I have mentioned that one of my '08 resolution's was to eat at some chain restaurants this year. I have tried Red Lobster (not so bad) and Home Town Buffet (to which I got comments, "I imagine prison food tastes better." and "Dude, another piece of advise, dumpster diving, don't do it.").
So now I tried Chili's. Wow...is this the type of food we eat a lot of? Now, I'm not saying it was bad, but it certainly wasn't good, and it was soooooo bad for you. It was not distinctive in any way at all, very bland tasting, with enough salt to last us a few weeks most likely, and enough fat to really make me reach for the extra bit on my jog tomorrow.
People have asked me why I am trying America's chain restaurants. And this resolution, which frankly will have to go into '09 and beyond (because I cannot do all of them in one year, I simply cannot), came from a couple of different impulses. One: I really wanted to see what so many people in our country eat. I wanted to see why so many who have hard about the food I cook, are amazed. It really is a cultural touchstone. And therein lies my second reason. Though I have had fast food since I was a kid (not a lot mind you) I have never bonded with the experience of our chain food restaurants, and frankly, I wanted to see what I was missing.
My early impulse is that I have not been missing much. So much better seafood at Bay Park Fish Company and Sea Rocket Bistro than at Red Lobster. So much better food and almost any other restaurant (non-chain) that we eat at, than at Chili's. I can find better tacos, better chicken, better burger and better drinks. I would rather eat dim sum (buffet-like) than eat at Home Town Buffet.
I will continue my experiment though. Is this the cultural heart of America? Is this the cuisine we will be remembered for? I hope not, but I fear so.
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