Ribcage Revival

Anonymous asked:

Hey-o, I'm sorry to bother you but I hope you can help me out please! As an (asian) kid, I grew up eating before I go out, meaning that I've never been to a restaurant. Now that I'm in uni, and am allowed to go out with friends, I have a question that google cannot answer. How do restaurants work? What on earth is a __ course meal? How do you pay? How do you order? Do you order between courses? What if it's a slightly more casual place, do you go to the till to pay or do they come to do? Thanks!

yournewapartment answered:

This is an excellent ask!

Courses

Let’s start with the basics. A “__ course meal” is a way to decide with your friends or whoever you’re eating with how many courses you will be eating. A “course” is a meal.

A typical “3 course meal” consists of an appetizer (small plate), a main course (large plate with sides), and a dessert (sweets like ice cream or cake). The TV show Chopped is an excellent example of this type of meal, because the contestants cook a typical “3 course meal” every show.

A “2 course meal” would likely be just an appetizer and a main course. People don’t say “main course” when talking about that course, they’ll say “main”.

If you are unsure of how much food to order and from what menu sections (see below) ask your dining companions how many courses you will be eating.

Basic Restaurant Descriptions

Chain restaurants (also called “fast food”). Examples: McDonalds, Burger King, Popeye’s, Wendy’s, etc. These are restaurants that only offer one course. This is because many of these are not what we call “sit down” restaurants. Because people typically pick up their food to go and do not eat there, they literally do not “sit down”.

These chains will have limited menu options and typically only offer “main course” options with sides. They will ask if you want small, medium, or large. This corresponds to the size of your sides. You probably want large, by the way. You do not have a specific waiter/waitress to serve you, you will order and pick up your order at the counter. “Chain” restaurant literally means that there are many different locations for this restaurant all over the world. McDonalds is a classic example.

Family chain restaurants (also called “fast casual”) are chain restaurants where you would sit down to eat. Examples: Panera, Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Outback Steakhouse, etc. These restaurants have an inviting atmosphere and typically will give you a waiter/waitress, but they still do have multiple locations and are considered to be chains. The main difference between a family chain and a regular chain is the fact that you will sit down to eat in the family chains.

“Fancy” restaurants (also called “fine dining”) often have dim or romantic lighting. They usually sell small portions of very expensive food, sometimes this food will be “styled” or arranged in an interesting way. They will likely have a gorgeous bathroom set up with real towels to dry your hands with, as opposed to fake ones. Typically these are the restaurants that you would take someone you are interested in dating, not really a place to take friends. These are “fine dining” restaurants because the food quality is considered to be very high.

Diners are essentially restaurants that have huge menus and serve a whole bunch of different food styles and types. They are typically not considered to have great food, but are lots of fun to go to with friends. Diners are typically styled like they’re straight out of the American 1950s, they even have jukeboxes. I really can’t explain why.

Brunch restaurants are restaurants that only serve brunch and lunch. Brunch is a fancy term for a late breakfast (think eggs, sandwiches, salads, pancakes and french toast). These restaurants are only open from 11am-3pm.

Menu Sections - Food

Restaurant menus are very user friendly. They have sections clearly labeled “appetizer” and “main course”. Restaurants typically have a separate dessert menu, but if you go to a diner or family chain restaurant they will list the “dessert” on their regular menu as well.

After deciding on how many courses everyone will be eating, choose what appeals to you from each section. When telling the waiter/waitress what they will be ordering, people typically list their appetizer first and then their main course. If you will be getting dessert, don’t order that course until you’re done eating the other two. I can’t explain why, but people don’t do that. Your waiter/waitress will likely ask you after clearing your plates from you other two courses if you’d like to order dessert.

Food selections vary depending on what style of restaurant you choose to go to. Typical American styled restaurants will offer a selection of salads and fried goodness on their appetizer menu. If you are unfamiliar with any of the choices, ask your friends to recommend their favorite. You can also ask the waitress or waiter “what’s good to eat in this restaurant?” and they will tell you the most popular dishes that most people order.

For the main course, you can typically order a pasta, salad, sandwich, or a protein (chicken, pork, fish, etc) with a couple sides. You will most likely not get to choose these sides, they will be predetermined. Most chain restaurants will allow you to choose the sides you want. The menu will literally say “pick 2 sides” or something like that. Once again I highly recommend you asking your friends what they like to eat. Main courses are large portions, at least twice the size of the appetizer. Unless, of course, you are eating at a fancy restaurant. They are also more expensive then the appetizer.

Desserts are always sweet, and usually are slightly larger then the appetizer. They will usually come with a sweet side. For example, you could order pie and it would come with a side of ice cream. These sides are always predetermined.

Menu Sections - Drinks

You can order drinks at any time during your meal. When you first sit down at your table and your waiter/waitress comes over, they will ask you if you want anything other then water to drink. Water is free. Other drinks cost money. Drinks will be listed in the “drinks” section of the menu.

Restaurants offer alcoholic (wine, beer) and non-alcoholic beverages (soda, juice, tea). Not all restaurants offer alcohol.

Coffee is also a very popular drink. In a diner or a chain, people will order coffee with their main course. At a fancy restaurant, people will order coffee with their dessert. Restaurants typically don’t mind either way, it’s a preference thing.

Every restaurant offers refills on all drinks, some are free, some are not.

In Between Courses

Most sit-down restaurants will offer you a complementary (free) bread basket when you first sit down. There will be bread with either butter or olive oil in this basket. Everyone shares this bread. You eat this while you’re ordering and while you’re waiting for your first course.

Courses typically come out pretty quickly, so people do not order anything between courses. Snack on that bread basket, you can even ask for a bread basket refill (it’s free). You can order drinks between courses or ask for drink refills. But mostly you just sit and talk with you friends.

Silverware

Silverware (eating utensils) will already be at the table when you sit down. You will usually be given only a knife and a fork. If you order something that requires additional silverware, your waiter/waitress will bring that out before your course is done cooking. For example, if you order a steak, your waiter/waitress will bring a steak knife for you. If your food does not require anything additional, you should just use the provided silverware.

You can always ask for something specific like a spoon if you need one. You may ask for this at any time.

Dress Code

Find out from your friends how “fancy” the restaurant is. If you are going to a chain restaurant or a diner, just wear your regular everyday clothes.

If you are going somewhere fast casual, sit down, or will be eating a 3 course meal- wear something nicer. People will typically use the word “casual” to describe this sort of place, but what they mean is no sneakers, plain t-shirt, nice hair, etc.

If your friends are taking you to a “fancy” restaurant and specifically tell you to “dress nice”, this is when you whip out the special occasion clothes. Nice dress, slacks, button down shirt, fancy shoes or heels, etc.

Typically, the more expensive a place is, the more effort you should put into your appearance. If you are unsure what to wear, then search the restaurant on “Yelp” and read what it says.

Prices/Paying

How much you will likely spend at a restaurant.

Chain restaurants: $5-$15
Family Chain restaurants: $15-$30
Diners: $15-$30
Fancy restaurants: $50+

Typically chain and fast casual restaurants are places where you would pay at the till. You would not tip for these services.

In sit down restaurants, your waiter/waitress will bring the bill to you. If you’re with friends, you can ask to have it split up so that everyone pays an equal share or split up so that everyone pays for what they ordered. You would tip the waiter/waitress 20% of your bill. So if you spent $25, you would add $5 to the total expense for a total of $30.

Here’s how I do tips:

$5 = $1 tip

$10 = $2 tip

$15 = $3 tip

$20 = $4 tip

$25 = $5 tip

$30 = $5 tip

Add a dollar onto the tip per every five dollars spent on the food. You can always leave a bigger tip if you want to!

I hope this helps!! 💖

The Sign’s as Types of Love

zodiac-sign-obsessed zodiac-sign-obsessed

Ludic Love- (playful, self-oriented love.) Their love includes teasing, bad attitudes & smirks, eruptions of giggles, hearts fluttering, hands brushing against each other, jokes that may go too far, and furious blushing. The love they have helps keep childhood innocence in the most serious relationships. Aries, Gemini.

Agapic Love- (unconditional, selfless love.) Their love includes accepting their wrong and apologizing, whether they are or not, supporting you in everything, random compliments, motivational talks, massages, & warm hugs. The love they have is a shoulder to lean on in the best of relationships. Libra, Pisces.

Manic Love- (possessive, controlling love.) Their love includes obsessing over the smallest details, picking you off the ground while twirling you, doodling your name everywhere, daydreaming in class about you, & monitoring your every move. The love they have helps create a barrier between you and other people, letting them know you’re in a relationship. Taurus, Scorpio.

Erotic Love- (romance, undying love.) Their love includes pushing you against a wall and kissing you, sappy poems as gifts, dancing in the rain, screaming their name out in the open, hickies, 2am sleepovers, & cuddles. The love they have is what keeps the relationship in excitement and passionate. Leo, Sagittarius

Pragmatic Love- (realistic, sensible love.) Their love includes driving you home when you’re drunk, studying with you at cafes, shyly blushing as you kiss, organized events planned for the future, & small amounts of meaningful affection. The love they have keeps you on track and you never feel like a sidekick in the relationship. Virgo, Capricorn.

Storgic Love- (friendship, emotional-love.) Their love is sticking up for you when things get rough, holding your hand and guiding you, staying up late watching romance movies, being there when you fall, gazing at the stars around midnight, & piggyback riding. The love they have is a sense of relief knowing that if things don’t work out, you will always have your friendship to fall back to. Cancer, Aquarius.

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

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