@dxs I’m just a big eater, especially when alone in a restaurant. I take my time and sit through a couple of turnovers and tip accordingly. I try to make sure and establish myself with the waiting staff in the restaurants I choose to frequent. New waitstaff tend to get nervous when they see a guy order more coffee and open up the Times in the second turnover. I’m mindful that they might worry that they are losing money by not turning over their table on a busy day. So, tipping accordingly is appropriate, like paying rent.
Ha. When out at sea, the portions are necessarily small and the variety of foodstuffs can be limited. Sailing is about sailing, not eating. So, when I get back from 3 or 4 weeks at sea, I am bloody voracious. Once I get cleaned up to go into town, I’ll pick out one of those blue plate special, ma-and-pa diners, hopefully during a slow period. Their food is more like home cooking and the waitresses, especially the older ones, aren’t afraid to show a little personality unlike those in the corporate franchises. They don’t hold back. Being a good corporate robot isn’t in their job description. They will even tell you what not to order that day. The best take care of their customers because that’s where the money is and the very best think the boss is lucky to have them, which he usually is. I love a good diner waitress. They are also a good way to learn about what’s going on in the town.
But I’ve totally freaked a couple out with my post-voyage appetite. I’ll go through three standard entrees back-to-back over a couple of hours, drink tall glasses of ice-cold milk and coffee. I rarely do dessert unless it’s fresh-baked apple or some fruit pie, warm with a scoop vanilla ice cream on top. Can’t pass up a good fruit pie. I’m really hungry when I get back from a sail and I like eating anyway. And they talk to a happy guy who eats like that and I learn about the place. But if you eat like I do on land, you absolutely must do gym-time and be very active to turn all this food into something useful like muscle, or it will surely settle into fat. And I enjoy the gym, too, so… it works for me. The long stretches working a boat at sea on small portions keep me fit as well.
If I’m with other people, I’ll pare it down a bit so we finish all at the same time. I don’t like people sitting at the same table watching me eat and twiddling their thumbs. And it’s not polite of me to test their patience like that. At home, I don’t eat as much. I’m not crazy about all the prep and washing up, unless there are guests.
Sorry about the length. I get a little carried away on the subject.