#Microblog Monday 246: All Gone
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I strive for zero waste, which is why Josh is often tasked to create a meal for himself that uses all of our recent leftovers, pretty please. So I was drawn to this story on NPR about a brilliant restaurant in Toronto that has turned emptying their restaurant of perishables into a weekly event.
Each Sunday, they set up a chalkboard menu of everything they want to get rid of. When an item is sold out, it’s crossed off the board. So getting there early is key if you want control of the board, and getting there late is key if you want the lowest price. They keep cutting the prices as the evening unfolds in order to move everything out of the kitchen.
There’s a vegan restaurant by me that has dozens of dishes I wouldn’t mind eating at any given time, so I would totally participate if this was a thing at their restaurant. At other places, I only have one or two non-meat options, so the game would become nerve-wracking especially because what are you going to do once all of your possible options are gone? Walk away and find somewhere else to eat that night?
Pretending you can only go to one restaurant for a date night (and not leave if they’re sold out), would you want to do this?
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10 comments
I totally would do this for a date night, but I also don’t have any major dietary restrictions or allergies and I’m fairly game for trying stuff. I wouldn’t go if I had strong cravings for a particular dish, but as long as I knew going in that this was the system, I think it would be a lot of fun! Also it’s nice to see something like that on Sunday night since I work an atypical schedule and that would be a neat event I could actually attend.
(Because he’d most likely be going with me, I had to ask my husband as well. He looked a little more dubious but said he’d be game too.)
I’ve got celiac, a few sensitivies, and am mostly vegan, so it would have to be a pretty special restaurant! And I don’t live in a special place. There are two places near me that I could see doing something like this and could meet my needs, that would be so cool. I’m a very adventurous eater so the dietary restrictions are hard, but I would totally do this in a perfect world.
I would so do this if Veggie Grill or our local vegan Mexican place did it. But they’re both very popular so I doubt they’re throwing out much…still, any time waste is avoided is great.
We have a smorgasbord night too where we eat a mish-mosh of leftovers so as not to waste. Going out on a date night is a super luxury for me, so I wouldn’t want to go to a restaurant that does this. I mean, it’s a good idea that I could see maybe being popular in small towns or specific communities, but I can’t see this catching on for the masses. However, some places do donate leftovers to the homeless, which is a fabulous idea I can get behind. BUT many places won’t or stopped doing this due to all the allergies people have and fear of being sued, even by the homeless. So sad.
I love this idea, but unless it was a celiac-friendly restaurant where everything was gluten free, I couldn’t see going. Too much risk to end up not being able to eat anything. But I love the sliding scale pricing as items need to be used up throughout the night, that is really innovative! I feel like when I was researching frittata recipes for brunch with my mom, I came across a site that said that the frittata was the perfect leftover user-upper, because you can throw pretty much any produce or meats in there and have it turn out delicious.
Funny that I read about a restaurant in my own city from an American blogger, lol. 😉 I would be a bit leery about going, because if the only things they had left included tomatos/tomato sauce (which I’m allergic to), I’d be in trouble/hungry. 😉 But it is an interesting concept, and I’m all for decreasing food waste.
Totally would do this as I eat everything. I love the idea, I hope to see some Aussie restaurants doing it soon!
This is a great idea. I know a number of restaurants that donate all leftovers to shelters at closing. I’d go to such a place if it were a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. Otherwise, I’d risk being hungry all night. LOL!
I think this is a great idea. I’m always upset at how much food waste there is. I think if I went into a restaurant knowing this was the deal, I would be fine with it and would accept the challenge. The issue is when you go into a place expecting what you’ve been craving and you can’t get it. We went to a place we’d been to before that had an open house the other day. They said in the ad they were offering their full menu so my son and I had a plan to share something specific but when we got there they said it was bbq plates and various pizzas only so we left. PS. We ended up at the Ruby Tuesday’s by us which has lately turned horrific.
I would do this! I’m pretty picky, though. If I couldn’t get what I want (and can eat) I might just go hungry for the night. But I’d enjoy the adventure and I’d expect serendipity.