Describe the worst version of your favorite food.

I really don't think it takes much to spice up a jar of spaghetti sauce, so I don't see why more places aren't doing that. I don't really get spaghetti when I go out unless it's from an Italian restaurant. I've just been disappointed too many times.

@ScribbledAdNauseum I guess they do whatever is cost effective and maybe some people like that, so they just keep it on the menu .

It's easier and tastes better to just make spaghetti yourself at home. Pretty and I make it once a month or so... well, I make it but have her check to see if the noodles have reached the right stage of doneness before starting to eat it. Some of the canned sauce tastes good and I will use it if I don't feel like making my own or don't have time to make my own. *shrug*

I'm interested to know if the Hunan Cashew Chicken was supposed to be true to the Hunan Province in China or if it was an Americanized version of the chicken? That thick white gravy is suspect though. It honestly makes me think of congealed fat and I wonder if that wasn't what the gravy was? I've heard of chicken fried in peanut oil but I don't think I've ever had the recipe you linked here. The recipe does not sound too bad though.

@DaddyEvil Yeah, I have been the same way. Took me awhile to actually get out of grabbing the food and eating it. Now everyone knows to ask me if I want something before just assuming. That's also because I do low carb now, so I don't eat half the things I used to. The only thing I do with chicken is put barbecue sauce on it (and I like to cut it into pieces and make it on the stove) or bake it. I've had pork rind breaded air fried chicken tenders which are excellent. I've had some sort of honey chicken that a friend made once, I've been meaning to get the recipe because it was delicious. Crispy skin and tender inside.

@ScribbledAdNauseum I have no idea about the Hunan food. I didn't like it so never bothered trying to find out anything about it. Cashew Chicken here is amazing! Pretty makes it once in a while and it's good. But from a restaurant, OMG! I love it! (She won't let me get it very often, though. She always tells me we eat out too often. She's not paying for it, so I don't see how that matters. When I do go ahead and get some after she's told me that, she always grabs her share and runs off with it. *shake my head*)

Oh ew, that almost sounds like they just popped a gas station jar of it in the microwave and put it on the serving tray. Yuck. I love Spinach Artichoke dip.

I'm just glad that we live in the USA and complaining about bad foods etc is expected. I believe I've read once that doing that in some countries is considered impolite.

The rule of thumb in America is the smaller the town the more likely the food will not be as expected. I went to a restaurant in a small town and ordered a Greek dish. What they brought out for me was tough as leather and inedible.

@ScribbledAdNauseum Orlando is not a small town, it's also a tourist place, I did not expect "as good as in Italy", but I did not expect as bad as the horrible thing I received. We are a small town with a wonderful REAL Indian restaurant here. The important is that the cook comes from the country of the cuisine they propose. A son of an Italian immigrant is not an Italian cook, he does not even know how people eat in Italy.

Oh, this makes me think of two different sides of my family. My mother's mother used to prepare green beans with fatback (fat cuttings) in it to make them tasty. My father's sister would prepare them with just salt. They were not very tasty and I would not eat them when they were prepared by my father's sister. My father's family were very offended by this and especially when, as a child, I said "These dont' taste like my grandmother's! (moms' mom).

@ScribbledAdNauseum Oh yes I know that, I can guess how offended they are but the kids are honest and the truth 'hurts'

Sweet dressings are okay somewhat, but I prefer something with tang.

Oh no! That's disappointing. I've chosen to not complain sometimes too, depending on who I am with. Everything seems to be pricier now, but especially the food.

That' what I was wondering. I think everyone else's meals were decent but they gave such small portions too. They are still in business as far as I'm aware.

@ScribbledAdNauseum Wow how can they still be in business.

@Tina30219 This was in a small town. I think it's just the family atmosphere. Probably a lot of the same people coming around.

I would say that counts. What brand was it?

I always assume that the meat is days old when I receive it and am not able to easily chew it or cut it.

Oh that doesn't sound pleasant at all. There's a restaurant here that makes a delicious Greek potato soup. It's thick and warming.