Perpetual "What's for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Today" thread

Post by **wolfspirit** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:45 pm

You people are rather lucky (in a way), as you can really choose what you want (at least to a greater extent).

http://www.lycoming.edu/dining/etrees1.html

There is my schedule for a week.

Every friday I look at next weeks schedule, and decide what meals aren't worth getting out of bed/library for.

The meals seem to be repeating (much faster for breakfasts than other meals), and of course, they never have vanilla ice cream when I want it.

Scott

mccormack44 · Post by **mccormack44** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:13 pm

Actually all the individual foods seem to be more interesting than those I had 60 years ago at the University of Virginia (summer school) but there certainly isn't much variety.

Do you also have a private cooking place, a snack bar, or coffee shop? (When I went to my granddaughter's graduation last year, I noticed two decent luncheon type restaurants in the building with the book store and her dorm seemed to have a small kitchen for each 10 rooms or so.)

Sue

tollbaby · Post by **tollbaby** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:35 am

dude, you guys have INCREDIBLE selection as compared to our restaurant here at work (we call it a cafeteria, but it's really a privately-owned restaurant).

We get ONE lunch special per day, two soups (usually gross) to choose from, chili (Ã¼ber-salty), and a selection of disgusting pre-made sandwiches. Every Wednesday is "shawarma" day.... guy's obviously never been to the mediterannean, because it's nothing like what "shawarma" really is... Thursdays are usually lasagna day *blech*, and Fridays are often fish & chips day. Occasionally we'll get something good, like samosas (made at a bakery downtown) and served with sweet & spicy sauce and rice, but that's *maybe* once a month.

I've had food poisoning from them three times now, and won't buy any more food unless it comes pre-packaged from a supplier. The woman who prepares the food is (sadly) losing her hair.... I wouldn't have an issue with this, except SHE DOESN'T WEAR A HAT OR HAIRNET! I've never seen anyone down there wash their hands, and Donna (hair lady) has a nasty tendency to lick her fingers while preparing food. GROSS.

I'll trade you

Emperor · Post by **Emperor** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:44 am

The only thing at work here is coffee thats awful (faithful Timmies drinker for life)
the hot chocolate is alright but its on a hit or miss type of day
the only food is what people bring in from home. thats always nice but too far inbetween

Post by **Darb** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:23 pm

tollbaby wrote:dude, you guys have INCREDIBLE selection as compared to our restaurant here at work (we call it a cafeteria, but it's really a privately-owned restaurant).

We get ONE lunch special per day, two soups (usually gross) to choose from, chili (Ã¼ber-salty), and a selection of disgusting pre-made sandwiches. Every Wednesday is "shawarma" day.... guy's obviously never been to the mediterannean, because it's nothing like what "shawarma" really is... Thursdays are usually lasagna day *blech*, and Fridays are often fish & chips day. Occasionally we'll get something good, like samosas (made at a bakery downtown) and served with sweet & spicy sauce and rice, but that's *maybe* once a month.

I've had food poisoning from them three times now, and won't buy any more food unless it comes pre-packaged from a supplier. The woman who prepares the food is (sadly) losing her hair.... I wouldn't have an issue with this, except SHE DOESN'T WEAR A HAT OR HAIRNET! I've never seen anyone down there wash their hands, and Donna (hair lady) has a nasty tendency to lick her fingers while preparing food. GROSS.

I'll trade you

If the people running the cafeteria are subcontracted, rather than direct employees of the company, you're in luck. All you need to do is forward your comments to your company's human resources department ? Most HR managers prefer to act swiftly when things like poor sanitation and legal issues are involved. It makes them look good, and on the ball, to THEIR bosses in turn. With any luck, they'll put the catering contract back up for bids, and the new outfit will be better. Ya just gotta know how to work the system.

However, if they're in-house, it's not as easy ... you'd have to file a complaint (or feedback) through proper channels.

Emperor · Post by **Emperor** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:56 am

HR should act regardless of whether contracted or in-house Poor Sanitation could cost the company a lot of money if the inspector comes in on the wrong day. Any health and safety personal should be all over it as well.

Post by **Darb** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:27 am

Oh, agreed. The point I was making was that it's easier to change cafeteria personnel if they're subcontracted, rather than direct employees. The latter have to be either re-trained or fired for cause, whereas subcontracted outfits can be put out for re-bid with relative ease, just because people want a change.

tollbaby · Post by **tollbaby** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:28 am

sadly, we've made dozens of complaints to the public health department, the holding company that owns our building, even to the staff/owner of the cafeteria. Nothing. For a couple of days after their last health inspection, the hair lady had to wear a hat and plastic gloves when handling food, but then it all reverted back to normal.

edited for typos. sitting at someone else's computer today, and the keyboard is ... uncomfortably unfamiliar.

Post by **Darb** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:00 pm

Is there a person or outfit higher up in the corporate/gvt pecking order you can contact ?

The actions you describe would virtually guarantee fairly fast and decisive action in most companies here in the states. The board of health has a lot of oompf here.

If you havent already done so, maintain detailed records of all complaints reported and illnesses suffered.

Post by **Darb** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:14 pm

Today's lunch: Northern Indian Take-out.

* 1 pt of spicy curried mustard greens, punjabi style (awesome).
* Onion Kulcha (tandoor baked naan stuffed with onions)
* Side order of chopped raw onions & whole birds-eye chilies, seasoned with cumin salt and coriander.

Post by **Kvetch** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:28 pm

*Anger at brad* I've just moved in to my new house, so I'm currently living off cadged pasta and tomato sauce. I really want to do a hot dry chickpea dish. And a piperade (sp?).

Yesterday was a bit odd - I got down to London, very late, and got met by my housemates. One of them had brought back a bottle of whisky as a housewarming present, so we broached that. BEFORE I started cooking. It gets a bit blurry, but I remember eating blue pasta with an almost black tomato sauce. It was nice, actually.

Post by **Darb** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:42 pm

/me twists knife a bit further

The mustard greens are excellent. To speed prep, the cook probably pre-sauteed a massive pot of greens (no doubt with a little spinach mixed in), with onions, spices, garlic & minced ginger, green chilies and asofoetida in ghee, then pureed and reduced it to a thick porridge. To serve, he probably sauteed some more onions, crumbled red chilies (for extra heat to order), and some fresh spices, and then added some of the pre-made puree and simmered it for a few mins (while the onion kulcha baked in the tandoor). The consistency is similar to a good thick dryish spinach saag that can hold firm peaks ... perfect for scooping with torn naan, without being runny.

I actually got 2 orders ... the first for lunch, and the 2nd for dinner. Good enough for 2 identical meals in a row.

Mmmmmm.

Post by **Kvetch** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:50 pm

/me collects the shotgun and katana, to hunt Brad down

Post by **Darb** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:37 pm

I assume you dont envy me for muching on the condiments however ... seasoned chopped raw onions and whole birds-eye "thai" chilies (80,000 scoville), with lime wedges ?

Even a devout hot head like me can only eat a couple of those before starting to sweat and whimper a bit. Gotta love those endorphins though. Good for arthritis, and the ol insides.

Oooh, that reminds me ... the haberneros I planted are ready. Those bad boys run 120-250k scoville. I've got about 20 ready for harvest. I'll have to pick em and either make a hot red pepper jelly, or a hot pineapple relish ... and I'll definitely have to smoke a pair of jerk-rubbed pork shoulders sometime soon. I might even try brewing something like a habernero-lime or habernero-ginger sack mead. That might be fun.

Emperor · Post by **Emperor** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:09 pm

*cries* I didn't have any food in the house at lunch and now i'm kinda hungry lol

I'm thinking tonight should be something fun like pizza or take out...only this town is too small for any good take out and i'm not going to drive two hours to get it

Post by **Darb** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:31 pm

Well, in the spirit of the time honored expression "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade" ... if you live in a small town, you could just turn to cannibalism. Have you tried eating your girlfriend ?

Did I just say that ?

p.s. Cannibalism is Atkins friendly too !

Post by **StefanY** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:34 pm

Whoa!! Did this just change to the Velvet Room?!?!?

Post by **Darb** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:40 pm

StefanY: shame on you for your dirty mind !

We briefly digressed into discussing cannibalism as an alternative to suffering the limited selection of take-out food in small towns. Canadians (like Emperor and Tollbaby) are well known for being amenable to cannibalism, with little prodding.

I've occasionally resorted to it myself ... and I'm not even Canadian, much less French.

If anyone finds my humor here too offensive, or insulting, just PM me and I'll happily remove it, with apologies.

Post by **Darb** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:55 pm

Prime steak tonite, to celebrate my wife's new job.

Never been to that particular place before, and thought we'd try them.

Hopefully their grillman knows how to do a decent "black & blue" without overcooking it. It boggles my mind how many places, even those that specialize in prime steak, get it wrong.

Emperor · Post by **Emperor** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:17 am

Nice comment about what I should do in a small town...

however being single doesn't allow for that.

Though it still has me laughing. Sadly I can tire easily of the same thing day in and day out when I go to a restaurant. I miss the varriety I had when I lived in a big city.

tollbaby · Post by **tollbaby** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:05 am

last night's dinner was a huge hit with the kids. Steamed new potatoes with homemade butter *pats self on back*, steamed broccoli, and shrimp spring rolls

Didn't quite make the cut for vegetarian, but it was damn tasty

I've got leftover spring rolls in my bag for lunch (or... um... snack. I've made myself hungry!)

Emperor · Post by **Emperor** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:50 am

Can't speak for anyone else but I think I'm gonna go to Tollbaby's place for dinner one of these nights...

I keep getting hungry everytime you list off what you have...

Spring Rolls (drools)

mccormack44 · Post by **mccormack44** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:58 pm

Well, at least you are in the same Province! My geography is always hazy, and Mercator projection maps tend to distort Canada badly, but surely any part of Ontario is closer to other parts than Missouri is close to any part of Canada.

Complaint because I'd love to eat with her also.

Sue

tollbaby · Post by **tollbaby** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:01 pm

awww gee guys *blush* Tonight's dinner is beef & broccoli stir-fry with snow peas, served on egg noodles if anybody wants to come over

Post by **Darb** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:45 pm

Assuming I get home at a decent hour, tonite's dinner will be:

PROTEIN: If I get home before sunset, I may make salmon burgers (I have a few cans of salmon kicking around, and some stale bread)

STARCH: Classic Polenta (firm).

VEG: Hot & spicy curried green beans with grated coconut.