General fitness, health and nutrition · Public discussion

fine dining

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General fitness, health and nutrition
Published
16 September 2007
Last activity
19 September 2007
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Brian Christiansen
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  1. The other day, I was listening to a talk radio program. The topic of
    discusssion was smoking laws.

    A caller called in to say that because of the smoking laws in her town being
    too lax (I think), she could not go to "fine dining" restaraunts like
    Chilis or Applebees, and was forced to go to fast food joints.

    Perhaps my standards aren't very high because I have no problem eating at
    places like that, I even have no problem eating at fast food joints, for
    that matter. By the same token, I really don't think of places like
    Applebees, etc. to be "fine dining," and that they are really only perhaps a
    half-step to a step above fast food joints. Even a good part of that is
    because they have nicer decor.

    Brian Christiansen

  2. One time on Usenet, "Brian Christiansen"

    Quoted message said:

    The other day, I was listening to a talk radio program. The topic of
    discusssion was smoking laws.

    A caller called in to say that because of the smoking laws in her town being
    too lax (I think), she could not go to "fine dining" restaraunts like
    Chilis or Applebees, and was forced to go to fast food joints.

    Perhaps my standards aren't very high because I have no problem eating at
    places like that, I even have no problem eating at fast food joints, for
    that matter. By the same token, I really don't think of places like
    Applebees, etc. to be "fine dining," and that they are really only perhaps a
    half-step to a step above fast food joints. Even a good part of that is
    because they have nicer decor.

    And you get waited on at your table. I agree, that's not what I
    call "fine dining". Intimate local places with unusual and well
    prepared meals served by excellent and well-dressed waitstaff are
    the defininition of "fine dining" to me...

    --
    Jani in WA

  3. "Little Malice" <[email hidden]> wrote

    Quoted message said:

    One time on Usenet, "Brian Christiansen"
    <[email hidden]> said:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Perhaps my standards aren't very high because I have no problem eating at
    places like that, I even have no problem eating at fast food joints, for
    that matter. By the same token, I really don't think of places like
    Applebees, etc. to be "fine dining," and that they are really only
    perhaps a
    half-step to a step above fast food joints. Even a good part of that is
    because they have nicer decor.

    And you get waited on at your table. I agree, that's not what I
    call "fine dining". Intimate local places with unusual and well
    prepared meals served by excellent and well-dressed waitstaff are
    the defininition of "fine dining" to me...

    I was thinking that in some areas, those places would qualify
    as fine dining. Some places have hardly any restaurants at all,
    maybe a drive to somewhere like that would be a big deal.

    Then, I remember once signing a deal for a car and the guy
    was so happy, he could take his wife out for (some big)
    wedding anniversary that night, to Red Lobster. Wouldn't
    be my idea of a special dinner, but to them, it was.

    nancy

  4. Brian Christiansen said:


    The other day, I was listening to a talk radio program. The topic of
    discusssion was smoking laws.

    A caller called in to say that because of the smoking laws in her town being
    too lax (I think), she could not go to "fine dining" restaraunts like
    Chilis or Applebees, and was forced to go to fast food joints.

    Perhaps my standards aren't very high because I have no problem eating at
    places like that, I even have no problem eating at fast food joints, for
    that matter. By the same token, I really don't think of places like
    Applebees, etc. to be "fine dining," and that they are really only perhaps a
    half-step to a step above fast food joints. Even a good part of that is
    because they have nicer decor.

    I am sure that she must be a truly discriminating diner if she would rather
    eat at a fast food joint than catch a whiff of tobacco smoke.

  5. Nancy Young said:

    I was thinking that in some areas, those places would qualify
    as fine dining. Some places have hardly any restaurants at all,
    maybe a drive to somewhere like that would be a big deal.

    Sorry, but IMO, being the finest dining around does not qualify as fine
    dining. By the standards you suggest, a McDonalds at a highway rest stop in
    the middle of nowhere would be fine dining. In my books, fast food joints
    are at the bottom of the dining/eating experience, below greasy spoons,
    family restaurants, franchise joints, decent restaurants, nice restaurants,
    and fine dining establishments.

  6. "Dave Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote

    Quoted message said:
    Nancy Young said:

    I was thinking that in some areas, those places would qualify
    as fine dining. Some places have hardly any restaurants at all,
    maybe a drive to somewhere like that would be a big deal.

    Sorry, but IMO, being the finest dining around does not qualify as fine
    dining. By the standards you suggest, a McDonalds at a highway rest stop
    in
    the middle of nowhere would be fine dining. In my books, fast food joints
    are at the bottom of the dining/eating experience, below greasy spoons,
    family restaurants, franchise joints, decent restaurants, nice
    restaurants,
    and fine dining establishments.

    I'm talking about people's perception. In their experience that might
    well be their idea of fine dining ... hard to argue that one since the woman
    in question thought so.

    nancy

  7. Brian Christiansen said:

    she could not go to "fine dining" restaraunts like
    Chilis or Applebees

    I guess that is all perspective. Maybe having a "paper placemat" is
    her interpertation of fine dining.

    My interpertation of fine dining is the Ritz Carlton Dining Room in
    Buckhead. ....Or maybe the Capital Grille....or slumming at Ruth's
    Chris Steakhouse.

    Thanks to the Lord above....Tennessee restaurants are going ALL NON
    smoking October 26, 2007. The day won't get here soon enough.

    Oh....and FINE DINING starts at $125 per person........that wasn't
    $12.50.

  8. Nancy Young said:
    Quoted message said:

    Sorry, but IMO, being the finest dining around does not qualify as fine
    dining. By the standards you suggest, a McDonalds at a highway rest stop
    in
    the middle of nowhere would be fine dining. In my books, fast food joints
    are at the bottom of the dining/eating experience, below greasy spoons,
    family restaurants, franchise joints, decent restaurants, nice
    restaurants,
    and fine dining establishments.

    I'm talking about people's perception. In their experience that might
    well be their idea of fine dining ... hard to argue that one since the woman
    in question thought so.

    I don't care about their perception. They are wrong, wrong, wrong. Being
    the best around does not make it fine dining. If a chip wagon is the only
    food vendor for 100 miles it is still a chip wagon, not a fine dining
    establishment.

  9. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave Smith said:

    If a chip wagon is the only
    food vendor for 100 miles it is still a chip wagon, not a fine dining
    establishment.

    We call them "Roach Coaches" here. <g>
    --
    Peace, Om

    Remove _ to validate e-mails.

    "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

  10. Dave Smith said:
    Nancy Young said:
    Quoted message said:

    Sorry, but IMO, being the finest dining around does not qualify as fine
    dining. By the standards you suggest, a McDonalds at a highway rest stop
    in
    the middle of nowhere would be fine dining. In my books, fast food joints
    are at the bottom of the dining/eating experience, below greasy spoons,
    family restaurants, franchise joints, decent restaurants, nice
    restaurants,
    and fine dining establishments.

    I'm talking about people's perception. In their experience that might
    well be their idea of fine dining ... hard to argue that one since the woman
    in question thought so.

    I don't care about their perception. They are wrong, wrong, wrong. Being
    the best around does not make it fine dining. If a chip wagon is the only
    food vendor for 100 miles it is still a chip wagon, not a fine dining
    establishment.

    It's finer than eatin' dirt 'n' bugs. At least in my culture. 🙂

    --
    Blinky RLU 297263
    Killing all posts from Google Groups
    The Usenet Improvement Project:
    http://improve-usenet.org <----------- New Site Aug 28

  11. Omelet said:


    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave Smith said:

    If a chip wagon is the only
    food vendor for 100 miles it is still a chip wagon, not a fine dining
    establishment.

    We call them "Roach Coaches" here. <g>

    But is it "fine dining" if there is nothing better around?

  12. Dave Smith said:

    I don't care about their perception. They are wrong, wrong, wrong. Being
    the best around does not make it fine dining. If a chip wagon is the only
    food vendor for 100 miles it is still a chip wagon, not a fine dining
    establishment.

    Agreed, not fine dining - but in some areas, that's all there is.
    Some places have a diner out in the middle of nowhere where locals
    have a tradition of gathering on a certian night. It's a nohost party
    where people can meet, eat and catch up on life.
    --

    History is a vast early warning system
    Norman Cousins

  13. Dave Smith said:
    Omelet said:


    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Dave Smith said:

    If a chip wagon is the only
    food vendor for 100 miles it is still a chip wagon, not a fine dining
    establishment.

    We call them "Roach Coaches" here. <g>

    But is it "fine dining" if there is nothing better around?

    Does a tree make a sound in the forest if no one is around to hear it
    fall?
    --

    History is a vast early warning system
    Norman Cousins

  14. Dave Smith said:
    Brian Christiansen said:


    The other day, I was listening to a talk radio program. The topic of
    discusssion was smoking laws.

    A caller called in to say that because of the smoking laws in her town being
    too lax (I think), she could not go to "fine dining" restaraunts like
    Chilis or Applebees, and was forced to go to fast food joints.

    Perhaps my standards aren't very high because I have no problem eating at
    places like that, I even have no problem eating at fast food joints, for
    that matter. By the same token, I really don't think of places like
    Applebees, etc. to be "fine dining," and that they are really only perhaps a
    half-step to a step above fast food joints. Even a good part of that is
    because they have nicer decor.

    I am sure that she must be a truly discriminating diner if she would rather
    eat at a fast food joint than catch a whiff of tobacco smoke.

    That's her choice. It would be mine too. I don't want to be around
    smoke and smokers.
    --

    History is a vast early warning system
    Norman Cousins

  15. On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:59:31 -0400, Ward Abbott <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:
    Brian Christiansen said:

    she could not go to "fine dining" restaraunts like
    Chilis or Applebees

    I guess that is all perspective. Maybe having a "paper placemat" is
    her interpertation of fine dining.


    I bet it was said with a bit or sarcasm.

    Quoted message said:

    My interpertation of fine dining is the Ritz Carlton Dining Room in
    Buckhead. ....Or maybe the Capital Grille....or slumming at Ruth's
    Chris Steakhouse.

    Thanks to the Lord above....Tennessee restaurants are going ALL NON
    smoking October 26, 2007. The day won't get here soon enough.

    Oh....and FINE DINING starts at $125 per person........that wasn't
    $12.50.


    Fine dining is never measured in dollars. Lose a turn.

    --

    History is a vast early warning system
    Norman Cousins

  16. Ward Abbott said:

    Oh....and FINE DINING starts at $125 per person........that wasn't
    $12.50.

    So if you pay $126 for a Happy Meal, that's fine dining?

    Fools can be parted with their money easily.

    -sw

  17. In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
    says...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I'm talking about people's perception. In their experience that might
    well be their idea of fine dining ... hard to argue that one since the woman
    in question thought so.

    I don't care about their perception. They are wrong, wrong, wrong. Being
    the best around does not make it fine dining. If a chip wagon is the only
    food vendor for 100 miles it is still a chip wagon, not a fine dining
    establishment.

    Exactly. Well, perhaps not exactly - peoples' perceptions are important
    to them, but that does not make them right. There are millions of people
    who think that Rush speaks the truth, that OJ is innocent, that Jesus
    saves, that the world was created 6000 years ago, that astrology
    predicts the future, that Bush is a great president, that women are
    inferior to men, that Velveeta tastes good, and that Appleby's is fine
    dining.

    --
    Peter Aitken

  18. On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:46:28 -0400, Peter A <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:

    and that Appleby's is fine
    dining.

    Pete...where do you come up with this blather?

  19. Brian Christiansen said:

    The other day, I was listening to a talk radio program. The topic of
    discusssion was smoking laws.

    A caller called in to say that because of the
    Smoking laws in her town being
    too lax (I think), she could not go to "fine dining" restaraunts like
    Chilis or Applebees, and was forced to go to fast food joints.

    Permitting smoking means you're running a hog trough, not a
    restaurant.

    Quoted message said:


    Perhaps my standards aren't very high because
    I have no problem eating at places like that,
    I even have no problem eating at fast food joints, for
    that matter.

    Fast food restaurants don't really pretend to be something they're
    not. Chili's and Applebee's do.

    Quoted message said:

    By the same token, I really don't think of places like
    Applebees, etc. to be "fine dining," and that they are really only
    perhaps a half-step to a step above fast food joints.

    I'd say that Applebee's is a step below many fast food restaurants.

    Quoted message said:

    Even a good part of that is
    because they have nicer decor.

    Brian Christiansen

    --Bryan

  20. Dave Smith said:
    Brian Christiansen said:

    The other day, I was listening to a talk radio program. The topic of
    discusssion was smoking laws.

    Quoted message said:

    A caller called in to say that because of the smoking laws in her town being
    too lax (I think), she could not go to "fine dining" restaraunts like
    Chilis or Applebees, and was forced to go to fast food joints.

    Quoted message said:

    Perhaps my standards aren't very high because I have no problem eating at
    places like that, I even have no problem eating at fast food joints, for
    that matter. By the same token, I really don't think of places like
    Applebees, etc. to be "fine dining," and that they are really only perhaps a
    half-step to a step above fast food joints. Even a good part of that is
    because they have nicer decor.

    I am sure that she must be a truly discriminating diner if she would rather
    eat at a fast food joint than catch a whiff of tobacco smoke.

    You say that facetiously, but I think that tobacco smoke indicates a
    pigsty, not a restaurant. Only a pig would smoke in a restaurant in
    2007.

    --Bryan

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