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Bits & Bobs 44
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Author:  Mimi [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Trooper wrote:
Mimi wrote:
I'm trying to think of how to justify ever buying Dominos pizza. I always save the fliers, but have never ordered one. They are just so awesomely bad for you and every time I have a piece it just makes my head pop with amaze.


I pay using PayPal, which feels like free,so it's easy to justify ;)


That doesn't feel like free to me as it comes from my 'make and buy stuff for the house' fund, which lives in Paypal.

Author:  Mimi [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Mr Kissyfur: tell me your thoughts on Pringles.

Author:  Mimi [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

MaliA wrote:

"The kid is asleep, I want booze and fuck cooking


I order my food from Chef Russell.

Author:  Bamba [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Mimi wrote:
Mr Kissyfur wrote:
Dominos is vile.


Oh my goodness. They were all right about you all along.


He's right though, it seems like a really good idea when you're starving and your enjoy it to a degree at the time but you feel really awful after eating one. And I say that as someone who would habitually buy their pizzas when hungover for ages before realising how much they sucked. Pizza Hut are much nicer.

Author:  Cras [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Mr Kissyfur wrote:
Cras wrote:
It's how you know you're somewhere poor ;)


Our office ATM gives out fivers, dude.


*nod*

Ours does fifties.

Author:  MrChris [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Its like Pringles. Its sort of satisfying at the time, but you feel disgusting afterwards.

Author:  Bamba [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Papa John's pizza's are also okay but as they seem to think that violent-yellow garlicky bile is acceptable dip they don't get rewarded with any of my money.

Author:  MrChris [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Cras wrote:
Mr Kissyfur wrote:
Cras wrote:
It's how you know you're somewhere poor ;)


Our office ATM gives out fivers, dude.


*nod*

Ours does fifties.

Yes, we're a tiny outfit that is staffed by unemployed poor people.

Author:  MrChris [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Fat Tony's pizza in Stroud is legen

Author:  Bamba [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Mr Kissyfur wrote:
Cras wrote:
Mr Kissyfur wrote:
Cras wrote:
It's how you know you're somewhere poor ;)


Our office ATM gives out fivers, dude.


*nod*

Ours does fifties.

Yes, we're a tiny outfit that is staffed by unemployed poor people.


And yet you actually have an office ATM. I work for an investment bank and we just need to settle for a coffee machine.

Author:  Trooper [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Bamba wrote:
Papa John's pizza's are also okay but as they seem to think that violent-yellow garlicky bile is acceptable dip they don't get rewarded with any of my money.


Yes! Nice pizzas, but what the fuck is that dip all about? I've tried all of the ones they offer and they are all atrocious.

Author:  MrChris [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

dary

Author:  Bamba [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

On an unrelated note, I've just come out of this:

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013 ... 013-review

It was much funnier and less annoying than that makes it sound and well worth checking out if it ever runs near you.

Author:  Cras [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Bamba wrote:
Papa John's pizza's are also okay but as they seem to think that violent-yellow garlicky bile is acceptable dip they don't get rewarded with any of my money.


That stuff is utter poison, but the buffalo dip is ace.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Mimi wrote:
That doesn't feel like free to me as it comes from my 'make and buy stuff for the house' fund, which lives in Paypal.

Oh Christ, don't do that. Paypal are fucking tossers for deciding your account has "malicious activity' and freezing it for six months. They're not a bank, legally, so they don't have to do the legal customer service stuff a bank does. Never keep money in Paypal.

Author:  Bamba [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Cras wrote:
Bamba wrote:
Papa John's pizza's are also okay but as they seem to think that violent-yellow garlicky bile is acceptable dip they don't get rewarded with any of my money.


That stuff is utter poison, but the buffalo dip is ace.


I can't bring myself to buy anything from them now as all I can think of when I consider it is the horrible consistency and taste of that shite. It's genuinely mind boggling anyone would think it edible, never mind actually worth paying for.

Author:  ApplePieOfDestiny [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Bamba wrote:
Mr Kissyfur wrote:
Cras wrote:
Mr Kissyfur wrote:
Cras wrote:
It's how you know you're somewhere poor ;)


Our office ATM gives out fivers, dude.


*nod*

Ours does fifties.

Yes, we're a tiny outfit that is staffed by unemployed poor people.


And yet you actually have an office ATM. I work for an investment bank and we just need to settle for a coffee machine.

You work in canary wharf. I can't remember the last time I used notes and coins there.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Bamba wrote:
Papa John's pizza's are also okay but as they seem to think that violent-yellow garlicky bile is acceptable dip they don't get rewarded with any of my money.

Am I the only person that doesn't like the herb mix Papa Johns covers everything in? It's a bit... floral. And the dip stuff is weird. I can't even figure out what it's supposed to be.

Around here, there's a number of choices for first-rate "posh" pizza (e.g. basilico) but they're all thin-crust stone-baked ingredients-in-Italian authentic things. If you want something with too much cheese and too much dough and six types of meat, there's a number of third- and second-rate indie places, or the second-rate chains (Dominos, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns.) There's a gap in the market there I think.

Author:  Bamba [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
Bamba wrote:
Papa John's pizza's are also okay but as they seem to think that violent-yellow garlicky bile is acceptable dip they don't get rewarded with any of my money.

Am I the only person that doesn't like the herb mix Papa Johns covers everything in? It's a bit... floral. And the dip stuff is weird. I can't even figure out what it's supposed to be.

Around here, there's a number of choices for first-rate "posh" pizza (e.g. basilico) but they're all thin-crust stone-baked ingredients-in-Italian authentic things. If you want something with too much cheese and too much dough and six types of meat, there's a number of third- and second-rate indie places, or the second-rate chains (Dominos, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns.) There's a gap in the market there I think.


Lol, that website is one of the smuggest, most ridiculous things I've ever seen. I have no doubt their food is delicious but fucking hell, what twats they are.

Author:  Bamba [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 22:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Also, having recently switched back to Swype from something else I remember anew how irritating it is to have to teach a new keyboard how to fucking swear. Even 'hell' was a fight there. Fuck sake.

Author:  MaliA [ Sat Mar 28, 2015 23:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Fuck sake. Should have got a cab. Bus will not drop me in time for train. fuck buses.

Author:  MaliA [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 0:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

MaliA wrote:
Fuck sake. Should have got a cab. Bus will not drop me in time for train. fuck buses.


40 fucking minute wait for cab

Author:  MaliA [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 0:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

MaliA wrote:
MaliA wrote:
Fuck sake. Should have got a cab. Bus will not drop me in time for train. fuck buses.


40 fucking minute wait for cab


Got another cab. Talked about Beeching cuts and the role of mass transit systems

Author:  Kern [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Are you supposed to use cutlery at Pizza Express, or can you just grab the slice and stuff it down your throat? I never know.

Author:  MrChris [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Image

Author:  MaliA [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 10:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Curiosity wrote:
MaliA wrote:
Foxy Knoxy innocent!


"Innocent"


"Slightly less guilty"

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 11:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Bamba wrote:
Lol, that website is one of the smuggest, most ridiculous things I've ever seen. I have no doubt their food is delicious but fucking hell, what twats they are.

It's very well tuned to appeal to their target market, i.e. the kind of people I live amongst. I don't know that they are twats so much as cunning businesspeople (see also: the guys who opened the cereal cafe in Shortditch.) The pizza really is good though, so I put up with it. It's not like I stop to read the website on the way to the online delivery ordering page anyway.

Also, to give them some tiny amount of credit - they genuinely do use good ingredients, it's not just puffery. Proper buffalo mozzarella, great imported prosciutto and salami, Iberian ham, and whatnot. The exact kind of stuff I buy to put on my homemade pizzas, basically.

Author:  Cras [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

You make a good point that there's nobody making good quality bad pizza.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

There's also almost nowhere doing Chicago style pizza pie or cornbread crust pizza, both of which is a damned shame.

Author:  MaliA [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
There's also almost nowhere doing Chicago style pizza pie or cornbread crust pizza, both of which is a damned shame.


I shall mention this to some people and see if there is a reason.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Probably lack of familiarity restricting the possible market.

Best take-out pizza I ever had was a jambalaya pizza (spicy prawns and peppers, basically) on a cornbread crust from some place in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I've been chasing that high ever since.

Author:  Kern [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Speaking of fast food, I discovered Five Guys on my most recent trip over. Their burgers and fries were really tasty.

Author:  Trooper [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

I've been to one place that does proper chicago style pizza in the UK, and that was in Newcastle of all places.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Kern wrote:
Speaking of fast food, I discovered Five Guys on my most recent trip over. Their burgers and fries were really tasty.

Annoyingly overpriced in the UK though. They took a $5 burger and made it an £8 one.

Author:  MaliA [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
Kern wrote:
Speaking of fast food, I discovered Five Guys on my most recent trip over. Their burgers and fries were really tasty.

Annoyingly overpriced in the UK though. They took a $5 burger and made it an £8 one.


Foreign cows, coming in here and pushing up our burger prices...

there's a 5 Guys in nottingham, I think.

Author:  Mr Russell [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

MaliA wrote:
Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
Kern wrote:
Speaking of fast food, I discovered Five Guys on my most recent trip over. Their burgers and fries were really tasty.

Annoyingly overpriced in the UK though. They took a $5 burger and made it an £8 one.


Foreign cows, coming in here and pushing up our burger prices...

there's a 5 Guys in nottingham, I think.

And Birmingham.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

They seem to be expanding rapidly. The UK arm is a cross-licence deal founded by Charles Dunstone, the founder of Carphone Warhouse, so it was always going to be a large scale nationwide chain I think.

Author:  JBR [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Weird, though-are they better over here? I thought it was pretty standard fast food in the States, and priced accordingly; here it has a bit of cachet.

Author:  Trooper [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

The 5 guys burgers are nothing special. I go for the hot dogs and the magic drink machine.

Author:  TheVision [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

I'm starving and reading this thread hasn't helped.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

JBR wrote:
Weird, though-are they better over here? I thought it was pretty standard fast food in the States, and priced accordingly; here it has a bit of cachet.

In the US, it's pitched as "a good deal better than McDonalds, and a little more expensive." Which is a fair description, I think (I really like their burgers, although I prefer In-N-Out.) Here, they've taken the same food and service and priced it on par with a gastropub or GBK or Byron, which feels a little off to me. Presumably they did market research and concluded there's no room for a £5 and they couldn't come downmarket so they went upmarket instead. Seems to be working for them, based on the expansion.

Author:  Mimi [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Is 5 guys not that good, then? We were out a few weeks ago and bang in the middle of Gourmet Burger Kitchen and 5 Guys, and we just plumped for the Gourmet Burger Kitchen more out of chance than anything as we had previously never been to either. On balance, was that the better of the two?

Author:  Kern [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

I didn't know they had opened up over here. It was great fast food at $5ish, and far better than MaccyD's, but for the prices others have mentioned I'd go with GBK.

Author:  MaliA [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 13:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

I hate decorating. I just knelt in the paint tray.

Author:  Trooper [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 14:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Mimi wrote:
Is 5 guys not that good, then? We were out a few weeks ago and bang in the middle of Gourmet Burger Kitchen and 5 Guys, and we just plumped for the Gourmet Burger Kitchen more out of chance than anything as we had previously never been to either. On balance, was that the better of the two?


Depends on what you are after. 5 guys is a lot dirtier than GBK.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 14:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Mimi wrote:
Is 5 guys not that good, then? We were out a few weeks ago and bang in the middle of Gourmet Burger Kitchen and 5 Guys, and we just plumped for the Gourmet Burger Kitchen more out of chance than anything as we had previously never been to either. On balance, was that the better of the two?
IMHO:

McDonalds: the baseline. Flavourless beef, uninspired toppings. Decent fries.

Five Guys: McDonalds++ i.e. gussied up fast food. Better beef, better toppings (but nothing elaborate; bacon, cheese; that sort of thing.) Very good fries. Counter service, food comes wrapped in foil and cardboard.

GBK: Lowest rung of the higher end burger chains. Bland-ish meat, overcompensated for by lots of novelty toppings and bread (bacon jam and chilli relish and on a brioche bun.) Excellent garlic aioli. Order at a counter but they bring your food out on a plate.

Byron: GBK++. Tastier meat (that they'll also serve rare), a bit less novelty in the toppings (could be good or bad depending on how you feel about that.) Not fast food ie. table service and you pay at the end of the meal. They do courgette fries, which are excellent if sometimes underseasoned.

Above this are the properly good indie places.

Author:  MaliA [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 14:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Because I'm doing The Painting I've had to have a shower. I'd been wandering about the bedroom trying to find some clothes to wear in the big pile of stuff I have created in the middle of it, and then I remembered I'd removed the net curtains for <reasons> and the lady over the road will probably get over the shock.

Author:  Trooper [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 14:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Is the shock seeing you doing manual labour?

Author:  MaliA [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 14:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Trooper wrote:
Is the shock seeing you doing manual labour?


Focus groups have shown it should increase my appeal in key demographics.

Author:  JBR [ Sun Mar 29, 2015 20:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bits & Bobs 44

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
JBR wrote:
Weird, though-are they better over here? I thought it was pretty standard fast food in the States, and priced accordingly; here it has a bit of cachet.

In the US, it's pitched as "a good deal better than McDonalds, and a little more expensive." Which is a fair description, I think (I really like their burgers, although I prefer In-N-Out.) Here, they've taken the same food and service and priced it on par with a gastropub or GBK or Byron, which feels a little off to me. Presumably they did market research and concluded there's no room for a £5 and they couldn't come downmarket so they went upmarket instead. Seems to be working for them, based on the expansion.

Yeah, that seems to fit. I suppose I'm just surprised that in an area where there are plenty of options - as you nicely list below - and in which information and people flow so easily from country to country, that you can take a chain like that and make it fly at such a different price point. Could I take Primark to the US and sell clothes at Abercrombie prices?*

*Well, no, silly example, I'm sure.

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