Fine dining

VfM4meplse

TripAdviser has been kind enough to share the top 10 UK restaurants with me.

I realise that there's a lot of gastronomic effort that goes into fine dining menus but I think it's completely wasted, on me at least. I cannot bear poncey food, give me a roll and butter or a supermarket sandwich instead any day. I've had enough "fine dining" to last me a lifetime, and am filled with dread each time I am expected to attend a dinner. If you want to eat out, why not just visit an Indian / Thai / Chinese restaurant, at least the food tastes of something!

To me fine dining is a nightmare, so why are people so willing to pay a fortune for it?

HappyMJ

I agree with you. Fine dining is a nightmare for me too. I'll avoid at all costs. Even if I could afford it I just don't see the point paying for an elaborately artistic plate of food with hardly anything on it.

The pictures do look great though.

PenguinOfDeath

Some people prefer quality over quantity, when they can afford it.

Everyone has different tastes however, I have a friend who only eats chicken, that would bore me to death pretty quickly!

FrugalWorker

I love trying different things. In fact, when I eat out for dinner, I much prefer to eat something I can't or chose not to make myself. I hate eating mediocre food out.

So yes, I love ethnic foods. But I also love fine dining. I've never eaten at a Michelin stared restaurants, but it's on my list of things to try. I love getting to try taste combinations I've never thought of.

I can afford it, I don't drink out in Pubs or at home (or at least very rarely). Eating out is something I really enjoy to do with my husband.

I love when food is well presented. I love that the food looks so pretty, and such effort has gone in to bringing the best out of the flavours. I don't need to fawned over, I don't drink lots with my dinner, I'm more likely to go somewhere really nice for a lunch or an early bird and leave early. But it's a real treat.

But to each their own!

Islandmaid

For me, good quality food cooked and presented in a way that I cannot produce at home is a wonderful experience, whether that is at the local Indian, or Chinese or when we choose to spend out on an expensive meal.

For our Anniversary this year we spent a ridiculous amount of money on an 8 course taster menu created by a local Michelin star chef - the food was exquisite - the flavour combinations and techniques used were amazing, and the chef and his sous chef took time to explain processes and even allowed me into their kitchen to show me a couple of things.

I love food, it's an obsession and those few tips they gave me have enhanced the way I cook at home, so for me and DH it's worth the cost. We have,t had a holiday for 3 years, so it's horses for courses, even if it's 8 of 'em

Saying that we love our local greasy spoon (not many left) who do the hangover special for £6.50 including enough tea or coffee to swim in for that special morning after moment....

That's what makes us all interesting - our differences

Almo

What an odd thread. I don't particularly like fine dining but I can perfectly well see why other people do. I suspect in many ways it's better value than some of your average Chinese/Thai/Indian in terms of quality and cooking skill.

VfM4meplse

Almo wrote: »

What an odd thread. I don't particularly like fine dining but I can perfectly well see why other people do. I suspect in many ways it's better value than some of your average Chinese/Thai/Indian in terms of quality and cooking skill.

I posted it because I consider the food to be both poor value for money, and a poor use of a skilled person's (ie the chef) time.

And also because I've been stung by the "fine dining" experience more often than I care to recall.

PenguinOfDeath

VfM4meplse wrote: »

And also because I've been stung by the "fine dining" experience more often than I care to recall.

Well if you don't enjoy that kind of thing, then it would be a waste of money for you! As someone who openly admits they can't be bothered cooking and doesn't see the point in it then I can't see why you would bother in the first place.

I could spend hundreds of pounds on top tickets to the best ballet or opera show in the world, but it would be wasted on me as I don't enjoy that kind of thing. So I wouldn't do it.

maman

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I posted it because I consider the food to be both poor value for money, and a poor use of a skilled person's (ie the chef) time.

And also because I've been stung by the "fine dining" experience more often than I care to recall.

In that case, I'm puzzled why you would find a supermarket sandwich value for money.


In the past few weeks I've eaten at a restaurant that just gained its first Michelin star, another gastro place that serves 6 chips (in a tower like Jenga) with its steaks, a caff that did brilliant pasties and a chain pub. All were different but all enjoyable and that included, the food, the wine, the company and the general ambience. I'm happy to pay for the experiences but I find increasingly it's not that expensive as more fixed price menus are available and the 'nouvelle cuisine' places have started doing slightly bigger portions after bad press.


I can envisage perhaps buying a sandwich for an impromptu picnic or at a service area as I'd prefer an M&S sandwich to Burger King but the sandwiches are no more value for money than my restaurant meals.

lessonlearned

I think a lot of it depends on how often you eat out.

When I was "Corporate Woman" eating out, entertaining clients, staying in hotels, etc was all part of the job and I did find it tedious at times.

Fancy food is ok but there were times when I just craved beans on toast or egg and chips......:rotfl:

Now that I am retired I Can eat out for pleasure and its a much more enjoyable experience. I like to eat breakfast at one of my favourite garden centres. There is a great "George's fish and chip restaurant" where I pop in for lunch from time to time. There are several really good gastro pubs. And then when I'm pushing the boat out for.a special treat or family celebration then we go nuclear, and head for our favourite posh restaurant for a bit of fine dining.

Why not, it gives me a chance to get the glad rags on and get all dolled up and have some fun. Because it's only once in a while now it has become special again, rather than a chore, having to make small talk to people I am doing business with, rather than just chilling with friends, family and people I love.

edwink

What puts me off of Fine Dining is the fact that the chefs handle the food too much. I used to like watching Master Chef. Have you seen how much the chefs handle everything? Yuk!! Not for me.

We have a local Café and it has good prices. They make a really nice mushroom Omelette, chips and a salad for £5.95. I know where I would go.

If others like Fine Dining I think that's great because everyone makes their own choice.