Fine Dinning or Fast Food

CHEFONCALL · #1 07-29-2005, 08:40 PM

I often get asked this question many times a day in my kitchen. Where do you like to eat. To me, most of the cooks seem to not realize. I work 6 days a week and I am only off one day a week and usually that is on a Monday. The slowest day of the week. However, when I go out I like to try many things. I cannot tell you the last time I ate at a Wendy's or Mickey D's. Those restaurants I have not been to in a long time. However, I have eaten a Taco Bell Grande Buritto.

I generally try to watch what I eat. I do enjoy alot of the fine heavy creams and butter sauces the French Cuisine established. But, I have also seen alot of different Contemperary American Food restaurants about the United States.I usually do eat and cook at home. I have and do enjoy healthy cuisine. I would honestly say I do just mix it up. I do not just eat one particular type of cuisine. So I guess I am pretty openminded when it comes to dinning out. What do you think?

Mikeb · #2 07-30-2005, 01:42 AM

I only eat at work or at home. IMO going to a fine dining restaurant is a bit of a waste when I can make a comparable (or superior) dinner at home. If I've got a date to impress then I'll go to a fine dining restaurant (but only one where I personally know the chef). I don't do the fast food thing (not big chains anyway) - occasionally I'll go to a locally owned donair place though.

DavidSL · #3 07-30-2005, 09:34 PM

My wife and I like to eat out often when not at work. We work together at our restaurant. We like to eat food that is different than what we serve. We enjoy fine dining (other than our fine offerings

), fine sushi (not crap sushi), and other different ethnic cuisines widely available in So Cal: Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican, Good Cal Continental (like natural vegan food but for people who eat meat and everything.) ..... Otherwise, we will get some exquisite fish from Whole Foods and cook a nice meal at home. Lemon, Salt, and Pepper, some steamed veggies. We like to taste the food more than the sauces or seasonings when we cook at home. Tonight after work I am looking forward to a McDonalds chocolate dipped cone, though.

shroomgirl · #4 07-30-2005, 11:01 PM

I eat out alot....fine dining as well as burgers.....good food is good food, I don't mind dropping $100 if it's an exceptional dining experience. One of my favorite hang outs just lost it's chef so, bummer, guess the sweet potato fries with spicy orange aioli will have to be made at home.

Typically if it's everyday eats and I want someone else to cook it'll be Vietnamese, Chinese or local foods...though lunch today was a great crab/lobster pizza from a hole in the wall 6 table joint with arguably the best pizza in town.

Botanique · #5 08-01-2005, 09:18 PM

When I used to come home from a long day and night of cooking, my favorite thing would be when my husband would greet me at the front door (when he wasn't out to sea of course) with a glass of crisp white wine, and a Papa Murphy's take out pizza waiting in the kitchen to cook. All I had to do was sip, turn on the oven, wait and slip the pie in, and cut it up when done. Yummy, effortless calories. But my favorite thing now, of course, since I miss "the kitchen," is to cook at home.

But I tell ya, when it was just me to worry about... butter or cheese with herbs and saltine crackers, store bought lobster ravioli, salad (lots of salad!), and a once a week sushi bar trip.

Devotay · #6 08-09-2005, 10:02 AM

Mostly, my famly eats at the restaurant, and I cook at home when I can. I was reminded of a Marcella Hazan quotation: "Saying you have no time to cook is like saying you have no time to bathe." Amen.

When we do go out, a vast majority of the time it is to the various Asian cuisine places we have around town. Sushi, Vietnamese, Thai, Mongolian, etc., just because it is such a departure from the Mediterranean-influencd stuff we prepare at the restaurant every day.

Of course, as those of you who know me will attest, I never go to fast food joints and avoid chains like the plague. I'm all about fresh, local, and slow.

mikefly · #7 08-09-2005, 10:37 AM

im a junk food junky lol give me fast food and grese when im not at work

Devotay · #8 08-09-2005, 10:43 AM

Well, you know what they say:

If we are what we eat, then most Americans are fast, cheap, and easy.

mikefly · #9 08-09-2005, 10:46 AM

to many ways to get my ***** in trouble if i resopond to that lmfao

markco · #10 10-16-2005, 12:59 PM

just to eat out once in a while,enjoy my girlfriend;s company,when we can go out.not cooking it a break for me.

CampChef · #11 10-16-2005, 04:39 PM

WE love to go out to almost any restaurant, bar, fast food, pizza joint, tapas bar, back room, neighbor's deck...anywhere where someone else is cooking and cleaning up. Truthfully, we eat out to learn and see new ideas, and to try something new or familiar. Just went to a new pizza place today and had an absolutely average pizza. Being a food junkie is what got me into the biz to start with, so the passion continues....

Andrew563 · #12 10-16-2005, 06:09 PM

I haven't really felt like going out to eat on my days off for quite awhile now. I would rather go to someone elses house and eat. There I can completely relax and not have to worry parking, if the food will be good, and I don't have to tip. ha ha .

But, I usually have just some friends or family over. Last sunday I made a big platter of braised pork neck bones. had my brother and his youngest son over and we dove in. One of those great hands on meals. Tonight is potato corn soup. Just me the soup and tv.