Conor Pope has lots of stuff about food in Pricewatch today – a feature piece on complaining in restaurants, a taste test on salad dressings and good news for fans of the spiceburger. He also talks about holidaying in Ireland, and how the high cost of eating out can push the price up beyond even a sun holiday abroad.
The complaining in restaurants piece is interesting, it seems that the Irish are still loath to complain even when served inedible food, instead saving their rage for the likes of Menupages.ie (and here of course!). Do you complain in restaurants? I think that if you’re served substandard food, you absolutely should say it to your waiter, while being courteous and understanding. Share your stories of how this has worked out for you.
None of the five salad dressings tested for the taste test impress that much, they’re all too greasy or overflavoured. I hate to be a purist about any food, but it really is so much cheaper and nicer to make your own salad dressing. Here’s a recipe for a simple one that I make all the time:
Put about two tablespoons of olive oil in a jar with a teaspoon each of balsamic and white wine vinegar, and add a teaspoon of mustard and a generous grating of black pepper. Shake the jar about to blend the ingredients, and add more of any particular ingredient to taste. Walnut oil makes a great alternative to olive oil, it’s really tasty.