Carvery Food

28-07-2015 12:32PM

Barely There wrote: »

Your whole post just kinda proves my point - thanks.

Whats wrong with people choosing to eat what they like or choose to eat simple food out as they dont want to have to cook it themselves?

Not everyone likes cooking and many see it as a pain but necessary a good few days a week but are glad to be able to avoid it a few times a week too.

MrWalsh · 28-07-2015 12:38PM

Barely There wrote: »

Your whole post just kinda proves my point - thanks.

What point? That eating the same food would bore YOU to tears? So what?

Barely There · 28-07-2015 12:42PM

MrWalsh wrote: »

What point?

The mentality of people who like carvery food.

Luciano Thundering Self-consciousness wrote: »

I hate this "you have to try something different" every time you are out.

Luciano Thundering Self-consciousness wrote: »

I tend to get the same things quite often.

MrWalsh · 28-07-2015 12:45PM

Barely There wrote: »

The mentality of people who like carvery food.

So now liking something constitutes a mentality? Are you high?

Polly Sonic · 28-07-2015 12:46PM

Barely There wrote: »

The mentality of people who like carvery food.

Do you ever eat anything different than home cooked or fine restaurant food?
Take away for instance?

Barely There · 28-07-2015 12:52PM

MrWalsh wrote: »

So now liking something constitutes a mentality? Are you high?

A mentality is a way of thinking about things - a bit like the examples I posted.

Polly Sonic wrote: »

Do you ever eat anything different than home cooked or fine restaurant food?

Take away for instance?

rarely.

MrWalsh · 28-07-2015 12:55PM

Barely There wrote: »

A mentality is a way of thinking about things - a bit like the examples I posted.

What you seem to have said so far is that people who like carvery food like carvery type food.

Then you used Noxys post to "prove your point" despite him talking about eating Thai food and takeaway food (I dont know many take away carverys myself).

And then you asserted that people who like carvery food have a particular mentality that seems to be that they like carvery type food?

Im not really sure where you are going with this? Are you?

Muahahaha · 28-07-2015 12:56PM

I do like a good carvery, finding them isn't always easy though. For one they have to be busy, meat contracts and loses flavour the longer its sitting there. A lot of carerys have little imagination when it comes to the spuds and veg which can be dissappointing. They always seem to do some mix of roast & mash potato with the veg being identical carrot batons (I swear all carverys have the same supplier for these sometimes), cabbage, parsnips. You never seem to see them provide seasonal veg in winter like roasted butternut squash, braised red cabbage or even spicing the carrots up with a bit of coriander and/or cumin. Same with the potatoes, it always seems to be roasties and mash, they never change things up and perhaps do dutchess potatoes or even a cauliflower mash.

Carverys are nice and have their place for me. It'd just be nice to see a bit more variety pub to pub rather than identical menus across a multitude of pubs. I hate the term Gastropub but the concept (proper chefs cooking seasonal fresh produce to a restaurant standard) is one to be embraced IMO. Irish pubs have been doing carverys large scale since about the late 1980's and early 1990's. Back then carverys were a revelation as there wasn't many restaurants about and hotels were expensive to eat in. They filled a huge gap in the market at the time. But nowadays there is just so much more choice while carvery food has barely moved on in the last 20 years.

Barely There · 28-07-2015 12:58PM

MrWalsh wrote: »

Im not really sure where you are going with this?

I can tell you're having a spot of difficulty with some pretty simple concepts all right.

Sorry, but I can't hand-hold you through this anymore - you're on you own.

Good luck.

Polly Sonic · 28-07-2015 01:15PM

Barely There wrote: »

rarely.

Once a month yeah? So is it ok for me to label you a takeaway slob and lump you in with somebody that gets it 4 or 5 times a week?
No it's not, you don't seem to be able to grasp that concept when it's carvery food though.

MrWalsh · 28-07-2015 01:35PM

Barely There wrote: »

I can tell you're having a spot of difficulty with some pretty simple concepts all right.

Sorry, but I can't hand-hold you through this anymore - you're on you own.

Good luck.

You've hand held me quite far enough, your assertion that people who like carvery have the mentality of people who like carvery is, insightful, no, illuminating, no, intelligent, definitely not, obvious, yes, a pathetic attempt to feel superior to people who like something different to you, yes, laughable, yes.

ScumLord · 28-07-2015 01:41PM

henryporter wrote: »

Nothing says 'muck savagery' more than carvery frequenters.

Carveries are for places that get a lot of footfall, I've never seen any country place that does them outside of hotels. The only place I've seen lots of carveries is London, every second pub seems to be running a carvery on a sunday. So all your comment really does is highlight your ignorance of everything further away than your own corner shop.

eviltimeban · 28-07-2015 02:29PM

I guess our tastes change. I used to like carvery, especially the one in Copper Face Jacks where you'd get a mountain of food. Now that is not appealing anymore. The appeal of a meal is not to see how much food I get on the plate, or how quick I can leave after I've finished.

Burger King is the same. Used to have lunch in there at least twice a week (we're talking about 15 years ago at this stage). But since I've gotten older, and since we have some really awesome burger places now, the appeal of BK is zero. I tried one recently and I actually couldn't eat it; the meat was grey.

I get "comfort food". Now I'd much rather a great pizza, or some fresh pasta in a good Italian restaurant. Maybe some Tex Mex (a big stuffed burrito is great comfort food), or a great burger somewhere like Jo Burger or Rustic Stone.

Those who are set in their ways and like what they like - that's fine. But remember that snobbery / hipsterism has nothing to do with not liking carvery.

OldMrBrennan83 · 28-07-2015 02:51PM

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MrWalsh · 28-07-2015 02:54PM

eviltimeban wrote: »

Burger King is the same.

Never had a Burger King or McDonalds when I was a child, the very very odd time my parents would bring home Kentucky Fried Chicken (before it was "KFC") but it was an "extra", never considered a meal if you know what I mean.

When I was 12 we went on a school tour for 4 days to London, the first evening the teachers brought us to McDonalds - they all found it highly amusing that (a) I said incredulously "This is our DINNER?!!" and (b) I had no idea what to order because Id never tasted any of it before. All I remember of that trip was being constantly hungry because we were fed fast food for 4 days.

Never developed a liking for it as it happened. Someone in work recently brought in a chicken bucket thing from KFC and left whatever was left in it for people to take, I noticed no one took any - I was tempted but I just dont see it as food!

OldMrBrennan83 · 28-07-2015 02:56PM

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eviltimeban · 28-07-2015 03:07PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Well I never said that. I didn't even mention that. Plenty of Dubliners have their carvery, every local pub from northside to southside has them. I personally don't like that kind of food, so it doesn't appeal to me. But I'm not a snob, nor is someone who doesn't like "fancy restaurants" a bog trotter. They might be slightly more limited in their outlook, but that's not a country / city divide.

freshpopcorn · 28-07-2015 04:32PM

I've experienced good and bad carveries.
I've been to a carvery that had a good salad bar at the begening followed by about 6 different meet/fish options to choose from. Food was very fresh because it was so busy. Also you knew exactly what you were getting on your plate. The process from entering the resteraunt to seating go down and eating took about five minutes and cost about €10.
Return latter that evening. Wait to be seated, be given menus, hope the food you ordered comes out correctly and looks good, wait about fifteen minutes. Meal arrives out. Same meat, veg, rice, potatoes or pasta that you would have received in the carvery for €14.50.
So in those circumstances I'd prefer a carvery.
Why is the carvery popular.
Fast.
If you have a long journey ahead of you. You know it's going to fill yourself up and your not going to be hungary again in a hour.
Cost is affordable. Eating out in 5 star hotels or michellen star kitchens is simply not affordable for most people.
You also know what your getting and won't be faced with a menu of unusual foods that some people wouldn't like to try.
People often eat carvery during the day and their not in the mood for a formal setting of a resteraunt.
I've tried many many different types of meat, fish, dishes from various different countries and would enjoy them. However I see then more as something I'd eat in the evening and not at 1st when I'd go for a carvery.

eviltimeban · 28-07-2015 04:39PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I've experienced good and bad carveries.
I've been to a carvery that had a good salad bar at the begening followed by about 6 different meet/fish options to choose from. Food was very fresh because it was so busy. Also you knew exactly what you were getting on your plate. The process from entering the resteraunt to seating go down and eating took about five minutes and cost about €10.
Return latter that evening. Wait to be seated, be given menus, hope the food you ordered comes out correctly and looks good, wait about fifteen minutes. Meal arrives out. Same meat, veg, rice, potatoes or pasta that you would have received in the carvery for €14.50.
So in those circumstances I'd prefer a carvery.
Why is the carvery popular.
Fast.
If you have a long journey ahead of you. You know it's going to fill yourself up and your not going to be hungary again in a hour.
Cost is affordable. Eating out in 5 star hotels or michellen star kitchens is simply not affordable for most people.
You also know what your getting and won't be faced with a menu of unusual foods that some people wouldn't like to try.
People often eat carvery during the day and their not in the mood for a formal setting of a resteraunt.
I've tried many many different types of meat, fish, dishes from various different countries and would enjoy them. However I see then more as something I'd eat in the evening and not at 1st when I'd go for a carvery.

But why does it have to be either carvery, or "5 star restaurant"? Don't you get that there's an in-between, that isn't a carvery, serves good, fresh, healthy food, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

I get that some people don't like a "formal" restaurant, but not all restaurants have a piano player and French waiters and whatever else you think happens in these places. Most city restaurants are actually very casual, the waiters helpful and easy going, the ambience nice and laid back, or it could be a busy bustling place with loads of noise and energy.

You're making the distinction between carvery food and restaurant food by going back to the same place. That doesn't show anything, it just shows that one place is charging more in the evenings for the same food.

The food in most restaurants is going to be "normal". And if they do have "unusual" food, the servers will only be too happy to explain what it is to you.

freshpopcorn · 28-07-2015 04:45PM

eviltimeban wrote: »

But why does it have to be either carvery, or "5 star restaurant"? Don't you get that there's an in-between, that isn't a carvery, serves good, fresh, healthy food, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

I get that some people don't like a "formal" restaurant, but not all restaurants have a piano player and French waiters and whatever else you think happens in these places. Most city restaurants are actually very casual, the waiters helpful and easy going, the ambience nice and laid back, or it could be a busy bustling place with loads of noise and energy.

You're making the distinction between carvery food and restaurant food by going back to the same place. That doesn't show anything, it just shows that one place is charging more in the evenings for the same food.

The food in most restaurants is going to be "normal". And if they do have "unusual" food, the servers will only be too happy to explain what it is to you.

I was just explaining it from lots of people's points of view. I studied hospitality management and studied various different types of dinning styles in college. The attraction to the carvery is basically what I described.
It's basically fast in and fast out at a good price and you know what your getting.

MrWalsh · 28-07-2015 04:47PM

eviltimeban wrote: »

But why does it have to be either carvery, or "5 star restaurant"? Don't you get that there's an in-between, that isn't a carvery, serves good, fresh, healthy food, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

Theres really not that many in betweener places unless you are smack bang in the middle of a city centre or large town.

Im my local area there are about 3 or 4 pubs that do carvery, a number of chinese restaurants that do evening sittings only, and then 2 formal restaurants. Beyond that there are a couple of cafes (think the "caff" in Eastenders), that serve deep fried cheap muck or takeaways.

Eating out in Ireland tends to be expensive. Even a not so formal restaurant can cost crazy money for a simple dinner.

Electric Sheep · 28-07-2015 04:51PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

It's basically fast in and fast out at a good price and you know what your getting.

and you don't mind it being crap.

freshpopcorn · 28-07-2015 04:54PM

Electric Sheep wrote: »

and you don't mind it being crap.

As I said all ready carveries can be good and bad.

28-07-2015 04:55PM

Electric Sheep wrote: »

and you don't mind it being crap.

Obviously what some call "crap" others don't though. I have very rarely if ever been disappointed with a carvery I've got. Loads of beef, few different types of spuds, loads of gravy etc. Delicious! My mouth is watering thinking about one now.

Pinch Flat · 28-07-2015 04:56PM

I've had my fair share of carvery over the years, some lovely some absolute muck. Muck that stands out was a certain hotel on a roundabout - with bovine connotations - your man serving it must have been in a prison kitchen in a previous life. Literally flung the food from the server to the plate to a pile about 6" high. Gross. Then further out the road, on another occasion, another fella serving the carvery was sneezing and coughing into the t-towel he was using the handle the hot plates. Thanks but no thanks. Another place I went into near me, where they do a nice carvery in fairness, your woman in front of me tasted the spoon in the tartar sauce, then put it back in to the bowl.

When I go down the sticks, there's a pub out the Cork Road in Waterford - they do a lovely carvery. Nice quality meat (I always go for the beef), range of spuds (roast, mashed or daupine), nice crispy veg and horse radish (it's absolutely essential I have this!). All for a little over a tenner. Can't complain.

Yeah the carvery is not exactly fine dining - I enjoy that too - but for the place and time it can hit the oul spot.

Jamsiek · 28-07-2015 06:16PM

I agree that carveries can be good sometimes and they are quick and cheap.
However the food can sometimes be overcooked and stale if it's there too long.
It really depends on where you go, it's hit and miss IMO

Cold War Kid · 28-07-2015 06:24PM

MrWalsh wrote: »

Far more importantly, you can enjoy a bit of Dan Brown while fully understanding its not great literature.

Or indeed, you can enjoy the north of Ibiza and it doesnt make you a beer swilling neanderthal who thinks he is experiencing exotic culture in the local Irish bar.

You're out of your mind - the above is utterly impossible. A person can only be one or the other, end of.

eviltimeban wrote: »

guess. But remember that snobbery / hipsterism has nothing to do with not liking carvery.

No, but assessing a person's character and sneering at them, entirely based on them enjoying carvery, has.

Public_Enema · 28-07-2015 06:46PM

henryporter wrote: »

Nothing says 'muck savagery' more than carvery frequenters.

Is that you Von Bismarck?

eviltimeban · 28-07-2015 07:47PM

Cold War Kid wrote: »

No, but assessing a person's character and sneering at them, entirely based on them enjoying carvery, has.

Well I hadn't, and I didn't. Unless you don't mean me personally. I was defending those who don't like carvery, and saying it's not because they are "snobs". It seems to be the carvery lovers saying "sure you'd be mad to pay x amount in some fancy-shmancy restaurant". Or the comment relating to the "hipster" who won't like carvery because it's not "pretentious food".

Similarly, having a liking for carvery doesn't make you a mouth breathing knuckle dragger. it's all about taste.

Cold War Kid · 28-07-2015 08:12PM

No I didn't mean you Eviltimeban. Personally I like both "pretentious hipster" food, and a decent carvery.

It's the pretending this isn't possible that I'm referring to.

Carvery Food

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