Event Food - Gripe - Page 1

Time for a new thread...

Why not sell good ole comfort food at show/performance events. Mac & cheese, lasagne, creamy soup,  Its no harder to have on hand than the usual, maybe easier. How hard is it to heat a pan of something decent and serve it on a paper plate? I went to a show in at a seminary in NY last year that had an awesome vat of home-made clam chowder I washed two cups of down with sports drink.

The very LAST thing I want to haul around in my belly running around the ring or the trial field is a greasy brat or some canned chili, or typical doughuts for breakfast. (read: coffee-soaked lead)  How hard is it to make a pot of oatmeal & raisens? If you see me hand my canine charge to a bystander mid-stride and run for the bushes, its because I ate something like that because I didn't have time to look for something else on the way to the event. I always support the host club, but most of the time I find myself tossing whatever I just paid too much for in the trash 20' from the table, knowing full well I'd better not eat much of it no matter how loud my tummy is growling. We're not talking kids needing a snack at the local Litttle Leaugue game here. Our Mommies aren't waiting at home with a slow-cooker full of something good for us when we're done anymore than they prepared a lovely breakfast for us when we got up before light to walk and feed all the dogs we hauled across the country to the event!

If it weren't for the tunafish and bread in my cooler, and a lovely salmon-salad sandwich a dear, dear woman handed me ring-side when it was clear my blood-suger was tanking, I'd have dropped like a stone after the 5th or 6th class in Montreal last summer. On the other hand, they offered a beautiful selection day-long in San Jose- lovely home-made-to-order steak breakfast burritos, tri-tip sandwiches with home-made potato and cole slaw salads. (NOT that Sam's Club crap!) , priced reasonably, served with a smile and a hearty "How're ya doing today." The S/S in CT even had GOOD coffee and an on-site smoked meat concession at lunch. St Louis was so-so (Purina folks... but at least they were friendly!)

I hope Chicago has better offerings than most So far USA is way ahead of the WDA as far as event food IMO. Ha ha ha.
Running out and/or closing up early is unforgiveable. IMO the food concession people should be the first folks there in the mornings and last ones off the grounds at night, and there had better be something hot all day long. The last thing I want to see when I dash off to grab something to eat/drink between classes is a dour old bat that clearly feels imposed upon having to be there barking "What'dya want!" just before charging me an arm and a leg for some dumpster-fodder shit they wouldn't serve the bums at the Downtown Mission.

I know how much goes into putting on an event. I've hosted a couple of regionals and attended dozens of major events, almost single-handed on more than one occasion, responsible for everything from the judge's comfort and convenience to the banquet to the track-laying, not to mention being entered/competing myself. A portable grill is a portable grill. What you put on and offer next to that grill DOES matter. I've never seen anyone balk at paying $10.-12. for a decent meal in my whole 20+ years competing in the sport.

Off the soapbox for now.
-Auntie Shelley

...and when she gripes, she gripes alone. LOL

Especially in today's economy, I bet there are many people who run those concession trailers who'd jump at the chance to set up at some of these huge dog events.  Or, many times, with a bit of searching, you can find some civic or church group to handle the food as a fundraising event.  Heck, I've even seen catering trucks that offer vegetarian alternatives.

A dog event I attended last year provided not only coffee and danish for breakfast, but also juice, granola bars and yogurt.  They made a heck of a lot of money, not to mention they earned the undying love of the participants and spectators.

I hate to go to dog events, or sporting events for that matter where you're lucky to get some nasty hot dog, without even chili to go on it.

AUNTIE SHELLEY I AM VERY LONELY TOO. I WILL NOSH ON CLAM CHOWDER AND GATORADE WITH YOU.

That's why I take my tent trailer to events with me.  I can make my OWN oatmeal and coffee!

At $3,250 US, it was a good investment. The beds are heated, and it also has a propane fired heater for those cool nights. It also has a small refrigerator, but no freezer.

No A/C either...this is Canada, after all! 

If the night is really cool, the dogs and I share body heat on top of the bed.... 

I'm off to make some oatmeal, you made me hungry!

I miss my old RV. I swear half the reason I bought it and drove it 160K miles to dog events was so I could have boiled potatoes for meals when my stomach was turning with nerves and ice cream on hot days. One of these days I'll have another one. It was nice never having to pack a suitcase or move dog gear from one vehicle to another.

SS

Hey, Shelly wanna do a road trip with me this summer?

I'd love to do a road trip, if I have any money. My event attendance this year is going to be curtailed a lot compared to last year.
I am paying my kennel girl more per hour than I get paid at my little job these days. Ha ha ha. She only gets a few hours a week here, but she's always here when I go away, a single Mom with a dead-beat ex, so I give her what hours I can to hold her over even when I can do it all myself.

Was anybody at the '90 SchH 3 USA Nationals?
The host was scabbing the concessions so badly, and the raffle was so fixed, that our club cooked & handed out better food to all comers out of my RV at NO CHARGE. Anyone who protests that was bad sportsmanship doesn't know Jack. (sorry for the pun)
We did the same thing in NM one year when the concessions ran out of food before the closing ceremonies on Sunday.
Best carne asada tacos we ever made. That's John Oliver's van in the rear, handing out free booze. I don't think there were many people left in the grandstand. LOL