Comments on: Valentine's day - Eat out or eat in? http://www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2009/02/14/valentines-day-eat-out-or-eat-in/ (c) delicious:days Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:24:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: Maria http://www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2009/02/14/valentines-day-eat-out-or-eat-in/#comment-47220 Maria Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:17:18 +0000 http://www.deliciousdays.com/?p=1998#comment-47220 A little late, but I couldn't resist. I work in a very popular -- and rather avant-guard-- restaurant and after this V-day [my 3rd in a row] I decided I'm never going to work this shift again... and not because I mind being away from my husband on a "special night." The whole gambit is so contrived and awkward on the customer side and house never quite figures out how to accommodate the conventions of the "holiday" while staying true to the nature of the place and it always seems to leave everyone on both sides vaguely dissatisfied. My advice: If you're going to go out, go some place you regularly go with your special friend and order that thing you never order because it's too much: too rich or too expensive or just too much food. Don't go to a restaurant you've never been to just because it'll impress your date that you managed to get a reservation and then order the "safest" items on the menu and feign romantic notions while you're trying to calculate the bill in your head... or order big and leave whole plates untouched because your palate isn't keen on the exotic ingredients. If you have to [and you don't], do a little homework and know what you're getting into, at least! I will only ever go out on v-day if it's spur of the moment and we're going somewhere we can order at the counter... If I feel like indulging the "holiday," I'll buy expensive ingredients I don't normally buy (prime cuts, exotic fish, truffles) and do something fancy at home. A little late, but I couldn't resist.
I work in a very popular -- and rather avant-guard-- restaurant and after this V-day [my 3rd in a row] I decided I'm never going to work this shift again... and not because I mind being away from my husband on a "special night." The whole gambit is so contrived and awkward on the customer side and house never quite figures out how to accommodate the conventions of the "holiday" while staying true to the nature of the place and it always seems to leave everyone on both sides vaguely dissatisfied.

My advice: If you're going to go out, go some place you regularly go with your special friend and order that thing you never order because it's too much: too rich or too expensive or just too much food. Don't go to a restaurant you've never been to just because it'll impress your date that you managed to get a reservation and then order the "safest" items on the menu and feign romantic notions while you're trying to calculate the bill in your head... or order big and leave whole plates untouched because your palate isn't keen on the exotic ingredients. If you have to [and you don't], do a little homework and know what you're getting into, at least!

I will only ever go out on v-day if it's spur of the moment and we're going somewhere we can order at the counter... If I feel like indulging the "holiday," I'll buy expensive ingredients I don't normally buy (prime cuts, exotic fish, truffles) and do something fancy at home.

]]> By: Tamami http://www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2009/02/14/valentines-day-eat-out-or-eat-in/#comment-47217 Tamami Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:41:13 +0000 http://www.deliciousdays.com/?p=1998#comment-47217 I went to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen to celebrate ours - but we made a point of going there a week after the Valentines day - we do that every year - never celbrate on the actual day - because we feel as though everything is more expensive & tacky!! I went to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen to celebrate ours - but we made a point of going there a week after the Valentines day - we do that every year - never celbrate on the actual day - because we feel as though everything is more expensive & tacky!!

]]> By: Agatha http://www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2009/02/14/valentines-day-eat-out-or-eat-in/#comment-47214 Agatha Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:58:25 +0000 http://www.deliciousdays.com/?p=1998#comment-47214 We ended up going out to eat, mainly because we were out shopping and sightseeing all day in Boston, so by the time 6pm rolled around, we were hungry. Went to this great little place on Newbury street called Bouchee, had lovely Braised Short Ribs ( not sure why I have not seen this in Germany) and yummy Nutella Crepes with strawberries. We did beat the crowed thugh, as it was just starting to get busy when we left. It was getting too busy, we were happy to get out and get comfy at home with a movie :) VDay is just a big hype, especially in the States. We ended up going out to eat, mainly because we were out shopping and sightseeing all day in Boston, so by the time 6pm rolled around, we were hungry. Went to this great little place on Newbury street called Bouchee, had lovely Braised Short Ribs ( not sure why I have not seen this in Germany) and yummy Nutella Crepes with strawberries. We did beat the crowed thugh, as it was just starting to get busy when we left. It was getting too busy, we were happy to get out and get comfy at home with a movie :) VDay is just a big hype, especially in the States.

]]> By: bob http://www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2009/02/14/valentines-day-eat-out-or-eat-in/#comment-47171 bob Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:38:32 +0000 http://www.deliciousdays.com/?p=1998#comment-47171 So, I am a little late this year. However, just like New Year's Eve, we tend to celebrate Valentine's day "in." The most romantic meals we've had have been cooked by the two of us, and you can't beat the service! For us, the largest crowd we will tolerate on Valentine's Day is only two people. So, I am a little late this year. However, just like New Year's Eve, we tend to celebrate Valentine's day "in." The most romantic meals we've had have been cooked by the two of us, and you can't beat the service! For us, the largest crowd we will tolerate on Valentine's Day is only two people.

]]> By: Kasey http://www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2009/02/14/valentines-day-eat-out-or-eat-in/#comment-47111 Kasey Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:20:17 +0000 http://www.deliciousdays.com/?p=1998#comment-47111 My fiance cooked me the most AMAZING meal for Valentine's Day and I think it pretty much topped any restaurant experience. Coupled with a nice bottle of champagne--I say: eat in! My fiance cooked me the most AMAZING meal for Valentine's Day and I think it pretty much topped any restaurant experience. Coupled with a nice bottle of champagne--I say: eat in!

]]> By: Christine Stecker http://www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2009/02/14/valentines-day-eat-out-or-eat-in/#comment-47096 Christine Stecker Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:48:42 +0000 http://www.deliciousdays.com/?p=1998#comment-47096 Sherry and Bob Page of Culinary Getaways turned me onto this cookbook when they recently hosted a fabulous cookbook party, and now the book is a staple in our kitchen. At the gathering each guest brought a couple of dishes of recipes selected from the book. Between the 9 guests, we nearly covered all of the recipes from the cookbook. While it was a lot of food, each dish was followed by lots of "ooo's", "ah's" and "oh, this is so good!" Moreover, everyone agreed that the recipes have a very creative twist and are easy and fast to make. My favorite recipes are the roast beef with shallot radish dressing, and for dessert, the pumpkin semifreddo. It is making me hungry to think of this! Sherry and Bob Page of Culinary Getaways turned me onto this cookbook when they recently hosted a fabulous cookbook party, and now the book is a staple in our kitchen. At the gathering each guest brought a couple of dishes of recipes selected from the book. Between the 9 guests, we nearly covered all of the recipes from the cookbook. While it was a lot of food, each dish was followed by lots of "ooo's", "ah's" and "oh, this is so good!" Moreover, everyone agreed that the recipes have a very creative twist and are easy and fast to make. My favorite recipes are the roast beef with shallot radish dressing, and for dessert, the pumpkin semifreddo. It is making me hungry to think of this!

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