LOUD TALKERS IN A RESTAURANT - a snapshot of the Millenials Joyeating

LOUD TALKERS IN A RESTAURANT - a snapshot of the Millenials "Joyeating"

Picture by Frank Bryan

I can feel how the Millenials are salivating already expecting a story about them and only them... I will attempt to do that. My story is based on the valid and reliable data gathered by being a good foodie myself (so is my husband), and our habit to eat out at places, where we meet plenty of guys from the group of the Millenials.

This generation's age varies in the literature, but for the most part includes the individuals born between the early 80s and ends with these born in the early 90s. We will all be in a restaurant. This is the place of action for everything I know about their "joyeating."  I will take credit for this word - joyeating. It best describes the environment they create when eating and drinking in a restaurant.

If you live in USA, you are already used to the idea that there are no intimate Friday dates at a restaurant. There are, but not of the kind the baby boomers know them. There are mostly groups eating and drinking at not too upscale restaurants, sports bars, ethnic places, offering a large variety of dishes. 

Friday evening is not a time to dine with a boyfriend in a quiet setting. The romantic dinners with soft jazz and holding hands are mostly in my dreams. Yes, I am an old fashioned baby boomer. It was not too many years ago, when my husband and I would stop by our favorite French restaurant to exhale from work. The piano would play; the nice wine would flow; the owner would be French - no need to imitate French accent; the food would be not what you can cook at home. Of course, we paid the price and tip for it. It was worth being more frugal the next week.

When you go to a fast food place, you expect fast food; when you go to IKEA's $.99 breakfast, you are prepared to see the long line of parents with kids and young guys carrying their hangover. You can see Millenials at these type of places for a quick breakfast. But I am trying to get to my Friday evening Millenials.

I love them to death -all of them - because most of them are genuine, what you see is what you get. They are everything the baby boomers are not and a lot more!! If you do not like something about them, do not tell any-body from the group. In one second every-body will know. It is what it is.... We may be their parents or grandparents, but they are not wasting time to show everyone who they are.

First important sign of the peeps: Millenials talk loud all the time. I, on the other hand, am a low talker. I can be loud, too - only when I am mad and someone really walks on my last nerve. This is not hard to accomplish. ... American loud is not like the Italian loud, it is not music to my ears. Ha,ha! Yes, they are bothering me in a restaurant, because I have to scream, in order to be heard by my husband. Dinner turns into a screaming match. Involuntary, I become part of their world. ...

Well, we better get used to it, the Millenials are not going to change for anyone.

When waiters see a group of Millenials, they know there is no big tip coming. There will be skating like a hockey player around the table to accommodate everybodies' wishes. And [boy] do they have any? They always need to have an item that is not exactly like the one on the menu; they will ask for combination of items on the menu; they will always have questions. The Millenials like it more spicy, not too spicy (whatever in there mind the standard is), substitute for this with a substitute for that. The waiters may start confusing themselves - totally losing their minds and knowledge of the menu and food preparation. There is no empathy for their job. If a Millennial spends 10 bucks, s/he expects his food wishes fulfilled exactly as requested. If they are not, the plates go back to the kitchen after being tasted, new ones have to come. This time, they better get it right, because there is no pay for the first one. 

They like food sharing. Everyone tastes everyone's food. This event turns into vultures fighting over limited number of pieces. You snooze, you lose. Food sharing is also the preferred option because all ethnic restaurants offer variety of breads, which come free. This way, they can skip expense for a main course. They love healthy food and not-so-healthy food. They like exotic and anything that "looks good" and "smells good". In some ways they are like sweet puppies or my buddy Tiger, The cat. 

What I really like about these peeps is that they barely have any secrets. It is  completely contrary to how the older generations live their lives. We always hide every tragedy in our lives, while bragging about jobs, houses, vacations - everything else. Our life is all roses... The Millenials 'presumably' talk about their jobs, but only to explain how busy it makes them and how tired they get; there is no time for what they really want to do - play. But, don't get me wrong, work is a way to pay the bills and afford the games they like to play. The Millenials don't like to be unemployed; they have student loans to pay, rent to pay, car loan to pay, all the technology gadgets cost money, too. What about the outdoor sports equipment? 

If you are a dumb boss of  a Millenial, she has told you already that she does most of the work in the office and brings most of the money, therefore she should get a raise. If she does not get one, even in this job market, she will be gone soon. If you are not that dumb of a boss, you have to give some yoga time or flex time, or doggy time, or something.... It is an investment, not an expense!!

Besides work and technology, texting during dinner, there is a lot of sex talk at the table. Since they delay marriage, they have free sex talk and everyone is comfortable with that. There is less "let me buy you a drink" - old-fashioned style hook ups, but karaoke is still in style. I have absolutely no problem with the sex talk. It just sounds like they need more sex education at school, or more talks with mom, or dad at an earlier time of their sexual development. Nonetheless, what is "joyeating" without sex talk?

Or, maybe, I don't know what I am talking 'bout. ...  Afterall, this is just a blog....

Image courtesy of imajerymajestic from FreeDigitalPhotos.com