Cheesecake Factory

[jim]

I like Panera. I don't mind spending extra if the food is better, and to me it just tastes fresher there. With me and food, I'm definitely more interested in the quality than the cost. Somehow in our society it's become almost a contest to see who can get the most calories for the cost, regardless of the quality of the food. If your idea of a lunch is a triple quarter pounder super sized with five pounds of fries and 2 gallons of soda with a cookie for $2.99, then I could see where Panera comes across that way.

And I am not a small person (6-1/220).

[cardinalkarp]

I agree jim, while Bread Co. is more expensive I think the quality of food is much better than your typical fast food restaurant. Now I do dislike that they try to play the "healthy" card when pretty much all of the items on the menu are pretty damn unhealthy.

[tothebeach08]

I love St. Louis Bread Company too. In fact, there are items there that I might actually be physically addicted to. The prices are a little high, but the Sierra Turkey Sandwich is excellent and better than eating something fried. Now the icy Mocha, that I could shoot up like heroin, other than the taste, has no redeeming value at all (high price and zero nutritional value followed by HIGH calories), but oh my God the taste.

[JCShutout]

I like Panera. I don't mind spending extra if the food is better, and to me it just tastes fresher there. With me and food, I'm definitely more interested in the quality than the cost. Somehow in our society it's become almost a contest to see who can get the most calories for the cost, regardless of the quality of the food. If your idea of a lunch is a triple quarter pounder super sized with five pounds of fries and 2 gallons of soda with a cookie for $2.99, then I could see where Panera comes across that way.

And I am not a small person (6-1/220).

Dude, check out the calories at Panera. Its really bad for you. Mostly because of the bread.

I like buying veggies and some meat and cooking.

[jim]

I like Panera. I don't mind spending extra if the food is better, and to me it just tastes fresher there. With me and food, I'm definitely more interested in the quality than the cost. Somehow in our society it's become almost a contest to see who can get the most calories for the cost, regardless of the quality of the food. If your idea of a lunch is a triple quarter pounder super sized with five pounds of fries and 2 gallons of soda with a cookie for $2.99, then I could see where Panera comes across that way.

And I am not a small person (6-1/220).

Dude, check out the calories at Panera. Its really bad for you. Mostly because of the bread.

I like buying veggies and some meat and cooking.

Bread and calories are not bad for you.

[jim]

Code: Select all

Table 2
Food Expenditures Have Declined Over the Past Two Decades
Economy             1970                1980               1989
                   Percent of personal consumption expenditures
                             spent on food at home
United States       14.1                12.1             9.8
Australia(1)        18.5                16.8            14.8
Austria             26.1                19.9            16.3
Bahamas             24.1                17.5            17.4(2)
Belgium             24.1                17.5            15.7
Canada(1)           15.5                13.7            11.3
Colombia            33.4                32.0            28.4
Cyprus                NA                29.5            30.1(2)
Denmark             20.7                17.3            14.7
Ecuador             38.0                28.2            31.7
Fiji                24.0                24.1            24.3(3)
Finland             24.2                20.9            16.2
France              21.0                17.5            15.9
West Germany(4)     27.1                22.0            20.2
Greece              35.5                37.0            31.3
Honduras            40.7                41.3            41.3(5)
Hong Kong           34.4                21.7            16.1
Iceland             23.8                19.0            15.6(3)
India               58.0                54.8            51.3(2)
Ireland             26.7                25.2            21.3(2)
Israel                NA                29.1            24.0
Italy               32.7                25.1            18.8
Jamaica               NA                38.8            38.1(2)
Jordan              50.0                43.0            37.5(5)
Luxembourg          23.7                16.8            12.5
Malaysia            37.7                  NA            25.0(6)
Malta               31.7                29.4            28.7
Netherlands         20.4                14.9            14.2
New Zealand           NA                  NA            12.2
Norway              24.4                20.2            18.7
Philippines         51.9                59.0            52.8
Portugal            41.7                33.1            34.1(5)
Puerto Rico         23.7                23.5            20.4
Singapore           27.7                24.1            18.4
South Africa        23.5                25.1            27.0
Spain                 NA                26.0            21.6(3)
Sri Lanka           54.2                51.1            49.9
Sudan                 NA                61.7            62.9(6)
Sweden              20.8                17.7            16.2
Switzerland         21.8                20.1            19.1
Thailand            41.6                37.8            27.1
United Kingdom      19.9                16.4            11.6
Venezuela             NA                  NA            35.5
Zimbabwe            25.8                20.9            13.4(3)

Look at our numbers compared to other counties with similiar economic environments. American's simply want to stuff their faces with the cheapest crap they can find, and are paying the price.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Like I said, all of you have fallen into the trap of thinking their food is better just because it costs more and the atmosphere they provide. Think about this, and don't lie, the first time you walked in there, if it had been a little bit more run down and they charged a third of the price they do now and gave you twice as much food, would you still like it? No, you wouldn't. I know that is presumptious. And, I'm sorry for that. But, I just trying to make a point. It seems, at least, the high price is equated with betterness or healthierness or greatness. "yeah, it costs more, but it's worth it." In my mind, they simply provide a nicer place than most other restaurants and charge more and give you less b/c it gives off that feel of nicer and cleaner and healthier.....and that's what people buy.

Anyway, this was a rant about serving sizes, and i'm still pissed that theirs are so small. I don't want unhealthy food either just because it's cheaper. I just want to leave a restaurant after spending $8 and feel more full than when I walked in. The healthier the better. And, I'd pay more for healthier. And, no, white bread, largely what STLBC relies on, is not good for you.

JC, I'm the same freaking way. Chicken and veggies in a skillet and eat that for dinner.......like 5 nights a week. The other 2 nights I'm busy throwing eggs at Panera. Every now and then I eat one of the eggs and it fills me up more than 2 meals from inside their place.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Code: Select all

Table 2
Food Expenditures Have Declined Over the Past Two Decades
Economy             1970                1980               1989
                   Percent of personal consumption expenditures
                             spent on food at home
United States       14.1                12.1             9.8
Australia(1)        18.5                16.8            14.8
Austria             26.1                19.9            16.3
Bahamas             24.1                17.5            17.4(2)
Belgium             24.1                17.5            15.7
Canada(1)           15.5                13.7            11.3
Colombia            33.4                32.0            28.4
Cyprus                NA                29.5            30.1(2)
Denmark             20.7                17.3            14.7
Ecuador             38.0                28.2            31.7
Fiji                24.0                24.1            24.3(3)
Finland             24.2                20.9            16.2
France              21.0                17.5            15.9
West Germany(4)     27.1                22.0            20.2
Greece              35.5                37.0            31.3
Honduras            40.7                41.3            41.3(5)
Hong Kong           34.4                21.7            16.1
Iceland             23.8                19.0            15.6(3)
India               58.0                54.8            51.3(2)
Ireland             26.7                25.2            21.3(2)
Israel                NA                29.1            24.0
Italy               32.7                25.1            18.8
Jamaica               NA                38.8            38.1(2)
Jordan              50.0                43.0            37.5(5)
Luxembourg          23.7                16.8            12.5
Malaysia            37.7                  NA            25.0(6)
Malta               31.7                29.4            28.7
Netherlands         20.4                14.9            14.2
New Zealand           NA                  NA            12.2
Norway              24.4                20.2            18.7
Philippines         51.9                59.0            52.8
Portugal            41.7                33.1            34.1(5)
Puerto Rico         23.7                23.5            20.4
Singapore           27.7                24.1            18.4
South Africa        23.5                25.1            27.0
Spain                 NA                26.0            21.6(3)
Sri Lanka           54.2                51.1            49.9
Sudan                 NA                61.7            62.9(6)
Sweden              20.8                17.7            16.2
Switzerland         21.8                20.1            19.1
Thailand            41.6                37.8            27.1
United Kingdom      19.9                16.4            11.6
Venezuela             NA                  NA            35.5
Zimbabwe            25.8                20.9            13.4(3)

Look at our numbers compared to other counties with similiar economic environments. American's simply want to stuff their faces with the cheapest crap they can find, and are paying the price.

Wouldn't that % of money spent on food at home decreasing mean people are actually eating out more, paying more for their food and getting more unhealthy food, presumptively?

I don't know. Just asking.

[jim]

I don't know what it means, I actually grabbed some numbers before looking very close. I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm almost positive that total expenditures for food in the U.S. is much lower than Europe for example, and I'm pretty sure there is a correlation between money spent on food and obesity although it's kind of backward meaning the people that spend the least have the most weight problems.

[UK]

To me, it just means people are spending less on groceries and more on dining out (since I doubt given the size of people here are eating less).

When you eat out, unless you're watching what you eat as very few do, you're going to get something that is unhealthy.

It's a combo of eating too much and too much bad food. They don't eat that well in Europe, they do well as far as not eating nearly as much fired food as here, but they don't eat as much per meal either. As a society, they seem more content to walk while people here get in fights over a parking spot 5 feet closer to the entrance of Walmart.

(As I say this, I am getting ready for a large plate of nacho supreme at a restaurant in Paddock Lake, WI)