ok, that is a subtle difference!

[kareina]

Today in Italian class the lesson was focused on food-words and menus in Restaurants. They also touched on the cost of eating in a restaurant. The teacher commented that a restaurant which charges 200 Euros for a meal is quite expensive, but one which charges 30 is a fairly typical moderately priced restaurant. This number sounded a bit steep to

Comments

[thisfox]

Eating out does have its advantages: one gets food with no work, and food one doesn't have to clean dishes after (unless you can't pay for it, of course). I know you always say "oh, but it's faster". Sometimes it is. The thing is that sometimes it's nice to have food made by others, if you're not as picky about what is found inside the food, are willing to try new things, and seek out variety.

Quality doesn't always suffer, either. Recently, I went to a little hole-in-the-wall fast-food shop, and for ten dollars bought two dips (baba ganoush, and a roasted garlic dip), and enough bread, to feed four. We had a lovely time ripping our bread into bits and scooping up the rich creamy dips. I know that I could make the dips myself, but it would have taken a while, and I can appreciate other peoples skills in making these foods. Plus, at two dollars fifty a head, it wasn't exactly end-of-the-world expensive as a dinner. Petrol would have cost more. And does, frequently.

[kareina]

Sometimes it is nice to have food cooked by other. But I am rarely willing to trust others to make something I like, being so fussy. Fortunately, I also actually enjoy cleaning things--seeing things magically transform from icky to clean is a pleasure.

Your $2.50 each isn't too bad--just now that converts to 1.53 euros, or just over half what I spend a day on food.

Fortunately, I don't need to pay for petrol, not having a car. There are plenty of grocery stores within walking distance. Oodles of options for eating out available, too. But they restaurants don't open till 7pm here, and I'm usually long done with any interest in food that late in the day, so it is probably a good thing I *like* to cook my own food!

[massaria]

30 euros for a meal in a restaurant in Italy seems fairly steep - though if you are having all those courses that would explain it! When I lived in Munich (only 18 months ago) I was only spending on average 15 euros a day on food and that *was* eating out in restaurants for both lunch and dinner. I was actually paid a per diem of 18 euros a day for the entire 3 months I was there and had a small amount left. Certainly when I was cooking for myself, I would have been spending only about 5 euros a day and that is with eating meat, which is more expensive. I stopped cooking for myself because the German government was paying me to be there, was going to pay for me to eat out and I figured less time cooking was more time doing the research

[kareina]

I don't tend to use public transport--only to get to dance practice (6 km) or A&S (9 km). There are two small grocery stores within 5 minute walk from my house, and two major ones within 15 minute walk, and the natural food store, which carries the staples I eat is only a 30 minute walk. I require at least 1 to 2 hours of exercise a day to be happy, so I multi-task and do my shopping while walking. I've also got that market right around the corner on Monday mornings for fresh fruit and veg. For me, who needs to eat a small amount every hour all day long, it is much more efficient to bring food to the office, so that I can grab a few bites while working, without stopping what I'm doing, than to go out and get food. And most of what I cook can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, often much less. No idea if it is expensive to do things here, the things I find entertaining (walks, reading, talking with friends, dancing) don't cost me anything (well, once my stuff arrives and I once again have books reading won't cost me anything, I