The One Meal That's Cheaper to Eat Out? (white wine, restaurants, cake)

[Caligula1]

Stuffed cabbage, pizza..

Pizza ingredients can be expensive and stuffed cabbage is just labor intensive..

[ss20ts]

Originally Posted by Caligula1

Stuffed cabbage, pizza..

Pizza ingredients can be expensive and stuffed cabbage is just labor intensive..

What are you putting on your pizza that's expensive and can't be used for other meals?

Stuffed cabbage is one of those things that you can't make a few of. It's usually enough for 2 families or an entire football team.

[Dirt Grinder]

Medium-rare prime rib.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

It's cheaper per portion to make bouillabaisse at home, but you end up with three or four gallons of it by the time all the different shellfish, fish, stock, veggies, etc., etc., have been added. And it's gonna be pretty expensive after buying all the ingredients. Lobster, shrimp, clams, clams, oysters, fish, fish, fish, more fish, shallots, saffron, etc. etc. I love bouillabaisse and cioppino, though.

Fixing it at home, you can monitor the ingredients better. I won't even go to a seafood buffet anymore, not knowing where the fish came from. From China? SE Asia? South America? The U.S.? Makes a big difference!

When I make pizza, it takes a long time to make, as I make the crust, ultra-thin, bake it, then add the ingredients, then bake it. So pizza would be the one dish I'd go out for!

[Cast Iron Cutie]

Risotto. When I make it at home, I spend $40 to $50 on ingredients - plus it is labor intensive.

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by Cast Iron Cutie

Risotto. When I make it at home, I spend $40 to $50 on ingredients - plus it is labor intensive.

What kind of risotto are you making that costs $40? It doesn't cost me that much to make lobster risotto.

[lieqiang]

Originally Posted by Gerania

Not sure if it's cheaper, probably not, but there's no way I'm going to fry wings. The local pub is fine.

Yep, I can't get wings right at home.

Plus there is almost always somewhere nearby with a happy hour or lunch special where pretty reasonable price, often with a drink included.

[Prince_Frog]

pizza/chinese buffets. Probably sushi. I don't know anyone who makes homemade sushi, but I also don't live in an area where seafood is super cheap.

[Cast Iron Cutie]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

What kind of risotto are you making that costs $40? It doesn't cost me that much to make lobster risotto.

Well, you are gonna force me to reveal my secret ingredient: Saffron. $27. Yep.

Plus the non-secret ingredients which, being organic, make up the rest of the $40-ish spend.

Would LOVE to have your lobster risotto recipe, BTW!

[Felix C]

If I cook it I know what is in it and how it is prepared. Not so when eating out. Eating out is more a ceremonial item than for nutrition.