Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

TWS500 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:37:01 GMT

Buyer beware... Diner, watch out...!!!!

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

Organic Queen — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:09:45 GMT

I would'nt doubt any of this being true.

I used to work for Regal Cinemas in OH when I was like 18. At night when we closed up we were instructed to get a big trash bag full of the leftover popcorn and put in underneath for in the morning. In the morning we were told to dump it out and use that until we run out. If it was busy, we would occassionally pop more popcorn mixing it with the stale popcorn from the night before. I actually had someone comment on it before and I made them fresh.

Also when I worked there a lady told me about a scalding hot faucet in the bathroom and I made a warning sign to put in the bathroom so no one would get hurt. I told my boss and they got mad and would'nt let me put it there, so I guess they didn't care if someone especially someone elderly or a child got burnt on the scalding hot water.

Never again!! So think twice for WHY those matinees are so cheap when they first open about the popcorn.

Connie

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

Ezmee — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:05:29 GMT

YIKES! dgwest7

Eye opening article

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

madolin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:13:26 GMT

I worked in restaurants for 22 years - in New York, Virginia, and California. While much of what I witnessed at first was indeed disturbing, the more recent years I've spent working AND dining in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland restaurants have provided life-enhancing nourishment and been a delight to all the senses. In many neighborhoods of the Bay Area one finds small "made-to-order" restaurants on every corner - with organic, homemade ingredients, herb gardens in the back, grass-fed beef and free-range chicken and eggs, cheese and other dairy products produced in small batches by hand from milk of goats, sheep, and buffalo as well as cows, most of it either organic or raw. In fact, a veritable industry of small, organic farmers in northern California arose to meet the demand of innovative, quality-focused restauranteurs seeking such produce. This trend, beginning in Berkeley in the early 1970's, is largely responsible for the increasing consumer awareness and demand for fresh, high-quality foods that has since spread to many other parts of the country. Availability of these kinds of foods in specialty shops, grocery stores, and now even in supermarkets is possible due to the pioneering efforts of the chefs and restauranteurs of Berkeley's "Gourmet Ghetto." It's out there; you just have to know where to look. And yes, harder to find in some places than others, but restaurants should not be dismissed out of hand. There are many that offer food whose quality one would be extremely hard-pressed to match by preparing at home.

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

dgwest7 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:42:13 GMT

I was in England a coupe of years ago, and due to force of circumstance I worked in a cold store - a food wholesaler.

The major customers of the section that I worked in were 5 star hotels.

They ordered vegetables and exotic fruit from this warehouse.

We spent much time repackaging product so as to give a later sell-by date.

Much of the food that went to these 5 star restaurants had been in this warehouse for over 5 weeks, and prior to that had travelled great distances. I didn't get my food from there!

Peace be with you

David

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

Caiti-did — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:17:44 GMT

Not all chain restaurants are bad. I used to be a prep-cook for Outback Steakhouse. Yes, there were things we nuked in the micro, but they were generally items that we prepped from scratch earlier in the day, like pasta. Some minimal ingredients, like some soup bases, that just couldn't be done in-house as a matter of practicality were pre-packaged, but the soup itself and the end result were still hand made in the morning hours before we opened. Looking back, I can only think of a couple menu items that we didn't actually make, but they were few and not things we claimed to have made ourselves.

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

Brian1 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:35:00 GMT

I heard people saying it's too expensive to eat organics many times, but they still eat out several times a week.

Even if you get your food quickly at a restaurant, you might not save time because you still have to drive to get there and back.

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

NonnaMaria — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:36:36 GMT

I am the proud owner of Osteria Nonna Maria in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I cook from scratch. All my food products come in whole, we wash, slice, dice, and make our foods. As for the Pasta, I use Dried pasta imported from Italy, and it is just the natural ingredients. The flour I use is Unbleached and unbrominated. Yes, I purchase from a distributor, but, it is MY CHOICE to purchase the "raw" ingredients. Many hours are spent in the kitchen COOKING.

Please do not be so down on RESTAURANTS. Many of us do Scratch Cooking. Talk to your restaurant chefs and stop in the kitchen. I have nothing to hide in my kitchen and there is no door. The oils used are Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Real Butter. You may read the label. You may read any label, and there are only a few of them. I read them too. Yes, I do serve Coca Cola products - but offer lemonade and limeade made with fresh squeezed lemons and limes.

When washing vegetables and fruits, please use tepid water. Years ago I was a commercial plant grower. During that time I learned that sugar was often used to help the insectacides and fungicides stick to the plants and their fruits. To disolve the chemicals, it took tepid water. To disolve and remove the chemicals, wash with tepid water. The chemicals are intended to STICK to the outside of the plants and fruits to deter the invasion and damage of the critters. If the chemicals were to penetrate, they would be useless. So, wash your fruits and vegetables with tepid water.

I also use kosher salt, or sea salt. Sugar does not get added unless absolutely necessary, and the majority of the time it is not necessary. Purchasing top quality tomato products - read the label - you can have wonderful sauces made without sugar. We Use Herbs. We Build the flavors. We clean our foods properly, and cook them properly with baking is our primary cooking method. We DO NOT FRY. WE DO NOT DEEP FRY.

Healthy restaurants do exist. Promote them.

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

HealingMindN — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:19:47 GMT

What about just going on picnics using those Ten Healthiest Foods Under $1 items at your other article?

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

george tolhurst — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:56:29 GMT

THERE ARE OTHER WORRIES OTHER THAN RESTURANTS. i KNOW A FELLOW IN MY HOME CITY ON THE OHIO RIVER THAT MAKES HIS LIVING DUMPSTER DIVING. HE BRAGS ABOUT ALL THE BUTTER AND EGGS ETC. THAT HE GETS OUT OF THE DUMPSTERS HE HAS REGULAR BAKERIES THAT BUY THEM. HE ALSO SELLS UNREFRIGERATED MEATS ETC. AT THE FLEA MARKET...............HAPPY EATING,

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

nommolucas — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:44:51 GMT

absolutely know about the food quality you eat.

but i would say it's more exception than rule that quality restaurants

reheat ready-made foods to serve to people.

the key to quick food service is prepping. it doesn't take long to

cook anything if all the ingredients are already cut and prepped.

always a good idea to ask server about how something is prepared

and how 'fresh' it is.

a good rule of thumb is to frequent establishments that change their menu

often...

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

kerribo_203 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:45:22 GMT

I'm sure there are a lot of restaurants that are 'horrible' in their food preparations. My husband and I own a small restaurant and 95% of our food is 'from scratch'. We don't use old food, we wash all our produce, and are very particular about what goes out to the customer. Please don't stop going out to eat just because of the 'bad' ones out there. We work hard to make a living too.

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

curious7 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:30:55 GMT

Remember people restaurants are a business, and the first law of business, is profit, buy low, sell high.

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

CrowSnake — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:17:14 GMT

I know that at this one chinise "fast food" Joint you can watch them cook your food after ordering, sure they have the rice made up, but they put it all in there and cook it, with the fresh meat right in front of you, Yes the veggies are pre cut, but they are raw. You can ask for extra spicy, they swear they do not use MSG, cause Americans are picky. I know some of the sauces they use may have sugar, but you have to know what you order. I love the cabbage in Moo Shoo, but I would rather they leave all the sauce off it, except for Soy, and hot sauce, or peppers. I do not use the wraps cause they have wheat in them. and I usually let my dogs have most of the rice, they set the rice on the side..

re: Even Five-Star Restaurants Can't Be Trusted for Healthy Food

RPN — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:04:18 GMT

OMG - I'm not eating out ever again. I'll go hungry before I will eat at a restaurant again. The stories posted here made my stomach turn. I am going to print them out and put them on my frig to remind me why I want to eat at home.

What people don't do in the name of greed!?!