Cooking vs Restaurants

[arewethereyet]

Husband and I have never really gone out to eat very often. Part of the reason is that he has usually had screwy working hours and we were often on different work shifts.

I have never been really big on going to restaurants because I don't eat much and it seems such a waste to spend so much for a meal I probably won't come close to finishing.

Husband now seems to be happy with the lunches he eats with a coworker and that is his big meal of the day. They have a routine of what places have what lunch meal deals every day. We pretty much forage for something in the evening and really don't do much cooking at home any more. I did make lasagna a couple weekends ago. That was the first big meal I had made in a while. Tonight I thought I would cook up some hamburgers.

We had been ordering a fair amount of food to be delivered but have slowed way down on that in the past few months. We had a handful of favorites and just got burned out.

We haven't been to a restaurant since before the pandemic really ramped up. There is a Cajun seafood chain we like but it's a rare treat and the last place husband and I went to together. I have been out to eat once with my daughter and once with my boss in the last 18 months.

[Spongebob]

Regarding restaurant food quality. There are lots of places that cook food that I can easily replicate or even beat at home. However, there are a few that prepare certain dishes that, no matter how hard I try, I just can't replicate. One of those is grilled or broiled brussels. We've tried several different methods and the result is good, but there are a couple of places that broil the sprouts to a tenderness and crispiness that I just can't match. So if anyone knows the secret, please speak up.

[Silver]

I don't cook, never have.

Used to regularly enjoy fast food when I was younger and had a faster metabolism that kept me skinny no matter what I shoveled into my mouth.

Rarely dined at restaurants. Mostly did breakfast dining after a night of drinking at the bar.

When I eat at home, I do simple stuff: making a salad or opening a can of soup.

[Brian37]

My wife and I cooked a Cajun bowl last night and it was terrific and extremely cheap.  We used a box of Cajun seasoned rice from Aldi, red kidney beans, a pound of ground sausage and some nan bread we had in the cupboard.  The entire meal cost a little over $7 to make and it was excellent.  The question is, I enjoy cooking and it is cheaper than eating out.  My wife prefers to go out to restaurants mainly because she hates the cleanup and also she doesn't enjoy cooking.  But the way I look at it, the time it takes to drive to a restaurant and back home is usually as much as the cooking and cleaning time, sometimes more.  Despite the fact that I offer to do both, she still likes eating out more than staying home.  Even when we go to one of the non-fussy places, it costs at least $20 for both of us.  

What's your preference and what suggestions do you have to get your SO to want to eat at home more?  Or if you prefer eating out, what's your argument for that?

A couple of things I have never understood is "fall off the bone" when watching cooking shows, no matter the meat, or "slow and low". I've made many attempts to do those two things, and failed every time. 

I love eating, but I am with your wife, I hate prep, and hate cleanup. 

At home my food gets boiled, microwaved or stuck in the oven on a timer. I think Guy Fieri is a demon.

[zebo-the-fat]

Eating out is a rare treat, at home we have a simple system... she cooks and I wash the dishes (doing it the other way around would be a disaster... but might get to eat out more!)

[Duty]

Fancy accusing your own wife of being incapable of washing dishes! ; )

[arewethereyet]

Fancy accusing your own wife of being incapable of washing dishes! ; )

Good to see you back...hope you are doing well.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Fancy accusing your own wife of being incapable of washing dishes! ; )

My own wife is perfectly capable of doing the washing up, but we have a long standing arrangement - I look after the house, she looks after the garden.

It’s a win-win for me - I don’t have to eat her cooking AND I don’t have to mow the lawn.

Boru

[Spongebob]

Speaking of systems, I once knew this couple that had a dinner system. Monday night was spaghetti, Tuesday was meatloaf, Wednesday was salad, Thursday was tacos and Friday was leftovers. Repeat same each week. They did this for years.

[Duty]

Fancy accusing your own wife of being incapable of washing dishes! ; )

Good to see you back...hope you are doing well.

Cheers, yeah I'm doing OK thanks, hope you are too. Committedly on the wagon (again) so hopefully no more drunk aggy posting from me this time around