It never seems right to say “I don’t like Chinese food” because I do like good Chinese food. There was a restaurant in Lake Charles, China Garden, and when it first opened many, many years ago, they had the most delicious food. Everything was ordered from a menu (no mass buffet). Everything tasted different, unlike the mass buffets where everything tastes the same. There were lots of fresh veggies, amazing sauces and it was absolutely my favorite place to go for a very nice dinner.
I can’t remember the last time we ate at a good Chinese restaurant, where there was a menu and no buffet. I’m betting it’s been at least 20 years.
Vince, probably the bargain hunter in Vince, loves a Chinese buffet. He can get all he wants and he doesn’t seem to mind that it all tastes the same, that customers drop the serving utensils in the food . . after they’ve handled them with their grubby little hands, and then we eat the food. Why not just stick your hands in the food? Oh . . no . . please don’t do that but what’s different about that and handling the spoon, then dropping the spoon, handle and all, in the food? I cannot do it! I cannot eat at those buffet places. Even if I thought I could close my eyes and do it . . the one here in town has cured me of ever wanting Chinese food . . EVER!
Vince has given up any hope of getting me to go back to a Chinese buffet but there’s a little place in town that has maybe 10 things on the menu. They fix your plate so customers aren’t handling the food. There are things about the place that cause me to have issues eating there too. Real or perceived . . I have no idea but when it comes to eating out, for me, perception is reality.
Since we had to take my car to the shop today, and since the little Chinese place is right around the corner, last night, without ever missing a beat . .
Vince: Come by the office about 11:30, we’ll get your flu shot, I’ll follow you to the mechanic’s, we’ll leave your car there, we’ll pick up Chinese food, bring it home to eat and if you want to keep my car, I’ll take the truck back to work.
Me: Did you say Chinese food?
Vince: Yes . . it’s right there and it’s quick.
Before I argued, I thought . . my choices are: Fix lunch and have it ready for when we get home from taking my car to the shop or . . shut my mouth and eat Chinese food.
Lunch
It wasn’t horrible. It wasn’t great but I would get it again. The good news is that we each only ate half of our food and that means we get two meals out of it and that means I don’t have to cook again! 🙂
Sherrill Pecere says
Yeah, no, I won’t eat at the buffets either. I’ve seen kids go up and use their hands and that did it! UGH (you know most of em don’t wash their hands after going potty..ewww). There’s a decent Chinese place near me that still has table service (and I’ve noticed a lot of take out) so that’s where I go but not often. I prefer Japanese hibachi. YUM!
Bon says
We have a couple great Chinese restaurants in our metro area, same name and owners. All menu. Lots of choices. I eat there about once a week. Their egg drop soup is out of this world! Crab cheese Rangoon and egg rolls are fantastic. My fave entree is Cashew Chicken with fried rice.
Joan from Alaska says
I totally understand your buffet concerns. My husband is a transplant patient and some of his post-transplant restrictions are NO salad bars, buffets, or sushi. The food safety issues are real. He misses the salad bars and buffets, but I don’t!
sharkiecat says
All I have to think about is the “sneeze guard” over the buffet. No buffet style restaurants for me.
Pinot and Piecing says
Ugh! Buffets, salad bars, potlucks! As a former microbiologist, I’ve seen things…horrible things. But at least restaurants have regular health inspections. Homes do not. And all you have to do is watch one episode of “Hoarders” to know what people’s kitchens could look like. If I have to attend, I’ll bring a dish to a potluck to participate, but my gag reflex kicks in if I even think about eating anything there! It gets awkward having to explain, so I usually just fill my plate with chips (no dip) and try to look busy cleaning up.