What and where do Chefs eat???

I am curious to know where, what and when Chefs eat???
I know when I'm working what, where and when I eat but, how about when you are off, or when you want to take your significant other somewhere to impress your palate, or on vacation????
I know for breakfast I have a certain place I go to for something I am craving. I don't eat breakfast much but when I do I want something that I know will satisfy my palate.
For lunch I like consistency, there is this place in Orlando that has the best wings and Philly Cheese Steak and I will eat that for lunch three days in a row when I'm there on weekends!!!!
For dinner I will go to places I know have an item I want, and I can't tell you in the morning or the afternoon what that will be, I usually don't know what I want to eat until it's almost that time!!......so I will go to this Italian restaurant for tripe, to another for mussels marinara, (not the same night mind you), Osso Bucco is my favorite I will eat that anywhere, I figure if they have it on the menu, they have to have a descent preparation!!!!!! Usually it's good, if it's on a special and not on the menu I may not order it.
I have not seen veal sweetbreads on a menu in 15-20 years, I won't make it because it's not the same when you make something you love and then eat it also!!...not for me anyway. Other people love it but, I am over it after I'm finished cooking it!
Good sushi is hard to come by, when I find a good place I will go there 3-4 days in a row!!!!
Greek food is also hard to come by, especially in South FL., I love Saganaki done right, simple yet easy to mess up also!!!!
Good Cuban food is all over S. FL., you can go into a little Cuban joint and get a meal better then the fancy upscale Cuban joints in Coral Gables where you get the $20 meal for $90!!!!!
To impress Norman's in the Gables is the best food hands down.....the Rum Painted Grouper is great, Xim Xim Chix is awesome, the desserts, the wines....but I can only afford that twice in a lifetime!!!!
To me the food is about the atmosphere, not the restaurant's but the people eating, the company...etc
Some of my friends (not in the business) are Culinary illiterates, they actually frequent places like Sweet Tomatoes, Chilie's, Cracker Barrel....when we go to dinner I usually try not to let them pick, but if they do there better be alcohol to soften the blow!!!!!! Most of the times I won't eat at some of those dives but just beign with the ones you enjoy being with makes the occasion!
What are your thoughts?????

By Corey (Corey) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 05:39 pm: Edit

jack in the box.

By George (George) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 06:18 pm: Edit

The number 1 food at the CIA was pizza and # 2 was McD's, and the faculty voted too.

By Corey (Corey) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 06:59 pm: Edit

prolly the secret sauce.

By Ladycake (Ladycake) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 07:02 pm: Edit

Manny, The garde manger chef at the CCA when I was there liked Burger King.

I don't eat out a lot but when I do I try to choose foods I don't cook for myself. I really like Indian at the Shangrila in San Francisco, Mexican at a friends place in the little town where I live (he does really great food from Manzanillo and I particularly like his pork with cherry sauce),but the best of all is my mama's cooking! My family blends Creole with midwest. My mom has picked up some really nice Italian and Mexican through the years and that is hard to beat. One favorite is her baked mac and cheese.

Otherwise, there is an Italian place here in Fresno called Giulia's that does great polenta, saltimboca, and ratatouille. It has a cute art nouveau look and the service is extraordinary.

Another favorite is a Chinese place in Fresno that has old fashioned (as in the kind I got as a child)Chinese food. The house chow mein is a killer. In a nearby town is a small Mexican owned Chinese buffet. The only thing I will eat there is the wor won ton soup that is the best this side of S.F.

I guess I like best to try things I haven't tried before and I love going out with my friends in the bay area who are constantly on the prowl for great places. It's cool because I don't have to suffer the bad choices to benefit from the good ones.

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 07:52 pm: Edit

No wonder the Culinary world is going to hell!!!
I can understand on the way home, late, fast....but damn, I had more faith in the CIA!!!!!
I imagine Cal. is a hell of a great place for small gems Cherie, especially, Mexican, Chinese, Thai and the other nationalities out there...kind of like the S. American influence here in FL.

By George (George) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 07:57 pm: Edit

Manny ya gotta remember in Hyde Park, when I was there in 87-89 there were very few decent restaurants if any, and lets face it students and cooks really don't have the cash to eat out.

G

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 08:57 pm: Edit

Forget about students. How about us that are drastically domesticated. Three toddlers puts a hurtin not only on ones wallet but on their free time as well. Best I get is the left over fries in the basket in the middle of lunch. No, just kiddin. See I live in a town not known for food, just golf. The nice and regional cuisines are finally findin their way here. There is a place called The Baja Grill, man, they got the best fish tacos. A lil bit of a dive but man the food is good. Then there is a place called Dugans in the village. A lil irish pub sorta place. Nice fish and chips, black and tan and their sheppards pie pretty darn good too, just wish there was a bit more lamb in it.
Now back home in downtown Buffalo is a nice casual upscale place called Hutches. Nice food, fair price, great service. Then ya have all the wing a pizza places, Mighty Taco, a local chain, Teds Hot Dogs cooked over a charcoal grill with loganberry drink............man i need a trip back home. Then in Niagara Falls is a place called Violas. Best D@mn steak and cheese subs in the world. Buy one, pay for it, they give it to you in a paper bag and by the time you get to your car you can see through the bag........nice. Thats it in need the off season to go back home.

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 06:15 am: Edit

True G, I'm not saying I go out to eat all the time either guys, but when I do...these are the things I like to eat!
When my kid was younger we stayed home a lot also.
It seems that now it is as cheap to eat out if you shop right, then it almost is to stay in and eat!

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 10:54 am: Edit

well, living in the Dallas area is tough. There's so many places to eat here, literally on every corner.
I'll eat mexican at least 3times a week just cause it's that good. Great lil' mom and pop(really daughter) chain here called Christina's. Everything I've had there is good. Good service and nice style deco.
I won't hardly touch asian food around here as most of them are buffets, and I try to stear clear of those (no offense corey!). Italian is another thing, I'm pretty picky when it comes to the great cuisine of Italy, and there's only a select few places I'll go, all of which I believe are "name brand" places like Carabas (sp?). No, no Olive Garden, I like fresh sauces.
I usually don't have to spend too much money when I go out because of the number of places to go. I'd say the adverage per person is about 10-15 bucks.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 10:56 am: Edit

Oh, and there's only one or two fast food joints I'll go to... Taco Bueno and Chic-fil-a and Boston Market. That's about it. I havn't eaten at McD's B. King in over 5yrs and I don't plan on it anytime soon... ever

By George (George) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 12:29 pm: Edit

I rarely eat out because I have a daughter and a senior . When my wife and I do get out we have a favorite place, The West End Café that has a Chef/Owner.

It really kills me to spend the money for a mediocre restaurant meal so we stick to low end or high end and rarely go in the middle. I’ve never been in an Olive Garden, Mac Grill or most of the chains. The exception is Outback but most of them are such zoos we just do curbside takeaway. Good value and doing the “beverages” at home saves us over half of the check.

I love our local diner for Sunday breakfast.

If I’m going “out” no holds are barred. I love Aureole, Daniel, River Café, Union
Square etc but only can afford to do that type of dining maybe twice a year for special occasions. A couple of times a year we also get friends together and do a table for one of Bobby’s “Gourmet Nights” at DeSeversky. (the Chef featured in the Beard Dinner article) Its great bang for the buck with incredible food paired with wines for around $75 a head all inclusive and it’s in an incredible mansion setting. It brings me back to the days I was in the trenches there.

At home normally I cook (my wife is proud that she just about knows how to boil water) about 4 nights and we do Chinese or Pizza or order from the Fish Dock for the rest of the week.

G

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 03:02 pm: Edit

Quoted from George:"At home normally I cook (my wife is proud that she just about knows how to boil water) about 4 nights and we do Chinese or Pizza or order from the Fish Dock for the rest of the week."
I have a great feeling that I'll be in the same boat as my g/f can't cook scambled eggs. *8(

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Scrambled eggs!?!?!?.....I finally was able to show my wife how to make Old El Paso tacos. She never used water. But in her defense she makes one heluva good sloppy joes. She even showed me how to make that one.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 01:02 pm: Edit

mmmm... I love sloppy joes... wanna post that recipe?

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 02:08 pm: Edit

1 lb. browned ground beef, drain, enough white vinegar to moisten, garlic powder, onion powder, ketchup and enough cayenne to burn ya bout three times. Quote my wife, never more. Amounts........does anyone messure anymore??

By Andapanda (Andapanda) on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 08:08 pm: Edit

Chefmanny:
Where?--At the soup kitchen and rescue mission. What?--Whatever they're serving. I give thanks and eat it, no complaining allowed. Otherwise, God will make me wander around the desert(or Fresno! LOL) for 40 years until I die!
The saying, "The cobbler's children have no shoes" applies in my case. However, I have shoes, but not much of the unlawful, intrinsically worthless, fiat currency(vis-a-vis lawful moneys coined from gold and silver according to The Coinage Act of 1792) according to the unlawful, unconstitional, Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which we exchange for goods and services rendered. How were those rain storms?
Ladycake:
I had eaten at an Armenian restaurant not far from CSUF where they had a belly dancer who kept bumping my chair as I tried to eat. She should have known that I was a poor university student and couldn't tip her much. I also ate at a small take-out restaurant in Clovis owned by an Iranian man. That was 2 decades ago. I imagine that Fresno has changed for the worse since then. Some parts of the city can be rough. I used to rappel off the Fresno F.D.'s training tower downtown with the CSUF USAROTC cadre back then. It was near G(or 'G-string' as the university students referred to it) Street where the "ladies of the evening" plied their trade. Do you visit Yosemite or Sequoia National Parks often?

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 09:06 pm: Edit

Dude, get a job!!!!....Cooks, even student cooks should never hunger!!!!!!
You should be ashamed of taking someone's meal at the soup kitchen!!!!!!....you are young (I assume) and should have ambition!
If you are legitimately that bad off, which I don't think since you have access to a computer, even if it's in the public library, I apoligize!
If not, get a damn job!!!!!...Oh I said that already didn't I!

By Cheftim (Cheftim) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 12:06 am: Edit

JHC I just realized Andapanda is in my own back yard. The food they serve at the Ventura County Rescue Mission is pretty good, I know the Food and Beverage Manager and the Chef, good friend of mine. Their motto "food fit for the King." I've done demos there and help serve during their Thanksgiving in te Park. They have a strong Culinary Education Program.

Andapanda were are you working?

My favorite thing to eat after a long drudge of a day is Romona's Burritos straight out of the Seven Eleven Microwave. Hell I remember when they were $.39. I've eaten way to many of those burros.

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 03:22 am: Edit

well Tim, go catch him and give him something to do !!!
hes not that young if hes talking about eating at some place two decades ago.
desert, fresno whats the difference????
and we know hes not a republican, so theres another reason to go fetch him, maybe he has some sorry poor me story about how some mean old republican stole his shoes or something.
Rotten old fat mean as* republicans.
HaHaHaHaHa !!!!!!!!!!!
quick!!! to the bat mobil !!!!!!!!

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 11:24 am: Edit

1 lb. browned ground beef, drain, enough white vinegar to moisten, garlic powder, onion powder, ketchup and enough cayenne to burn ya bout three times. Quote my wife, never more. Amounts........does anyone messure anymore??

seems to be missing something... oh yeah... real onions and garlic!! c'mon man.. you're a chef for goodness sake! lol I put a touch of mustard and worshichestershire in mine. I like the cayenne thing, I usually use tobascy. Amounts? what's that? I think my hands are spoons and cups... :D

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 02:27 pm: Edit

Snuff, you asked for my wifes recipe......NOT mine. And my wife makes one heluva good sloppy joes. So don't knock it til ya tried it.

By Ladycake (Ladycake) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 02:58 pm: Edit

Alright you GUYS!!! Fresno is where I am working. Yeah, there are bad places here, just like anywhere - but one of the alumni from the school where I teach is the chef at the local soup kitchen (Poverelo house).

It is not desert here, heck I grew up near Bakersfield, now that is a desert. However, there is really good Basque food available there. Everywhere has it's good points.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 03:28 pm: Edit

no no no... I wasnt' knocking it at all gibz... Heck, I never knock anything I've never tried, it might be the best thing ever and to not try it... well, you'll never know!

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 04:33 pm: Edit

have any of you ever had " pesto "
i bought some the other day at my local trader joes.
this one is cilantro and walnut.
in a jar.
i can't stop eating this stuff, its great!!!
the dog even likes it.
i've been adding it to everything.

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 07:08 pm: Edit

oh i forgot, here in la. theres this roach coach,
"turkey ed" runs it.
big o' fat guy, wife left him couple years back,
i eat there, cause i kinda feel sorry for him.
real nice guy.
he stews these turkey and chicken necks.
man! those things taste great!
i don't know how he does them, but they are tender, tender.
ed don't smell so good but if you can get past that and get a plate of those necks, your in heaven.

By Chefrev (Chefrev) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 08:26 pm: Edit

Hey all, long time no post:

Just to answer the stated thread question (What was it now? Oh yeah when/where do chefs eat) I like the local places with the private owners/chefs. My wife and I try to have a lunch or dinner date sans kids once a month or every blue moon. Then we try a different place each time to sample the local talent/competition. The only rule is I can't say "You know what I'd do if I were doing this dish?....." or "What this dish needs is (fill in blank)." Occupational hazard I guess.

On the other hand when we're hungry we'll eat at a chain sometimes too (**GASP**), like T.G.I. Friday's etc. Yeah the food is the same old but it's edible usually.

When I'd work the night shift we'd hang out at little diners that were open late and eat breakfast at 2am or grab a nosh at a bar. One place I worked was BYOB and the boss would let us finish the leftover bottles of wine people decided not to carry home with them. Then we'd make pasta, or finish the dessert specials. Good times, good times.

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 05:57 am: Edit

Spike, pesto, you just found that???....you have to get out more often man!!!!
Take the dog too!!!

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 09:18 am: Edit

Pesto!? Out of a jar!? Are you serious!? Never!! I once made an asparagus/pistachio pesto....good stuff.

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 04:55 pm: Edit

that sounds excellent!!!!!!, gib.
but i don't know how to make it, and i bet i don't even have an up to date cookbook that would tell me how. Unless they called it something else back in the 40's and 50's. LOL.
but,....this stuff is pretty good, for what i know of it.
all natural.
Hey Manny, my emails to you keep com'in back, whats the deal?????

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 06:44 pm: Edit

which address?????...the delgadom@dadeschool.net is dead.
Use chefmanny@dadeschools.net or mannyd@gate.net

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 09:14 am: Edit

O.K.......So my wife and I finally got to go out and eat....without the kids that is. So we go to a place that has a very good upscale reputation. Have been there once before and had a good experiance. Decided to go back. Not sure if last time it was the wine that made it good or the 4th bottle of wine that made it good. But this time I think they had an off night, or maybe I am just anal about good food and good service if I am paying a hefty price for dinner and my expectations are too high. Well any way, get there, sit down, server right there. Drinks and app. served in about 10 min. Very nice. App plate cleared right away, and the wait begins. No server, no dinner. 20 min pass and my wife sees her entree in the window. 8 min pass and finally mine arrives in window. Plates are served. My asparugus over cooked, baby carrots just about raw. I think they blanched them for 30 sec. Gratin potatoes more than al dente in the middle, lamb pretty good. No server to ask how meal is. Finish entree and wait 15-20 min for plates to be cleared. I really hate when my plates are not cleared. Now mind you they are not busy for the staff that they have on hand. I am not saying that dinner was horrable...it just was not up to par. More like a double bogey. I did not say anything, did not want to make a long over due night out an ordeal. I should have taken my wifes suggestion and tried an italian place around the corner, but I read their menu and was not impressed.

By Foodpump (Foodpump) on Wednesday, November 03, 2004 - 10:38 pm: Edit

There's this great Sushi place place called Tojos where the chef is so Japanese, he can't or won't even speak english, apparantly whenever Morgan Freeman is in town it's his favorite haunt. I want to try it, but never seem to find the time. Brought the wife to a very nice place called Lumiere for her b'day, seven course degusatation menu, and by the third course she's bored and hungry, wants a good pasta. The lingering taste of tiny torchon poached foi gras medalions with that curly/flaky english salt on it was almost good enough to counteract the drop dead stares from the hostess when we left after the 3rd course. On long weekends, when I have a day off, I like to spring surprises on the kids (6 and 11) Got ém to eat Porcini rissotto, braised red cabbage, even quail. One of these days I'm gonna get ambitious and make a poached beef tongue with caper sauce.
If I could be granted one wish it would be that my wife could consume more than 1 glass of wine without turning bright red and incoherant.

P.S. ChefTim: If you ever want to scare the living $%^* out of yourself, watch the delivery guy stock up "fresh" sandwiches, etc. in the 7-11, then look at the expiry dates. 3 weeks for a ham 'n cheese sandwich is spooky

By Cvincolorado (Cvincolorado) on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 01:10 am: Edit

Well I finally got a date in this ski town of 8-1 men to women ratio. I went out to a new restaurant called the Untamed Steakhouse. I had tenderloin tournadoes(sp?)with brie cheese and smoked bacon and a cognac pan sauce. It was an interesting combination. I managed to make it through the whole meal without critiquing anything. Good food, good service, good company. I must try to eat out more often. Then again it cost $86.00 and I am still sitting here alone typing on my computer.

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 08:49 am: Edit

Is that 8 men to 1 woman or 8 women to 1 man????

By George (George) on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 10:37 am: Edit

I don't think he'd be complaining (or have time to sit at the computer) if it was 8 women to 1 man. ;<)

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 11:24 am: Edit

I guess I should of looked at the profile first!!!

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Thursday, November 25, 2004 - 01:35 am: Edit

Holy Crap !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you spent 86.00 bucks on this broad??????????
AND................??????????
is this like "love"?
has she called you yet?
HaHa.

Brother, have I got some girls for you to meet.
in LA.
you spend 86.00 bucks on them and THEY DO THE TYPING.

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 01:35 am: Edit

so?...are we gonna find out what happened or what???
come on Chef, spill the beans.