2001connections-article0022 Why I limit dining out.

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2001connections-article0022
Why I limit dining out.

Here is a most notable example, from January 2004. A medium-priced sit-down restaurant with table service. The quality of the food was good enough, no disappointment. However, the actual portions I received were only about one half to 2/3 of the size shown on the pictures in the menu. No wonder the servers take the illustrated price list away from your table right after you finish ordering. That way, it becomes more difficult to compare the advertised goods against the delivered goods. Except if you remember the illustrations - or if you do insist on keeping the menu on your table all the time. What a swindle. Maybe I should have complained, but I decided against doing so, just to avoid spoiling the dining-out atmosphere.
    Fast food places, more economical. No tip required. However, these too, I limit or at least choose carefully. For example, the portion size in my chicken sandwich keeps getting smaller but the prices continue climbing. At 2 or more of the biggest name restaurant chains!! Similar story across the board. Many years ago, the chicken piece was a good size full square-oblong patty, actually sticking out of the bun on all sides. Now, it’s just a downsized triangular piece, more-or-less.
    A comparable problem occurs with the piece of cheese on my favourite fish fillet sandwich. The first time I ate this meal, as a novelty then, was in 1979. The piece of cheese measured about 4” x 4”, a true square slice. Nowadays, you get just a measly thin strip of cheese, only about 1.5” x 4”.
    To adapt to this sad reality, I have turned complaining into a kind of sport. A rivalry: will I win or will they win? Sure, why not? Life, business, commerce - it’s all become so competitive. A constant struggle between winning and losing. Therefore, I decided, better try to win as much as possible and let my opponents lose.
    Yes, we are living in a dog-eat-dog world, most of the time. But to quantify it more precisely: corporate greed may very well be the most notorious single cause of this sorry state of affairs. Be a smart consumer, aware of this situation. Watch your wallet closely, and maybe sometimes raise hell when retailers try to swindle you. But please use moderation and common sense at all times.

[[Attention, wimps: please replace “raise hell” with “raise heck”.]]

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2001connections-article0022
Why I limit dining out.

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