tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post6528208776966124321..comments2023-11-18T01:21:55.631-05:00Comments on My Open Wallet: My Dinner with RichardMadame Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11536189690094235926noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-2478984472644783162009-03-29T20:53:00.000-04:002009-03-29T20:53:00.000-04:00I live in Chicago, where there are lots of wonderf...I live in Chicago, where there are lots of wonderful inexpensive ethnic restaurants. Why not suggest a less expensive option the next time you dine with Richard? If you are uneasy about saying, "Let's go somewhere less expensive," why not suggest a specific place? You must have some favorite inexpensive places.Chicago chicanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-56310502553665304932009-03-25T18:45:00.000-04:002009-03-25T18:45:00.000-04:00I'm always struck by anecdotes like this. $240 for...I'm always struck by anecdotes like this. $240 for a meal. That's about what the annual income of someone in rural Asia is. Not many Americans ever think of skipping one of these meals and donating the amount to a Third World charity. Even ones who are bleeding heart liberals. Yet it wasn't always this way. Charity used to be a huge portion of Americans' budgets a few decades ago. I wonder if a dramatic recession will change anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-11395106313511275932009-03-21T17:39:00.000-04:002009-03-21T17:39:00.000-04:00"I cannot imagine spending $80 on a meal and wine...."I cannot imagine spending $80 on a meal and wine. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where it would be possible to do so!"<BR/><BR/>I don't think I have spent that much but it's not too hard to get there if you go to a fancy European style restaurant and order a full course meal + wine. Where I used to live in Troy New York (a somewhat touristy but poor town in the Hudson Valley) there were even two or three restaurants where it wouldn't be too hard it you picked all the more expensive dishes.mOOmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440274434662150925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-63189699436093996772009-03-20T21:16:00.000-04:002009-03-20T21:16:00.000-04:00"I cannot imagine spending $80 on a meal and wine...."I cannot imagine spending $80 on a meal and wine. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where it would be possible to do so!"<BR/><BR/>maybe you should try it once for the fun of it. Go to a place with the $15 appetizers, $20 entrees, and $10 desserts. That's how you get the bill built up good and high. <BR/><BR/>If you're concerned that it still won't add up, buy a good bottle of wine for the table, that'll take care of the rest of it.moociferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01325412523164314073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-14924626477040489062009-03-20T20:51:00.000-04:002009-03-20T20:51:00.000-04:00I cannot imagine spending $80 on a meal and wine. ...I cannot imagine spending $80 on a meal and wine. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where it would be possible to do so! <BR/><BR/>I'm at a point in my life where I *maybe* go out to eat 3-4 times a year, and it's always very low key.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-53424025652349884542009-03-20T02:35:00.000-04:002009-03-20T02:35:00.000-04:00You can put ketchup on whatever you want no matter...You can put ketchup on whatever you want no matter how much you pay even if it doesn't go with the meal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-68249050338979893612009-03-19T19:34:00.000-04:002009-03-19T19:34:00.000-04:00cockroach safari.cockroach safari.moociferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01325412523164314073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-15854322078972261442009-03-19T17:07:00.000-04:002009-03-19T17:07:00.000-04:00This is horrible and somewhat humorous. I agree it...This is horrible and somewhat humorous. I agree it would have been smart to speak to the manager and get the bill reduced but sometimes it's not always appropriate. <BR/><BR/>It's too bad Richard doesn't like to cook. Can you imagine the incredible meal you could have had for $160!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the post.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00578933705637473336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-43231217359914642902009-03-19T12:42:00.000-04:002009-03-19T12:42:00.000-04:00Yes, it definitely occurred to me that we should g...Yes, it definitely occurred to me that we should get something taken off the bill, but the bug incident happened just as we were paying, so it was sort of too late! <BR/><BR/>And the other friend and I emailed back and forth about whether we'd suggest a cheaper place, as we sometimes have before, but in the end we decided to just go along with Richard this time. There were 3 of us, and we split the meal evenly 3 ways. Richard did share his $18 appetizer, which was a heavenly foie gras! (My apologies to vegetarian readers!)Madame Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11536189690094235926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-38768920560315740882009-03-19T08:53:00.000-04:002009-03-19T08:53:00.000-04:00HiI think this dinner was proud for you.Hi<BR/><BR/>I think this dinner was proud for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-74400872673775252782009-03-19T08:20:00.000-04:002009-03-19T08:20:00.000-04:00I have a couple of friends who do this. It irrita...I have a couple of friends who do this. It irritates me to no end. One way to reduce the impact is in the planning: if you're making plans to meet for dinner, before you decide on a place, say "I'm watching my budget right now. Can we aim for a place in the $$XX-$$YY range?" <BR/><BR/>Of course, anyone determined to be profligate will find a way, no matter how reasonably priced the venue is.frugal zeitgeisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17804781758510341558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-59860977081103507302009-03-19T05:17:00.000-04:002009-03-19T05:17:00.000-04:00man, i hate splitting checks, especially if it is ...man, i hate splitting checks, especially if it is with people you go out with frequently. whoever invited should pay.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-76329437421525891252009-03-19T03:19:00.000-04:002009-03-19T03:19:00.000-04:00Did he buy you dinner or did you split the cost?It...Did he buy you dinner or did you split the cost?<BR/><BR/>It seems if you split the cost then it wasn't very fair of him to pick a wine without conferring with you.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730429017069291998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-22166788961910155422009-03-18T22:23:00.000-04:002009-03-18T22:23:00.000-04:00Ack I would have flipped over the roach :(Ack I would have flipped over the roach :(Annyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00387909735539879503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-74628093222950673662009-03-18T21:55:00.000-04:002009-03-18T21:55:00.000-04:00Sadly, $80 dinners are not uncommon in NYC.Sadly, $80 dinners are not uncommon in NYC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-85987294640817703252009-03-18T21:41:00.000-04:002009-03-18T21:41:00.000-04:00Too funny...thanks for the laugh. Nor does a high...Too funny...thanks for the laugh. Nor does a high priced meal stop a stray hair in your food or water glass. I don't flip over that as I know what goes on in even high end kitchens, thanks to my waitering days, but something comped is usally in order.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-84870952284131848822009-03-18T19:40:00.000-04:002009-03-18T19:40:00.000-04:00Wow, so that is about $240 per cockroach! (Just k...Wow, so that is about $240 per cockroach! (Just kidding.)<BR/><BR/>Is it just me, or is normal to think that you are supposed to be offered a discounted or free meal when your experience is disrupted by infestation? Or does it only count when the bug is actually in your food?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-83929585219970001042009-03-18T18:01:00.000-04:002009-03-18T18:01:00.000-04:00Great writing today. Very fluid and engaging.Great writing today. Very fluid and engaging.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-13970132954858491302009-03-18T16:23:00.000-04:002009-03-18T16:23:00.000-04:00Ouch. $80 a piece ... and I squeak like an old spr...Ouch. $80 a piece ... and I squeak like an old spring bed when my wife and I spend $60 for two on our anniversary dinner. I better stay away from NYC. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-37528405378778592652009-03-18T16:10:00.000-04:002009-03-18T16:10:00.000-04:00loli hope i dont see any cockroaches when i come t...lol<BR/>i hope i dont see any cockroaches when i come to ny ih may.<BR/><BR/>wow 80 bucks for dinner.<BR/><BR/>i am budgeting 50 for food in ny, i wonder if that is going to be enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com