this pet

Might have to worry about role meal reversal with this guy.

[Sarah in SC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obgyn65 What is this dish ? Looks like a BBQ rat to me

It is cuy, popular in Peru. Guinea pig is what we'd call it.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley But what's wrong with cuy? Looks yummy! Probably right up there with possum and muskrat.

I'd try it. Never miss an opportunity for something new - you might not get another chance.

[Walt34]

I'm a little more culinarily adventurous than DW but options are more limited without driving absurd distances. Since the health department publishes restaurant inspection scores online there are some we wouldn't dare set foot in, let alone eat in.

I understand to some degree Nord's flexibility since the options on a midnight shift weren't much better. Lessee, we had 7-11 hot dogs, Little Tavern "gut grenades", High's junk stuff on the shelf, and the Choke 'n Puke diner.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34 I understand to some degree Nord's flexibility since the options on a midnight shift weren't much better. Lessee, we had 7-11 hot dogs, Little Tavern "gut grenades", High's junk stuff on the shelf, and the Choke 'n Puke diner.

Walt, you give new meaning to fine dining.

[Moemg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNIE36 They only go where there is a coupon like BOGO. Forgetting the coupon deal, let's say you could get by on $25 for two dinners including tax and tip. That's $750/mo and $9000/yr. Lets say you could recover half of that by not buying equivalent groceries. I wonder how my budget would react to that. We really don't operate on a budget, but I bet I would have to if we followed this schedule. Any thoughts that might convince me to go this route?

I think $25.00 is a little low unless it is during lunch or always hitting the early bird specials . Maybe an alternative would go be to go out more and make the meals at home super simple .Lots of time we will just have a piece of chicken or salmon and a salad . Preparation takes minutes and clean up is a breeze .