"People these days don't go to a restaurant when they're hungry. They go to celebrate something, or meet friends, or share an experience."
This statement was made today on the Morning Show by Michael Moore, Head Chef at the Summit Restaurant in Sydney. That got me thinking. "Bullshit" was my knee-jerk reaction! What ARE the reasons I eat out so frequently? I automatically assumed that I always eat out because I am hungry or too lazy to cook at night, but when I thought a bit more deeply about it, I might have to concede that he may well be right.
I'm considering going to Taste of Huon today - to taste some great food and share an experience. I'm eating at Anatolia's on Wednesday night - to meet friends. I'm going out for brunch next Sunday - to meet friends. I blog about restaurant and cafe food - to share thoughts about an experience.
So I'm thinking this guy may well be right - for me anyway. Only on a Friday night, after a week at work, and with two days off work staring me in the face, do I eat out, or get takeaway, when I'm genuinely hungry.
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21 comments:
He forgot the other reason - entertainment. In a western society we use restaurants as a form of entertainment to distract us because we seem to have forgotten the art of communication on a simpler level, sharing and enjoying a meal with good company regardless of the time or place.
Perhaps?
I go out to eat for lots of reasons depending on how I'm feeling.
I have a regular "catch up with the girls" once a month. Mostly I look forward to it. I love the company, and we try to check out new places, and I love to eat out. Sometimes I don't really feel like it, but after going, am always so glad I went. Great company adds a lot to the evening.
Every couple of weeks Hubby and I go out just to have some US time. With a house full of teenagers sometimes it's hard to find time just to catch up and chat. Mostly we end up discussing food and wine. Very happily of course as we both enjoy it so much.
Sometimes I just can't be bothered cooking. I do it for a living, and luckily I love it, but every now and then, enough is enough.
We always celebrate events and milestones and these are usually done dining out. Easier when lots of people are involved.
I'd love to have people over more often, but as our house is a little on the small side, I find this a bit daunting at times. Summer is always great as we have a great pergola,bbq, and backyard.
Whenever we dine out, 90% of the time it's a planned event. Birthdays,anniversaries,regular catch up. The rest is spur of the moment, if we can afford it, can we be bothered, type of experience.
Sometimes these can be the best.
What ever the reason, it's become one of my passions, something I enjoy and love to share with friends and family, and very occassionally, as has happened recently, the opportunity to meet new friends.
May it never end.
Interesting points from both HRV and Christina.
It would indeed seem that we eat out not so much from hunger but for other varied reasons.
Maybe it's so that the fast food outlets actually DO fulfil the hunger need in us! After all, you sure as hell wouldn't buy a Big Mac or Hungry Jacks or KFC for the joy of tasting the myriad flavours, and for the good nutrition (not to mention cheffing skills utilised) to be found in them?
I eat out for two reasons mainly
1. Because I love trying new food that I can then try to recreate at home
2. There is something special about getting dressed up and going out.
Rita - you got another one!
When I was growing up, eating out was considered a dreadful extravagance, particularly since we were quite poor in the early years. Luckily, our family had some great old-fashioned cooks and good food itself was always very central and important in our lives. In fact, providing great meals largely substituted for affection in our rather emotionally reserved family.
Later, increased income and the influence of American style take away food, as well as new friends from Mediterranean and Asian backgrounds, broadened our tastes. I became a regular "restaurant" patron in my mid 20s.
These days, I tend, for personal and financial reasons, to seek out really special restaurants a couple of times a year. I 'eat out' on a more regular basis at a range of 'good value' pubs and cafes. Certainly the desire to catch up with friends is the main motive. I am also a pretty OK cook myself and generally prefer my own cooking to that provided by many of the 'mid range' reataurants, especially when we have access to such good quality produce these days.
I agree Anon2 - you ARE a pretty good cook!
Thanks for that Rita. I'm proud to say that Mon reckons she's a bit spoilt by my cooking and is sometimes disappointed when eating out. Does wonders for my fragile ego.
Didn't see you at Taste of Huon yesterday - I can understand why. The heat was unbearable until the change around 2pm. Standing in queues for the best tucker in the sun quickly killed the appetite. It was worth it to see Paul Foreman actually cook a salmon dish with that famous citrus salt - he privately confided that he actually prefers ocean trout!
Cheers
I missed out on seeing Paul on Sunday Anon2. So glad you got to.
Did you get the recipe for the salt by chance?
Sorry guys,
I'm a bit thick sometimes. Just remembered the salt recipe is on Rita's web site.
Haven't come across the pink salt yet. Anyone know where to get that ?
pink salt .... ask John at SerraRAo fine foods in Federal st north hobart 62 312788 He gets us heaps of hard to get stuff. Great guys great range of food - open to the public.
Cool Room
Takeaway when I can't be bothered cooking (usually Friday night). Actually sitting in a restaurant (rare now with the little'uns) on special occasions (day off, with kids at childcare, or treat from the parental units) or for celebrations.
the pink salt is murray river salt
Paul said that the Murray River pink salt is hard to get locally, but didn't elaborate. He actually had his assistant from the audience (actually a baker from Jackman's) make the salt - large flat tray, spread fresh zest of two oranges and a lemon, sprinkle with flakey sea salt (Murray River pink preferably) leave open overnight then put in screw top jar and use for weeks or months - intensity of flavour declines with age.
Who could be bothered with pink salt for god's sake?
The Murray has dried up and is freshwater....so where does the salt come in?
Probably sulphur more like.
Pink salt.....I ask you. Oooh, it's got pink salt....wow.
Yeh! I agree it sounds a bit poncy. BUT , I also thought until recently all salt was just salt, that is, just tasted salty. I have since found out that this is not the case. Lots of sea salts have differing flavours and definitely make a difference to the food they are used with.
woolies in new town often has the pink salt flakes - murray river, purple box
Thankyou Anon2 for elaborating on the recipe. I can't wait to try this. I too used to think salt was just salt. Not so I've found.
Also thanks to fk for the hot tip.
Much appreciated.
Sir Grumpy, are you getting grumpier?
Christina - fk is Food Kitty - and SHE should know!
And I'm with you - we all love you SO much Sir G - but you DO seem to be getting grumpier. I noticed that recently in a few of your comments on Gobbler's site, and thought to myself that Sir G seems to be getting more terse as the days go by!
He just thinks that everyone is a wanker if they talk about food that he thinks is trendy.
Maybe he should abbreviate his name to Grumpy?
Pink salt is based on the classic Se Rose from France, a beautiful pink salt that is traditionally used in the production of smallgoods and charcuterie so the meat does not loose it's pink tinge and go grey. In Australia we use poisonous sodium nitrate in it's place.
You can get the Murray Salt (pink) from Serrarao. Very ggod stuff and helps a little with the salinity problems.
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