Thoughts on Buffets....

[OrganicGal]

On Sunday my sis, my niece, my daughter and I went to a very very popular Chinese buffet restaurant for my nieces B-day dinner. The place was packed and usually always is.
Although I enjoyed the company and all. I found that the quality of food was not anywhere near what I prefer to eat nowadays. I did eat to much, but now that I think about it, I'm not sure I particularly enjoyed it. It felt almost like an old eating pattern of bad habit that I 'automatically' fell into.

My daughter and I were discussing it on the way home, that there is no possible way they could prepare so much food, so many different things (there must be easily 100 things on the buffet), and so many times/quantities and have it be good quality ingredients.

So, since quality of food is so much more important to me, I think that buffets are not for me any more. Not to say I would NEVER eat at one again, but it will be rarely, and I'll be choosy about what I eat at one.

Anyone else have thoughts on buffets??

[blueskighs]

My thoughts ...

Over the years as I have learned to cook well, shopped at Farmer's Market, spent 4 months raw then almost two years Vegan and now vegetarian, though still mostly vegan, YOUR PALATE CAN CHANGE DRAMATICALLY,

I often find that food at many restaurants, not just buffets is quite disappointing which is why I only go out to eat once or twice a week. Sometimes not at all. (must qualify that: other than my treats on S days)

This was nothing I *planned* to happen, it has actually in some ways been a huge dissappointment and cooking all the time can seem like a lot of work, which is why I am always looking for efficeincies,

ANYWAY ... yes gradually overtime it is not just buffets but many restaurants I find that I regret eating at and wish I had just had something I made myself because it tastes better and I feel better after eating

Oh well,

did anyone see the bits on the news yesterday about people starting to grow more veggies of their own because of high price of food! WAY COOL! I used to grow lettuce, spinach, arugula, broccoli, still grow chard, our gardners pulled up my precious arugula and have not got any more planted AAAAAAAAAAGH!

Blueskighs

[NoelFigart]

Anyone else have thoughts on buffets??

I ate at one this weekend because I suggested going out to eat to the family. We wanted to walk to the restaurant and the favorite within walking distance was the Chinese buffet.

I agree that the food quality ain't "All That". But I think the draw of a buffet is the excess! When you've stopped wanting that, the appeal kinda goes away.

When I lived with a chef, I confess I did not get all that excited about going out to eat, either. (Not that he cooked every night. But when he did, it was a lot better than most restaurants we could afford!)

Isn't it funny how rich we are? Food's so easy to obtain that it's reasonable to turn our noses up at less than stellar quality. Maybe I suck, but it IS kinda nice to be lucky enough to live in such a culture.

[wosnes]

I agree that the food quality ain't "All That". But I think the draw of a buffet is the excess! When you've stopped wanting that, the appeal kinda goes away.

I think it might be the variety. But that's just what I think.

[Rheba]

My husband's family gets together once a month for supper (or dinner!) and it is ALWAYS at a buffet! In fact this coming Monday night is the night. And it is a pizza/chicken buffet. We have already discussed this and I told him as long as we stick to one plate...........NOT piled high!! ...we will be okay. But at the same time, I am not going to monitor what he eats....I will be too busy taking care of myself. Wish we could go elsewhere but time constraints and different food preferences seem to dictate the buffet type restaurants. So I will make the best of a "bad" situation. Must keep peace in the family! Probably just chicken and veggies..which I could probably eat every day of the week.

[NoelFigart]

You know, Rheba, part of what I love about No S is that you'll be able to go to the buffet, have your plate of food and won't have to squeal, "Iiiiiiimmmmm on a diiiieeeet and caaannntttt hhaaaavveee thaaatttt!!!!"

You just eat and no-one'll even notice. (As a former low-carber, I find this immensely appealing when it comes to socializing).

[Mavilu]

I had to eat at a casino buffet last week, so what I did was to walk up and down the buffet tables first, decided only to try the most asbsolutely scrumptious dishes and pass the not so fabulous ones and had very small portions of each, about two three tastes worth of each, even if I had to use two plates, because the first one was taken away before I could stop the waitress.
I ate without getting stuffed, I tried a lot of different foods and i feel like I passed the test.
So, I'm sticking to those buffet rules from now on.

[Rheba]

Noel, I agree with you wholeheartedly! No one will know that I am watching what I eat as they will all be busy eating and talking and I will be in the background with my simple little plate of food just enjoying myself immensely! And if they do notice....so what! I don't need their approval or disapproval of what i am doing...I just need to please myself. Period! What a freeing statement that is after all these years.

[Noturningback]

You know, Rheba, part of what I love about No S is that you'll be able to go to the buffet, have your plate of food and won't have to squeal, "Iiiiiiimmmmm on a diiiieeeet and caaannntttt hhaaaavveee thaaatttt!!!!"

You just eat and no-one'll even notice. (As a former low-carber, I find this immensely appealing when it comes to socializing).

Ditto Squared

When I read the title, I wanted to just answer: "I like them."

Most buffets are not high quality but, there is something about all those choices.

[Too solid flesh]

I had to eat at a casino buffet last week, so what I did was to walk up and down the buffet tables first, decided only to try the most asbsolutely scrumptious dishes and pass the not so fabulous ones...

Research conducted by Brian Wansink, author of _Mindless eating_ and Director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, has shown that people who eat less at buffets do exactly what you did, Mavilu, checking the table thoroughly before selecting foods and then choosing their favourite items.

[OrganicGal]

Good idea for the future...only eat the most desirous scrumtious foods and leave the rest. Walk the buffet first! Great thoughts, thanks

[Mavilu]

Well, what do you know, my behaviour is endorsed by a book author!, this is a first.
I might have to buy Mindless Eating, I keep hearing about it.

Organic Gal, good luck on your buffet adventures!.