Eating out - good way to gain weight and lose pounds

CiB

The greatest invention known to man and beast, eating out. Accept that it'll cost a few quid, go with the flow and enjoy a good meal with good wine and good company - you married her, at least enjoy a one to one for two hours in a nice envirment once in a while. It's only money. At the end of the year you won't miss the few quid it cost for a night like that in a decent Italian restaurant enjoying good food and a wine recommended by the wine waiter that really does go with the food. Eating out should be compulsory, or on the NHS.

surrey_commuter

I am wondering if we need training courses on how to get the most out of eating in restaurants.

Don’t like the table ? then refuse it as they are palming it off on mugs
Don’t want to hang around? Tell them you are in a hurry
Service not to your liking? Make sure you are in the boss seat

mr_goo

Bowl of olives in Italian. Whole or Stoned?
My wife says the former as that's how the Italians serve them on home territory. I say stoned as I don't think spitting out something resembling a hard green booga is conducive to a pleasant dining experience.
Your thoughts.

rick_chasey

CiB wrote:

The greatest invention known to man and beast, eating out. Accept that it'll cost a few quid, go with the flow and enjoy a good meal with good wine and good company - you married her, at least enjoy a one to one for two hours in a nice envirment once in a while. It's only money. At the end of the year you won't miss the few quid it cost for a night like that in a decent Italian restaurant enjoying good food and a wine recommended by the wine waiter that really does go with the food. Eating out should be compulsory, or on the NHS.

quite right.

rolf_f

Mr Goo wrote:

Just come back from a week up in Leeds and ate out 4 nights on spin. Came home feeling pretty grotty. Think it was the large haddock and chips at the Wetherby Whaler that did it. What on earth do they fry with up north? Brent Crude?

There's loads of really good places to eat in Leeds. Really, there is no excuse to go to Whetherby Whaler. Where else did you eat?

amrushton wrote:

Depends on the buffet.

No, it does not! Really it doesn't. You're still going to the trough however great the venue is and however good the chef is. The food cannot make up for the way it is supplied.

The other issue with buffets is that they can destroy the flow of the meal and it's conversation; after a while when people start getting up to return to the trough and re-pile their plates. Ugh!

rolf_f

CiB wrote:

The greatest invention known to man and beast, eating out.

Naah, I think the wheel edges out eating out......

shirley_basso

Rolf F wrote:

CiB wrote:

The greatest invention known to man and beast, eating out.

Naah, I think the wheel edges out eating out......

Only because they could make it out of cheese.

DeVlaeminck

Not particularly a foodie but I enjoy eating out probably like most just as a pleasant way to spend time with friends and family. It can be expensive but I think as someone said above we should spend more on doing things and less on buying things.

As for the chains - they can serve a function - we had our football team presentation last year at a pizza hut (or some pizza chain anyway) and had a thoroughly nice night - it was nice to see the players all enjoying it while the other half, myself and a couple of the players parents spent the last of the season's budget on pizzas and several cold pints of Magners. As Rick said it's more about the company really the meal is just the reason to get together.

I treat going to football much the same now - £30 to sit in a modern stadium is not worth it but going occasionally keeps me in touch with old mates and it's more about having a few drinks with them before and after - if the game is a good one well that's a bonus.

mr_goo

Rolf F wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

Just come back from a week up in Leeds and ate out 4 nights on spin. Came home feeling pretty grotty. Think it was the large haddock and chips at the Wetherby Whaler that did it. What on earth do they fry with up north? Brent Crude?

There's loads of really good places to eat in Leeds. Really, there is no excuse to go to Whetherby Whaler. Where else did you eat?

amrushton wrote:

Depends on the buffet.

No, it does not! Really it doesn't. You're still going to the trough however great the venue is and however good the chef is. The food cannot make up for the way it is supplied.

The other issue with buffets is that they can destroy the flow of the meal and it's conversation; after a while when people start getting up to return to the trough and re-pile their plates. Ugh!

Stayed in Wetherby.
Went to Sukhothai nr Headingly. That was very good indeed.

On the last night after finishing 18 holes at The Leeds GC in near complete darkness (mad). Went to The Bengal Brasserie, Wetherby which was good, although eating after 9.30 is never good for me.

shortfall

Mr Goo wrote:

ayjaycee wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

I've never been one for eating out in restaurants. Just don't like the being on parade scenario that goes with it. Give me a nice pub with decent real ale and a cornish pastie or steak pie and I'm a happy bunny.

Just come back from a week up in Leeds and ate out 4 nights on spin. Came home feeling pretty grotty. Think it was the large haddock and chips at the Wetherby Whaler that did it. What on earth do they fry with up north? Brent Crude?

wetherby whaler? you ate at one of these voluntarily?

https://www.wetherbywhaler.co.uk/our-food/

sheeeeeesh............... no wonder you came back feeling crook.

I'm guessing that’s one of those places where they don’t have many saucepans but do have quite a few industrial size microwaves.

I was a stranger in a strange town so went with the flow.
No word of a lie when I say that when I bit into the batter I could feel the oil squishing out. Never ever again. It's put me off fish n chips for quite sometime.

Almost forgot. No Cod! Bl00dy Charlatans up t north prefer Haddock.

Wetherby Whaler's are normally pretty good IME. Ok it's not fine dining but if you want a good feed in reasonable surroundings for around 15 quid including a starter or a pudding and tea, bread and butter then what's not to like? They fry in dripping so if you're used to oil it might taste a bit rich but that's the way people like it in Yorkshire. Ditto Haddock rather than cod.

Stevo_666

Shortfall wrote:

Wetherby Whaler's are normally pretty good IME. Ok it's not fine dining but if you want a good feed in reasonable surroundings for around 15 quid including a starter or a pudding and tea, bread and butter then what's not to like? They fry in dripping so if you're used to oil it might taste a bit rich but that's the way people like it in Yorkshire. Ditto Haddock rather than cod.

It's probably just as well he didn't stay on Teesside and order a Chicken Parmo

rolf_f

Mr Goo wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

Just come back from a week up in Leeds and ate out 4 nights on spin. Came home feeling pretty grotty. Think it was the large haddock and chips at the Wetherby Whaler that did it. What on earth do they fry with up north? Brent Crude?

There's loads of really good places to eat in Leeds. Really, there is no excuse to go to Whetherby Whaler. Where else did you eat?

amrushton wrote:

Depends on the buffet.

No, it does not! Really it doesn't. You're still going to the trough however great the venue is and however good the chef is. The food cannot make up for the way it is supplied.

The other issue with buffets is that they can destroy the flow of the meal and it's conversation; after a while when people start getting up to return to the trough and re-pile their plates. Ugh!

Stayed in Wetherby.
Went to Sukhothai nr Headingly. That was very good indeed.

On the last night after finishing 18 holes at The Leeds GC in near complete darkness (mad). Went to The Bengal Brasserie, Wetherby which was good, although eating after 9.30 is never good for me.

At least you didn't go to Chickyandos which is an establishment I pass on my way home from work....

You should perhaps have gone to Piccolino's just out of Wetherby on the way to Leeds; that was nice last time I was there (which, to be fair, was a fair while ago!). Not been to Sukhothai but it always seems highly rated.

I've only eaten in a Wetherby Whaler once - as with every time I've eaten at a fish and chip restaurant I've wondered why we didn't just order it as a takeaway. It just seems a weird food to eat in a restaurant. The fish and chips seemed fine though but there's a hundred places I'd go to first.

Matthewfalle

amrushton wrote:

Depends on the buffet. Friend of mine went to the Sunday brunch at The Fairmont in San Francisco. Cost was $30 a person back then and he said he had that in lobster before anaything else. Likewise The Cosmopolitan in LV. I had cheap buffet in LV and it was awful. In another life I visited a number of Michelin starred places and thoroughly enjoyed them but I love the decor and ambience and wearing a tie. Tip is to go for a set lunch as these are cheaper. I wish I had got a job as a restaurant reviewer. These days I'm poorer and some places are ridiculously expensive for f-all. £7.50 for some brocolli! But then M&S were selling cauliflower steaks for £5(?) A whole cauli can be bought for a £1

thats the thing with buffets exactly - pay 30 bucks then pile as much lobster as you can on your plate whilst going "hurr hurr thats more than $30 hurr hurr" and waddling back to your table before going on about it a la bragadicio.

then heading back for a bucket of prawns "'cos they're there".

buffets just have no decorum or class and neither do those who go to them.

sometimes things in moderation are best.

kingstongraham

Can I nominate Lympstone Manor as best place to eat?

surrey_commuter

KingstonGraham wrote:

Can I nominate Lympstone Manor as best place to eat?

more locally The French Table in Surbiton is very good

Matthewfalle

it all depends what you are after to nominate a "best place to eat"

informal
formal
to impress
to get into someone's pants
style of cooking
nationality of cooking
type of food
business
party
etc

we here think that you can't really compare a shack selling delicious fresh caught bbq'd fish & a glass of wine with the Fat Duck although at that one point in time that fish may be the TDNFNATN of meals. Yup, that good.

Lagrange

Used to travel a bit, staying in hotels and HAD to eat out. I didn't mind sitting at a table for 1 with a book but the bar / restaurants really did not take to it so I just bought stuff at the supermarket (including food for next week at home), eat in my hotel and claim for the lot when I got back. I used to take my sheets and pillowcases and get the hotel to wash and iron them too!

...and this was BEFORE I became a sociopath..

crumbschief

Lagrange wrote:

Used to travel a bit, staying in hotels and HAD to eat out. I didn't mind sitting at a table for 1 with a book but the bar / restaurants really did not take to it so I just bought stuff at the supermarket (including food for next week at home), eat in my hotel and claim for the lot when I got back. I used to take my sheets and pillowcases and get the hotel to wash and iron them too!

...and this was BEFORE I became a sociopath..

But that is so shallow and manipulative,nevermind

orraloon

Buffet. We had our old-enough-to-know-better footie team end of season night out in a local Indian when it turned out to be an all-u-kin-eat thing on a Tuesday eve. Was bombed out, fat bleeps all over. But we saw most of them off pronto, probably with doggie fat barsteward baggies about their persons, when one of our guys, Peter there named, who had brought his guitar along and insisted on a singalong stylee 'Those Were The Days'. He was well pish, but as there were 20+ of us rel fit males on a long table, no fat fxxxer was going to say owt.

Haddock. Good. Cod. Meh.

Matthewfalle

orraloon wrote:

Buffet. We had our old-enough-to-know-better footie team end of season night out in a local Indian when it turned out to be an all-u-kin-eat thing on a Tuesday eve. Was bombed out, fat bleeps all over. But we saw most of them off pronto, probably with doggie fat barsteward baggies about their persons, when one of our guys, Peter there named, who had brought his guitar along and insisted on a singalong stylee 'Those Were The Days'. He was well pish, but as there were 20+ of us rel fit males on a long table, no fat fxxxer was going to say owt.

Haddock. Good. Cod. Meh.

can you translate that please, see. where you be to? we can't understand any of that.

kingstongraham

Surrey Commuter wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

Can I nominate Lympstone Manor as best place to eat?

more locally The French Table in Surbiton is very good

I'd class that as somewhere that cooks good food - understandably the space isn't perfect.

Best food I've had in the last few years is Hedone in Chiswick. A couple of courses were pretty much perfection. Highly recommended.

surrey_commuter

KingstonGraham wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

Can I nominate Lympstone Manor as best place to eat?

more locally The French Table in Surbiton is very good

I'd class that as somewhere that cooks good food - understandably the space isn't perfect.

Best food I've had in the last few years is Hedone in Chiswick. A couple of courses were pretty much perfection. Highly recommended.

I take your point - probably holds fond memories as I could walk there.

I am lucky enough to have dined at a few top class restaurants on other people’s $ and if being invited out would always chose more simple food in a good location and good service.

Ben6899

Best food I've eaten in ages is at Nopi, in Soho, a month or so ago. Before that it was Nopi, in Soho, a year or so ago.

So good.

Before that, arguably Riverford Field Kitchen near Buckfastleigh.

mrfpb

Midlands Grimpeur wrote:

To me eating is something you do to stay alive its a bodily function - but currently eating out and being a foodie is currently a hobby - I don't get it.

I know a lot of people who view food in this light, and I suspect this feeds in to your lack of pleasure derived from eating out. You are definitely not alone in your view, I am sure many others share it. I am the complete opposite, food and cooking plays an integral part in my daily life and always has done, I believe it is an intrinsic part of our socialisation; sharing a meal, conversations around the dinner table growing up etc. but I appreciate this is not the norm for everyone. Eating in better restaurants is probably not going to convert you if you don't already see food as a means of gaining enjoyment and pleasure from something, perhaps better to spend your time and money on something you really enjoy.

Would people take the same attitude to sex, do you think.

"Unless your wanting to make a baby, then frankly there's no point doing it"

kingrollo

mrfpb wrote:

Midlands Grimpeur wrote:

To me eating is something you do to stay alive its a bodily function - but currently eating out and being a foodie is currently a hobby - I don't get it.

I know a lot of people who view food in this light, and I suspect this feeds in to your lack of pleasure derived from eating out. You are definitely not alone in your view, I am sure many others share it. I am the complete opposite, food and cooking plays an integral part in my daily life and always has done, I believe it is an intrinsic part of our socialisation; sharing a meal, conversations around the dinner table growing up etc. but I appreciate this is not the norm for everyone. Eating in better restaurants is probably not going to convert you if you don't already see food as a means of gaining enjoyment and pleasure from something, perhaps better to spend your time and money on something you really enjoy.

Would people take the same attitude to sex, do you think.

"Unless your wanting to make a baby, then frankly there's no point doing it"

No.

aldenbass229

shirley_basso said:

Eating is one of life's greatest pleasures.


I love eating out and I am getting better at choosing the 'best' thing on the menu rather than what I usually would have eaten were I at home / playing it safe. Also restaurant plate sizes are 'just so' that I can eat everything over 3 courses and not feel stuffed, just perfectly satisfied. Unlike at home where I eat until I am about to burst.


As said - it's about going to the right places, ordering the right food and having great company. Even chain restaurants are nice, just for a change of scenery and a night off the washing up.


I do know some others who don't really 'get' nice restaurants. Personally I struggle a bit with overly fussy michelin-starred places with all the gels, mousses, purees and so on but still find them worthwhile for a treat every now and then.

I am also agree with your words. I am also a foodious person. I love eating. I preferred to go restaurants on the weekends and eat yummy food. I am also like to explore the new foody places. With the eating we also need to do exercise. Cycling is the best way to keep your body fit.

surrey_commuter

Welcome to the forum but I am intrigued how you stumbled across this old thread and amazed that you would sign up and engage with some heathen buffet dwellers.

ugo.santalucia

ugo.santalucia said:

Lose with one "o" only.


Half the time is a waste of money, the other half is worth spending that money. That said, I'd rather eat out than do any of the alternatives you mentioned.

My problem is "other people", I can't stand being surrounded by folks at short distance... shows, films, concerts, games, races... it all involves being jammed in a small seat in a crowd, not to speak about queues and shortage of loos

Quoting myself from 2019... I was socially distant before it became a thing...

always ahead of the curve

shirley_basso

Still been out to a posh restaurant and a couple of chains in the last month.

Wagamamas constantly disappoints. Franca manca never bad.

pblakeney

The best advice for eating out - No point in ordering something you can have at home.