Question for Foodies.........

Has the price of gas put a damper on you dining out? Again, I'm just curious.......

I know that it really hasn't on this end, we're still heading out 3-4 times a week.

Naa. I have eaten out everyday this week. It has made me more aware of how much I spend on gas though.

It hasn't done much to our family yet. However if it continues at this pace over the next couple of years we may have to rethink our priorities.

Hey Bill,

Care to share the wealth.....

[Robin Garr]

Has the price of gas put a damper on you dining out? Again, I'm just curious.......

I know that it really hasn't on this end, we're still heading out 3-4 times a week.

We're not hurting too bad on the fuel front, since we drive the make and model that gets THE best city/highway mileage after the hybrids. Even now that it takes $30 or so to fill up the 10-gallon tank, I still don't have to do it more than once a month.

I'm much more worried, though, about the impact on local restaurants caused by vendor prices rising to meet their fuel costs. If these crazy prices continue, it's going to start making a BIG difference in restaurant prices for meat, produce, anything that's not produced locally. This offers a small benefit in that it will encourage restaurants to support local farmers even more, but I don't see it ultimately as doing anything but boosting prices. And THAT, I fear, is going to start keeping customers away.

These gas prices are insane! I will say that the impact it has on me is that I am dining close to home more.

When are the oil refineries going to stop operating at 50% capacity. I know that they are really enjoying these huge profit margins, but come on guys.

Wow! I wish I could get my driving down to only filling up once a month. As it is I manage to fill it up about once a week (also a 10 gallon tank), sometimes slightly more frequently if it's my turn to drive an extra day in the carpool.

It hasn't really stopped us eatting out, but I do try to think more about combining trips instead of making multiple trips out through-out the week. We usually only eat out once a week or so anyway, on the weekend, so that schedule fits nicely into other weekend errands.

This is a bit off topic...but still related.

For the last three days there's been an "air-pollution alert" for our area. Anyone Tarcing or biking to work? Just wondering if people pay attention to these things at all.

Oh, and back to the topic at hand.

Im still eating out at my normal rate...but i have noticed that we're more inclined to eat at places that are relatively close. Sorry to all the good places out in the burbs and in the county!

The problem we have isn't the refineries only operating at 50%; it's that we have only 50% of the refineries we should have, as eco-whackos have stopped us from having any more refineries in the last 30 years.

Eco-whackos? You know, you might just be talking to some of those "eco-whackos" on this board. Ass.

[Robin Garr]

Eco-whackos? You know, you might just be talking to some of those "eco-whackos" on this board. Ass.

Tsk! As one eco-whacko to another, let's keep it civil. And buy Halliburton stock.

eco-whackos

wow...have you been living in a cave? yes, lets just produce more oil, more more more! that's really going to solve all of our problems...sheesh

The problem we have isn't the refineries only operating at 50%; it's that we have only 50% of the refineries we should have, as eco-whackos have stopped us from having any more refineries in the last 30 years.

I am sure the oil companies arent too worried about the "eco whackos". Just fills their pockets that much more. Its very convoluted as everybody well knows. I really don't know why we havent had refineries since 76. I read about it and everybody blames everybody else. Can't get a straight answer anywhere. High gas prices also have a lot to do with oil futures. The present prices don't matter which is aggravating when you hear they are putting the price at where they think demand will be in the future. That should be illegal or at least restructured. I'm glad restaurants don't do that. I also don't know how accurate your projections of 50% are?

The problem we have isn't the refineries only operating at 50%; it's that we have only 50% of the refineries we should have, as eco-whackos have stopped us from having any more refineries in the last 30 years.

So, you advocate having twice as many refineries operating at 1/2 capacity. You feel comfortable calling others wacko using that sort of thinking?

The problem we have isn't the refineries only operating at 50%; it's that we have only 50% of the refineries we should have, as eco-whackos have stopped us from having any more refineries in the last 30 years.

Regardless of what one might believe the reason to be, that's a very accurate statement. I fully expect when the Gulf hurricane season produces the first "big one" gas will go over $4 a gallon based on fears of losing refining capacity in the Gulf.