OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Today at Yahoo Finance Forbe's is offering up "The World's Most Expensive
Restaurants".


Does anyone really care about this crap? To me, Forbe's lists are just
places and things to avoid.

Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.
Would I spend $200,000 for a car? Hell no.
Would I pay $100 for a bottle of wine? Hell no. I don't even like wine.

I'd also be really surprised if the average Forbe's subscriber would pay
these prices too.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed wrote:
> Today at Yahoo Finance Forbe's is offering up "The World's Most Expensive
> Restaurants".
>
>
> Does anyone really care about this crap? To me, Forbe's lists are just
> places and things to avoid.
>

You and me both.

> Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.

Some people would, and more, for dinner. At the French Laundry,
reputably one of the best restaurant in the US, dinner can cost upwards
to %5-600 dollar per person. And there is a waiting list for up to 6
months to get in.

> Would I spend $200,000 for a car? Hell no.

You and I both.

> Would I pay $100 for a bottle of wine? Hell no. I don't even like wine.
>

You and I both.

> I'd also be really surprised if the average Forbe's subscriber would pay
> these prices too.

The "average" Forbes suscriber would like to think that they are in the
same class of people who would pay these prices.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed <> wrote:

> Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.

It's all relative. I grow up somewhat poor and now we put down
$50 for a meal out (granted that's 3 of us) without really
thinking about it.

Growing up, eating out at McDonalds was too expensive.

I guess if I were making a million dollars a year, spending $600
on dinner isn't so bad.

-Mike

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

"Mike Stone" <> wrote

> Ed <> wrote:
>
>> Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.
>
> It's all relative. I grow up somewhat poor and now we put down
> $50 for a meal out (granted that's 3 of us) without really
> thinking about it.
>
> Growing up, eating out at McDonalds was too expensive.
>
> I guess if I were making a million dollars a year, spending $600
> on dinner isn't so bad.
>
> -Mike

If you spent $600 on a meal it usually would be so that you could say that
you ate at such and such a place. It most likely wouldn't be because of the
food. That's all BS. Oh, and don't forget that $120 tip.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed wrote:
> Today at Yahoo Finance Forbe's is offering up "The World's Most Expensive
> Restaurants".
> Does anyone really care about this crap? To me, Forbe's lists are just
> places and things to avoid.
>
> Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.
> Would I spend $200,000 for a car? Hell no.
> Would I pay $100 for a bottle of wine? Hell no. I don't even like wine.
>
> I'd also be really surprised if the average Forbe's subscriber would pay
> these prices too.

Forbes wouldn't work in my browser (FireFox) for the longest time, so I
dropped their content from My Yahoo! customized page after emailing
them a nasty sour-grapes rationalization flashogram. That is up until
now - I was curious and found that Forbes is back up. Thanks. Not my
favorite, still, I used to like having them and now they're back. More
important, I believe Yahoo has changed since last I looked - there are
now more available personalized links to customize from, perhaps more
than I can use. Blogging I don't recall an offering - though I set up a
blog on Harvard Business School Working Knowledge, will have to further
explore that aspect. Also, immediately added personal-page feeds from
Bloomberg, TheStreet, TheEconomist, InvestorsDailyBusiness, BBC
Business WorldTimes, along with three more pages of optional selections
to look over more closely. NPR is the only newsfeed I added that
apparently isn't working. I'm impressed - a bad place to be - could
mean they're on to something, and reeling 'em in for the next
consequence: start charging for the services. It don't get any better
[than this, Bud - then, Bud, it probably won't: It can only get worse].
Pink wines are my favorite.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed <> wrote:

> If you spent $600 on a meal it usually would be so that you could say that
> you ate at such and such a place. It most likely wouldn't be because of the
> food. That's all BS. Oh, and don't forget that $120 tip.

I don't have that kind of money to do this kind of stuff but I have noticed
that eventually (and sometimes slowly) affluence changes everything. I do
have a very wealthy colleague and over the years everything has changed:

- no more cleaning the house (there's a maid)
- no more yard work (people are contracted)
- new car every 2yrs

A few years ago, it was a big deal if the wife spent too much on groceries. Now,
she goes to Dallas and blows 1-2K and it's not even noticed.

And no, he's not frivolous with his money. He saves a larger precentage of his
pay than I do.

It's all relative IMO.

-Mike

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Mike Stone wrote:
> Ed <> wrote:
>
>
>>If you spent $600 on a meal it usually would be so that you could say that
>>you ate at such and such a place. It most likely wouldn't be because of the
>>food. That's all BS. Oh, and don't forget that $120 tip.
>
>
> I don't have that kind of money to do this kind of stuff but I have noticed
> that eventually (and sometimes slowly) affluence changes everything. I do
> have a very wealthy colleague and over the years everything has changed:
>
> - no more cleaning the house (there's a maid)
> - no more yard work (people are contracted)
> - new car every 2yrs
>
> A few years ago, it was a big deal if the wife spent too much on groceries. Now,
> she goes to Dallas and blows 1-2K and it's not even noticed.
>
> And no, he's not frivolous with his money. He saves a larger precentage of his
> pay than I do.
>
> It's all relative IMO.
>
> -Mike

A businessman in the UK, Philip Green, who is the major shareholder in
several chains of shops selling mainly womens clothing and fashion, (he
and his family own 70% I think), has just awarded himself a dividend of
£1.2billion. That's about $2.2billion. Obviously you do not worry how
much the next meal costs with that sort of money. He is waiting for a
£35million yacht to be delivered. I am still saving up for mine!

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed wrote:
> Does anyone really care about this crap?

Forbes tries to appeal to a higher economic stratum than the other
popular financial mags do. That's one reason I don't subscribe to
it--too much of it doesn't really apply to me.

> Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.

I would, under certain circumstances. I might do it to try the French
Laundry (or Per Se) once.

> I'd also be really surprised if the average Forbe's subscriber would pay
> these prices too.

The average Forbes subscriber might be fairly affluent, so...I dunno.
Paying upwards of $400 for a dinner for two, perhaps once a month,
isn't that outrageous if it's something you enjoy. And if you're the
sort of person who'd pay that much for a meal, a bottle of wine (of
which I'm not particularly fond myself, by the way) for $100 seems
right in line. No comment on cars for $200K. I have no feel for that
market.

Darin

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

"Loose On the Lead" <> wrote

>> Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.
>
> I would, under certain circumstances. I might do it to try the French
> Laundry (or Per Se) once.

Let me pick out my own steak at the Texas Roadhouse and I'm in heaven.
$18-$25 depending on how hungry I am. Oh yeah, one more thing, if I gotta
wear a suit I ain't goin'.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

"Ed" <> wrote in message
news:
>
> Let me pick out my own steak at the Texas Roadhouse and I'm in heaven.
> $18-$25 depending on how hungry I am. Oh yeah, one more thing, if I gotta
> wear a suit I ain't goin'.

Keep it up, Ed!
TEXAS ROADHOUSE, INC (NasdaqNM:TXRH)

Last Trade: 15.55

Change: + 0.58 (+3.87%)

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Gary, they give you chili, steak, salad, 16 oz drafts, a bucket of peanuts,
Willie Nelson on the walls, what else do you need, two steppin' waitresses
(fine looking young ladies), they have it all! My kind of place. Hole in
your sweatshirt? No problem.

$200, bah-humbug.



"Gary C" <> wrote in message
news:YM86f.5$
>
> "Ed" <> wrote in message
> news:
>>
>> Let me pick out my own steak at the Texas Roadhouse and I'm in heaven.
>> $18-$25 depending on how hungry I am. Oh yeah, one more thing, if I gotta
>> wear a suit I ain't goin'.
>
> Keep it up, Ed!
> TEXAS ROADHOUSE, INC (NasdaqNM:TXRH)
>
> Last Trade: 15.55
>
> Change: + 0.58 (+3.87%)
>
>

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

"Ed" <> wrote in message
news:
> Gary, they give you chili, steak, salad, 16 oz drafts, a bucket of
> peanuts, Willie Nelson on the walls, what else do you need, two steppin'
> waitresses (fine looking young ladies), they have it all! My kind of
> place. Hole in your sweatshirt? No problem.
>
> $200, bah-humbug.
>







I'll see if Mama wants to go on a "date", ie - drive and treat!
Sounds like my kind of place, too!

Spending $200 on a French dinner of duck eyeballs in dumpster slim,
is not my idea of a Forbes good deal.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

You'll like it if you like beef. Great place, noisy though, loud country
music.
Try and position yourself so that you have a good view of the aisles so you
can watch the babes dance. If they don't look good in jeans, they ain't
working there.

They just opened an Olive Garden nearby and the place is packed, 90 minute
wait for dinner on a slow day. I ate at one in Florida and was not
impressed. Still, the Outback opened up one of those Carrabba’s Italian
Grill places and the Olive Garden has them mailing out menu's to everyone.
They must be hurting. We used to love going to a place called the Mercado
Mediterranean Village in Orlando. They put up a big shopping center next to
it and the place is dead now, at least it was the last time we stopped in
there.








"Gary C" <> wrote in message
news:s996f.11$
>
> "Ed" <> wrote in message
> news:
>> Gary, they give you chili, steak, salad, 16 oz drafts, a bucket of
>> peanuts, Willie Nelson on the walls, what else do you need, two steppin'
>> waitresses (fine looking young ladies), they have it all! My kind of
>> place. Hole in your sweatshirt? No problem.
>>
>> $200, bah-humbug.
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I'll see if Mama wants to go on a "date", ie - drive and treat!
> Sounds like my kind of place, too!
>
> Spending $200 on a French dinner of duck eyeballs in dumpster slim,
> is not my idea of a Forbes good deal.
>

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed wrote:
> Let me pick out my own steak at the Texas Roadhouse and I'm in heaven.
> $18-$25 depending on how hungry I am.

That's fair, and I often feel like that also. But the sort of meal
served at the French Laundry isn't about eating hearty and getting
full. It's an artistic experience. If you don't appreciate that kind
of art, then yeah, there's no point in paying so much money for it.
But for some people, it's reallly special. I'm in between. I do
appreciate fine dining in my own way, but my palate is not that
terribly sophisticated. On the other hand, I find that I can
definitely tell the difference between a $15 steak and a $30 steak.

> Oh yeah, one more thing, if I gotta
> wear a suit I ain't goin'.

Well, I almost never have to wear a suit, but occasionally a jacket and
tie might be required, or at least indicated, and I've decided that's
alright. Eating interesting food is too important for me to quibble
over attire. Plus, women seem to think I look better in that stuff.
:-)

Darin

P.S. I'm not that much of a steak person to begin with, so if I'm
spending $18 to $25 on dinner for one, it's probably ethnic.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

"Loose On the Lead" <> wrote in message
news:
>
> Ed wrote:
>> Let me pick out my own steak at the Texas Roadhouse and I'm in heaven.
>> $18-$25 depending on how hungry I am.
>
> That's fair, and I often feel like that also. But the sort of meal
> served at the French Laundry isn't about eating hearty and getting
> full. It's an artistic experience. If you don't appreciate that kind
> of art, then yeah, there's no point in paying so much money for it.
> But for some people, it's reallly special. I'm in between. I do
> appreciate fine dining in my own way, but my palate is not that
> terribly sophisticated. On the other hand, I find that I can
> definitely tell the difference between a $15 steak and a $30 steak.

Me too!! The $30 steak costs twice as much.
If you're into art find the place that gives you a great $15-$20 steak. One
that's better than the $30 steak. It's easy.
>
>> Oh yeah, one more thing, if I gotta
>> wear a suit I ain't goin'.

> Well, I almost never have to wear a suit, but occasionally a jacket and
> tie might be required, or at least indicated, and I've decided that's
> alright. Eating interesting food is too important for me to quibble
> over attire. Plus, women seem to think I look better in that stuff.
> :-)

When I was a younger man women used to prefer me naked. I was a 4 hour/day
body builder. You'd never know it now.
>
> Darin
>
> P.S. I'm not that much of a steak person to begin with, so if I'm
> spending $18 to $25 on dinner for one, it's probably ethnic.

There is this Greek restaurant in Lowell, MA. It's called the Olympian. I
don't even like lamb but theirs is great. Finish up with their rice pudding
and you've had a meal. In a little town close to where I live there is an
Italian restaurant called Bella Italia. Why go to Boston's North End? Cheap
and excellent.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Mike Stone wrote:

> I do have a very wealthy colleague and over the years everything
> has changed:
>
> - no more cleaning the house (there's a maid)

I have an aunt who has a maid, but my aunt does most of the the cooking
and cleaning. She's in her 80s by now.

> - no more yard work (people are contracted)

Does almost all the yard work, including climbing trees to trim them.

> - new car every 2yrs

Every 3 years for her, about 10,000 miles. She'd probably keep them
longer but wants to keep her driver comfortable. To save money she
buys eyeglass frames at the drugstore and takes them to the
optometrist.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed wrote:

> Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.

I would, if it contained the antidote.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Did you say "women"? How many have ya got????

ruffian


"Loose On the Lead" <> wrote in message
news:
>
> Ed wrote:
> > Let me pick out my own steak at the Texas Roadhouse and I'm in heaven.
> > $18-$25 depending on how hungry I am.
>
> That's fair, and I often feel like that also. But the sort of meal
> served at the French Laundry isn't about eating hearty and getting
> full. It's an artistic experience. If you don't appreciate that kind
> of art, then yeah, there's no point in paying so much money for it.
> But for some people, it's reallly special. I'm in between. I do
> appreciate fine dining in my own way, but my palate is not that
> terribly sophisticated. On the other hand, I find that I can
> definitely tell the difference between a $15 steak and a $30 steak.
>
> > Oh yeah, one more thing, if I gotta
> > wear a suit I ain't goin'.
>
> Well, I almost never have to wear a suit, but occasionally a jacket and
> tie might be required, or at least indicated, and I've decided that's
> alright. Eating interesting food is too important for me to quibble
> over attire. Plus, women seem to think I look better in that stuff.
> :-)
>
> Darin
>
> P.S. I'm not that much of a steak person to begin with, so if I'm
> spending $18 to $25 on dinner for one, it's probably ethnic.
>

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Enough about the food already! I'm trying to loose a few pounds!

My problem is that I like it all...French, Greek, Italian, steak, Thai,
Cuban, Peruvian...uummmm good!

"Ed" <> wrote in message
news:
>
> "Loose On the Lead" <> wrote in message
> news:
> >
> > Ed wrote:
> >> Let me pick out my own steak at the Texas Roadhouse and I'm in heaven.
> >> $18-$25 depending on how hungry I am.
> >
> > That's fair, and I often feel like that also. But the sort of meal
> > served at the French Laundry isn't about eating hearty and getting
> > full. It's an artistic experience. If you don't appreciate that kind
> > of art, then yeah, there's no point in paying so much money for it.
> > But for some people, it's reallly special. I'm in between. I do
> > appreciate fine dining in my own way, but my palate is not that
> > terribly sophisticated. On the other hand, I find that I can
> > definitely tell the difference between a $15 steak and a $30 steak.
>
> Me too!! The $30 steak costs twice as much.
> If you're into art find the place that gives you a great $15-$20 steak.
One
> that's better than the $30 steak. It's easy.
> >
> >> Oh yeah, one more thing, if I gotta
> >> wear a suit I ain't goin'.
>
> > Well, I almost never have to wear a suit, but occasionally a jacket and
> > tie might be required, or at least indicated, and I've decided that's
> > alright. Eating interesting food is too important for me to quibble
> > over attire. Plus, women seem to think I look better in that stuff.
> > :-)
>
> When I was a younger man women used to prefer me naked. I was a 4 hour/day
> body builder. You'd never know it now.
> >
> > Darin
> >
> > P.S. I'm not that much of a steak person to begin with, so if I'm
> > spending $18 to $25 on dinner for one, it's probably ethnic.
>
> There is this Greek restaurant in Lowell, MA. It's called the Olympian. I
> don't even like lamb but theirs is great. Finish up with their rice
pudding
> and you've had a meal. In a little town close to where I live there is an
> Italian restaurant called Bella Italia. Why go to Boston's North End?
Cheap
> and excellent.
>
>

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

"Ruffian" <> wrote

> Enough about the food already! I'm trying to loose a few pounds!
>
> My problem is that I like it all...French, Greek, Italian, steak, Thai,
> Cuban, Peruvian...uummmm good!

There's something about Latin food I just don't like. Maybe the spices, not
sure.

Anyway, how are you doing? The market has been mean lately, really hard to
make a buck. Nowhere to hide. I have a large percentage allocated to money
markets and it increased last week all by itself. If I were braver I'd be in
a short fund but I always thought they were too risky.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed wrote:
> The market has been mean lately, really hard to
> make a buck. Nowhere to hide. I have a large percentage allocated to money
> markets and it increased last week all by itself. If I were braver I'd be in
> a short fund but I always thought they were too risky.

Anything converted to walmart at the start the slide would be up 10%.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Actually I've lost a couple of pounds. These markets have made me sick to
my stomach a lot of the time.

My husband doesn't worry with investments like I do. Well, a little over a
month ago, he read or heard something that made him say he had a bad
feeling. He said I should maybe cash out more the next week. I didn't do
it and he was right. Even my conservative funds are diving. Now I'm afraid
to cash some out that I will miss any upswing.

But thanks for asking.


"Ed" <> wrote in message
news:
>
> "Ruffian" <> wrote
>
> > Enough about the food already! I'm trying to loose a few pounds!
> >
> > My problem is that I like it all...French, Greek, Italian, steak, Thai,
> > Cuban, Peruvian...uummmm good!
>
> There's something about Latin food I just don't like. Maybe the spices,
not
> sure.
>
> Anyway, how are you doing? The market has been mean lately, really hard to
> make a buck. Nowhere to hide. I have a large percentage allocated to money
> markets and it increased last week all by itself. If I were braver I'd be
in
> a short fund but I always thought they were too risky.
>
>

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ed wrote:
> "Ruffian" <> wrote
>
>
>>Enough about the food already! I'm trying to loose a few pounds!
>>
>>My problem is that I like it all...French, Greek, Italian, steak, Thai,
>>Cuban, Peruvian...uummmm good!
>
>
> There's something about Latin food I just don't like. Maybe the spices, not
> sure.
>
> Anyway, how are you doing? The market has been mean lately, really hard to
> make a buck. Nowhere to hide. I have a large percentage allocated to money
> markets and it increased last week all by itself. If I were braver I'd be in
> a short fund but I always thought they were too risky.
>
>
The UK market is going down decisively. I sold a couple of funds last
week, and the US fund before that, but now up to 4 different indicators
are all saying "sell" for each remaining fund, except Japan. So, I am
selling down to mainly cash with just a small fund holding, mainly in
tax-exempt ISAs.

The FTSE100 index was up 13.5% at the beginning of the month but is now
only up 6.1%. That shows one of the problems with timing. By the time
the indicators say "sell" half the gains have evaporated. However B&H
could be even worse as it could see the rest of the gain disappear and
turn into loss.

My two active contest portfolios have gone down to 2 or 3 shares each
out of 10 as I acted on sell signals so they can't go down much more.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

I started tracking the two gold ETF's on April 27. They are each up about
7.7% since then.
Tickers are IAU and GLD. International funds are doing much better than
domestic, that's for sure.

I might take another look at Smith & Wesson now that the law protects gun
manufacturers from law suits. The best performers on my watchlist are SWB
and AAI. I owned and sold both of them this year.


"David Wilkinson" <> wrote

> The UK market is going down decisively. I sold a couple of funds last
> week, and the US fund before that, but now up to 4 different indicators
> are all saying "sell" for each remaining fund, except Japan. So, I am
> selling down to mainly cash with just a small fund holding, mainly in
> tax-exempt ISAs.
>
> The FTSE100 index was up 13.5% at the beginning of the month but is now
> only up 6.1%. That shows one of the problems with timing. By the time the
> indicators say "sell" half the gains have evaporated. However B&H could be
> even worse as it could see the rest of the gain disappear and turn into
> loss.
>
> My two active contest portfolios have gone down to 2 or 3 shares each out
> of 10 as I acted on sell signals so they can't go down much more.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ruffian wrote:
> Did you say "women"? How many have ya got????

Oh, a number of them...if I'm allowed to collapse the time dimension.
:-) You know what I meant--women usually think a man looks good in a
jacket and tie.

Darin

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

"Loose On the Lead" <> wrote in message
news:
>

> You know what I meant--women usually think a man looks good in a
> jacket and tie.
>
> Darin
>

Hmmmm, makes me wonder ...

Why then, those who never will wear a jacket and tie,
will then wear one for a funeral?

Good for a free meal but not a chick magnet.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Yeah, well, I thought if you were keeping more than one woman at a time, you
must be doing extremely well with your investments...

Isn't the French Pantry in CA?

"Loose On the Lead" <> wrote in message
news:
>
> Ruffian wrote:
> > Did you say "women"? How many have ya got????
>
> Oh, a number of them...if I'm allowed to collapse the time dimension.
> :-) You know what I meant--women usually think a man looks good in a
> jacket and tie.
>
> Darin
>

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Ruffian wrote:
> Yeah, well, I thought if you were keeping more than one woman at a time, you
> must be doing extremely well with your investments...

No such luck. My investment style is not one that attracts women.
Doesn't attract much of anyone, actually. 8^)

> Isn't the French Pantry in CA?

Yep.



Darin

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

Gary C wrote:
> Good for a free meal but not a chick magnet.

I couldn't say. I just don't wear a jacket and tie often enough.
Look, I'm just repeating what I've been told. What do I know? :-)
Maybe I should ask each date whether my choice of clothing mattered.

Darin

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

"Loose On the Lead" <> wrote in message
news:

> I couldn't say. I just don't wear a jacket and tie often enough.
> Look, I'm just repeating what I've been told. What do I know? :-)

Same here. I wouldn't know either since I wear my work
uniform, on my days off. No style, just free clean clothes.

Oh tomorrow, I'll wear my own shirt while watching football.
But the pants will be rented :-)

Re: Forbe's and their lists.

"Ed" <> wrote in message
news:

>
> Would I pay $200 per person for dinner? Hell no.


Ed this is from Darin's link to the French restaurant.
Compares to WDW actually.



Click dinner menu.

Re: OT: Forbe's and their lists.

I remembering considering it when we there a few years ago. Then I
reconsidered.

So glad I saved my money so I could loose it on CEE.


"Loose On the Lead" <> wrote in message
news:
>
> Ruffian wrote:
> > Yeah, well, I thought if you were keeping more than one woman at a time,
you
> > must be doing extremely well with your investments...
>
> No such luck. My investment style is not one that attracts women.
> Doesn't attract much of anyone, actually. 8^)
>
> > Isn't the French Pantry in CA?
>
> Yep.
>
>
>
> Darin
>

Re: Forbe's and their lists.

"Gary C" <> wrote

> Ed this is from Darin's link to the French restaurant.
> Compares to WDW actually.
>
>
>
> Click dinner menu.

WDW is cheaper


Poolside at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Shaved Prime Rib - with au jus and
horseradish cream $10.99. A great sandwich.

Over at Magic Kingdom you'll find the Liberty Tree Tavern.

New England Pot Roast- braised beef in a cabernet wine and mushroom sauce
served with mashed potatoes and garden vegetables $13.79
Pilgrims' Feast - traditional roast turkey with herb bread dressing, mashed
potatoes and a garden vegetable $13.79