OT: Kinda, not really...

Dee Randall said:

"Boron Elgar" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

>
> Try going to the theatre, ballet or opera in Manhattan....the
> average age is 60+
>
> Boron
>

A dream come true! :-)

Au contraire! Though I am only a handful of years away from that
myself, I find the oldsters as ill-behaved as the average unmannered
child.

AND they are much more likely to be rude when told to hush.

Boron

There is one thing I might add as an oldster. I tend to scout out
the place when I go in to see just how crazy the kids are acting
before I stay. I worry that they are going to knock into my chair or
if I get up to go to the restroom that they will run into me. One
time by time necessity we had to eat in this kind of atmosphere and I
asked the waiter to set me at another booth other than the one next
to where a child was jumping up and down on the seats. He looked at
me with a 'look' and asked, "What's the matter, don't you like kids."

None of his business. You're a customer; if you want to move to another
table and there is one, no comment should be made, just move you. He was
probably worried about *losing* his tip since the open table was in another
servers' station. That shouldn't be a worry. They could swap tables
(happens all the time in restaurants).

Quoted message said:

We stayed and ate at another location in the restaurant, but I
noticed that a group of 3-5 waiters were all talking looking my way
and wanting me to see that they were disapproving of my attitude.

They probably had kids who behave the same way and expect everyone to
tolerate it.

Quoted message said:

These are the times I would like not to tip, but I realize that tips
are probably pooled.
Dee Dee

Pooling tips (as a general rule) only applies to bussers, bartenders,
barbacks and hostesses. Servers don't share their tips with other servers.

Jill

Michael 'Dog3' Lonergan said:

Oddly enough I like I-Hop and The Waffle House. The food
isn't particularly great at either but for some reason the noise level and
child population is at a minimum. Waffle House has excellent smothered
hash browns BTW, and I-Hop has a pretty decent chicken fried steak.

I only went to WaffleHouse for the pecan Waffles....those were the
absolute best.

SD

"CooberGirl" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:3XS6f.11208$Io4.7452@trnddc06...

Quoted message said:

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(re: Cracker Barrel)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I NEVER GO THERE! You said it all for me, no further comment necessary.
There is a place called the Haag Hotel, in Shartlesville, PA, off hwy 78
that has good reviews. People flock there. I feel the same way about
it.
It's a source of amusement when we see the signs as we drive/whizz by,
yelling, Shall we stop -- Oh, Oh, you missed it!
Dee Dee

Dee Dee, I had to go to the Haag's Hotel's website just to check it out.
Dutch food, okay, I'm Dutch, but I don't know a thing about Dutch food.
It's really that bad?

kili

This is Pennsylvania Dutch. The Pennsylvania Dutch people were German in
origin. As for the food....it's sort of homey, old-fashioned
American-style food w/ a few Pennsylvania Dutch specialties. I've been to
several such restaurants and have never really liked it much. Just not my
style. But some folks love it, and it's often served either family style
or buffet stlye with *lots* of choices.

At the risk of starting WWIII, I would guess that if you enjoy
old-fashioned Southern American cooking, you might enjoy Pennsylvania
Dutch cooking at it's best.

Chris

Perhaps Southern American cooking perhaps being more closely related to
English & Scottish and perhaps Irish cooking than German cooking.
Wouldn't argue the point, tho.
Dee Dee

Boron Elgar said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

Quoted message said:

Try going to the theatre, ballet or opera in Manhattan....the average
age is 60+

Boron

A dream come true! :-)

Au contraire! Though I am only a handful of years away from that
myself, I find the oldsters as ill-behaved as the average unmannered
child.

AND they are much more likely to be rude when told to hush.

Boron

I will second that thought about ill-mannered seniors, Boron.....and
like you I'm in that age bracket. I was very happy to have met my SO
shortly after my parents passed on (I had been taking care of both of
them). I was able to move out of Florida's senior retirement area on
the west coast and get away from obnoxiousness.

SD

Wayne Boatwright said:

On Sun 23 Oct 2005 12:42:42p, Doug Kanter wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun 23 Oct 2005 12:18:58p, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> Doug Kanter wrote:
>> "Michael "Dog3" Lonergan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>> news:[email hidden]...
>>
>>>
>>> What amazes me is driving down Watson Road at about 5:30 in the
>>> evening. Patrons are lined up clear out the doors to get into
>>> places like Red Lobster, Olive Garden and the like.
>>
>> Around here (Rochester NY), it amazes me that Olive Garden draws
>> anyone at all. It's not bad food, but this town's got a huge
>> Italian population. There are Italian restaurants all over the
>> place, all cheaper and better than Olive Garden.
>
> Maybe it's the price. Does Olive Garden have a "kids menu"? Most
> chain places do. When we ate at Trattoria Tiramisu in Davenport,
> IA,

> I didn't see one child in the place.

What a refreshing thought! My favorite restaurants are where I see
no one under the age of 30.

I agree, sort of. But, my parents had a good point about this sort of
thing. They took my sisters and I to all sorts of fancy places.
Later in life, I asked them about this. They said "How are kids
supposed to learn how to behave in nice places if you don't take
them to those places?" I think the problem isn't the kids. It's the
parents who don't enforce the rules.

You're absolutely right, Doug, and I was also taken to many nice
places and good restaurants by my parents. I know I behaved well, as
I suspect you and your sisters also did. (That, or you didn't go
back.)

However, until today's parents begin enforcing the rules, and I am
witness to many who do not, then I simply don't want to be there. I
find nothing amusing or appealing about bad behavior, and I don't
intend to pay for being subjected to it.

The saddest part is that many parents today seem to either find it
amusing or they're totally oblivious to it.

My parents never took me to the theatre (okay, to the movies once or twice).
Nor did they take me to the grocery store; if I got to go to the store it
was understood: no whining, no begging for candy, your treat is you get to
GO. That was fine 🙂 We knew if we acted up, we'd never be allowed to go
again.

We went to restaurants very rarely; usually when we were travelling across
country when Dad was transferred. We knew how to behave. Not saying we
were perfect, by any means, but we sat and talked; we couldn't get up and
run around. Wouldn't have dared to think of it.

In Addison, TX, we were in a seafood grill (sorry, don't remember the name
of it) and this little girl was so perfectly behaved. She was probably
about 7. First noticed her when she was looking at the lobsters on display
by the hostess stand. She told her mom, very quietly, one of the lobsters
was waving at her. Later, she walked through where we were sitting to the
"ladies room". I had to go at the same time. She said, very politely to
me, "Good evening, ma'am." I just had to smile. "Good evening to you,
little miss", I replied.

Jill

Nancy Young said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

When we travel for the art shows, we try to avoid the chain places
and seek
out local diners and other places. It's much more fun. Sometimes
we'll see
a place and then ask a clerk at a store if they've eaten there. You
get a lot of good information that way. The hotel desk clerks
usually will mention a chain-type restaurant if you ask, but that's
because they expect people on the road to look for those. Ask for
something that isn't a chain
and you'll get some good insight. Most hotels and even small motels
have an
area dining guide, as well. Oh, and the Yellow Pages, found in the
drawer of any motel/hotel room (next to Gideon's Bible - those
Gideon's sure do get
around!) - turn to the restaurant section. 🙂

OH NO!!! All this time and I had NO IDEA I was palling around with
Rachel Ray!!! Who knew? It's Ms $40 a Day herself! (laugh)

nancy

LOL! Who said we get away with paying $40 a day?! Maybe for the motel, but
usually not for the food!

Jill

Nancy Young said:

"Boron Elgar" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I go out of my way to avoid chain restaurants. It is not that they
all suck, but I can get a better breakfast at any random diner or
coffee shop and a better lunch or dinner at almost any local eatery.

Sometimes they can be a lifesaver ... not every place has anywhere
decent to eat and TGIFs looks darned good then. When I'm on
the road, too, I really don't want any surprises. I'm still scarred
by my tuna sub from a local place experience. Barely made it to the
hotel some 8 hours later before having the most miserable vacation
of my life.

Tuna sub, what the hell was I thinking.

nancy

See why I try to find rooms with kitchens so I can pick the ingredients and
do the cooking? 🙂 Of course, that doesn't include reheating items on a hot
plate on the back of a toilet... LOL

Jill

Doug Kanter said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Kanter said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Doug Kanter wrote:
>> "Michael "Dog3" Lonergan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>> news:[email hidden]...
>>
>>>
>>> What amazes me is driving down Watson Road at about 5:30 in the
>>> evening. Patrons are lined up clear out the doors to get into
>>> places like Red Lobster, Olive Garden and the like.
>>
>> Around here (Rochester NY), it amazes me that Olive Garden draws
>> anyone at all. It's not bad food, but this town's got a huge Italian
>> population. There are Italian restaurants all over the place, all
>> cheaper and better than Olive Garden.
>
> Maybe it's the price. Does Olive Garden have a "kids menu"? Most
> chain places do. When we ate at Trattoria Tiramisu in Davenport,
> IA, I didn't see
> one child in the place. Not that they wouldn't be welcomed, I'm
> sure, but there was no cheaper "kids menu".
>
> Jill
>
>

Sometimes, all you have to do is ask if a child can get a smaller
portion at a lower price. It's amazing how many times you'll hear
"yes".

Not having children, I wouldn't know. Apparently those seeking "family"
restaurants with kids menus don't know, either. But then it would also
depend on what they expect in terms of what is *in* the smaller portions.
Trattoria Tiramisu didn't serve chicken nuggets and nary a hamburger in
sight on the menu, nor fries 😉

Jill

Are chicken nuggets and hamburger what your kids expect from a restaurant?

Many people think that all kids expect and want chicken nuggets,
burgers and fries, pizza, or fish sticks, etc. as meals at restaurants.
My kid and most of the kids we all associated with passed on those
things and asked for smaller portions off the adult menu - grilled
salmon, king crab, small steaks, etc. There are days when I really
would have wished $$$ wise that the grilled cheese sandwhich was what
she would have opted for!

SD

Nancy Young said:

"Boron Elgar" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I go out of my way to avoid chain restaurants. It is not that they all
suck, but I can get a better breakfast at any random diner or coffee
shop and a better lunch or dinner at almost any local eatery.

Sometimes they can be a lifesaver ... not every place has anywhere
decent to eat and TGIFs looks darned good then. When I'm on
the road, too, I really don't want any surprises. I'm still scarred by
my tuna sub from a local place experience. Barely made it to the
hotel some 8 hours later before having the most miserable vacation
of my life.

Tuna sub, what the hell was I thinking.

nancy

I had one of those experiences with "local food" while traveling with a
1 year old. To make it short...food poisoning. I ended up taking a cab
to William Beaumont Army medical Center in ElPaso from the hotel at
which I was staying.I was so weak and dehydrated I passed out in the
waiting room before I was seen...the baby got out of her stroller and
was wandering around the hospital. They finally saw me...it was going
to be over an hour before I got my prescription filled and the meds
they gave me zonked me out. Finally some retired colonel demanded the
pharmacy officer get my prescription filled NOW and he and his wife
drove me back to my hotel...and left their phone number should I need
additional help before I was supposed to leave on a flight back home
the next day. The most miserable 24 hours I've ever spent in my entire
life.

SD

SD said:

Boron Elgar said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

>
> Try going to the theatre, ballet or opera in Manhattan....the average
> age is 60+
>
> Boron
>

A dream come true! :-)

Au contraire! Though I am only a handful of years away from that
myself, I find the oldsters as ill-behaved as the average unmannered
child.

AND they are much more likely to be rude when told to hush.

Boron

I will second that thought about ill-mannered seniors, Boron.....and
like you I'm in that age bracket. I was very happy to have met my SO
shortly after my parents passed on (I had been taking care of both of
them). I was able to move out of Florida's senior retirement area on
the west coast and get away from obnoxiousness.

SD

I think part of it might be unavoidable and due to the aging process
(just as children are prone to fidgeting & murmurs or youth). From
what I have read, as one ages, the sense of "time" is affected (think
of standing in a check-out line behind someone trying to dig change
out of a pocket or handbag) as is the sense of hearing also. A person
who unwraps a candy might not hear the crinkle-crinkle at all, let
alone on a level that seems deafening to someone else watching the
performance.

Basically, I want everyone to behave at a performance, regardless of
age. If a person cannot tolerate sitting for that amount of time so as
not to disturb others, then staying home is a better idea.

There...I feel better about that then singling out one particular
group.

Boron

"Nancy Young" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Boron Elgar" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I go out of my way to avoid chain restaurants. It is not that they all
suck, but I can get a better breakfast at any random diner or coffee
shop and a better lunch or dinner at almost any local eatery.

Sometimes they can be a lifesaver ... not every place has anywhere
decent to eat and TGIFs looks darned good then. When I'm on
the road, too, I really don't want any surprises. I'm still scarred by
my tuna sub from a local place experience. Barely made it to the
hotel some 8 hours later before having the most miserable vacation
of my life.

Tuna sub, what the hell was I thinking.

nancy

Subway! We haven't eaten there in close to 15 years. But they didn't lose a
heck-of-a lot of business from us anyway. It's terrible when one employee's
conduct will turn your stomach enough to never go there again. The sandwich
maker had that, what I call the "barking dog cough" and was coughing into
the metal pans where they keep the condiments, as he was making the
sandwiches. We didn't say a word to him because the deed had already been
done, but we paid and walked out of the shop and went to the nearest outdoor
trash can and dumped them. (Tee hee - looking back, it would've been fun to
chuck them inside.) I can't stand the thought of going into any Subway.
Dee Dee

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

On Sun 23 Oct 2005 12:42:42p, Doug Kanter wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> On Sun 23 Oct 2005 12:18:58p, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>> Doug Kanter wrote:
>>> "Michael "Dog3" Lonergan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>>> news:[email hidden]...
>>>
>>>>
>>>> What amazes me is driving down Watson Road at about 5:30 in the
>>>> evening. Patrons are lined up clear out the doors to get into
>>>> places like Red Lobster, Olive Garden and the like.
>>>
>>> Around here (Rochester NY), it amazes me that Olive Garden draws
>>> anyone at all. It's not bad food, but this town's got a huge
>>> Italian population. There are Italian restaurants all over the
>>> place, all cheaper and better than Olive Garden.
>>
>> Maybe it's the price. Does Olive Garden have a "kids menu"? Most
>> chain places do. When we ate at Trattoria Tiramisu in Davenport,
>> IA,
>
>> I didn't see one child in the place.
>
> What a refreshing thought! My favorite restaurants are where I see
> no one under the age of 30.

I agree, sort of. But, my parents had a good point about this sort of
thing. They took my sisters and I to all sorts of fancy places.
Later in life, I asked them about this. They said "How are kids
supposed to learn how to behave in nice places if you don't take
them to those places?" I think the problem isn't the kids. It's the
parents who don't enforce the rules.

You're absolutely right, Doug, and I was also taken to many nice
places and good restaurants by my parents. I know I behaved well, as
I suspect you and your sisters also did. (That, or you didn't go
back.)

However, until today's parents begin enforcing the rules, and I am
witness to many who do not, then I simply don't want to be there. I
find nothing amusing or appealing about bad behavior, and I don't
intend to pay for being subjected to it.

The saddest part is that many parents today seem to either find it
amusing or they're totally oblivious to it.

My parents never took me to the theatre (okay, to the movies once or
twice).
Nor did they take me to the grocery store; if I got to go to the store it
was understood: no whining, no begging for candy, your treat is you get to
GO. That was fine 🙂 We knew if we acted up, we'd never be allowed to go
again.

We went to restaurants very rarely; usually when we were travelling across
country when Dad was transferred. We knew how to behave. Not saying we
were perfect, by any means, but we sat and talked; we couldn't get up and
run around. Wouldn't have dared to think of it.

In Addison, TX, we were in a seafood grill (sorry, don't remember the name
of it) and this little girl was so perfectly behaved. She was probably
about 7. First noticed her when she was looking at the lobsters on
display
by the hostess stand. She told her mom, very quietly, one of the lobsters
was waving at her. Later, she walked through where we were sitting to the
"ladies room". I had to go at the same time. She said, very politely to
me, "Good evening, ma'am." I just had to smile. "Good evening to you,
little miss", I replied.

Jill

Some are partial to little boys. I don't think there's anything sweeter than
little girls. Your story brought tears to my eyes.
Thanks.
Dee Dee

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Nancy Young said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

When we travel for the art shows, we try to avoid the chain places
and seek
out local diners and other places. It's much more fun. Sometimes
we'll see
a place and then ask a clerk at a store if they've eaten there. You
get a lot of good information that way. The hotel desk clerks
usually will mention a chain-type restaurant if you ask, but that's
because they expect people on the road to look for those. Ask for
something that isn't a chain
and you'll get some good insight. Most hotels and even small motels
have an
area dining guide, as well. Oh, and the Yellow Pages, found in the
drawer of any motel/hotel room (next to Gideon's Bible - those
Gideon's sure do get
around!) - turn to the restaurant section. 🙂

OH NO!!! All this time and I had NO IDEA I was palling around with
Rachel Ray!!! Who knew? It's Ms $40 a Day herself! (laugh)

Quoted message said:

LOL! Who said we get away with paying $40 a day?!

Nobody!! You said what she says on the show, $40 a day.

nancy

Dee Randall said:

"Nancy Young" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Boron Elgar" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I go out of my way to avoid chain restaurants. It is not that they all
suck, but I can get a better breakfast at any random diner or coffee
shop and a better lunch or dinner at almost any local eatery.

Sometimes they can be a lifesaver ... not every place has anywhere
decent to eat and TGIFs looks darned good then. When I'm on
the road, too, I really don't want any surprises. I'm still scarred by
my tuna sub from a local place experience. Barely made it to the
hotel some 8 hours later before having the most miserable vacation
of my life.

Tuna sub, what the hell was I thinking.

nancy

Subway! We haven't eaten there in close to 15 years. But they didn't lose a
heck-of-a lot of business from us anyway. It's terrible when one employee's
conduct will turn your stomach enough to never go there again. The sandwich
maker had that, what I call the "barking dog cough" and was coughing into
the metal pans where they keep the condiments, as he was making the
sandwiches. We didn't say a word to him because the deed had already been
done, but we paid and walked out of the shop and went to the nearest outdoor
trash can and dumped them. (Tee hee - looking back, it would've been fun to
chuck them inside.) I can't stand the thought of going into any Subway.
Dee Dee

It would have been more prudent to inform the manager about the
situation and demand the condiments be dumped and replaced or have the
health department pay him a visit.

And yes...I have done exactly that when some kid stuck her dirty hands
in the macaroni salad at a buffet. I made the manager pull the tray and
dump the entire thing or face a call to the health department.

SD
SD

Michael; You mentioned "The Hill". You must live in St. Louis. I love
it. I only get over there once or twice a year, but when I do, the car
is loaded down with all the food, bread, etc. that I stock up on. Also
like to go to Soulard's Market. I am sooo jealous that you live there
and can shop and eat to your heart's content!! Carol

Our life may not always be the party we would have chosen, but while we
are here, we may as well dance!

Michael 'Dog3' Lonergan said:

What amazes me is driving down Watson Road at about 5:30 in the evening.
Patrons are lined up clear out the doors to get into places like Red
Lobster, Olive Garden and the like.

I'm not surprised. In some places, I bet they are considered fine
dining.

Goomba38 said:

jmcquown said:

Oh, and the Yellow Pages, found in the drawer
of any motel/hotel room (next to Gideon's Bible - those Gideon's sure do get
around!)

Recently I've stayed at the Marriot and a Hilton. Both had their
founder's story in paperback in the drawer next to that Gideon's.
Goomba

And no Yellow Pages or Dining Guides. The dining guides I've found
lately (if I find them at all) almost exclusively refer patrons to: the
hotel restuarant, the Denny's/Village Inn next door, or the delivery
phone numbers for take out pizza or Chinese.

SD

Wayne Boatwright said:

What a refreshing thought! My favorite restaurants are where I see no one
under the age of 30.

Quoted message said:

Not that they wouldn't be welcomed, I'm
sure, but there was no cheaper "kids menu".

You would have hated opening weekend of our new museum, in that case.
We went Saturday around 10PM (date night and time)... the place was
jammed with 20 somethings and there were very few people sporting gray
hair.

Boron Elgar said:

SD said:

Boron Elgar said:

On 23 Oct 2005 21:49:32 +0200, Wayne Boatwright
<[email hidden]> wrote:

>>
>> Try going to the theatre, ballet or opera in Manhattan....the average
>> age is 60+
>>
>> Boron
>>
>
>A dream come true! :-)

Au contraire! Though I am only a handful of years away from that
myself, I find the oldsters as ill-behaved as the average unmannered
child.

AND they are much more likely to be rude when told to hush.

Boron

I will second that thought about ill-mannered seniors, Boron.....and
like you I'm in that age bracket. I was very happy to have met my SO
shortly after my parents passed on (I had been taking care of both of
them). I was able to move out of Florida's senior retirement area on
the west coast and get away from obnoxiousness.

SD

I think part of it might be unavoidable and due to the aging process
(just as children are prone to fidgeting & murmurs or youth). From
what I have read, as one ages, the sense of "time" is affected (think
of standing in a check-out line behind someone trying to dig change
out of a pocket or handbag) as is the sense of hearing also. A person
who unwraps a candy might not hear the crinkle-crinkle at all, let
alone on a level that seems deafening to someone else watching the
performance.

Basically, I want everyone to behave at a performance, regardless of
age. If a person cannot tolerate sitting for that amount of time so as
not to disturb others, then staying home is a better idea.

There...I feel better about that then singling out one particular
group.

Boron

I live in mañana-ville where NO ONE is in a hurry, except taxi
drivers! Oldsters and the disabled get their own line at the bank.
Those of us who can pass for oldsters with our grey hair sometimes get
shoved in that line also. Even that line moves slow. An average trip to
the bank to make a deposit, withdrawal, or loan payment usually lasts
an hour or more. In and out in 30 minutes is a feat of superhuman speed
on the part of the tellers and customers alike! It's the same thing
with the lines in the grocery stores. No one is in a hurry. It's not
uncommon for the customer have his/her family act as runners bringing
more items to be rung up as the cashier is totaling up her/his order.
The difference is, people aren't rude about the wait. It's just life in
mañana-ville where everything will get done - eventually.

SD

"SD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Boron Elgar said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

>
> Try going to the theatre, ballet or opera in Manhattan....the average
> age is 60+
>
> Boron
>

A dream come true! :-)

Au contraire! Though I am only a handful of years away from that
myself, I find the oldsters as ill-behaved as the average unmannered
child.

AND they are much more likely to be rude when told to hush.

Boron

I will second that thought about ill-mannered seniors, Boron.....and
like you I'm in that age bracket. I was very happy to have met my SO
shortly after my parents passed on (I had been taking care of both of
them). I was able to move out of Florida's senior retirement area on
the west coast and get away from obnoxiousness.

SD

Must've been nice to be able to drive down the road, finally, without being
asphyxiated by a herd of k-cars every time you needed to go someplace. :-)