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How To Eat Like Royalty On A Peasant’s Budget

admin — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Everyone likes dining out, but the costs of a meal, drink, and dessert can add up quickly. Rather than abandon fine dining altogether, following a few simple tips can help you eat like royalty on a peasant’s budget.

First, try just ordering the appetizers. Many times, appetizers can be just as delicious and satisfying as an entire meal without the high cost. Ordering a few different appetizers without ordering a full meal significantly reduces the cost of dining out.Never heard of this before? Get up to speed here.

Second, find local specials. Social media is a great way to do this, especially social media sites based on â€œchecking inâ€ to local businesses, such as FourSquare. Often, businesses will offer discounts or specials on meals or drinks in exchange for patron check-ins that helps to promote the restaurant and draw more loyal customers.

Third, consider ordering a plate at full price and taking home the leftovers. Restaurants tend to serve huge plates that can be equivalent to at least two meals. By ordering a meal at the full price, taking it home, and eating it for lunch the next day, the price is essentially cut in half.

With these simple tips, you can eat like royalty on a peasant’s budget!

Desserts: The Perfect Way To Fill In The Corners

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Desserts are a guilty pleasure for a lot of people. However, many people don’t have much room for them after eating a big meal. Some people choose to eat dessert first. On the contrary, a lot of people find that it cuts their appetite if eaten before the main course.

Even after filling up on a delicious meal, there is always a little room left in the corner of the stomach. That is where dessert comes in. Room can be made somewhere in the stomach for that divine chocolate cake or succulent cheesecake. A full meal is best served in courses. The key to making enough room with a full course meal is portion size. If the portions are not too big, there will be plenty of room for dessert in the end.

Certain desserts require more room than others. For example a small cookie or two wouldn’t take up much extra room. On the other hand, an apple pie a la mode might be a bit too much to finish. Sharing dessert is a great way to make room without being overstuffed. No matter how large the main course, dessert can always be used to fill in the corners.

Escaping Your Life: Eating Out

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Life can get hectic, what with dealing with colleagues and your doctor’s appointments and the Sears Home Improvement renovations in your home. What’s better than totally checking out and pigging out in your city? Here are some suggestions for the best type of eats to get your mind off real life

Mexican Cantina: Be transported to the shores of Mexico with your local cantina – there’s nothing a frosty margarita can’t fix! Order the fish tacos and pay the mariachi band to play nearbyyou’ll swear you’re on vacation.

Go French: If you’re lucky enough to have a French or other upscale restaurant nearby put on some of your best clothes and take the wife out for a fancy meal. Split a bottle of wine and order two desserts – just go all out for one night and escape from reality.

Sports Bar: Why not make your fall into a chair and veg out routine something morespecial? Head to a local sports bar to dive into a plate of wings and watch whatever game is on that day. You’ll feel more accomplished than watching at home.

How Appetizers Enhance the Dining Experience

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered why so many fine dining establishments offer appetizers before a meal? This may consist of rolls, breads, relish trays or other types of foods. There may be numerous reasons why this happens; however, most of the time it is because appetizers enhance the dining experience at a restaurant.
It is absolutely no fun waiting for your meal in a restaurant. Guests sit there waiting, watching the waiters bring food to the tables around. As this happens, your mouth starts watering and your stomach starts churning. By ordering appetizers before your meal, your experience is less distracted by these things. It also offers a way for restaurants to let guests sample certain foods. Many people choose restaurants that offer appetizers because of these reasons. For example, a Mexican restaurant will bring chips and salsa prior to the meal. People look forward to this. It is something small enough to keep you occupied, and your mind off wondering when your meal will ever arrive.
Finally, if you are starved when your meal arrives, you may eat it way too fast, leaving you with a stomach ache. By munching on an appetizer, prior to the meal, you will not be as hungry, and you will be able to enjoy your main course much more.

Chef’s Tasting Menu: Unique Experience or Scam?

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever had a unique experience when you have dined out? That is what people are saying about the Chef’s tasting menu. They say it is truly a unique and different way to dine out. You may be served food from a six to twelve course menu. The menu could include an appetizer, soup, salad, entree, cheese and dessert. The cost per person is pretty high compared to a basic meal, and your beverage may even be charged separate.

If you want the opportunity to try a little bit of it all, then the chef’s tasting menu may be for you. This kind of menu offers variety for the taster. The meals are satisfying and leave you feeling full. After that many different courses, there is no way you will be leaving without feeling full. The experience is a chance to taste food that you might be curious about.

Food is meant to be enjoyed. And to enjoy it in a special way is a unique experience. Some say that the Chef’s tasting menu is worth the money, but others might disagree. It is really about how much you are willing to pay for a unique experience involving food.

Prix Fixe: What Does It Mean?

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A Prix Fixe menu, sometimes also referred to as a “set menu,” or “fixed menu,” is a menu which features a limited number of selections per dining course, all for a combined fixed price covering the entire meal. Often seen at upscale restaurants, a Prix Fixe menu typically includes an appetizer, main entree and desert, but may also include additional courses or wine pairings, all for a single price per guest.

“Prix Fixe” is a French term meaning “fixed price” that is derived from another French phrase, “Table d’hote,” which means “host’s table.” A Prix Fixe menu is meant to mimic the type of service received when dining at someone’s home, where the host prepares several courses of a meal and all guests receive the same dishes for each course; hence why it might otherwise be referred to as eating at “Table d’hote.” It is meant to be an inviting way to dine and should make diners feel welcomed and appreciated by the chef.

Prix Fixe menus are excellent for dining out with a date, or for trying new foods. Not having to pore over a menu to make a selection gives diners more time to enjoy the company of those they are dining with, and trusting the chef can be greatly rewarding when it comes to tasting delicious dishes one otherwise might not have ordered.

Restaurants offering Prix Fixe menus most often also offer an “a la carte” menu, (a more typical type of service in the United States,) which allows diners to choose their course selections from a more extensive menu for individual prices. For those who chose not to brave the Prix Fixe selections, the chef is usually happy to accommodate requests from the a la carte menu, or sometimes even will create something special for a guest who would prefer something that is not listed on either menu type.

How To Find A Great Restaurant In A New City

www.taste-buzz.com — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Being in a new city is exciting enough, let alone thinking about what to do and, possibly more importantly, where to eat! This can be a challenging decision, but learning a few tricks to fail-proof dining can be just the help you need.
Walking or driving around a new city can provide clues to the best places to eat if you have arrived without a list of suggestions, and these hints can oftentimes be all the help you need when determining if a restaurant is a winner. Be on a lookout for locals in the restaurant, because that is usually the best sign of a must-dine. Want more? Click here. When restaurants can bring people back to their establishments, they are doing something right, and that usually means tasty food.
On the other hand, if you are a planner, websites, such as www.tripadvisor.com or local tourist sites, can reveal a new world and make you an instant expert. These sites often have lists of top restaurants in the area, and they provide background information, such as type of food, price, and personal reviews of previous customer experiences.
Finding a great restaurant in a new city no longer has to be a worrisome venture when you can use the experience of fellow diners who have gone before you!

A Guide To Wine and Food Pairings

admin — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A delicious meal can easily be ruined by a poor bottle of wine, just as a great vintage’s taste can be affected by pairing it with meat instead of fish. Learning to pair wines with meals is both a time-honored tradition and an art form. Follow this simple guide to make the right pairing every time.

White Wines
Wines like chardonnay, white riesling and pinot grigio are best paired with shellfish and mild cheeses. White wines often make a delicious pairing with poultry and spicy foods as well.

Red Wines
Dark wines such as pinot noir, merlot and malbec compliment heartier dishes like beef, duck and lamb. They also pair well with stronger cheeses and meals that contain tomato sauce.

Rose Wines
Rose wines like white zinfandel are delicious additions to a poultry or spicy beef dish and also pair well with mild cheeses. Pair a rose wine with a fruity dessert for a tasty treat.

Champagne
Dry champagnes go well with shellfish and mild cheeses. Choose a demi sec champagne for dessert and a rose for seafood dishes including tuna and salmon. A rose also pairs well with mild cheeses.

Port Wines
Port wines go best with chocolate desserts.

Tipping: A Guide To Taking Care Of Your Server

admin — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I was fortunate enough to have wonderful managers who provided me with good training and taught me the importance of good service. Thus, as a former server, I am always very aware of how I am treated when dining out. Nowadays the hospitality industry focuses on the experience even more than the actual food, and the person serving you is key to this experience.

When tipping your server, there are a few things to consider:

- How long did the server take to first come to the table.
- What attitude/greeting did the server give you. This is extremely important because if he/she took too long to initially approach your table, this is the opportunity to make up for it by appearing concerned and genuine interested in taking care of you.
- How good was he/she helping you with the menu items, wine selection, and order accuracy.
- Was your table always clean and your drinks refilled on time?

Now as a restaurant manager, I make sure all my staff follows through with each table carefully and give each customer a reason to feel the need to provide a great tip.

- If your server is wonderful providing great, genuine overall service, that went above and beyond your expectations, you should never tip less than 20
- If your server provided good service and you have no complaints and would be happy to have him/her again, tip 18
- If your server has a lot to desire, tip 15
- If your server was terrible, make sure to let management know since this affects not only your dining experience but the restaurant itself.

What Makes A Good Restaurant A Great Restaurant?

www.taste-buzz.com — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are plenty of good restaurants, but not great restaurants. Many people consider any restaurant in which they can have a tasty meal good, but there may be something lacking. So what is the difference between the two? Several things actually.

A great restaurant should of course have great food. This is the standard by which most restaurants are judged. However, it takes more than excellent cuisine to make a restaurant great. Great is a label that is reserved for restaurants that not only provide the best food, but the best service as well.

While most restaurant owners are aware that service is an important factor in the dining experience, few seem to realize just how large of a part in plays in whether or not a diner will return for another meal at that location. Even one bad customer service experience will cause the average diner to never return.

However, on the flip side, excellent customer service will set a restaurant apart from the rest, and keep diners returning over and over again.

The combination of great food and great service is what determines which restaurants are stellar, and which are merely good. When a restaurant has both of these in place, diners are sure to be happy.