Project Foodie - Why do we eat out?

Why do we eat out?

Written by foodie pam

Tuesday, 18 September 2007

Photo courtesy Jason Bangerter, Auberge du Pommier

Last week I had an interesting conversation with a fellow foodie concerning eating out. It seems she prefers not to eat out since as she says 'I can cook anything I can get at a restaurant'. This statement shocked me a bit. It's not that I didn't believe her - she is a professionally trained chef so she really could cook anything but why would she want to? Sometimes don't you just want to relax and let someone else do it? And, even if I could cook anything (which I'm certainly not laying claim to) I'm sure I'd still eat out which leads me to the question 'Why do we eat out?'. I tried to make a list and started with:

1. Too busy or tired to cook
2. Want a relaxing meal without the preparation and clean-up.
3. Want to try out new types of food.
4. Dinner is late, I mean really late like not ready until tomorrow late…
5. Want to get out of the house…
6. yadda yadda yadda

But are those really reasons? I don't think so - they seem more like excuses for eating out. I think the actual reason I eat out isn't something that's easy to put into clear concise words other than perhaps to say 'the experience'. The experience of dinning out is different every time I go out no matter if I have a great meal or a horrible meal. The experience of dinning out is sharing a meal with friends, exploring new food, and relaxing. In many senses dinning out is a hobby - and perhaps I do it for the enjoyment. Would I forgo that experience and enjoyment simply because I could make the meal myself - most certainly not…

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Anonymous (Unregistered) 2007-11-07 14:43:48