Dinining Out Part II-Cheap Eats
I got a fever! And the cure is more cowbell! Oops, wrong story. The cure for my fever is to get out of the house and eat! No more meal planning, bean counting or trying to get my cost per portion down to $1.65. NO MORE. Just yell out the window “I’m tired of stale nights and bad TV at home and I won’t take it any more!”
Here’s the deal. I know a lot of folks are freaked out by the economy and want to save money anywhere they can. Everyone assumes that going out is more expensive than eating-in, but there are two very distinct realities to contend with. One, going to the grocery store doesn’t necessarily save you money. And two, people are not staying home.
On the grocery store reality: Think about it, how many people actually purchase according to a meal schedule? That would entail having your kitchen infrastructure (grains, oils, vinegars, seasonings, tomato products etc…) in place, figuring out how many ounces of starch, veg and protein you would prepare for each meal and then sticking to it. Oh, and any junk food- salty snacks, side eats, bags of peanut butter cups or any other impulse buys would make the per portion cost go up.
Before I leave the subject of the grocery store, how many people with good healthy intentions throw a bunch of produce in the cart (lookin’ good…) only to let the bulk of it rot in those skimpy produce plastic death bags? Come on be honest, raise your hands up high and admit it. Heck everyone’s guilty of it, and it’s a huge waste. Ok, so now do I have your pocketbook’s attention? Good.
On the not staying home reality: I’ve been noticing hordes of people packing into coffee shops, burger joints, dim sum houses, falafel shacks and red checked table cloth establishments. Why? Because eating with others is so human, so very core to everything we need, social interaction and food. We thrive on stimulating and exposing our senses with site, touch, smell and TASTE, and this is why the trends will continue to move towards places that feature “cheap eats”. Who wants to stay home and eat alone?
With cheap eats you know precisely how much you”ll be spending on your meal. No left over food product or use of time or consumption of energy while cooking at home. With cheap eats you can experience many different cuisines in one week and, if you’re lucky, have left-overs for the next day and not break the bank. Cheap eats rock!
In our fair city there are tons and tons of places to dine on the cheap. Here’s a link from the San Francisco Chronicle that gives readers a taste, just a small portion, of great inexpensive places to eat in the San Francisco Bay Area.
To conclude, I just want to say I’m not saying that you shouldn’t cook at home or eat at nice restaurants. Cooking at home is very nurturing plus you’re in control of your ingredients. And, it’s also nice to have a meal prepared by a thoughtful creative chef. I just think that cheap eats is the glue that brings us all together.
By the way, the pastrami sandwich photos was taken at the famous Carnegie Deli in NYC. The other photo was taken at a street vendor stall. While in New York City, we had a ball eating copious amount of street food and running through central park. The photo credits go to Scott DeWitt, bass player for The Skinnyz.
Lastly, a shout out to the skinnyz’s and all the stone cold bad ass rockers of Portland, Oregon.
Until next time-
Eat, laugh and be merry, regardless
Chef Stephen, Hands On Gourmet
I totally agree with you on the social part of eating out, nothing like it. However, I must say, I find it harder and harder to find good cheap eats out. One of my old favorite Cambodian places in Oakland used to be good and not expensive (I wouldn’t say cheap) but I had a very bad meal there the other night that costs $43.00 for two people (with one beer). That seems like a lot to me, not going back. I think SF has more to offer in the way of good cheap eats…of course, I am forgetting the Fruitvale district of Oakland, but then again, maybe I don’t want to go to the Fruitvale district of Oakland to eat! I avoid the grocery store produce blues by picking up a CSA box every Friday…not much goes to waste because the produce is just that good and goes a long way. Speaking of not cheap eats, I had brunch at Boulette’s Larder the other day….I guess he rents are high in the Ferry Building….
Comment by Cathy Curtis — January 13, 2009 @ 1:53 am
I hear you cathy! sometimes eating on the cheap can turn out to be a disaster. fatty foods, lack of seasoning etc.. however, I’ve had just as many problems with more expensive places. for me it all boils down to would I rather get ripped by a high end place or walk away unsatisfied from a $6 dollar burrito. sounds like your fav Cambodian joint jumped cheap eats ship in hopes of making more cabbage; it’s in Bistro land now! just walk away-head down that yellow brick road in search of better cheap eats. as for the produce box..nice job! being specific and having a mission helps for sure.. Boulette’s rocks, just a treat for most folks. but still worth the taste every once in a while.
Comment by Sponge Cake Bob — January 13, 2009 @ 10:03 am
I hear you cathy! sometimes eating on the cheap can turn out to be a disaster. fatty foods, lack of seasoning etc.. however, I’ve had just as many problems with more expensive places. for me it all boils down to would I rather get ripped by a high end place or walk away unsatisfied from a $6 dollar burrito. sounds like your fav Cambodian joint jumped cheap eats ship in hopes of making more cabbage; it’s in Bistro land now! just walk away-head down that yellow brick road in search of better cheap eats. as for the produce box..nice job! being specific and having a mission helps for sure.. Boulette’s rocks, just a treat for most folks. but still worth the taste every once in a while.
Comment by Sponge Cake Bob — January 13, 2009 @ 10:03 am
This post brought back lots of good taste memories. I had a pastrami sandwich at Katz Deli when in NY in June – quite an experience (esp. the SIZE of the sandwich – would have been enough for 3 persons!)
Comment by Pille — January 13, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
In the last few weeks I gave the pre-planning menu eating a shot and it last all of 4 days. Granted, I shopped a little smarter but I also felt constrained and cranky about not being able to make whatever I wanted. The result? A trip to the Toyanese taco truck. 6$, a full belly and a walk through the neighborhood?! Money well spent in my book.
Comment by EB — January 14, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
for all of you that don’t know-Toyanese taco truck has a location on Harrison and 14th by the best buy. probably one of the best places to eat a taco in the city. good value and oh so yummy.
Comment by sponge cake bob — January 15, 2009 @ 11:45 am
I suck at planning for meals. And I agree, we can easily spend a nice restaurant’s worth of money on one fancy meal at home. But that’s also part of the fun. I love to take honey on a shop/cook/relax on the couch with a plate of good food and glass of good wine date.
Lately though, we are seeking out restaurants that offer an experience food-wise rather than just an expensive, gut-busting meal. The meal isn’t necessarily worth the money, but the experience often is.
Comment by katie — January 18, 2009 @ 9:23 am
Sing it out and sing it loud…. loved reading this post.
Amen to gathering around food… on the street, in a booth, at the table.
Comment by Caroline — January 19, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
Having to feed four on a nightly basis, I tried the serious meal planning for a time, but flunked out. I never stuck to the plan, couldn’t stand being told what to do, even by myself (authority issues, anyone?) and all sorts of things intervened. Now I plan about four meals at time, and shop, buying only produce for the first two meals. Sure I have to go back for the second two meals produce, but since it often takes about 8 or more days to get to all four meals, it works out. In between, depending on mood and need, are carryout, dinner out or at friends’, or just faking it with scrambled eggs because time is tight. Eating out has got to be part of the picture; we just choose more carefully when money is tight.
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Comment by vincent — March 10, 2009 @ 3:20 am