Perhaps this will
come off as a very trivial topic, but I feel that much goodness and knowledge
can be elicited from even the most seemingly trivial activities if your
attitude and mindset are such. The topic for this small symposium I wish to
give is on the importance of eating out. All health related thoughts and
questions must be disregarded at this juncture. This is for those who struggle
to cook, or are blessed in some capacity, making frequent restaurant visits
possible. I suffer from an inability to want to cook, and many of my friends
share this insidious struggle. So, I think some words on dining out are
perfectly apropos.
For me, eating out
has never been solely about the contents of the meal. I love food just as much
as anyone else, and seek the finest of foods if possible. But I look to glean
much more from eating out than having a succulent burger slide down my gullet.
A few years ago I decided to keep track of and document every single restaurant
I would ever enter. I have currently eaten at 281 restaurants in 4 countries
and some 30-35 states. This includes at least 30 pizzerias, 14 Chinese
restaurants, and 32 Mexican restaurants.
This started out as just a fun little thing I
did for my own nerdy pleasure. But now it has become something that inspires
and motivates me to try new places. When someone says where should we eat, I am
always thinking where have I never eaten? This has seemed to flow into other
aspects of my life. I always want to try new things, and now when facing a
bifurcation I opt to choose the way that has yet to be traveled. In
addition to this new attitude I find that I have actually met lots of people in
my quest to be a gourmand. I met a lovely girl one night at Wendy's whom I
courted briefly while in Philadelphia. I also was able to give her a Book of
Mormon and teach her a little bit more about my beliefs. In always asking the
names of
my garçons and chefs I have formed some
awesome acquaintances and friendships.
One other thing I love about eating out
experience is the ambiance. I am no stranger to Mcdonald’s and other fast food
chains famous for their lovable grease and questionable cooking techniques. But
the restaurants with choice music, aesthetically pleasing decor and
other amenities add greatly to the eating experience. Most of all a meal
is dictated by who you choose to eat it with. There are few things I treasure
more than 2-3 hour lunches with those I am close with. When lunch turns into a
long and serious conversation I know it is going to be a good day. I follow the
adage of Maurice Chevalier: "I never eat when I can dine."
I've been saying a man as eloquent, intelligent & opinionated as you needs a blog :) well done, Taylor. I'll be frank with you, it took me about two years to get into a real sync with the blogosphere. But so far I think you're doing splendidly. If you need any help with future layouts, music or other personalization let me know. Excited to read more from you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I am going to read some tutorials and see what I can do. Bless you.
ReplyDeleteAs the avid blog-reader that I am, I feel entitled to say: You're off to a great start. Great posts so far. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteYa for dining! We need to do that soon I love our sibling meals :)
ReplyDeleteLove it... can't wait for our road trip next week. We're gonna add at least 10 new spots to your restaurant list; and out of state too! So, are you going to let us all in on the genesis of Billymoney or is it a secret?
ReplyDeleteAwesome. Finding a great restaurant is the best feeling. I just wanted to add that cooking adds another level of appreciation for eating at restaurants. My in-laws are really into watching the Food network and making new recipes. I've learned that it is very satisfying to eat at a place and realize the different ingredients that went into the food and the methods that they use to prepare it. I'm not a great cook, but I like making my own salsa and other simple things. Cooking at home will save you a lot of money and it's just another skill to add to your list.
ReplyDeleteDallas I need to learn how to cook. I like your attitude. No one likes to cook for one though ;)
ReplyDelete