Red Lobster or Olive Garden?

[mollz007]

False. Im voting for Obama and I prefer Olive Garden though we rarely go since it is not very carb friendly. I am not a seafood person.

[emyinpink]

I hate both. And I'm not voting for either Romney or Obama. Bam.

[Deleted]

True for me, I like RL but dislike OG

[dochas]

Oct 16, 2012 11:42:27 GMT -5 chia said:

Around here, every time I go to Red Lobster, about 75% of the diners are black.

The person who wrote this article seems to have the same observation:
madamenoire.com/109107/understanding-red-lobsters-popularity-amongst-african-american-diners/

Obama also has most of the AA vote, right?

Maybe this is skewing the results.

That's what I was thinking. I've heard it referred to as Black Lobster so often, I forgot it was actually Red Lobster.

[wanderlustmom]

Oct 16, 2012 10:20:54 GMT -5 heyrebekah said:

A choice between the least offensive of two disappointing options? Sounds about right.

Amen, I dislike both of those restaurants and both of the candidates AND I hate college football. I guess I am just sitting in the sewers. I may not even vote. And I know that's flameworthy.

ETA: I am going to vote for Obama, I like him the most of the two at least. DH just reminded me I need to do my civic duty even in a red state.

[basilosaurus]

Oct 15, 2012 15:41:01 GMT -5 h said:

But if you have access to real, fresh seafood, why the hell would you get at Red Lobster? I have been to a RL maybe 3 times in my life, period, but I would have been even more unlikely to go there when I lived in New England and could get yummy lobster from a local place pretty inexpensively.

I live in Hawaii, and our Red Lobster is always packed. Some tourists once asked me which bus goes there, and after I gave them the info I asked if I could recommend a local fresh seafood restaurant. Their answer was that they lived in Alaska, so they had access to fresh seafood and didn't care about having it here. I seriously don't understand that.

FTR, I've never eaten at a red lobster, and the last olive garden I ate at I was probably younger than 10. If I had to choose, I'd really have no idea. But I'm decided for sure on my Obama vote.

[Deleted]

Oct 15, 2012 15:41:01 GMT -5 h said:

Oct 15, 2012 15:24:35 GMT -5 v said:

Or people who live near oceans tend to like seafood more than those who live in landlocked (and often red) areas?

But if you have access to real, fresh seafood, why the hell would you get at Red Lobster? I have been to a RL maybe 3 times in my life, period, but I would have been even more unlikely to go there when I lived in New England and could get yummy lobster from a local place pretty inexpensively.

FWIW, I don't particularly like RL or OG, but if forced to choose I would pick OG for the sake of the bread sticks and salad. I would take Mac Grill over either. I hate college football. I live in a red state. I will vote for Obama.

I am too always amazed at the people who have access to fresh seafood and choose to eat at Red Lobster. I only eat there cause it's all I have access to in my land-locked state. I think alot of people choose RL cause it's "safe" and they know what their getting in terms of taste. I am amazed at how scared people are to try new foods sometimes.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 20:53:05 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

I think the Whole Foods-Cracker Barrel correlation is more likely.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-the-2012-election-be-a-contest-of-whole-foods-vs-cracker-barrel-shoppers/2011/09/28/gIQAMuXDiO_story.html

That's probably true. But I live in a rural state more closer to a CB than a Whole Foods and I am definitly not voting republican.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 20:53:05 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

I think the Whole Foods-Cracker Barrel correlation is more likely.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-the-2012-election-be-a-contest-of-whole-foods-vs-cracker-barrel-shoppers/2011/09/28/gIQAMuXDiO_story.html

Agree with this article.

I love WF, even if I don't shop there regularly. The closest one to me is in the bluest part of a blue state, down the street from TWO Trader Joes. It's also next to a Target. Lol.

But I've never been to a Cracker Barrel. There seem to be a few in my state and most of them are in redder areas. One is actually only a half hour away, same distance to me as WF, but in the opposite direction- it's practically in PA.

[Deleted]

I don't doubt that the Cracker Barrel/Whole Foods comparison is absolutely correct, but they're entirely different businesses (a casual dining restaurant found mostly in red states and a grocery store that targets the socially conscious suburban professional) so I don't find it interesting. It is easy to pick two completely unrelated businesses that fit that pattern. Likewise, I'd imagine Barney's shoppers are more likely to vote for Obama than are Publix shoppers.

[Deleted]

Oct 17, 2012 3:56:09 GMT -5 @geeka said:

Oct 16, 2012 20:53:05 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

I think the Whole Foods-Cracker Barrel correlation is more likely.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-the-2012-election-be-a-contest-of-whole-foods-vs-cracker-barrel-shoppers/2011/09/28/gIQAMuXDiO_story.html

That's probably true. But I live in a rural state more closer to a CB than a Whole Foods and I am definitly not voting republican.

This column isn't about you.

[Deleted]

Oct 17, 2012 7:25:30 GMT -5 v said:

I don't doubt that the Cracker Barrel/Whole Foods comparison is absolutely correct, but they're entirely different businesses (a casual dining restaurant found mostly in red states and a grocery store that targets the socially conscious suburban professional) so I don't find it interesting. It is easy to pick two completely unrelated businesses that fit that pattern. Likewise, I'd imagine Barney's shoppers are more likely to vote for Obama than are Publix shoppers.

Fair enough. But what liberal elitist hippies (other than you) even eat at these casual dining chains? Haha

[Deleted]

Oct 17, 2012 9:59:08 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

Oct 17, 2012 7:25:30 GMT -5 v said:

I don't doubt that the Cracker Barrel/Whole Foods comparison is absolutely correct, but they're entirely different businesses (a casual dining restaurant found mostly in red states and a grocery store that targets the socially conscious suburban professional) so I don't find it interesting. It is easy to pick two completely unrelated businesses that fit that pattern. Likewise, I'd imagine Barney's shoppers are more likely to vote for Obama than are Publix shoppers.

Fair enough. But what liberal elitist hippies (other than you) even eat at these casual dining chains? Haha

Two of my closest friends also love casual dining chains! But yes, that is a fair point Also, I would imagine that casual dining chains are much more appealing when they're elusive. I probably wouldn't get as excited about dine-in Pizza Huts if they weren't something I drove by only every six months or so.

[Deleted]

There are leaps and bounds between the people in the general neighborhood where our local Cracker Barrel and Wal-Mart is and the general neighborhood where our Target and Whole Foods are located.

People are dumber as a whole in the Cracker Barrel/ Wal-Mart neighborhood.

It is true. Don't hate me. I'm not saying this has any relation to the intelligence of voters of certain parties. It's just a simple observation of idiots and how the tend to concentrate in certain areas.

[h]

Oct 17, 2012 9:59:08 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

Oct 17, 2012 7:25:30 GMT -5 v said:

I don't doubt that the Cracker Barrel/Whole Foods comparison is absolutely correct, but they're entirely different businesses (a casual dining restaurant found mostly in red states and a grocery store that targets the socially conscious suburban professional) so I don't find it interesting. It is easy to pick two completely unrelated businesses that fit that pattern. Likewise, I'd imagine Barney's shoppers are more likely to vote for Obama than are Publix shoppers.

Fair enough. But what liberal elitist hippies (other than you) even eat at these casual dining chains? Haha

We are liberal elitist hippies, and there are a few casual dining chains we like. I think PF Changs, Pei Wei, Mac Grill, and Cheesecake Factory are all pretty yummy. My DH has an inexplicable fondness for Chilis. And a few times a year we secretly like to go to Outback and eat cheap steaks and drink giant cheap beers. Chuys (Tex Mex chain) is one of my favorite restaurants, period.

We also live in a red state, own a minivan, and have almost three kids, so I know we don't necessarily fit the liberal elitist stereotype. But we have have degrees from elite East Coast schools, and we gave Obama our freaking couch, so that has to count for something, right?

[chia]

Oct 17, 2012 10:54:57 GMT -5 h said:

Oct 17, 2012 9:59:08 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

Fair enough. But what liberal elitist hippies (other than you) even eat at these casual dining chains? Haha

We are liberal elitist hippies, and there are a few casual dining chains we like. I think PF Changs, Pei Wei, Mac Grill, and Cheesecake Factory are all pretty yummy. My DH has an inexplicable fondness for Chilis. And a few times a year we secretly like to go to Outback and eat cheap steaks and drink giant cheap beers. Chuys (Tex Mex chain) is one of my favorite restaurants, period.

We also live in a red state, own a minivan, and have almost three kids, so I know we don't necessarily fit the liberal elitist stereotype. But we have have degrees from elite East Coast schools, and we gave Obama our freaking couch, so that has to count for something, right?

You gave Obama your couch?
We need to hear more about this.

[Deleted]

Oct 17, 2012 10:54:57 GMT -5 h said:

Oct 17, 2012 9:59:08 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

Fair enough. But what liberal elitist hippies (other than you) even eat at these casual dining chains? Haha

We are liberal elitist hippies, and there are a few casual dining chains we like. I think PF Changs, Pei Wei, Mac Grill, and Cheesecake Factory are all pretty yummy. My DH has an inexplicable fondness for Chilis. And a few times a year we secretly like to go to Outback and eat cheap steaks and drink giant cheap beers. Chuys (Tex Mex chain) is one of my favorite restaurants, period.

We also live in a red state, own a minivan, and have almost three kids, so I know we don't necessarily fit the liberal elitist stereotype. But we have have degrees from elite East Coast schools, and we gave Obama our freaking couch, so that has to count for something, right?

I didn't know that Chuy's was a chain. :-(

[lightbulbsun]

This is interesting, because RL has no vegetarian entrees (I think their only veg dish is a house salad), while OG does. But I tend to think of vegetarians as being liberal.

That being said, I've never been to RL because I can't eat anything there. OG is ok but there are much better Italian places that I prefer. I'm voting for Obama.

ETA: I know that conservatives can be veg, too.

[Deleted]

I have learned so much in this thread.

[h]

Oct 17, 2012 13:33:59 GMT -5 chia said:

Oct 17, 2012 10:54:57 GMT -5 h said:

We are liberal elitist hippies, and there are a few casual dining chains we like. I think PF Changs, Pei Wei, Mac Grill, and Cheesecake Factory are all pretty yummy. My DH has an inexplicable fondness for Chilis. And a few times a year we secretly like to go to Outback and eat cheap steaks and drink giant cheap beers. Chuys (Tex Mex chain) is one of my favorite restaurants, period.

We also live in a red state, own a minivan, and have almost three kids, so I know we don't necessarily fit the liberal elitist stereotype. But we have have degrees from elite East Coast schools, and we gave Obama our freaking couch, so that has to count for something, right?

You gave Obama your couch?
We need to hear more about this.

It is a long story, and not all that interesting, but here goes:

My DH works in Democratic politics. We also gave money to Obama and attended a fundraiser very early on, like right after he formed his exploratory committee (and we have an awesome picture of him with his arms slung over the two of us like we were all BFFs in college as a result). I think this must have put us on some sort of list of people to call.

In 2008, the Obama campaign didn't really think they would still be in the race by the time the Texas primary rolled around. Early on everyone--including Obama, I think--thought Hillary would get the nomination. As a result Obama didn't have campaign headquarters here. When it became apparent that our primary actually mattered, they started scrambling to get a campaign going here. Some random guy from the Obama advance team called my DH out of the blue and was like "Hey, I understand you are a supporter. We need to set up a headquarters. Any chance you can help? Okay, great." So my DH went to look at some potential office spaces and sent them pictures, then made some calls to track down some office furniture they could borrow. They really needed more furniture, and we had just bought a new couch, so DH offered them our old one. They put it in their campaign headquarters. It was prominently featured in several pictures on the campaign blog. My mother was horrified by the whole thing. She was all "I can't believe you gave that disgusting old couch to Barack Obama! Your dog peed on it for God's sake!"

In exchange for his help my DH did get to go hang out with Michelle Obama when she was in town, and we have very cute pictures of her holding DS1.

RPB--Yes, Chuys is a chain. There are at four that I know of in Austin, several in Houston, several in Dallas, one in Oklahoma, etc. I am sure there are a million more in Texas as well. This does not change the fact that it is delicious.

[Deleted]

Hens--That is an amazing story! (The Obama one, not the Chuy's one. LOL)