First, I will acknowledge drifting away from the theme of the original thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl
I am sure you are right.
We all know where to find good food up North in all of our own old areas.
I don't think that anything but the market will change the type or quality of food served here. I don't like that anyone suggests that most people who live in The Villages do not know and appreciate good food or that they are cheap. I don't think that anyone, the developer or the people who now have leases at the country clubs will change much because they have adequate patronage.
I think that people who seek excellent food are living here, but not people who are willing to pay as much as some people are willing to pay for eating out, especially since many do it many times a week.
That does not mean they don't have the money.
I will repeat. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. Another thing that happens as we age, is that our tastes change and our appetite may drop. Many of us don't eat as much as we used to and are satisfied with simple meals. THAT DOES NOT MEAN PEOPLE HERE HAVE POOR TASTE IN FOOD AND IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON IT.
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Totally agree with you Gracie
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chatbrat
IMHO the problem here is people just don't settle for mediocrity, they praise it--we didn't get to where we are by being mediocre, I had to be the best in my field or someone else would take my place and my customers
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The problem with such generalizations is that what one person finds to be mediocre, another may find the food tasty and enjoyable. Not everyone has had the same culinary experiences so while there is an opinion about the quality of the food, to broad brush a group of people because of an individual's opinion could offend people (you can count me in such a group).
I have had the benefit of dining around the country and have had my share of mediocre and excellent food, whether it be expensive or not. What I quickly learned after a job relocation, when I asked my new neighbors and work colleagues about restaurant recommendations, MY culinary preferences did not match the recommendations I received. Instead I started to ask about the service and the cleanliness of the restaurant then proceeded to try the various restaurants to see if there was something to my liking. Keep in mind too that even the service can be impacted by the local culture. I lived in the metropolitan area (near NYC) where everything was go go go, but when I went to North Carolina for a period, I had to adjust to a slower pace-it wasn't a function of poor service, but I had to realign my expectations. I loved the friendliness of the wait staff and got to enjoy the slower "style".
Another example, was when I had to travel to Victoria Texas to complete an audit. I was given the name of a local restaurant that served excellent food (it did by the way). Unfortunately I forgot the name of the restaurant, so I asked the front desk person at the hotel about some good restaurants in the area. The person was trying to be helpful and told me that there was a Country Buffet in the mall area behind the hotel and that there was a McDonald's down the road. I explained that I was on an expense account and was looking for something more upscale. She turned and said, "Oh, well there is a Burger King just down the road in the other direction". I did not denigrate the woman, although I do admit that I found it humorous to hear that Burger King would be considered upscale dining. Fortunately I remembered the name of the restaurant and when I gave it to her, she indicated that it was clear on the other side of town (like it would be a significant drive). I asked how long to get there, and was told 20 minutes, so I got directions and ended up enjoying some good local Tex-Mex.
I believe that we can agree to disagree on the quality of food that may be served at the various establishments within The Villages, but perhaps leaving the broad brush aside about the general populace and what they accept or not might be prudent.