Re: RESTAURANTS: Buffet vs. Sitdown (Also, Ann, , Deborah, Yvonne)

[Guest guest]

Hello :

Coming out of Church tonight, my husband asked me if I minded if we

go out to dinner and take his sister. He knows that I usually have

to " work up " to a restaurant, and is so patient about it all, I

decided to just do it.

Here are my coping strateges for sit down restaurants:

1. I tell the waiter right off that I need the largest glass of

water he can give me, and I would appreciate a pitcher of water on

the table. (sometimes, they say they are not permitted to leave a

pitcher, so I ask for 2 large glasses of water.) I ask him if he

could be sure to keep the glasses full.

2. When I order my meal, I ask for a take home container to be

delivered WITH the meal. I actually pack 3/4 of the meal to go home

before I even start. This helps me alot. The amount of food is not

so overwhelming ... I have lots of room to cut what is there into

itsy bitsy bites ... I actually do not look like I am so far behind

everyone else in eating ... I have 3 meals at home for lunch or

dinner.

3. When I leave the table, I ALWAYS remind my husband to stand guard

over my food as I am not finished. Like I say, he is really good

about all of this.

4. My friends and family are now aware, and accept my quirks. It

has become a bit of a joke, but is NO LONGER the topic of

conversation all evening.

Using these strategies tonight, it went very well, and I have Salad,

Talapia Fish and sauteed vegetables for 2 meals tomorrow and one for

Monday. But the bonus was a VERY delightful evening.

I am probably not telling you anything you do not already know ...

but I DO worry about my husband being able to enjoy an evening

out " his way " too.

Hope your meal went as well as mine did.

Kathie in Pittsburgh

*********************************

> Buffet: Unlimited water or soda

>

> Sitdown: You get the water when the waiter has the time for you, or

if you order soda, you're either stuck with one glass, or you get

stares when people see you ordering more and you're all sharing the

tab.

> -----------------------

>

> Buffet: You eat at your own pace.

>

> Sitdown: You eat when the waiter serves your course. If you fall

> behind, then the next course sits and gets cold, or you have to skip

> ahead.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

> Buffet: Getting up to walk helps get the food to go down.

>

> Sitdown: The only time you get up to walk is when you run to the

> bathroom to regurgitate!

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

> Buffet: You're never rushed with the meal.

>

> Sitdown: The waiter who earns a living on the tips wants you out of

> there. You get dirty looks when everyone is on dessert and you're

still struggling with the main course.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

> Buffet: Everyone pays the same.

>

> Sitdown: If you must be picky in considering what you are eating,

your choices are limited, and chances are you'll be picking up more

than your fair share of the cost.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

> Buffet: I take my time eating, and can sociallize

>

> Sitdown: I'm so focused on keeping up with everyone else, I have no

> time to talk.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

> Buffet: I choose my portion size.

>

> Sitdown: My portion size " chooses " whether I can eat some or all

of it.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

> Buffet: If I do have to get up to regurgitate (and who doesn't?),

when I come back, and if I'm ready to eat again, I just go get

another hot dish.

>

> Sitdown: When I return from the bathroom, all the food is gone (as

well as my wife)

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathie,

I'm glad you just decided to do it, go out to dinner and have a

good time! Your coping strategies are sensible and do-able.

Tonight with my group, some knew my situation. Before

leaving home I had a glass of soda for " clearance. "

Right before I started eating I took a nifedipine. I made

sure that if I was running low on water that it got refilled before I

started eating again, and timed my drinking of Diet Coke.

The salmon went down like silk. Salad, baked potato &

broccoli (yes, I like broccoli. For years I ignored it when it came

with my General Tsau's Chicken, until I read how healthy it is and

tried it). I was doing fine as I continued to eat slowly.

Then while waiting for dessert something strange happened.

My friend, the pharmacist, ordered additional soda for me. Then when

the dessert came the group decided to have their desserts wrapped " to

go. " Then, why in the world did he order the extra soda for me? A

whole glass of soda (like liquid gold to me!), was going to be

wasted. We were going to a Comedy Club a mile away, and had to be

there in 10 minutes.

So I just said, " I'll meet you there, " had my cake (ohhhh

the chocolate part was so fresh and delicious) and the soda.

And when we got to the Comedy Club, as you paid the

entrance fee they gave you a raffle ticket. Because I waited, it

turned out later, I had the winning ticket! When your on a roll,

just go with it!

The prize was not " heaven " but 6 free tickets (worth $90

to a show in March!

So, what's the moral of the story. " If you eat at your own

pace, you will be rewarded for it, " or so says Confucious!

> > Buffet: Unlimited water or soda

> >

> > Sitdown: You get the water when the waiter has the time for you,

or

> if you order soda, you're either stuck with one glass, or you get

> stares when people see you ordering more and you're all sharing the

> tab.

> > -----------------------

> >

> > Buffet: You eat at your own pace.

> >

> > Sitdown: You eat when the waiter serves your course. If you fall

> > behind, then the next course sits and gets cold, or you have to

skip

> > ahead.

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------

--

> > Buffet: Getting up to walk helps get the food to go down.

> >

> > Sitdown: The only time you get up to walk is when you run to the

> > bathroom to regurgitate!

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------

--

> > Buffet: You're never rushed with the meal.

> >

> > Sitdown: The waiter who earns a living on the tips wants you out

of

> > there. You get dirty looks when everyone is on dessert and

you're

> still struggling with the main course.

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------

--

> > Buffet: Everyone pays the same.

> >

> > Sitdown: If you must be picky in considering what you are eating,

> your choices are limited, and chances are you'll be picking up more

> than your fair share of the cost.

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------

--

> > Buffet: I take my time eating, and can sociallize

> >

> > Sitdown: I'm so focused on keeping up with everyone else, I have

no

> > time to talk.

> -------------------------------------------------------------------

--

>

> > Buffet: I choose my portion size.

> >

> > Sitdown: My portion size " chooses " whether I can eat some or all

> of it.

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------

--

> > Buffet: If I do have to get up to regurgitate (and who

doesn't?),

> when I come back, and if I'm ready to eat again, I just go get

> another hot dish.

> >

> > Sitdown: When I return from the bathroom, all the food is gone

(as

> well as my wife)

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi :

I am so glad to hear that things went well.

P L A N N I N G is key to this disease

Contrats on winning.

Kathie

> > > Buffet: Unlimited water or soda

> > >

> > > Sitdown: You get the water when the waiter has the time for

you,

> or

> > if you order soda, you're either stuck with one glass, or you get

> > stares when people see you ordering more and you're all sharing

the

> > tab.

> > > -----------------------

> > >

> > > Buffet: You eat at your own pace.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: You eat when the waiter serves your course. If you

fall

> > > behind, then the next course sits and gets cold, or you have to

> skip

> > > ahead.

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: Getting up to walk helps get the food to go down.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: The only time you get up to walk is when you run to

the

> > > bathroom to regurgitate!

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: You're never rushed with the meal.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: The waiter who earns a living on the tips wants you

out

> of

> > > there. You get dirty looks when everyone is on dessert and

> you're

> > still struggling with the main course.

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: Everyone pays the same.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: If you must be picky in considering what you are

eating,

> > your choices are limited, and chances are you'll be picking up

more

> > than your fair share of the cost.

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: I take my time eating, and can sociallize

> > >

> > > Sitdown: I'm so focused on keeping up with everyone else, I

have

> no

> > > time to talk.

> > -----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> >

> > > Buffet: I choose my portion size.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: My portion size " chooses " whether I can eat some or

all

> > of it.

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: If I do have to get up to regurgitate (and who

> doesn't?),

> > when I come back, and if I'm ready to eat again, I just go get

> > another hot dish.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: When I return from the bathroom, all the food is gone

> (as

> > well as my wife)

> > > > --------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thankyou ,

It is now time to see someone about medication for the spasms. I have

had enough and it is getting me down.

I am going to ask my general doctor but I might have to wait till I

see my surgeon. I don't really want to wait till April though.

Causes for me are the same, but when I have those low grade all

dayers, I can bring on the bad ones quite easily doing so many simple

things like using my arms, would you beleive I couldn't get through a

queen song with the girls in the car, just so many simple things.

I just drink water. Sometimes it helps other times it does not.

Painkillers are no help.

Thankyou. who is trying to stay positive.

>

>

> Just an open discussion, no biggie here, for anyone who wants to

share

> their take on this. What follows is JMHO (just my humble opinion)

>

> Tonight I'm going out to dinner with 4 other couples for a

traditional

> sit down meal, with however many courses. Usually, my wife,

Cyndee, and

> I go out to eat at a buffet restaurant, for the obvious reasons

below.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ---------------------

>

> Buffet: Unlimited water or soda

>

> Sitdown: You get the water when the waiter has the time for you, or

if

> you order soda, you're either stuck with one glass, or you get

stares

> when people see you ordering more and you're all sharing the tab.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> -----------------------

>

> Buffet: You eat at your own pace.

>

> Sitdown: You eat when the waiter serves your course. If you fall

> behind, then the next course sits and gets cold, or you have to skip

> ahead.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: Getting up to walk helps get the food to go down.

>

> Sitdown: The only time you get up to walk is when you run to the

> bathroom to regurgitate!

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: You're never rushed with the meal.

>

> Sitdown: The waiter who earns a living on the tips wants you out of

> there. You get dirty looks when everyone is on dessert and you're

still

> struggling with the main course.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: Everyone pays the same.

>

> Sitdown: If you must be picky in considering what you are eating,

your

> choices are limited, and chances are you'll be picking up more than

your

> fair share of the cost.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: I take my time eating, and can sociallize

>

> Sitdown: I'm so focused on keeping up with everyone else, I have no

> time to talk.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: I choose my portion size.

>

> Sitdown: My portion size " chooses " whether I can eat some or all

of it.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> -----------------------

>

> Buffet: If I do have to get up to regurgitate (and who doesn't?),

when

> I come back, and if I'm ready to eat again, I just go get another

hot

> dish.

>

> Sitdown: When I return from the bathroom, all the food is gone (as

well

> as my wife)

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> -----------------------

>

> I'm sure we all have our own horror stories, some of which can be

told

> " tongue-in-cheek " now, or maybe we can learn something from each

other

> as to how we cope. I know from reading earlier posts that prior to

(and

> sometimes after surgery), some of us would never step foot into a

> restaurant again. I consider myself fortunate in that I am not too

> compromised in this area. All kidding aside, proabably 95% of the

time

> we will eat either in a buffet or fast food restaurant (where the

food

> is a lot faster than the eating of it, but nobody rushes me).

After

> all, eating is supposed to be a relaxing experience, not an olympic

> marathon.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Ann: Welcome back; I hope you had a great time? You certainly

sent the

> message boards here a buzzing with that wonderful post!

>

> : Thank you for correcting my post. Nifedipine (or

Niphedipine,

> aka Procardia) is a calcium channel blocker which relaxes the smooth

> muscles in the esophagus, sometimes stopping spasms in their track

or

> enabling the LES to relax and food to go down. I had incorrectly

> stated it as a beta blocker, which is a whole different group of

drugs.

> I also tried avoiding surgery using this drug, but when my esophagus

> started to change its shape, it was time to have it done. I

understand

> in 's case we are talking about DES, and perhaps it will be

> different.

>

> Deborah: this is the first time I read that you had suffered a

stroke.

> I'm glad that you're able to deal with the spasms. Any concerns

that

> you might have a stroke again, or was it strictly related to the

other

> complications you had giving birth?

>

> : There are times when I get low level spasms that just don't

want

> to seem to go away. For that I will usually just drink some Diet

Coke.

> If it continues to come back and the Diet Coke is not doing enough,

I

> will turn to the Nifedipine. You mentioned causes of spasms.

>

> For me there are three main causes.

>

> Stress - usually work related. Spasms occur far more often when the

> stress levels increase at work.

>

> Going on a diet (yes, this Achalasian diets). When I go longer of

> periods of time without eating or just eat less, the odds are quite

good

> that I will be getting a lot of spasms.

>

> The unidentified causes: they can happen in the middle of the night

> while sleeping, in the middle of eating, or even on vacation

(holiday)

> where there is no stress. Apparently my spasms are on a 24/7

schedule

> with me.

>

> I always keep a small pill box containing nifedipine with me or on

my

> night table.

>

> Maggie, another of the real darlings on this board, has suggested

that I

> try taking L'Arginine on a regular basis in order to stop the spasms

> before they start. My doctor offered me the option of taking

nifedipine

> once or more every day in order to stop them, but I chose to use it

on a

> " when needed " basis instead.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey what a cool win .

I used to love going out to dinner. But now it comes down to how will

it go and what can I eat.

Bottom line, I end up ordering what I think is the right texture and

is easier to eat rather than what I would enjoy. You never know if

you have made the right choice until it is in front of you. My

husband has got really good at identifying good and bad meals for me

too.

One restaurant here, we know the owner and he will always make sure

the meal has extra sauce and not big bits of meat in it. He is a

legend. When you all visit I will take you there. He will get all

your meals right for you. He will also come out and check to see if I

can eat it Ok. How's that for service. He is a sweety. The restaurant

is Swiss/Indian/Australiana. How's that for a mixture.

> > > Buffet: Unlimited water or soda

> > >

> > > Sitdown: You get the water when the waiter has the time for

you,

> or

> > if you order soda, you're either stuck with one glass, or you get

> > stares when people see you ordering more and you're all sharing

the

> > tab.

> > > -----------------------

> > >

> > > Buffet: You eat at your own pace.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: You eat when the waiter serves your course. If you

fall

> > > behind, then the next course sits and gets cold, or you have to

> skip

> > > ahead.

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: Getting up to walk helps get the food to go down.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: The only time you get up to walk is when you run to

the

> > > bathroom to regurgitate!

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: You're never rushed with the meal.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: The waiter who earns a living on the tips wants you

out

> of

> > > there. You get dirty looks when everyone is on dessert and

> you're

> > still struggling with the main course.

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: Everyone pays the same.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: If you must be picky in considering what you are

eating,

> > your choices are limited, and chances are you'll be picking up

more

> > than your fair share of the cost.

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: I take my time eating, and can sociallize

> > >

> > > Sitdown: I'm so focused on keeping up with everyone else, I

have

> no

> > > time to talk.

> > -----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> >

> > > Buffet: I choose my portion size.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: My portion size " chooses " whether I can eat some or

all

> > of it.

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > Buffet: If I do have to get up to regurgitate (and who

> doesn't?),

> > when I come back, and if I'm ready to eat again, I just go get

> > another hot dish.

> > >

> > > Sitdown: When I return from the bathroom, all the food is gone

> (as

> > well as my wife)

> > > > --------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

LOL, .

If we want to go out to eat, my wife and I just catch a quick flight

to France. They know how to eat there. It's offending to people if

you take less than 2 hours to eat supper. Perfect for us types.

This might not be the answer everyone is looking for, but, I think

sometimes flying to France to eat is easier than going through

the " Buffet vs. Sitdown " , plus someone might just get a little

culture there. hehe.

>

>

> Just an open discussion, no biggie here, for anyone who wants to

share

> their take on this. What follows is JMHO (just my humble opinion)

>

> Tonight I'm going out to dinner with 4 other couples for a

traditional

> sit down meal, with however many courses. Usually, my wife,

Cyndee, and

> I go out to eat at a buffet restaurant, for the obvious reasons

below.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ---------------------

>

> Buffet: Unlimited water or soda

>

> Sitdown: You get the water when the waiter has the time for you, or

if

> you order soda, you're either stuck with one glass, or you get

stares

> when people see you ordering more and you're all sharing the tab.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> -----------------------

>

> Buffet: You eat at your own pace.

>

> Sitdown: You eat when the waiter serves your course. If you fall

> behind, then the next course sits and gets cold, or you have to skip

> ahead.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: Getting up to walk helps get the food to go down.

>

> Sitdown: The only time you get up to walk is when you run to the

> bathroom to regurgitate!

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: You're never rushed with the meal.

>

> Sitdown: The waiter who earns a living on the tips wants you out of

> there. You get dirty looks when everyone is on dessert and you're

still

> struggling with the main course.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: Everyone pays the same.

>

> Sitdown: If you must be picky in considering what you are eating,

your

> choices are limited, and chances are you'll be picking up more than

your

> fair share of the cost.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: I take my time eating, and can sociallize

>

> Sitdown: I'm so focused on keeping up with everyone else, I have no

> time to talk.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Buffet: I choose my portion size.

>

> Sitdown: My portion size " chooses " whether I can eat some or all

of it.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> -----------------------

>

> Buffet: If I do have to get up to regurgitate (and who doesn't?),

when

> I come back, and if I'm ready to eat again, I just go get another

hot

> dish.

>

> Sitdown: When I return from the bathroom, all the food is gone (as

well

> as my wife)

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> -----------------------

>

> I'm sure we all have our own horror stories, some of which can be

told

> " tongue-in-cheek " now, or maybe we can learn something from each

other

> as to how we cope. I know from reading earlier posts that prior to

(and

> sometimes after surgery), some of us would never step foot into a

> restaurant again. I consider myself fortunate in that I am not too

> compromised in this area. All kidding aside, proabably 95% of the

time

> we will eat either in a buffet or fast food restaurant (where the

food

> is a lot faster than the eating of it, but nobody rushes me).

After

> all, eating is supposed to be a relaxing experience, not an olympic

> marathon.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----\

> ----------------------

>

> Ann: Welcome back; I hope you had a great time? You certainly

sent the

> message boards here a buzzing with that wonderful post!

>

> : Thank you for correcting my post. Nifedipine (or

Niphedipine,

> aka Procardia) is a calcium channel blocker which relaxes the smooth

> muscles in the esophagus, sometimes stopping spasms in their track

or

> enabling the LES to relax and food to go down. I had incorrectly

> stated it as a beta blocker, which is a whole different group of

drugs.

> I also tried avoiding surgery using this drug, but when my esophagus

> started to change its shape, it was time to have it done. I

understand

> in 's case we are talking about DES, and perhaps it will be

> different.

>

> Deborah: this is the first time I read that you had suffered a

stroke.

> I'm glad that you're able to deal with the spasms. Any concerns

that

> you might have a stroke again, or was it strictly related to the

other

> complications you had giving birth?

>

> : There are times when I get low level spasms that just don't

want

> to seem to go away. For that I will usually just drink some Diet

Coke.

> If it continues to come back and the Diet Coke is not doing enough,

I

> will turn to the Nifedipine. You mentioned causes of spasms.

>

> For me there are three main causes.

>

> Stress - usually work related. Spasms occur far more often when the

> stress levels increase at work.

>

> Going on a diet (yes, this Achalasian diets). When I go longer of

> periods of time without eating or just eat less, the odds are quite

good

> that I will be getting a lot of spasms.

>

> The unidentified causes: they can happen in the middle of the night

> while sleeping, in the middle of eating, or even on vacation

(holiday)

> where there is no stress. Apparently my spasms are on a 24/7

schedule

> with me.

>

> I always keep a small pill box containing nifedipine with me or on

my

> night table.

>

> Maggie, another of the real darlings on this board, has suggested

that I

> try taking L'Arginine on a regular basis in order to stop the spasms

> before they start. My doctor offered me the option of taking

nifedipine

> once or more every day in order to stop them, but I chose to use it

on a

> " when needed " basis instead.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathie,

I was so amused by your account of a night out at a restaurant, because it all sounded so familiar. In fact I have just printed it out to show to Stuart (husband). I decided not to ask him to come to the computer as he is watching Manchester United on TV and we females all know how sacred that is. LOL

Dear ,

Sorry I didn't see your post before you went for the night out, but that was down to the time difference. I thought your comparison was really well written and again seemed so familiar. I realise that there are times when you cannot avoid attending a sit-down meal without causing hurt feelings or some other reason, but I have found that you can more or less write the experience off with regards to having a decent meal. It's easier just to accept that, eat little and pay up your share. It's just our bad luck.

Sometimes the social side of the evening is more important by far than the food and it would be a shame to miss out.

And yes thank you. I had a lovely time on the trip. We went with another couple and while the other three went off to the dining room on the boat for a meal, I sat in the cabin eating food that I had brought myself, at my leisure, with as much to drink as I needed. So I was able to relax as much as anyone else. It would have been totally pointless in the circumstances to pay the £15 evening meal price to eat about 50p worth. And that is not in contradiction to what I have said above because all the rest of the time was spent with our friends.

Lots of love to you both from Ann in England XXX> > Buffet: Unlimited water or soda> > > > Sitdown: You get the water when the waiter has the time for you, or > if you order soda, you're either stuck with one glass, or you get > stares when people see you ordering more and you're all sharing the > tab.> > -----------------------> > > > Buffet: You eat at your own pace.> > > > Sitdown: You eat when the waiter serves your course. If you fall> > behind, then the next course sits and gets cold, or you have to skip> > ahead.> > --------------------------------------------------------------------> > Buffet: Getting up to walk helps get the food to go down.> > > > Sitdown: The only time you get up to walk is when you run to the> > bathroom to regurgitate!> > --------------------------------------------------------------------> > Buffet: You're never rushed with the meal.> > > > Sitdown: The waiter who earns a living on the tips wants you out of> > there. You get dirty looks when everyone is on dessert and you're > still struggling with the main course.> > --------------------------------------------------------------------> > Buffet: Everyone pays the same.> > > > Sitdown: If you must be picky in considering what you are eating, > your choices are limited, and chances are you'll be picking up more > than your fair share of the cost.> > --------------------------------------------------------------------> > Buffet: I take my time eating, and can sociallize> > > > Sitdown: I'm so focused on keeping up with everyone else, I have no> > time to talk.> ---------------------------------------------------------------------> > > Buffet: I choose my portion size.> > > > Sitdown: My portion size "chooses" whether I can eat some or all > of it.> > --------------------------------------------------------------------> > Buffet: If I do have to get up to regurgitate (and who doesn't?), > when I come back, and if I'm ready to eat again, I just go get > another hot dish.> > > > Sitdown: When I return from the bathroom, all the food is gone (as > well as my wife)> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------> > > >>

[Guest guest]

I have learned a few restaurant strategies as well...

1. I carry a 1.5 liter water bottle with my favorite vintage -- usually RO or

distilled --

room temperature -- when I first arrive at a sit down restaurant, I fill my

water glass

immediately with my water and set up for the evening. The server gets the point

immediately and accommodates.

2. I have learned to order smaller offerings, take my time -- if people order

appetizers,

salad, main and dessert -- I skip ordering two of the courses (don't tell them

Sandy about

my trip with you to Barefoot in Beverly HIlls) like the salad and dessert and

just use the

additional time to finish up the other courses.

3. I have learned to go slow and enjoy it -- just because people eat too

quickly is not a

reason for me to be ashamed -- take a lesson.

4. When I am full, I get a to go box and use it, like Kathie for lunch.

My 2 cents

Peggy

> > Buffet: Unlimited water or soda

> >

> > Sitdown: You get the water when the waiter has the time for you, or

> if you order soda, you're either stuck with one glass, or you get

> stares when people see you ordering more and you're all sharing the

> tab.

> > -----------------------

> >

> > Buffet: You eat at your own pace.

> >

> > Sitdown: You eat when the waiter serves your course. If you fall

> > behind, then the next course sits and gets cold, or you have to skip

> > ahead.

> > --------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Buffet: Getting up to walk helps get the food to go down.

> >

> > Sitdown: The only time you get up to walk is when you run to the

> > bathroom to regurgitate!

> > --------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Buffet: You're never rushed with the meal.

> >

> > Sitdown: The waiter who earns a living on the tips wants you out of

> > there. You get dirty looks when everyone is on dessert and you're

> still struggling with the main course.

> > --------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Buffet: Everyone pays the same.

> >

> > Sitdown: If you must be picky in considering what you are eating,

> your choices are limited, and chances are you'll be picking up more

> than your fair share of the cost.

> > --------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Buffet: I take my time eating, and can sociallize

> >

> > Sitdown: I'm so focused on keeping up with everyone else, I have no

> > time to talk.

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> > Buffet: I choose my portion size.

> >

> > Sitdown: My portion size " chooses " whether I can eat some or all

> of it.

> > --------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Buffet: If I do have to get up to regurgitate (and who doesn't?),

> when I come back, and if I'm ready to eat again, I just go get

> another hot dish.

> >

> > Sitdown: When I return from the bathroom, all the food is gone (as

> well as my wife)

> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------

> >

> >

>