What happened to the classics?

Where did they go? Greenville had historically great classic restaurants that defined Greenville for generations. In a blink they were gone. They didn't just serve food. They represented a way of life. Places that were home away from home. Where you knew the owners and servers and they knew you. Food was good and reasonably priced. The cost was fair. You didn't feel ripped off. It didn't break the bank. What you got was expected. No more. No less. Places for breakfast like Tommy's and Genes's and Bullocks. Real meals cooked like you would at home. Nice places like Stax Peppermill and The City Club and The Open Hearth and Gerards. Consistent places like Capris, Perones and K & W and Dragon Den and Comos Petes and Little Pigs BBQ Lake Forrest with the school desks. Downtown places like Addeys, The Red Barron and Charlies Steak House and The 858 and Luna Rosa and Nantucket and Barleys. So many that have come and gone. Just memories that fade away with each passing year. TEM

 

Too Much

Everything today seems to be too something. Too expensive. Too long. Too much. Here are some TEM thoughts:

Golf - 18 holes are too many. After 15 you are worn out. You are swung out. You are hot and tired. 15 holes would be perfect. 9 is not enough. After 9 you want a few more, but not 9 more (maybe even 12)

Portions - Too big. We live in a gluttonous society. We eat 2-3 times the art we need to sustain a healthy life. One meal can easily be shared by two adults. We eat too much

House - Again, too big. In the 1950s the average home size was 983 sq ft. Today it is 6121 sq ft. Why? Family size is smaller than ever. Most of these large homes are for just 2 people

Cars - Too expensive. Way too expensive with less quality than ever. So much plastic

College - Too expensive. Way too expensive. Not worth the expense. Poor ROI and forever debt

Gas - Are you kidding? A blink ago it was under $2/gal. A blink before that it was under $1/gal. Drill. Drill. Drill. We were near energy independence, then we weren't. More natural gas and solar and wind and nuclear and electric and whatever

Medicine - Too much medicine and way too much money. Everything is a pill. Even if your insurance allows you to buy medicine for $25, look at the "actual" amount on the receipt. $2500? I guess that is what the pharmacy is charging the insurance company. Ridiculous

Insurance - How much insurance do we need? Apparently a lot. They sell insurance for everything. Too many plans. And you're scared not to buy it. It's easy to become insurance poor. There is even "Plant Insurance". More ridiculous

TMI - Too much information. Life was simpler when we didn't have so much information. We learn too much too fast. Ignorance is bliss. I miss the bliss

Let's all try to simplify and uncomplicated our lives. Less is More

TEM

 

Eating Post Pandemic

The pandemic changed everything. Including where and what we eat. For some ridiculous reasons the cost of eating has skyrocketed. 

Grocery shopping has gone from pleasure to pain. You need a second mortgage to pay the exorbitant costs. But, eating in is still much less than eating out. A few suggestions: Beans and Rice / Rice and Beans - You need filler food. Beans, Rice, Potatoes, etc. Foods that won't break the bank. Buy BOGOs - Buy One Get One Free. Buy sale items. Buy store brands vs name brands. If it is not on sale or not a store brand or not a BOGO .... don't buy it. If chicken isn't on sale this week, don't eat chicken this week. 

Eating out is a new adventure. Restaurants are hardly printing menus anymore since they are raising prices faster than than the ink can dry. A few tips to eating out semi ok: Don't be afraid to ask the waiter or cashier for their thought as to the best deal on the menu. If they won't say, ask to speak to someone else. There is a best deal. You just have to find it. As an example, at Panera there is a little known and never pushed item called "Duets". It's the best deal they have. For $6.99 (was $5.99 up until just a few weeks ago) you get a combo of two. Either soup, salad or sandwich. At The Big Clock you can get a Fried Chicken dinner with salad, bread and side for $7.99. You must call head because it takes 20 minutes to make. At Tropical Grille there is what could be the best double smash burger in town with a side for $8.99. At Harris Teeter you an get a large, made from scratch, hot, unlimited toppings pizza on Mondays for $8.99. Waffle House -$5.00 for two eggs, toast and hash browns, with free entertainment. There are deals out there. They just take a little effort to find them (A few more tips - Share. Most portions are plenty big enough for two people to share. That will cut the cost in half. We all eat too much. Try to avoid restaurants where you have to tip. Tips drive your costs up. And lastly, drink water. Restaurants really get you on there drinks. Way too expensive. Especially, alcoholic drinks. They drive your meal cost way up). TEM