Getting Takeout

 

Sitting with my wife at the kitchen table, she asked, "Do you remember when we were in Myrtle Beach and we decided we would get takeout once a week so I didn't have to cook all the time?" I looked at her with a big smile on my face and replied, "No, I don't, was that us?" She smiled back at me, but she was annoyed with my answer.

I knew immediately that a blog was coming, so here it is: Getting takeout has become more and more popular since the pandemic hit in 2020.  Some restaurants survived by increasing their takeout and some of them started takeout, because it was their only option.  

Gen Zs and millennials especially have increased their use of takeout significantly and over 50% consider picking up food or takeout as an essential part of their life.(I'm not there yet)  Overall, in 2019, takeout was 19% of restaurant business and in 2024 it had increased to 30%, about a 60% increase.

I haven't increased my enjoyment or preference in getting takeout.  Growing up in New Jersey, my idea of takeout was usually McDonalds, pizza, subs, chinese food, or chicken from Chicken Holiday.  Today, takeout is everything including full course meals.  If I'm going to eat a big meal from a restaurant, I'd rather be in a restaurant than at our kitchen table.

As you can see at the top of this post we did get Olive Garden last week and I did get a chicken parmesan meal.  It was outstanding of course.  This week is coming soon which means more takeout.  My birthday is Tuesday and it used to be that the family would take me to the beach which I wasn't a fan of. Maybe we'll start a new tradition and we'll get takeout on my birthday?  The following week is our anniversary and I think I can get out of ordering takeout since we'll be eating out that day once or twice.

The good news is that my wife will still be cooking at least three times a week.  She's a very good cook and I like eating what she cooks. Do you think that compliment to my wife will make up for blogging about this?