I hate chain restaurants.

[Cool-Beans]

double post

 

[paigevz]

So why do tourists like to go to non-chain restaurants with good reputations? TONS of tourists go to local eateries, but the word of mouth is what gets them there. I don't mind trying something new, but I don't want to waste my time either.......local eateries are just as likely to be bad serviced as a chain, and the kicker is, you might not like the food.

 

[Cool-Beans]

And that is the difference between a tourist and a traveler.

Oh, puhleeze. Plenty of people who travel for non-tourist reasons prefer to get a meal they know they'll like, too.

Taking a shot on a restaurant you know nothing about doesn't make you a non-tourist. It makes you a culinary gambler. You might get lucky, you might crap out.Some folks would rather go with what they like than take a chance on paying for a meal that will leave them unsatiated as well as poorer.

Trying out an unfamiliar restaurant can be done in your own home town. You don't have to travel to do it.

Sheesh.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Trying out an unfamiliar restaurant can be done in your own home town. You don't have to travel to do it.

Sheesh.

I think it would be really hard for some people who dine out a lot to find an unfamiliar restaurant in their town. We've lived here less than a year and we've eaten in every restaurant at least twice. So, a huge part of the appeal of travelling for us is to experience local food.

 

[ilisao]

Oh, puhleeze. Plenty of people who travel for non-tourist reasons prefer to get a meal they know they'll like, too.

Taking a shot on a restaurant you know nothing about doesn't make you a non-tourist. It makes you a culinary gambler. You might get lucky, you might crap out.Some folks would rather go with what they like than take a chance on paying for a meal that will leave them unsatiated as well as poorer.

Trying out an unfamiliar restaurant can be done in your own home town. You don't have to travel to do it.
Sheesh.

Never said you had to travel to do it. I had been originally responding to someone who said they like chain restaurants when they travel.

Seems I hit a nerve with some people.

 

[Cass]

Perhaps I should mention, my DH is a chef.

Really! what chain does he deep-fry for?

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Really! what chain does he deep-fry for?

Hardy har har! He's actually trained and cooks at a wonderful restaurant the next town over that uses all fresh foods. They use local and organic as much as possible. They also bake all their own breads and make all their own desserts. He has put in his time at a chain restaurant though. He worked at the Keg for a very short time. He said that most people would be appalled if they saw what they were actually eating there.

 

[Fire_Eater]

He said that most people would be appalled if they saw what they were actually eating there.

I was a line cook for a local place back home before I enlisted, you would be appalled if you saw what happens in most kitchens.

 

[paigevz]

Hardy har har! He's actually trained and cooks at a wonderful restaurant the next town over that uses all fresh foods. They use local and organic as much as possible. They also bake all their own breads and make all their own desserts. He has put in his time at a chain restaurant though. He worked at the Keg for a very short time. He said that most people would be appalled if they saw what they were actually eating there.

Oh I don't know. I'm not appalled very easily by restaurants. I know quite well what is in foods that I buy in the grocery as well, my dad was an organic farmer. Just because its fresh doesn't mean its good.....nonorganic stuff can have lots of junk on it/in it. SOME people who say they are growing organically use manure, which is NOT good. Awfully hard to buy organic in bulk. Bet they don't use it very often.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I was a line cook for a local place back home before I enlisted, you would be appalled if you saw what happens in most kitchens.

He's worked in a lot of kitchens and that was the only one that he could not ethically continue to cook in.

Oh I don't know. I'm not appalled very easily by restaurants. I know quite well what is in foods that I buy in the grocery as well, my dad was an organic farmer. Just because its fresh doesn't mean its good.....nonorganic stuff can have lots of junk on it/in it. SOME people who say they are growing organically use manure, which is NOT good. Awfully hard to buy organic in bulk. Bet they don't use it very often.

Actually, they use orgainic a lot. There are local suppliers that do sell in bulk and they grow a lot of their own produce organically. Not everything they use is organic but quite a bit. There is a huge restaurant industry in the town he works in and it's certainly not the only organic place. He took a lot of time and research into deciding where to work now that he is established and has the luxury of choosing. Unfortunately, places like this are few and far between in the scheme of things.

 

[Cass]

Mmmmm.. The Keg

 

[bavaria]

I happen to really enjoy Cora's. They begin prepping at 5 am. I wish there was one nearby.

Chez Cora is a chain restaurant

 

[paigevz]

He's worked in a lot of kitchens and that was the only one that he could not ethically continue to cook in.



Actually, they use orgainic a lot. There are local suppliers that do sell in bulk and they grow a lot of their own produce organically. Not everything they use is organic but quite a bit. There is a huge restaurant industry in the town he works in and it's certainly not the only organic place. He took a lot of time and research into deciding where to work now that he is established and has the luxury of choosing. Unfortunately, places like this are few and far between in the scheme of things.

Yeah? Have you been to the organic farm? Have you watched them in their organic pest control methods, organic compost, organic cleaning methods? It's extremely difficult to do organic on large scale. Not saying no one does, but it isn't easy. It's very expensive to buy that produce BECAUSE it's hard to do it large scale. Not to mention that then you have the issue of meat......it's water supply, it's food, it's medicines, how it's handled at butchering.........and THEN you can look at the restaurant itself and its pest control, quality control, and cleaning methods.

Basically, there's no all organic anything unless you live on your own farm that you run organically yourself, using only naturally grown food for your stock, and well water (and even that is starting to be contaminated), and the state REQUIRES certain vaccines for the stock.......in short, the way I grew up......which, btw, isn't that much of a picnic because it takes WORK to live that way!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Chez Cora is a chain restaurant

I'm well aware. So? I've already said that there are exceptions.

Yeah? Have you been to the organic farm? Have you watched them in their organic pest control methods, organic compost, organic cleaning methods? It's extremely difficult to do organic on large scale. Not saying no one does, but it isn't easy. It's very expensive to buy that produce BECAUSE it's hard to do it large scale. Not to mention that then you have the issue of meat......it's water supply, it's food, it's medicines, how it's handled at butchering.........and THEN you can look at the restaurant itself and its pest control, quality control, and cleaning methods.

Basically, there's no all organic anything unless you live on your own farm that you run organically yourself, using only naturally grown food for your stock, and well water (and even that is starting to be contaminated), and the state REQUIRES certain vaccines for the stock.......in short, the way I grew up......which, btw, isn't that much of a picnic because it takes WORK to live that way!

Hang on a minute . . . I didn't claim that this particular restaurant was "all organic". I said that they make great efforts to be as organic and as local and as fresh as possible. I am well aware of both the costs and challenges involved in this food philosophy. And for the record, I have been to one of the organic farms that they use several times as it's where we get our food regularly for our home. I am very pleased with the quality of their food and agricultural practices.

My point is that I have been able to find local restaurants that are commited to using organic and local foods. I have yet to find a chain restaurant around here that is.

 

[PatriciaH]

I think it would be really hard for some people who dine out a lot to find an unfamiliar restaurant in their town. We've lived here less than a year and we've eaten in every restaurant at least twice. So, a huge part of the appeal of travelling for us is to experience local food.

I could go out to eat every night for a year here and still miss a ton of restaurants! We have chains, local restaurants, hole in the walls, diners, theme park places, hotel restaurants, etc..

 

[Cantw8]

I'm well aware. So? I've already said that there are exceptions.



Hang on a minute . . . I didn't claim that this particular restaurant was "all organic". I said that they make great efforts to be as organic and as local and as fresh as possible. I am well aware of both the costs and challenges involved in this food philosophy. And for the record, I have been to one of the organic farms that they use several times as it's where we get our food regularly for our home. I am very pleased with the quality of their food and agricultural practices.

My point is that I have been able to find local restaurants that are commited to using organic and local foods. I have yet to find a chain restaurant around here that is.

Dang, you're an argumentative one, aren't ya???

 

[perdidobay]

I eat whatever I'm in the mood for- be it fast food, mom&pop places, upscale locally owned.

To each his own..

I gotta say, back when I worked at a company where I took care of live plants in all kinds of restaurants, the kitchens were ALL nasty.

Didn't matter if it was 4 star or chain.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I thought this thread was dead by now?

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I could go out to eat every night for a year here and still miss a ton of restaurants! We have chains, local restaurants, hole in the walls, diners, theme park places, hotel restaurants, etc..

Yes but I notice you live in a larger place than many other people including me. Unfortunately, I have to travel at least a half an hour for good food and an hour for any sort of selection.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Of all the places I worked when I waitressed, Olive Garden had the cleanest kitchen. Seriously. Spotless. I thought I'd died and gone to Kitchen Heaven when I walked into it.

And the worst was the non-chain. Disgusting kitchen. The owner got mad and threw plates and mugs and such at people who pissed him off. If you happened to walk in and hear him yelling, you immediately started making sure you weren't in the line of fire. I worked there all of four days. Told him if he wanted me to stay I needed combat pay.