I grew up working-class poor, and as a youth I thought I was mixing with the rich and cultured when our parents “treated us” once every couple years to the Olive Garden or Red Lobster. Yes, I do thank my parents for those dinners; they were doing the best with what they had, and with great intentions.
However, eventually I got a college education, a techie job, a six-figure salary, and eventually a discriminating palate.
There was a point in my life when finally, thank God, I understood it is quite INSANE to order a $10 mediocre entree of chain-restaurant slop from the Olive Garden or Red Lobster, or wherever, when for merely another $5 or $10 you can have an exquisite, memorable entree at a restaurant like George’s Ocean Terrace, and enjoy food, view, and service, which is unquestionably better by an order-of-magnitude.
And if my income were to be cut suddenly by two thirds, my wife and i would still go to restaurants like George’s, only we would go less frequently of course.
My wife and I have noticed that people seem to fall into two categories: those who can discern what is great food, and those who simply cannot tell the difference!
