@Cheryl
Because my wife works and I'm retired and I don't really cook, we tend to eat out quite a bit. We are lucky that we have a counter service restaurant bar just 2 minutes walk from our front door, which is half the price of many other restaurants, serving a large choice of freshly cooked foods.
When I wake up, the first priority is coffee for both my wife and I.聽 We own a Gaggia built, Philips espresso machine, that automatically grinds the beans that we put into it, producing great coffee. I usually have a second mug. Breakfast is merely a couple of fruit yogurts. I tend to skip lunch at my age (65) occasionally having a snack, such as a croissant and coffee. I eat dinner, which consists of a main course and dessert and usually a black beer (stout or porter).
Occasionally, we eat out for a full dinner - three courses, wine and water.
My wife and kids are all over weight, mostly because they choose to eat junk food. I do not follow their habits, instead, eating as healthily as I can and religiously taking vitamins, minerals and alternative medicines daily, without fail. I'm, therefore, within my correct body mass index.
Food in Bulgaria has increased in price and that is why we shop around and don't go to a large supermarket. We choose to shop at local shops and stalls, which are not only cheaper, but cut out transport costs to and from the supermarket. We also get a generous discount at our local convenience supermarket, using a loyalty card.
We are very lucky to have in the area we live, 75 local shops and businesses, all within 150 metres, some 25 metres, which means we have significant choice;聽 for example, there are eight places selling fruit and veg, four pharmacies, two pet stores, three bakeries, five convenience stores, three honeware/ hardware stores, two health food shops, a butcher, a delicatessen, two cooked fish stalls, two cooked chicken counters, a sushi takeaway, two locks and keys shops, a computer shop, an off licence, a gym, one restaurant, one caf茅, two couriers, a barber, four beauty/ hair salons and more.
I often procrastinate over what to go and eat and if I don't eat in our immediate vicinity, there are seven other restaurants with a seven minutes walk.
When it comes to buying food, as I can now read Cyrillics, I can understand what's in every packet, box, carton, tin. I have little problem reading menus and if there is anything that needs translation, I merely use Google Translate on my phone, using the camera tool.
My three frustrations in restaurants are... Bulgarians don't serve chosen dishes in order of starters, main courses and desserts, instead you get them, as they're ready from the kitchen, which means you can end up eating your main course before your starter and eating your main course, whilstborhers have starters. Hence, to get round this, I often order a salad as a starter, which is nearly always served first, as it's easy to prepare. I never order dessert until I need it.
Restaurants nearly always have loud music - something less noisy and a bit more sophisticated wouldn't go amiss. Also, many parents allow their kids to run riot and create unbearable noise - okay, I'm an old codger, but I like my peace and quiet!
Waiting staff, sometimes take advantage of customers and don't return due change when paying cash, instead choosing to steal a bigger tip - I hate this and as a result, mostly pay by card and then add a specific cash tip.
