Supper (Dinner) Time!

[Stone]

Originally posted by station82o


Man, thats incredible and intimidating - have you ever attempted to eat a big slobbering hamburger?

Ahh, it's just good food - nothing to be intimidated about. The way I see it, I'd rather spend $80-$120 (on myself) for a memorable dinner than $25-$40 for some food at some chain restaurant that I'll forget about by the next day. I don't really like the food at Applebees' or Outback much more than what I can cook for myself at home - I'd rather spend a half-hour at home making good scrambled eggs, toast, and a gin and tonic for myself - total cost, maybe $4.

Like, hrm, I bet in the last two years I've probably eaten at Outback 10 times, and I've probably spent $40-$50 (at least) each time - say $500. The three good meals at those restaurants I mentioned probably cost $400 together. Now, I can't remember anything about the food at Outback other than that it made me feel terribly full by the time I was finished. However, I can think back on Keens, Caviar Russe, and remember exactly how each thing I had tasted; the thought still makes me hungry. Seems like a much better deal to me.

A lot of times, if I go to some chain restaurant, I'm happier just drinking a couple of pints of beer than getting food.

[Jimmy Carter]

Stone is a man of high class.

[Clash!]

Ever have this stuff called Breakfast Cereal? Its really good.

[station82o]

Originally posted by Stone
Ahh, it's just good food - nothing to be intimidated about. The way I see it, I'd rather spend $80-$120 (on myself) for a memorable dinner than $25-$40 for some food at some chain restaurant that I'll forget about by the next day. I don't really like the food at Applebees' or Outback much more than what I can cook for myself at home - I'd rather spend a half-hour at home making good scrambled eggs, toast, and a gin and tonic for myself - total cost, maybe $4.

Like, hrm, I bet in the last two years I've probably eaten at Outback 10 times, and I've probably spent $40-$50 (at least) each time - say $500. The three good meals at those restaurants I mentioned probably cost $400 together. Now, I can't remember anything about the food at Outback other than that it made me feel terribly full by the time I was finished. However, I can think back on Keens, Caviar Russe, and remember exactly how each thing I had tasted; the thought still makes me hungry. Seems like a much better deal to me.

A lot of times, if I go to some chain restaurant, I'm happier just drinking a couple of pints of beer than getting food.

Right on man... I can now see where you're coming from - sometimes I wonder why the hell I eat at the places I tend to eat at... its not worth it at the end of the day, but then again sometimes its difficult to argue with hunger. I'm going to start taking your philosophy to heart however in my own way. Thanks man.

[CynicalSphere]

Maybe it's just because where I live, but where the fuck do you guys live that you can spend $80-120 at a restaurant? :whoa:

But then, the best places to eat where I live charge maybe $25 (at the very most) for a meal, not counting beer/liquor or dessert -- the vast majority don't charge over $15. Probably the costliest meal I've ever had was a $20 ribeye at a place in Lubbock called the 50-Yard Line (which, regardless of the sports bar-ish name, is a pretty swanky joint for these parts).

But then, I also live in a region where a lot of people live below the poverty line, and with my current financial position I don't have much room to eat anything other than fast food, so I don't really go searching that much. :/

[Brisco Bold]

Fried dumplings (anybody from the islands here?)
Jesus. Nothing tops this.

Past that... momma's pea-soup (with dumplins).

[station82o]

Originally posted by CynicalSphere
Maybe it's just because where I live, but where the fuck do you guys live that you can spend $80-120 at a restaurant? :whoa:

But then, the best places to eat where I live charge maybe $25 (at the very most) for a meal, not counting beer/liquor or dessert -- the vast majority don't charge over $15. Probably the costliest meal I've ever had was a $20 ribeye at a place in Lubbock called the 50-Yard Line (which, regardless of the sports bar-ish name, is a pretty swanky joint for these parts).

But then, I also live in a region where a lot of people live below the poverty line, and with my current financial position I don't have much room to eat anything other than fast food, so I don't really go searching that much. :/

houston has alot of places that you can blow a chunk of paycheck on - but there's just as many places where you can get a damn good meal for less than 10-15 bucks as well. I tend to waver in the middle - "whats money?!"

Stone however, is a man of leisure, and monetary concerns come last. BTW Stone do you read Cigar Afficiando magazine?

[station82o]

Speaking of good meals - Tracer and I found ourselves at this italian place in rice village that served up a damn good pasta... probably one of the best pastas I've ever had in my life - it was a basil pasta with shrimp and curried fish. yum yum. started off with a pretty good vinagarette too.

[Stone]

Originally posted by CynicalSphere
Maybe it's just because where I live, but where the fuck do you guys live that you can spend $80-120 at a restaurant? :whoa:

But then, the best places to eat where I live charge maybe $25 (at the very most) for a meal, not counting beer/liquor or dessert -- the vast majority don't charge over $15. Probably the costliest meal I've ever had was a $20 ribeye at a place in Lubbock called the 50-Yard Line (which, regardless of the sports bar-ish name, is a pretty swanky joint for these parts).

But then, I also live in a region where a lot of people live below the poverty line, and with my current financial position I don't have much room to eat anything other than fast food, so I don't really go searching that much. :/

Any major city probably has a couple of places that you could easily spend $100 at (just on food). Dunno about Texas - I know that I've wanted to go to this place called Mansion on Turtle Creek for a while; I think that's in Dallas.

My college is in a pretty small town, and we've got at least three or four places that'd be happy to lift $100 off of you for food, not to mention alcohol, geh. Plus, it's absurd what you can go through when you get down to a night of committed drinking in a lot of these places.

Still, I like cheap food and drinks too, just as much as a lot of this expensive stuff. I eat scrambled eggs constantly, calves' liver is like $3/pound, um, Pabst Blue Ribbon isn't that expensive and I think that's a fantastic beer. I like the soft steak tacos at Taco Bell, and when you get down to it, I'll happily eat just about anything that bleeds. If you're willing to spend some time (and you can find good butter), you can make correct scrambled eggs that will hold up with any risotto some chef will charge $25 for.

Originally posted by station82o
Stone however, is a man of leisure, and monetary concerns come last. BTW Stone do you read Cigar Afficiando magazine?

Heheh, thanks station. Yeah, I like Cigar Afficionado a lot. I don't really smoke cigars all that often - maybe after a really good meal, when I can't eat or drink any more but I still want to waste some more money. It's a good magazine for other reasons, though, some very good articles on style and things like that, and it's fun to read about $800 cigar clippers and that sort of stuff. Cigar Afficianado's website also has every article in every issue they've ever released online, which makes for a great read.

Esquire's website has some good stuff on drinking and food, I think, and http://hotwired.lycos.com/cocktail has some good articles on drinking, too (that site hasn't been updated in three or four years).

[station82o]

that mansion on turtle creek place looks impressive - but a little too bling bling for my tastes personally - i need something more rugged elegant.

Hey - whats a risotto? i assume something with eggs... yes i'm ignorant. and how do you prepare scrambled eggs with butter?