I bought 4 motorcycles with the money I saved from not eating out......

Am I doing it wrong?

:D

Zeke - I checked and I was incorrect; the hourly is going to be $20 beginning April of this year. They talked about $22 but that did not happen....yet. Here is the link:

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/09/28/california-increases-minimum-wage-protections-for-fast-food-workers/

You have to add, sherry, or it will never taste right, half a teaspoon even.

Phil's Fish Market when you go to Laguna Seca
Fast food is $20, any worker in any healthcare facility, $25

I think Gavin Nuisance postponed both of these until after the primaries. Not sure he has the authority to do that, but there you are.

Min wage in CA is going to $20/hr for fast food workers effect 04/01/2024 and also changing to various rates for health care workers. It's $16/hr for all the other jobs.

https://calmatters.org/economy/2023/12/minimum-wage-2024/

WTF?!?

That's ridiculous and BS. Jack up the prices, but holy hell, the prices at that place are already up there. If you're paying that much for food (and there are times that the food is worth that much) then the place shouldn't be tacking on a "fee", the cost should be included in the prices. For that price, the food and service should be excellent!

Possible example(s), sir?

Are you saying that it's possible to buy "chowder" that's not "clam chowder" or are you saying "buy some clam chowder and add more clams"?

And either way, how in the world would I know what's a good chowder? I'm assuming that you're not talking about Campbells or Chunky brand.

Steve, I've had Progresso Rich & Hearty, Chunky, Snow's and Bar Harbor. Because these are canned, you can get them on Amazon or wherever. I've also have "locally made" fresh in plastic containers which is pricey.

For out of the can, Progresso and Bar Harbor are both pretty good. I don't like the small potatoes in BH. Chunky is surprisingly good. Snow's is depressing. Fresh made local is shockingly not very good at all which is pretty strange being in Boston.

Adding a can of clams and the juice (important) to Progresso, BH and Chunky and reducing down pays dividends.

OK, so you are talking about ordinary canned soup. I'd assumed you were going somewhere different. I've been to boston once, for about 24 hours, and didn't partake in anything local or special. I was in and out. I've had clam chowder since I was a kid, but it was always Campbells or Chunky. I like some of the soups made by chunky, but I don't get them often. Ver good to know, especially coming from you. Thank you.
So many details from your post are shocking, very shocking.
ROFLMAO!

Welcome to PPOT where anything can (and does) happen!

I agree with you and Zeke. Spread that 5% over the entire bill and nobody will be complaining, at least with those prices

Doh, someone must havs bought Snow's, used to be the best one.

Pretty easy to make make soup from scratch. Should make cornbread to go with that big pot of chili the wife made. I wonder if I have cornmeal

Yesterday, I went on Amazon out of curiosity and looked what they offered in the way of canned Clam Chowder, in comparison to what I have been buying at Walmart, that I think tastes delicious.

I found a couple that looked competitive in value to what I have been buying after you factor in the dilution ratios and bought them.

SNOWS

and BAR HARBOR

They were delivered today and I had a can of the Snows for dinner.

I used half and half, a slice of butter, and seasoned with ground black pepper.

I thought it was very good....and comparable to what I've been buying.

I will have a can of the Bar Harbor tomorrow and report back.

Obviously everyone will have a different take on what they think tastes good or not.

I consider myself selective in what I eat but also willing to try the store brand stuff - especially if it helps stretch the budget and allow me to buy more motorcycle stuff! :)

But if something doesn't taste good to me - no way will I eat it.

Some things you just can't cut corners on cost!

Not true. I just went through a McDonalds drive through and they had a help wanted sign that said $16.25 an hour or thereabouts.

I agree with you about the suckage of service charges but you should have paid for the meal and told them that you were not paying the extra charge. I’ve done it and they removed it.

Sorry, didn’t read the whole thread.

Anybody tried the new McDonalds burgers? /s

I like chowder but my problem is, I'm an empty nester so, I'm interested in your taste test.

What I highlighted is a big problem. While wages may have gone up in the service industry, other jobs have not. The wage gap needs to be bigger to keep the more skilled labor. Why would anyone work in healthcare when you can work in fast food?

Take ANY can of store bought chowder, I like low sodium. Add pieces of 3 strips of bacon, a small tin of smoked clams, some green onion. Excellent.

^^^ that's a really good idea. When I was wee tot living in CT close to the shore my grandfather father's side made fresh clam chowder with bacon, it was wonderful. And after my dad and his friends came home from fishing, they'd smoke shad out in the yard. Got a big Weber going, dig 50 feet of shallow trench in the yard (we lived on a dirt road), cut the shad in half and nailed the tails to slabs of oak, fill the trench with coals, top with oak, and stand the fish in front of the burning coals and wood all day. Great memories. Nothing beats living out in the country where you can't see your nearest neighbor.

Funny thing, our building has a touch screen with a quiz on saving money, budgeting and what not. First question is a multiple choice on how much money you would save if you made your coffee at home and the choices are $25, $45, $65.

The funny part? Coffee at work is free all day long. Good local roaster too, not some junk like Starbucks or Folgers or something.

Here, even cheap fast food is $35+ for the four of us to eat.