Friday 18 December 2015

Eating Out

Our old school annual get together was last night. E. picked us up and off we went to a relatively local eatery. E. & DB had beef strips in gravy, mash, and vegetables (all the vegetables DB doesn't eat so we shared them and he got our carrots). T. and myself had turkey dinner. To say it was huge was an understantement.

We had purposely paid for 2 rather than 3 courses and chosen small puddings. I ended up leaving the biggest Yorkshire pudding I have ever seen, 3 out of the 5 roast potatoes and a large stuffing ball. There were loads of vegetables plus a bacon wrapped sausage, stuffing and 3 large slices of turkey. E.  ate my sausage.

E.  and I had panacotta for pudding, DB and T. had a mini Christmas pudding, about 1" high.

We had to have a 6pm for 6:30pm start as there was a large party in for the next slot. As it happened, they all arrived not long after us. Gee they were so noisy we had to shout at each other to make ourselves heard. The manager came and apologised as they had phoned shortly before to say they wouldn't be ready until 8pm. Obviously, word did not get around.

We came back to ours about 9pm - to blissful silence, for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

This morning, my throat is sore from 2 hours of shouting. Isn't it amazing how we used to be used to going out, now, in general, we find it horrible!

We aren't putting our decorations up until this weekend. I still have a few things to bake and make, so have started what I hope will be a final list to take us up to Tuesday when our guests arrive. Can't wait:)

Have a lovely weekend everyone - onwards and upwards!

13 comments:

  1. I'm glad it's not just me who finds the portions when eating out to be getting bigger and bigger ... and what is it with piling on these giant Yorkshire puddings onto every meal!! I used to be able to just about manage a three course meal every now and then, now I don't stand a chance. I usually just have a main course and then a coffee while everyone else tucks into their dessert.

    I guess this time of year all restaurants are going to be getting noisier and noisier as the office parties fill them up, a good time to eat at home methinks.

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    1. I can't even begin to imagine how much food they must throw away and how much they could save but just a slight reduction in volume.

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  2. So many restaurant experiences are a disappointment these days, right ? I sometimes find that the larger the portions the poorer the quality the food as if the first makes up for the other.
    I so rarely eat out, maybe once or twice a year but I take a box just in case there are any leftovers. Here in the U.S. they will always give you a box but I prefer to use my own.
    I hate noisy and totally quiet restaurants; a gentle murmur is just right...I also only every have one course and maybe a coffee and always drink tap water or occasionally iced-tea which every restaurant serves..

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    1. That is our only foray out for both pre and post Christmas. At least at home, we can serve small portions or skip meals altogether if we want.

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  3. Portion sizes are ridiculous. I guess someone eats it all or they wouldn't keep doing it, but it's certainly no one I know! I hate leaving food too as I know it will just go in the bin. They should give you the option of a smaller sized portion to begin with. No wonder I generally choose to eat at home :)

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    1. I was the only one to leave anything! I refuse to stuff my face and finish just because its there!

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  4. Enjoy your weekend decorating and your visitors too! Glad you had a good meal overall despite the shouting. Happy Christmas! xx

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    1. Thank you, at least my sore throat is easing.

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  5. Do you not get 'doggie bags' in the uk? It is standard practice over here. When the waiter comes to the table and they see there is food still on your plate they immediately offer you a box for the leftovers. I find the older we get the less we eat therefore it is very rare that we finish what we are served. It's nice to have the leftovers for the next day.

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    1. Depends what the leftovers are. I don't eat sausage stuffing and the Yorkshire pudding was hard so wouldn't have reheated very well. Didn't fancy bringing home roast potatoes that by their taste, were already reheated.

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  6. Why did you not bring the uneaten food home? As you paid for it restaurants are obliged to give you a 'doggy bag" to take the uneaten food home, but you have to ask.

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    1. See above. Would all have come home if I had wanted it to!

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    2. ...uhm...see what you mean!!

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