Trying something new forces you to grow. It also requires courage. When it comes to eating out, we have our favorite restaurants. We have our favorite food order at said place. It gets to the point at sit-down restaurants where you don't crack the menu open and tell the waitress your entire order when she only asks what you'll be having to drink. It gets to the point where you go through the drive-thru and beat the workers to their own questions. "Welcome to Wendy's how may I take your order?" "Hi I'll have the 4 for $4 meal with a crispy chicken BLT, ranch sauce and a Dr Pepper to drink. That's all for me." ".... okay it's $4.28 at the first window."
These practices bypass all of the "Do you need a couple minutes to decide?" "What sauce would you like with your nuggets?" "How would you like your eggs cooked?" and "Is that going to be all for you today?" questions. But it's not just that; our order rolls off of our tongue because we know that we're going to like what comes out on that plate or that is handed to us in a bag. We decide the restaurant based on the specific thing we'd be ordering if we end up going there.
When you move to a new town you lean towards the familiar food establishments because every aspect of your life is so different. You only go to a new place when your new friends drag you there because there's no way you'll sit in a strange place alone or hold up the drive-thru because you have no idea what to order. It's just not done.
This problem is amplified by the perceptions we have about certain restaurants. Like it or not, we each come from a family that has their favorite and least favorite restaurants. We've heard horror stories about certain franchises. Maybe your Aunt Carol went to Applebee's when she was 9 months pregnant and is convinced that their food put her in labor. Regardless of relevance, these stories taint the way we feel about food establishments.
Growing up, I was always told that Arby's was "disgusting" because they sell sandwiches that are "all meat and no bun". I can count on one finger how many times I went to Arby's before I turned 18.
I am now 22 and hadn't given Arby's a second thought. That is until I saw a picture of this shake:
To anyone reading this: This week I, a 22-year-old fast food guru, tried Arby's with an open mind for the first time. What I found out told me almost more about myself than about the quality of food you can find at Arby's.
This food blog has given me an excuse to try new things. Somehow I hope that those reading this will also find a way to try out new food establishments. Or, at the very least, order something new at their favorite place. Dare to hold up the drive-thru for fifteen seconds to look over the menu. You might even find your new favorite thing.
For example, Arby's surprised me. Not only was the food better quality than I remember, it was extremely inexpensive because we went during "Happy Hour". I dragged my roommate with me and we stood inside for five minutes trying to decide what we'd have. I decided on a slider, a medium fry and a shake. My roommate and I got two meals including shakes and it was only $11. It could have been much cheaper if we were aware of Happy Hour before ordering.
Arby's Happy Hour lasts each day from 2 to 5 pm. During these three hours you can order a small fry, small shake, small drink and any slider for $1 each. If you're wondering, no this is not limited to the basic choices-we got our small Andes Mint Chocolate Swirl Shake for just $1.
I left feeling very full and satisfied with the experience. Who knows, next time you try a new restaurant you may find out about a Happy Hour deal you weren't aware of yet either. You might find a mint shake that might even beat the Shamrock Shake. You might find the best place to get tacos on Tuesday. When you do, please pass the word along. I'm not going to stop trying new places. Yes, some will be busts, some will be a little more than I'd like to spend, but in the end I'll find a few gems that will make it all worth it.
Until next time,
Katrina
I love this. Trying new food is one of the best things in life. I have an app on my phone and when I go to new places I look for the different food places around. Of course on mine the state pays for it since I am usually there for work. It however allows me to try things without worrying if I will like it or not since I am not paying for it. Always try new things and expand your horizon!