out of touch?

[realthog]

Could someone please hint to the writers at the New York Times's "Dining & Wine" section that there's an economic recession under way? Here's from the e-headlines today:

Great Meals for Two, Under $100 (It's Possible)
By FRANK BRUNI
Getting food of some distinction in full-service restaurants and staying below $99 isn't too easy, but it can be done.

Y'know, I've been lying awake at nights preoccupied with the difficulties of finding a decent restaurant meal for under a hundred bucks. Oh dearie, dearie me. Where to turn? And now at last, thanks to those doughty folks at the NYT, I've found a few pointers . . .

Comments

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Nauseating, yes.

But to the wealthy this is a deal. I know folks in California who think nothing about dropping a grand on dinner. Ho hum, ain't life grand, wonder what the little people are doing tonight?

We never eat out. Too expensive. I freak out if a meal costs more than $20. I prefer handling my own food, fewer bacteria, fewer rat droppings and crickets, not to mention cockroaches. Then there're the sundry excretions of pissed-off chefs and cooks and waiters, which can quite possibly end up as relish on your dish, just on account of . . . whatever mood the staff are in that day.

Just ain't worth the dollar out-lay.

I know, I'm no fun. But I do love a good picnic or BBQ.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Personally I enjoy eating out (the rare occasions we do!), but not if the bill's going to be a major heart-stopper.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

But everything's so expensive these days, that eating out is a heart stopper. At least it is for me. I'd rather spend the money on something else, like books. Yes. Books.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"I'd rather spend the money on something else, like books."

But books are an essential, like water. We're talking about luxuries here.

[possumqueen.livejournal.com]

I love to dine out, but average people are searching for dinner-for-two under $50.00, including drinks. And that's if they can afford to dine out at all, even once or twice a year. :) Deprivation is in the eye of the beholder.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"average people are searching for dinner-for-two under $50.00, including drinks. And that's if they can afford to dine out at all"

Precisely.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

I believe it was a NYT food correspondent, Craig Claiborne, who wrote about a $4,000 meal at a restaurant. A quarter century ago.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

And 8 hours later what was it worth?

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Oh, we know the answer to that, don't we, Obi-Thog Kenobi? It has something to do with entropy.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

The same as any other shit.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

You mean not even any golden sparkles? What a swiz!

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

That would depend on what you ate.

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

I'll just go on being a plebe, I guess. Not that I'm likely to travel to NYC anytime soon.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

There are plenty of places in NYC where you can get a fine meal for two for far less than a hundred bucks, I assure you.

[lonfiction.livejournal.com]

My favorite meals in NYC usually involve street vendors and hot dogs...

Well under a hundred bucks. :)

(Though potentially just as heart-stopping, alas!)

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"My favorite meals in NYC usually involve street vendors and hot dogs..."

Mine usually involve sushi or biriani, but they're still well under $100 for the pair of us -- more like $40, including hooch.

[lonfiction.livejournal.com]

That's one of the things I miss most about the Northeast, the variety of international foods.

Took a long time to find a sushi place here in Dayton I wasn't afraid of. (Kinda far from salt-water, you know?) And we've recently become enamored with a Turkish restaurant. But generally, unless you want to eat Korean food at one of the half dozen places right outside of the Air Force base gate, you really have to work to find good international food.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I know the problem. Our nearest (barely adequate) Indian restaurants are about 30 miles away -- or we could go into NYC, 45 miles away. Since I'm from the UK (Indian restaurant on every corner) and Pam lived 20 years in NYC (likewise), this is Very Difficult for us.

We have a good Thai restaurant locally. We have a supermarket that has a surprisingly acceptable (not wonderful) sushi counter. But if we suddenly get a hankering for, say, a Greek meal?

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

You're not going to make sophomore at West Point?

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Yes it has been so heartwarming, so touching, the great concern the NY Times food and drink and style sections have been demonstrating for the dreadful shrinkage in budgets of the wealthy for conspicuous consumption.

Love, C. Who is so pleased she can cook, and who walks many blocks in order to be able to purchase fresh produce lots that she can afford. The same vegetables cost 3 times as much at the local supermarket than in Chinatown.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

It's sort of like going to a soup kitchen and handing out $5-Off coupons for caviar, isn't it?

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

Excellent example.

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

honestly. give me a break!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Okay, I will!

Er, what is it you want the break from?

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

ummm people that write articles like that!

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Arm or leg?

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Arm or leg?"

Lunch?

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

How do you break lunch?

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"How do you break lunch?"

Messily.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

You must have a liquid lunch.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

It is after it's been thoroughly broken.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Got to watch out for those glass shards.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"leg?"

Talking of which, the first Test starts tomorrow. Are you going to be poring over cricinfo.com, like me?

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Alas, no. I'm going to the dentist. Then, if I'm alive, I'm going to be marking papers. Or contemplating suicide. Or both.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

If the ODIs are any guide, we'll be able to catch the last few overs of the day before our breakfasts.

When I underwent pre-admission testing (twice!) back in May, the guy who drew my blood was an Indian. Pam couldn't understand why, the first time, we emerged from his little room as Best Buddies. I had to explain to her that I'd been able to tell him the latest score (at least, before we'd left home) in whatever Test it was underway in the UK at the time. As he observed, Months On End could go by without him having a patient who could bring him such crucial information.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Ah. The important things in life.

[sci-o-biscuits.livejournal.com]

Last week, I read a headline in an Israeli newspaper -

10 Ten Hummus Restaurants in Tel Aviv

The first restaurant description came with a photo of its hummus. Whole (not ground) chick peas in a bowl with some seasonings. Prices were WELL UNDER $100.