How to Get the Most Out of A Dining Experience
Hello, foodies! I trust your year’s off to a good start.
I know it’s well into the new year with 14 days passed and all, but I’ve been wrestling with this topic; to post or not to post; trying to get it all right in my head so we can go about the 2016 food quest right.
Attttaaaack!!! =b
You might have noticed that I didn’t have anything to add to the “Food for Thought” category recently. That’s because together with trying to find good places to eat in Baguio, I also learn something here and there about food, the food industry as well as tidbits on how it works. \m/
(We can credit this more knowledgeable me to the chefs and food establishment owners who are generous enough with their knowledge and their time, making an effort to make friends with me and giving me a little peek behind kitchen doors rather than leaving anonymous rants and/or demeaning comments on the posts here just because we have a difference in opinion about a particular place. Start your own blog, why don’t you, and rant there please. *tee hee)
Marlboro rolling hills, coconut crab, Fundacion Pacita in the background, fresh catch, Fundacion Pacita pako salad, Sabtang lighthouse in the background, the delectable Batanes flying fish daing, Ahau Rock Arch at Nakabuang Beach in Sabtang Island (“,)
Spoiler Alert: This post has sermon-like, me on my high horse tone to it, my foodie friends. (Me ranting on my blog. =b) For that, I apologize in advance. (I have some of our PH vacay sights, scenes, and tastes photos in this blogpost to hopefully work as a spoonful of sugar to help this hard pill go down.)
On my high horse. =)) His name is Chief.
We are living in the Age of Entitlement.
The sad state of affairs today, bad attitudes in order to get ahead/get a one up on others is tolerated. Please, PLEASE don’t be one of those people, eatsplorers. (I’m referring to both: Disregarding other people just to advance one’s self interest as well as being tolerant of bad attitudes from people who are only looking out for number one).
That said, I’ve narrowed down this how-to on getting … nay, MAKING the most out of a dining experience, to three steps.
A Malipano Island view of Pearl Farm.
1.) Do not set your expectations too high.
Otherwise, you’ll be setting yourself up for disappointment. I, myself, am still a student in this area. I expect a lot from everything, you see, that I tend to get disappointed a lot, too. Bad for the heart, I tell you. Oh, that tightness in the chest feeling, I relish the days that that doesn’t happen. =) )
I read somewhere that Mr. Shakespeare talked about this too. I thought to myself then, sod off, Shakespeare =)) … but we have to admit, he’s right. Expecting does take up all the room for being pleasantly surprised. And that’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling we’re missing out on when a particular visit to a restaurant blows us away.
If you expect anything at all, just expect to be fed (with plain food at that). =D
2.) Take a little control.
- If your order is taking too long, follow it up. Don’t seethe and stew in the background. 10 minutes in, ask about your order. If they gave you a time when it’ll be served to you and it still isn’t there then, inquire about it again.
- If there’s not enough flavor to your dish, utilize the condiments. Sometimes, a dash of salt is all you need. Some restos, I also found, have a tendency of playing it safe with the salt/taste … Must be all the eating healthy guidelines we’re inundated with in all forms of media today. *hihi
Arena Island Palawan to ourselves. This is the life. =) (A couple dishes from our five mealtimes a day, our casita, kayaking in the rain, the island from afar, hanging out on the floating deck, baby turtle on its way to living its own life.)
- For whatever’s wrong with your plate, call the attention of the staff to it. If the chicken is bloody, send it back. Meanwhile, also consider how much you know about proper prep for foodstuff. In this case, if you’re like me and you fall under the “inept at cooking” spectrum, I believe that the customer isn’t always right/flat out wrong.
- e.g. We don’t like the slightest reddish drop in our steaks but in truth, they’re meant to be eaten medium rare. (It’s best tasting, melt-in-your-mouth that way, they say. Yeah, the thought still grosses me out but I guess I have to suck it up and deal with that when I’m in a proper steakhouse.)
- e.g. Being Filipino, we like soups to be hot/warm. While it can be served hot too, vichyssoise is traditionally served cold. Laid on the table in front of us, we might be irritated that some restaurant has the audacity to serve us, paying customers, cold soup but actually, they’re just being true to tradition.
Let’s meet the restaurant people halfway, guys. Like regular people, they can’t read minds.
Cheers from Dos Palmas, Palawan! ^^,
3.) Keep on stepping.
Or in the words of Dory, the ever cute blue tang fish in Finding Nemo: ♪ “Just keep swimming” ♪ ♫ Please don’t let a bad dining experience deter you from going on eatscapades. There are many other restos, so much the world has to offer us. (“You’ll never know, unless you try” … what’s out there.)
I understand it’s hard, because the same is true with me but when you can, muster enough courage to try the snafu place again. Who knows, you might find a favorite in this resto if it succeeds to surprise you then. (After a second visit and they still aren’t on their A game, all rightie then, you can write them completely off your list. *hee)
Feeding frenzy in H2O Hotel. Can you find Dory?
In first visits that aren’t so good, also take into account the state of the restaurant when you visited. Did it just open its doors to the dining public? Are they understaffed? Being more understanding is easier on the heart, too. ^^,
There, I’ve gotten all this off my chest. A year and a half in the making, this post was. I have said my piece. On with the food adventure! (Fingers crossed, as more empathetic and nice diners. (“,) ) (Down with entitlement tendencies! Oh, I hear House of Cards’ Frank Underwood saying “You are entitled to nothing.” *heehaha)
I hope these tips will help you have more delightful experiences eating out. A joyful, fulfilling and prosperous 2016, all!
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Ang ganda naman sa mga napuntahan nyo. Favorite ko Batanes!
Hello there! They really are wonderful places, go na rin! *hihi I know right, the Batanes trip was just wow. I never knew I could miss a place that isn’t my home. Thank you so much for visiting the blog! Happy explorations and eatsplorations to you! (“,)
Well written, Xine! You are so right about the age of entitlement. Some people don’t care who they walk on as long as they get what they think they deserve, something they did not even work hard for. Beautiful photos! Batanes has always been on my bucket list of places to see and I have yet to check that from the list. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Hello there, again, Candy! Thank you so much for dropping by the blog, reading and leaving comments on the posts! Always much appreciated!
Here’s hoping this post can give those types of people something to think about and that they can start changing for the better. So true, it’s not because we’re paying customers that it gives us the right to be rude/overly demanding to the people working in restaurants. At the very least, we’re paying for the food … not to be worshiped. =b Shyeew.
I hope you get to see Batanes real soon and that you enjoy your visit there as much as we did. I didn’t want to leave Marlboro Country. Ohh, to lay on the thick carpet of grass just staring at Mt. Iraya, the birds flying by and the carabaos lazily munching on the grass. *sighs
Again, thank you, thank you, Candy! (“,)
Wow. All these places are in the Philippines? Please start a travel blog too. I would love to know how you planned your trips to Batanes and Davao Pearl Farm.
Good tips about getting the most out of dining out. Many people will benefit from reading this. Cheers!
Hello, Janna! Yes, really more fun in the Philippines, no? *hihi Thank you so much for the vote of confidence, but there actually isn’t much to planning trips … I’m just good at following itineraries =b
I’m glad you like this post! Fingers crossed it does benefit people. Thank you so much! Happy (Baguio) food trails! (“,)
This makes so much sense! It’s ridiculous when I recall waiting for 50mins for my order when I could have saved myself the trouble and agitation if I just asked, where’s my order?
Hello there, lån! *hihi happened to me eating out with my Jollibee friends back in the day too. I guess it happens to us once in our lives. As long as we know better in the future, I guess, we’ll be fine.
Thank you so much for looking in on the newest stuff on Find Good Baguio Foods! To dining experiences that go smoothly for both customers and restuaranteurs! (“,)