Author Topic: Restaurant or home cooked (Read 773 times)

Questor · « **on:** May 10, 2009, 03:32:24 AM »

We hardly go to a restaurant anymore. We go out for sandwiches regularly, and we go to restaurants when traveling. But when we consider restaurants we are usually disappointed from memories of other restaurants. We know what we'll be getting, so we realize that we can get much better ingredients prepared much better at home.

I like to meet friends socially at restaurants, but definitely prefer to visit and have a meal at one of our homes.

Where do restaurants fit into your life?

magooch · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2009, 04:03:05 AM »

When my wife and I go to Arizona for the winter, we eat in restaurants all the time. I would rate some of those restaurants as some of the best you can find; the food is super and most of the time we don't have to pay for it (gambling comps). All the same, it doesn't take long before we are craving a home cooked meal.

When we're home, we don't eat out that much, but there is this one casino that we visit regularly and enjoy their buffet, which is very good. Other than that, my wife would love to go to the coast and eat at this one particular seafood joint a couple times a week, but that ain't happening. It is pretty expensive; the food is good, but probably not the healthiest. It is deep fried.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2009, 04:08:01 AM »

We go out once a month or so for breakfast. There is a restaraunt by us that has an awesome skirt steak and eggs. they're pretty reasonable too.

Sometimes on Friday we'll go out or order a pizza.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2009, 04:15:54 AM »

We go out a night or 2 a week. My cooking can beat moat resteraunts.

Questor, If you are ever down in south central MN there is a town south of Windon named Bergen, there is a little steak house there where you generally have to wait to get in. The food there is second to none. The prices are unbelievable. They have a 3.2 and setup licence so bring yourself a nice bottle of wine or 2. fiftey dollars will cover the meal for 2 people easily, and I guarentee that they have the best steaks you have ever eaten.

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2009, 05:38:38 AM »

Thanks Billy_56081. If you're in Rochester and like Italian food, try Victoria's. It is honestly the best Italian restaurant I have ever been to. Portions are quite large. Last time we went was my wife, two hungry kids, and me. We got one entree, a salad, and a piece of cake. That fed us all. For comparison, I'm saying Victorias is better than the Italian food I've had in Italian havens like New York City, Boston, and Miami. That's very high praise.

The Greek restaurant, Zorba's, also in Rochester is really good too.

Victoria's is right near the downtown Mayo complex. Zorba's is in a residential area north of downtown, about 10 minutes from the clinic.

Also, there's a great archery shop there call the Footed Shaft. He almost exclusively sells "traditional" archery equipment and supplies. I.e., no compound bows. It's adjacent to another more modern archery shop that has an indoor range. It's just north of town. Worth a stop if you like archery.

mauser98us · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2009, 05:52:04 AM »

And while your in Rochester,go to Austin and see how Spam is made. If your good they will even give a sample of it to you. and when done there,go to Cabelas on I-35

billy_56081 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2009, 06:34:10 AM »

I have been to the footed shaft. I actually did some work with one of the guys that owns it if I am not mistaken. I have also done a bunch of work at Hormel and stop at Cabelas regularly. If you are a reloader, Almans in Moristown is about the best priced place I have ever been for components.

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2009, 06:50:37 AM »

Spam!? Gak! Too salty for me. I won't eat it again, but I understand that the Spam museum is surprisingly interesting to visit.

My mother-in-law lives 10 minutes from the Cabelas, so we get there regularly. I'm always amazed by places like that.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2009, 07:00:15 AM »

Spam and eggs, yummy! Now that is some home cooking from back in my Colorado hunting guide days. There was nothing more tasty after a hard day of traipsing around the mountains than a plate of Spam and eggs. Was only 5 minutes to a hot cooked meal.

You ever get over to Ahlmans? They are right off of hiway 60 by Waterville or Moristown I don't remember which one.

Questor · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2009, 07:03:02 AM »

I've been there, but not often. Prices seemed high there. I like to buy my guns near home with dealers I know and patronize repeatedly, if possible. the real attraction to Waterville for me is the bullheads.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2009, 07:05:47 AM »

Yah the Iowegin walleyes are the Bomb. I usually buy alot of my reloading supplies at Ahlamans they seem to have the best prices on powder I have found.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2009, 08:41:10 AM »

Billy thanks for the heads up on Ahlmans and reloading supplies. I drive within 2miles of the place going to work and for some reason never think of them for reloading, as their ammo prices are on the higher end of the scale.

Back to the subject, I make it a habit to only go to restraunts that serve things that I have failed at reproducing at home. Mex place here in town does a pretty good job on what I'll call plate lunches. The tacos etc are fine too but I can do as good a job at home so never get them out. Same with burgers if I choose to I can equal any burger out there so rarely get a "Fudruckers" urge. I very rarely do steak out I feel like that is one of the easiest things for me to do to my liking and the most difficult to have done. Most cooks will over cook a steak I am stunned at a rare steak that comes back med. rare to med. and med well seems more the norm. Quester, I'll definately check out Victorias we get to Rochester every couple month's. My last box of arrows came from the Footed Shaft I didn't notice the other shop next to them, it was better than a year ago I suppose.

Hodr · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2009, 02:23:15 PM »

Wait for a sale with a butcher you know. For every two people have him cut the two largest well marbled full prime ribs. Loosen the chine(rib bone) but don't seperate all the way. Tie tight with one or two wraps cooking twine. Rub in pepper, garlic salt, and Montreal steak seasoning to taste. Roast standing up at 375 so the largest possible area gets outside crunch. When a MEAT THERMOMETER says 5 degrees under where you want it done, take out and let stand for 5 minutes. Take the best carving knife you have and run it down between the two ribs and they should fall clean, pull off the string. You now have two of the finest 1 1/2 lb homecooked steaks in existence. I grew up in a restraunt and have worked casino food, cater, chef and instructor at times, you can go out and spend a fortune for some restraunt to set the table and do the dishes, but you can't get better than this. I will never be able to eat them again since my surgery but I still like making them for others. My chicken fried steak ain't bad either.

blindhari

Hodr · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2009, 02:33:59 PM »

Oops got off topic. Restraunts are places I get to take my wife and when I am lucky I get to pick up the check for those in military uniform, or those older than I am wearing reunion gear or colors from days gone by. $5 over thier tab generally gets the waitress to cooperate and just tell them it"s a thank you from a customer. I had one crusty WWII gunny figure out who I was but paid off the manager to hold his next 3 tabs for me when I wasn't in the place. It's sort of a running joke at the cafe for the last year or so. Wish I could do more.

blindhari

Absent Companions

Heather · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:04:33 AM »

They still have restraunts? I though they had all been replaced with McDonalds! J/K

Now Matt and I go out to eat twice a year. Once on his b-day and once on mine. The boys get a happy meal maybe once a month. Sometimes every other month. I can buy enough chicken nuggest and apples at the store to make them happy meals at home for the whole month for the price I can buy 3 happy meals. So it is a rare treat to them to get to eat out. I cook three times a day and often more. I guess it is a good thing that I like to cook or life might not be so sweet.

Heather

WolfTrap · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:27:25 AM »

Wife and I will look for a Denny's.
They've standardize the menu to our liking.
We don't entertain family and friends at restaurants or dives, but have them over our home for home cook meals.
Rare to find a place that serves upped a "Home cook" meal?
WT

Sourdough · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 2009, 07:03:42 AM »

Wife works, Son goes to college and Gym (He's into bodybuilding), I'm retired and constantly going somewhere. Cooking at home consist of using the George Foreman, toaster oven, and microwave usually for Breakfast. So we often meet in town when the kid gets out of the Gym, the wife gets off work, and I am ready to head home from what ever I am doing. We meet at Denny's, Chili's, or somewhere else in town for dinner. Wife and I have soup and salad, the kid has steak.

On weekends the wife likes to cook a big breakfast Saturday and Sunday mornings. Then we usually eat in town in the evening.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 11, 2009, 07:12:26 AM »

Around my part of Florida I try to support the smaller, nonfranchise, Mom and Pop places at least once a week. I will give them a try and if their food is as good as what we can cook at home I will go back.

I feel fortunate enough that my wife and I both are still working in spite of the salary reductions, and we support a small breakfast house after church each Sunday.

Usually once a month we will go out to eat dinner. Whether its Italian, BBQ, Seafood or Steaks, we have many smaller restaurants that I hope will continue to hang on in this economy.

rockbilly · « **Reply #18 on:** May 11, 2009, 08:18:34 AM »

Heather, It doesn't take much to make me happy............you say you cook three "hots" a day? If you ever decide to leave Mat give me a call, I'll take ya.

Heather · « **Reply #19 on:** May 11, 2009, 08:33:42 AM »

Quote from: Sourdough on May 11, 2009, 07:03:42 AM

Cooking at home consist of using the George Foreman, toaster oven, and microwave usually for Breakfast.

Did you know that a microwave zaps the nutrients out of food? I read a study on it, and if you warm canned or frozen vegetables in the microwave that by the time it is warm enough to eat there is little if no nutrients that remain in the veggies. The same doesn't go for fresh veggies for some reason. It only takes half of their nutrients in the time it takes to steam fresh veggies in the microwave. Just food for thought.

Heather

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #20 on:** May 11, 2009, 11:53:12 AM »

I drive a truck and eat out more than I like. Nothing like a home cooked meal for me.