Cooking vs Restaurants

[Spongebob]

The right appliances certainly make a difference when cooking. I'm using the hell out of my instant pot.

We have one of those as well.  They work very well and are ideal for prepping a meal early so it will be ready when you get home.  However, I don't care for fancy gadgets and slow cooking devices.  I prefer to be involved with the food, stirring and checking and tasting.  I'm a very hands on and intrusive cook.  And I really enjoy improvising.  This is why I don't do much baking.

Food suggestion:  Has anyone here ever had a dish called Steak Diane?  It used to be a popular dish in fancy restaurants half a century ago, one of those that was prepared tableside and came with a flame show.  I read that a lot of waiters screwed up the flambé and caught patrons on fire.  Eventually it died out and you rarely see it anymore but I saw it prepared on a food channel on Youtube I watch.  It is quite simple to make and I don't fuss with the flames.  It creates a gravy that is amazing.  Serve it with potatoes and a green vegetable and you won't believe how good this is.  Dang it, now I want to make this dish again.

P.S.  My wife and I went out for dinner last night, usual Friday night.  It was one of our favorite haunts, but it seems like they are slipping.  Sometimes the food comes out cold or you wait forever.  This time half our order wasn't even there.  At least they are friendly and cooperative.  So many places now have children working with no experience and no motivation.  I noticed the head manager (a guy my age) wasn't there.  He usually keeps things in order.