RIP TGI Friday's (Fresno, Sacramento: condo, income, living in)

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by skyao

There are good chains and bad chains.

TGI Friday's to me was at the bottom of the barrel of chains along with with Applebees and Bennigans.

I love some chains like In and Out, Popeyes (great hangover food, although can be a bit ghetto), and Whataburger (Texas).

Some chain restaurants bring back good memories, but TGIF was not one of them.

We prefer little old diner places. One of our faves is Anna's in Hayward. I usually get a good BLT with avocado... nice homestyle sandwich....

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by bayarea-girl

I don't use dressings either for salad. We use lemon, vinegar, and a bit of olive oil. Also, the jury is still out with eggs and I am not a fan of margin. We use olive oil only as needed. We don't put it in everything either.

Anyways, I think chain and fast food places have declined over the years due to the over processed products and taste (or lack there of). Fast food and chain restaurants did not start and or operated in the beginning how they are now. The government should step in as many people eating the foods do not realize how harmful they are. There are no labels in those places to tell you how the food is being prepared and or produced.

Your grandparents cooking things in fat were better off then the chemicals in the processed foods of today's meals (at least they knew what was going into their dishes). Just look on the back of chips , they use to contain 3 or 4 main ingredients in them (potatoes, oil, salt, maybe pepper) and now you can not pronounce what is in them (you can't tell me that is healthy and could be a good reason why so many kids/people are getting cancer). People are eating straight chemically enhanced meals. I hate that foods are also colored which I am sure didn't happen in your grandparents time. Anyways, there is always an exception to the rule and your grandparents and their off spring again are the exception.

The post started out about the closing of another chain restaurant. Frankly it needed to be closed sooner and the economy has nothing to do with it closing. It was a horrible place to dine and the consumers stopped spending their money to get horrible food they could get for cheap.

Specifically in SF and on the Peninsula, these places are going out of business because the demographic has changed. The old demographic was mostly middle and upper lower class white and black people, with a scattering of other groups such as upper class of all types, and, a few Latinos mostly middle class.

The new demographic is upper class and upper middle class whites from Back East and Asians, with an increasing number of lower class Latino immigrants (a far different group than the old time Californios). Blacks, middle and lower whites, and old time Californio Latinos have mostly left.

Everyone knows that the groups who have left were the main clientelle for these chains. Their going out of business is a lagging indicator of the exit of traditional native Californian groups from SF and the Peninsula.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Specifically in SF and on the Peninsula, these places are going out of business because the demographic has changed. The old demographic was mostly middle and upper lower class white and black people, with a scattering of other groups such as upper class of all types, and, a few Latinos mostly middle class.

The new demographic is upper class and upper middle class whites from Back East and Asians, with an increasing number of lower class Latino immigrants (a far different group than the old time Californios). Blacks, middle and lower whites, and old time Californio Latinos have mostly left.

Everyone knows that the groups who have left were the main clientelle for these chains. Their going out of business is a lagging indicator of the exit of traditional native Californian groups from SF and the Peninsula.

I certainly agree with you, not only do the demograohics change so do our likes and dislikes. As I have mentioned before: many large malls are shutting down or downsizing, dept stores are either doing out to business or merging, the type of TV shows that kept us entertained 5,10 or 20 years ago are being replaced by other types: there was a period when every new show was about dectectives, then the trend was medical, then lawyers, then back to medical and again lawyers, with comedy and game shows thrown in from time to time. Now, the trend seems to be reality, but I think that will soon be gone. I remember when the game shows were exactly that and not spectator shows where we could watch a few people play Poker....

As for chains and types of dining, regardless of how healthy some on here eat (which is good) that probably isn't the norm nor reason for the decline in chain dining. The type of chain restaurants that are closing are the same, lots of snacky foods like buffalo wings, sandwhiches, and really fast food in a more appealing way than walking into Micky Ds. Actually it is better than Micky Ds. Now, it seems the chinese buffets are gaining in popularity or at least in many areas. Talk about crappy food, how many authentic Chinese restaurants would serve French Fries or fried chicken wings? I am talking authentic? Maybe, because the bay area offers such great chinsese food they buffets are not that common, but they are everywhere else, including Sacramento.

No matter what, it is still just the changing of time.

Nita

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I certainly agree with you, not only do the demograohics change so do our likes and dislikes. As I have mentioned before: many large malls are shutting down or downsizing, dept stores are either doing out to business or merging, the type of TV shows that kept us entertained 5,10 or 20 years ago are being replaced by other types: there was a period when every new show was about dectectives, then the trend was medical, then lawyers, then back to medical and again lawyers, with comedy and game shows thrown in from time to time. Now, the trend seems to be reality, but I think that will soon be gone. I remember when the game shows were exactly that and not spectator shows where we could watch a few people play Poker....

As for chains and types of dining, regardless of how healthy some on here eat (which is good) that probably isn't the norm nor reason for the decline in chain dining. The type of chain restaurants that are closing are the same, lots of snacky foods like buffalo wings, sandwhiches, and really fast food in a more appealing way than walking into Micky Ds. Actually it is better than Micky Ds. Now, it seems the chinese buffets are gaining in popularity or at least in many areas. Talk about crappy food, how many authentic Chinese restaurants would serve French Fries or fried chicken wings? I am talking authentic? Maybe, because the bay area offers such great chinsese food they buffets are not that common, but they are everywhere else, including Sacramento.

No matter what, it is still just the changing of time.

Nita

I am speaking of course in relative terms.

We now must go to a "hick" area (read, one of the more distant inland places perhaps even an eastern outlier of Sacramento, where native born middle class Californians are still at least a plurality) to find certain chains we like. Obviously we don't go all the way there just for that, but when going skiing, we'll partake. Same deal when we travel around the US. We see chains that have been gone from our little yuppie / rich immigrant enclave for years.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Not out of business nation wide, but at least in most of the 415 (south of GG for sure), all of the 650 and perhaps all of the 408, it's kaput. Another American old time favorite dies, in my part of the world.

Also noting that the last Black Angus on the Peninsula (Foster City) is also kaput.

I used to love TGI Friday's until about 5 or 6 years ago. They used to have that great menu that was the size of a small book. And their burgers were GREAT!.

But then they changed to a skimpy menu and their food quality went way down. I was really disappointed when I went there a few years ago and I never went back.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by clongirl

No, You've got me all wrong..Sf/Bay area native here..only half white too!. I'm a foodie because I've tasted good food, that's all. Started when I was on my own at SFState. Got tired of "Ragu" and started adding my own vegetables. I grew up in the City and was born in the Bay Area.

I just care about putting healthy stuff in my body..I'm not a vegetarian or anything but I get grossed out when I read the ingredients of "food".

I'm just of the mindset of making it from scratch so I know what's in it or eating at an establishment that isn't putting some preservative in it to last longer. It's actually a very "conservative" and old fashioned way to eat..I'm not anal about it, but I do everything possible to avoid chains.

I'm not one to spend loads of money on overpriced organic stuff from Whole Foods or places like that, but I just don't like what I read on most labels..

I eat like the way I grew up (we rarely ate out and my mom cooked most things homemade). She wouldn't even buy Oreo's or Rainbow bread (I don't know if you're old enough to remember this stuff) and insisted on making her own choc. chip cookies (really embarrassing at the time, but I appreciate it now). Also, we didn't grow up with a lot of money (convenience foods were actually for the wealthier people when I was growing up).

So you've actually made a lot of wrong and judgmental assumptions about me.

Great post, Clongirl. I do think some of the foodies in the Bay Area are snobs. But they have a point.....we have to do soemthing in this country about the crap that is passed off as "food". And the ultimate way to do that is for more and more people to just say no to fake food.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by skywalker400

^ I only ever went to TGIF when I lived in SoCal, it was alright, I think they had the Jack Daniels BBQ menu which was decent. I grew up on chains and fast food and eat it more often than I care to admit. I guess I just have acquired different tastes over the years and I can actually digest things like Taco Bell, lol. I really like Outback too (Blooming Onions!) and drive up to Pinole maybe every other month to go there. For the record, I promise I dont weigh 300 pounds too.

I have to say I don't get the appeal of The Outback. The prices are kinda high for mediocre food and you have to wait an hour to get seated if you go on a weekend. I just don't get it.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Heart trouble will probably always be the number one killer: reason, if you live long enough and we are living longer and healthier, your heart will give out. actually I think deaths due to heart attacks have come down in the past 20 years even with fast food.

Your parents must have had great genetics to have lived so long on unhealthy food. It's also true that heart attack deaths (and cancer) are going down and that is a long term trend. But it is fair to say that the death rate from these diseases could be a lot lower. And I think it is also a concern that the death rates from these diseases may start going up again if we Americans don't start eating better.

I agree that we shouldn't force these businesses to shut down. But we do have to do something regarding the food we eat in America.

We also have to put health care costs into the equation. A lot of these unhealthy people expect our medical system to take care of them when they get sick, even though much of it is driven by their unhealthy lifestyles. They are not going to say. "Oh well I lived an unhealthy lifestyle, so I don't mind if they don't give me treatment". They and their families are going to say "Do whatever you can to save my life and to h*ll with the cost".

I am all for letting people do what they want. The problem is, most people who make bad choices want someone else to bail them out when they get themselves in trouble.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I used to love TGI Friday's until about 5 or 6 years ago. They used to have that great menu that was the size of a small book. And their burgers were GREAT!.

But then they changed to a skimpy menu and their food quality went way down. I was really disappointed when I went there a few years ago and I never went back.

I loved their buffalo wings and cobb salad (not together of course) but I don't think I have been to one in maybe 5 or more years. I rarely frequent any of these type of restaurants anymore. If we are traveling it is a little different. Even if they aren't great we do know what to expect. As I have mentioned, I am will to bet many of these chains will either be out fo business altogether in a few years (maybe 10) or be much smaller than now. Again, part of life and our changing needs and desires. Something will come along to re-place them

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Your parents must have had great genetics to have lived so long on unhealthy food. It's also true that heart attack deaths (and cancer) are going down and that is a long term trend. But it is fair to say that the death rate from these diseases could be a lot lower. And I think it is also a concern that the death rates from these diseases may start going up again if we Americans don't start eating better.

I agree that we shouldn't force these businesses to shut down. But we do have to do something regarding the food we eat in America.

We also have to put health care costs into the equation. A lot of these unhealthy people expect our medical system to take care of them when they get sick, even though much of it is driven by their unhealthy lifestyles. They are not going to say. "Oh well I lived an unhealthy lifestyle, so I don't mind if they don't give me treatment". They and their families are going to say "Do whatever you can to save my life and to h*ll with the cost".

I am all for letting people do what they want. The problem is, most people who make bad choices want someone else to bail them out when they get themselves in trouble.

you are right about most of what you say. Those who do not take care of themselves and that probably refers to many of us expect to be given free or close to free medical care. Bull. I won't tackle that one right now. As for the way we eat, I really think it is more the way we don't exercise than the way we eat. Because I love to cook and did major in foods and nuitrition I am very much aware of bad versus good. Even if I graduated 50 years ago, I keep up with the trends and studies. I also admit I eat too much, too much meat and probably too much fat. Sugar isn't a problem except for the sugar I get in my daily wine () Processed foods are not part of my weekly shopping, but I do think they are a huge culprit...We have to remember mom is now working just like dad and it is late when they get home. Processed foods and/or order in is much quicker than starting from scratch, cooking.

When we were living in No Va, I thought a cooking class for low income families. It was cooking on a budget. Well I did it for one semester, end, no more. Those who attended (not too many) could have cared less how to cook healthy on a budget: use a crock pot, throw out the grease, learn to cook veggies for only a few minutes, use hot dogs as a treat only, just to mention a couple of things, these women were on food stamps and wink but still didn't really care. Most were not working, thus they certainly had time to prepare healthy foods at a low cost. The thought of using Yugart and not using pre-sweeten cereals was a joke to them, no chips, are you kidding?

Back to the exercising thing: when my kids were little we didn't have a dryer, or didn't for years, think of the calories burned just bending over, taking the cloths out of the basket and hanging them on the line: we ironed everything or almost, including sheets. Of course no remote control, we either watched the same channel all night or got up and switched channels, many families had only one car so we all did a lot more walking. i could go on and on. These were little things, but they were exercise...

Now that I have spouted off enough I will make only one more comment before I fix a healthy dinner tonight, I like Outback for the money. I don't think it is all that pricey. Cheap, no, but hey, it is pretty good, just don't waste the calories, fat and money on the bloomin Onion.

Nita