Ways To Dine Well During A Downturn

• from Forbes.com
  Know Your Staples
  
  James Oseland, editor-in-chief of Saveur magazine, says that home chefs should have on hand essential staples that they'll be able to "transform into all sorts of satisfying dishes." These include olive oil, pastas, grains and rice. Still, he doesn't recommend substituting high-quality staples for cheaper ones, if possible, since doing so might make one yearn for a restaurant meal. "You want to make home cooking as pleasurable and fulfilling as it can be," he says, "without creating a great dent in the pocketbook."
  
  In Depth: Ways To Dine Well During A Downturn
  
  
  

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• from Forbes.com
  Go Straight to the Supplier
  
  Farmer's markets and farm Web sites are great resources for gourmands who want to cut back on eating out. At the Berkeley, Calif., restaurant Chez Panisse, for example, the desert menu includes a bowl of black mission figs and a Frog Hollow Farm Warren Pear for $8.25. But Frog Hollow Farm sells a six-pack of Warren pears online for $24. With just a little bit of investigating, you can buy directly from your favorite restaurant's supplier.
  
  In Depth: Ways To Dine Well During A Downturn
  
  
  

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• from Forbes.com
  Trade Down in Price but Not Name
  
  The rise of the celebrity chef has given way to a proliferation of restaurants all under the same brand. That's great news for diners who don't mind trading a more expensive option for a less expensive one. Instead of spending $23 on Berkshire pork leg at Craftbar, fans of Chef Tom Colicchio can enjoy a pork sandwich with cabbage and jalapenos for $9.50 at 'Wichcraft. Other chefs with a range of eateries include Laurent Tourondel and David Chang.
  
  In Depth: Ways To Dine Well During A Downturn
  
  
  

• from Forbes.com
  Recession Specials
  
  Amanda Kludt, editor of the Web site Eater.com, says that while most high-end restaurants aren't likely to start slashing prices anytime soon, some fine-dining establishments are offering recession specials. Table 8, with locations in South Beach, Fla., and Los Angeles, is offering a "recession concession" meal. At the Florida restaurant, a kobe beef carpaccio appetizer, skirt steak entrée and vanilla panna cotta desert can be had for $42 instead of $60. If there are no recession specials in your neighborhood, look for affordably priced prix-fixe meals that offer more value for your dollar.
  
  In Depth: Ways To Dine Well During A Downturn
  
  
  

• from Forbes.com
  Splurge Wisely
  
  If you can't curb the impulse to splurge, at least try to spend wisely. Even when buying items like wine and cheese, consumers can cut costs without sacrificing quality. Murray's Cheese, a New York City-based store that also sells online, often features sales on pricey cheeses. A sheep's milk Tomme de l'Ariege, usually $44.99 per pound, was recently on-sale for $29.99 per pound. Wine lovers can also find similar savings by waiting for sales or buying in bulk, as some retailers offer case discounts or free-shipping specials.
  
  In Depth: Ways To Dine Well During A Downturn
  
  
  

• from Forbes.com
  Street Eats
  
  If you can no longer justify ordering $20 bento boxes for lunch, but don't want to downgrade to Subway, try finding a food cart in the neighborhood. In recent years, inventive chefs--many of them with experience in well-known kitchen--have taken to the streets with gourmet food like a Kobe-style burger served on brioche with bacon jam, blue cheese and arugula (Skillet, Seattle) and crème brulée with caramelized banana (Chef Shack, Minneapolis). Prices usually range from $4 to $8.
  
  In Depth: Ways To Dine Well During A Downturn
  
  
  

  Ashley Genevieve