On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:56:15 -0700, <RJ> wrote:

> It's a common scene in food commercials. Bucolic scene, filtered
> sunlight, the ristorante serving "food to die for" usually in Tuscany.
>
> I know we have that setting in hundreds of places in the U.S. , but if
> you go into town for a meal, chances are your choice will be between a
> McDonalds, or the local "deep fryer" diner.
>
> Is superb Euro-cuisine a myth ?
> If so, how do they keep it that way ?
>
> What does the Italian, or Frenchman pay for dinner in a restaurant ? (
> I'm not talking gourmet )
>
> If you want to go a step above McDonalds, Arby's etc, you get a "chain
> restaurant".... Olive Garden, TGIF, Applebees, etc. etc.
>
> Can a small town restaurant serve good food AND make a financial go of
> it too ??

A 3 dish lunch in Provençe: Entree, plat, dessert including 0,25 l wine,
euro 12,- during weekdays.
Today (Friday, fish!) I ate: entree: Coquille St. Jacques, plat: stuffed
calamar and rice in tomatosauce, dessert: Éclair aux chocolat. Vin rosé (2
glasses) ‚¬ 12.-
There are lots of restaurants and cafés that offer similar meals at that
price at lunchtime.
Dinner, evening prices are higher. Typical ‚¬ 18.- for a 3-dish menu,
without wine. Dinner is only served in restaurants, not in cafés.
Remember, these are not Paris prices.

--
Groet, salut, Wim.