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F is for Fast Food and Fine Dining

F is for Fast Food and Fine Dining

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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8 Comments

  1. Lori

    I am not a big fan of fast food. We didn’t eat a lot of the real fast food places like MDs and Taco Bell, but we used to eat out * a lot* at casual dining establishments. We made a lot more money at the time and sometimes on the weekend would eat out all 3 meals!

    Funny, one house we rented was right next door to a DQ. Literally. Just on the other side of the driveway. John loved that place. DQ gave me tummy issues, so that was incentive to stay away. John still talks about that being a great place to live LOL!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Whenever we go on vacation and eat most of our meals out in restaurants I just feel gross. Too much!

  2. Traver Wall

    I used to work in Fine Dining.
    Fine Dining is characterized by a focus on multiple small courses presented in a formal atmosphere by highly trained waitstaff.
    Courses may include an amuse bouche, intermezzo, and or pre-dessert and mignardese courses. Certain meals may include as many as 15 courses and take up the entire time the restaurant is open, typically 6pm to 10pm.
    Another defining characteristic of Fine Dining is the use of specialized flatware and china for certain dishes. The amuse bouche is often presented on a baseplate or “charger” that is already in front of the guest. Specific silverware is placed to “mark” courses, such as sauce spoon, fish fork and fish knife, small knife and small fork, oyster fork, escargot holder, etc.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I once experienced an amazing fine dining experience in Chicago. My friend and I went to a fancy restaurant downtown and we did the “chef’s choice” special. It was a fixed price which included 5 courses and wine. The waitress took down our dislikes and allergies, etc and then the chef created this amazing 5 course meal. It was all stuff I NEVER would have ordered on my own at the time and I got to try some pretty amazing new things. It was the first time I’d ever had ahi tuna steak. One of the amuse bouche dishes was a tiny espresso cup with butternut squash soup. I thought I hated squash (at the time) but I tried it and I realized I loved it.

      It was a fun experience I would love to try again. I’m sure there are a few restaurants in Portland that would offer something like this. I’ve been wanting to try Beast since I saw the chef on Top Chef Masters last year. The Beast menu is fixed I think. Have you been there?

  3. Traver Wall

    I don’t go to fine dining.
    I’m still exposed to that world as a Captain of Private Dining. Two nights ago I expedited a 6 course wine dinner with two wines per course (three with the cheese course!).

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I would love to do that!

      When I cooked a 4 course meal for Michael’s birthday this year I ended with a cheese course for dessert! 😀

  4. Amber from Girl with the Red Hair

    Love this post! The way you used to eat reminds me of my brother – he eats fast food ALL the time. If I cook, he’ll eat it, but if not he’s eating taco bell or Subway with double meat and double cheese (not healthy!)

    We used to go out to crap restaurants ALL the time and waste money. Now we only go out to eat when we’re traveling, if we’re going for ethnic food or if we’re celebrating something. And we rarely ever go to chain restaurants (except for Earls because I love that place!)

    I’ve gone from eating a lot of processed, fast food to being a real foodie over the years too. I almost never eat fast food anymore with the exception of Subway or Taco Del Mar occasionally.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I will do my best NOT to go to chain restaurants now. I don’t want to waste going out to eat on a chain! I like eating out in Portland because there are so many great restaurants here to try.

      I feel much better not eating processed foods anymore.

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