[Construct]

This may seem trite, but instead of barreling off to subway or The pizza place, stop by your mega mart deli.
Subway isn't too bad, but it's overpriced.  You can get a sub that is over twice the size and weight of a subway footlong for about half the price.  $3-$4 will buy you a sub that is way too big to eat in one meal.  Pizza?  I stopped by a winco foods and decided to try a deli pizza.  Thick crust, Alfredo/all vegetable.  It was 16"  for all of $5.88.  It was great, maybe could have used a little bit more buttery flavor in the crust- but it was better than any frozen pizza I ever tried.  -AVOID-  those bland, mystery meat "market fresh"  pizzas at Wal-mart.  They taste like v-8 with spam on cardboard.
Although, instead of the piddly KFC portions, you can get two large pieces of chicken with 2 sides for $4.88.  That's plenty of food, and cheaper than KFC.  Not to mention---the fried chicken tastes better.

[turkey]

This may seem trite, but instead of barreling off to subway or The pizza place, stop by your mega mart deli.

I'm lucky in that there are several locally-owned non-chain pizza places and also a sub shop.

The pizza places produce pies that are better than anything you can get at a grocery store or one of the chain pizza joints. One of them has even won international competitions.

In order to match what you get at the local sub shop, you'd have to spend a lot more at Subway. In fact, it might take 3 or 4 Subway subs to get as much veggie toppings as come on one sub at the local place. You get more meat and cheese than you do with even a "double" Subway sub, and the prices are about the same as Sunways. Plus, they slice the meat and cheese right in front of you and the toppings are all fresh, and they make their own sauces and dressings from scratch.

I don't know about Walmart, but I've had pizza from Sam's Club, and watched them making it too. They use the same ingredients as everyone else does, and I suspect that a lot of small local pizza places buy at least some of their supplies at Sam's or Costco anyway. The only thing that's inferior IMO is the crust, and maybe that's just how they make pizza in Arkansas.

[Construct]

I'm lucky in that there are several locally-owned non-chain pizza places and also a sub shop.

The pizza places produce pies that are better than anything you can get at a grocery store or one of the chain pizza joints. One of them has even won international competitions.

In order to match what you get at the local sub shop, you'd have to spend a lot more at Subway. In fact, it might take 3 or 4 Subway subs to get as much veggie toppings as come on one sub at the local place. You get more meat and cheese than you do with even a "double" Subway sub, and the prices are about the same as Sunways. Plus, they slice the meat and cheese right in front of you and the toppings are all fresh, and they make their own sauces and dressings from scratch.

I don't know about Walmart, but I've had pizza from Sam's Club, and watched them making it too. They use the same ingredients as everyone else does, and I suspect that a lot of small local pizza places buy at least some of their supplies at Sam's or Costco anyway. The only thing that's inferior IMO is the crust, and maybe that's just how they make pizza in Arkansas.

There is no replacement for non chain or mom & pop.    The last time I was impressed by chain was in 2000.  I stopped into a Blimpies in the DC area.  At the time, their version of the big sub dwarfed subway.  As to Pizza, the deli sub I got at WINCO was better than wally world or costco.  It was also a vegetarian, so no pig ears, cow sphincter, mystery meat, etc. 

[TheChairGuy]

It was also a vegetarian, so no pig ears, cow sphincter, mystery meat, etc.

Oh geez, cow sphincter...I think I've eaten my last (beef) hot dog now.  The picture of grilled cow sphincter is inbedded in my brain now 

John

[turkey]

or costco.  It was also a vegetarian, so no pig ears, cow sphincter, mystery meat, etc.

Pig ears are supposed to be pretty good.

[turkey]

Oh geez, cow sphincter...I think I've eaten my last (beef) hot dog now.  The picture of grilled cow sphincter is inbedded in my brain now 

I won't eat brain.

[Construct]

I won't eat brain.

There aren't too many "hotdogs"  I can deal with.  I prefer Brat, Kielbasa or Italian sausages. 

[some young guy]

Q: What are you guys doing to the Culinary Circle?

This is supposed to be a place dedicated to the joy of gathering, cooking and eating good food. The latest posts dealing with Olive Garden, Denny's, Subway, Costco etc. have NOTHING to do with that.

What happened to the bbqers, bakers and cooks? 

[Construct]

Q: What are you guys doing to the Culinary Circle?

This is supposed to be a place dedicated to the joy of gathering, cooking and eating good food. The latest posts dealing with Olive Garden, Denny's, Subway, Costco etc. have NOTHING to do with that.

What happened to the bbqers, bakers and cooks? 

My bad.   
I shall contain my future posts to creating food vs buying it prepared.  I thought people also discussed dining experiences...
I am making some red beans and rice and some SW chicken soup this weekend...not from a mix or a can...   

[some young guy]

My bad.   
I shall contain my future posts to creating food vs buying it prepared.  I thought people also discussed dining experiences...
I am making some red beans and rice and some SW chicken soup this weekend...not from a mix or a can... 

Not to sound snobby, but there's a difference between dining and filling one's stomach.

I enjoy your posts, but Subway and Olive Garden? Really?

[Construct]

Not to sound snobby, but there's a difference between dining and filling one's stomach.

Too late!!!  Snob!   
Yes, I know that.  I have been an amateur chef for 5 years now.  When I am not working overtime, I prepare stuff at home.  As to dining... remember:  I stopped by OG on a whim and was punished for it as the food was pretty cruel to my pallet.  I don't know about gourmet subs on a half hour lunch break...so those places have their uses.  It's not like I sit home and say "I shall fulfill my refined epicurean needs with a pedestrian sandwich or an evening at olive garden."I can see that mentioning this stuff in the culinary circle is about as appropriate as Bose and Mp3's in the audio circles.

[some young guy]

I can see that mentioning this stuff in the culinary circle is about as appropriate as Bose and Mp3's in the audio circles. [/i]

Thank you for understanding.

[maxwalrath]

Too late!!!  Snob!   
Yes, I know that.  I have been an amateur chef for 5 years now.  When I am not working overtime, I prepare stuff at home.  As to dining... remember:  I stopped by OG on a whim and was punished for it as the food was pretty cruel to my pallet.  I don't know about gourmet subs on a half hour lunch break...so those places have their uses.  It's not like I sit home and say "I shall fulfill my refined epicurean needs with a pedestrian sandwich or an evening at olive garden."I can see that mentioning this stuff in the culinary circle is about as appropriate as Bose and Mp3's in the audio circles.

Thank you for understanding.

   funny stuff all around

Good thread...the first step in fine dining for a lot of people is weening their way off the crap advertised on tv and finding better options. 

[Delta Wave]

Lucky for me, aside from the several excellent mom n' pop places to eat here, we have Wegmans,
http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomepageView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&clear=true ...the mother of all grocery stores. They have 5 isles of beer arranged according to region! A most excellent cafe to eat whatever ails you. Did I mention they have 5 isles of beer arranged according to region? And that's aside from the cooler where they stock stuff other than urine-scented water... oops, i mean Bud Light and Coors Light.   

[lonewolfny42]

Pig ears are supposed to be pretty good.

Pickled pig ears...and pigs feet are very tasty....

[Construct]

Every wednesday when I do my shopping for both me and my 82 year old neighbor who's homebound, I stop at my local grinder shop, Gill's Deli in Rutland, Vt. Hard italian rolls are freshly baked daily, that alone makes all the difference. I've been a regular since 1971 when I got out of the Army but Gill's has been operating since 1964. My signature grinder is always a large Roast Beef grinder, the redder, the better! I have it loaded with all the veggies and always get extra hot peppers. It's a killer meal with a bowl of Progresso Hearty Tomato soup.     
 

Buy 10 sub's & the 11th's on the house.   
 
Cheers,
Robin

Been to many mom and pop places in Vt and mass.  I love the cracker barrel for breakfast in Mass.  Sawmill gravy and scratch made--everything.
Some notable VT places to dine:- Coffee corner in Montpelier-- amazing breakfast--maybe the best hash browns on earth. - Main Street Grill/Captains table/La Brioche - Same area, New England Culinary Institute places.  Spawned Alton Brown. Gourmet dining. Amazing poached salmon in dijon dill sauce...- Alchemist:  Micro brewpub in Waterbury.  -The skinny Pancake:  Crepes in Montpelier and Burlington. SOOO  good!- Dutch Pancake house- Stowe

[lonewolfny42]

In fact I'll be taking the 1.5 hour drive tomorrow for a rack of ribs....

Get some chicken too......

[lonewolfny42]

I almost forgot Curtis's featured ambiance getter, his always roamin' pet potbelly. 

When's he gonna cook'em up.....

[Construct]

I always get a full rack (12 ribs), eat a few there and take the rest home. I usually also get 1/4 chicken, corn on the cob, and baked beans.
 
Along with a local microbrew, I always bring a headband and a towel cuz I sweat like the pig that I'm eatin' and I'm a messy SOB. Oh yeah, I almost forgot Curtis's featured ambiance getter, his always roamin' pet potbelly. 
 

 
Cheers,
Robin

Looks like a cool place!  There isn't BBQ worth a crap is the pacific northwest...maybe Seattle.  BTW:  I-89 is where all the stuff I mentioned is  accessed.

[turkey]

Not to sound snobby, but there's a difference between dining and filling one's stomach.

I enjoy your posts, but Subway and Olive Garden? Really?

You don't have to eat at those places, but why shouldn't we be able to talk about them?

Does the Culinary Circle have to deal exclusively with fine dining? Isn't there a place for filling your stomach too?