Takeaway tonight?

Good Food Blog

What is RSS?

Posted at 10:30AM, 22 September 2010 by Lily Barclay - Writer, bbcgoodfood.com

Takeaways seem to haunt me a bit like a bad hangover. I wake up with the knowledge that all is not well, and going downstairs to face the greasy, empty cartons is a bit like being offered hair-of-the-dog.

However enjoyable it was the night before, the congealed evidence is a sharp reminder of what your body is currently trying to digest. I just don't have the heart for dealing with the leftovers, which used to work pretty well for my ex-housemate who would microwave them for breakfast. Crispy duck pancakes might not seem like a bad way to start the day, but that's if you haven't over-indulged the night before.

Once you've asked someone to deliver your dinner to your door, there's not much point in holding back on the prawn crackers

And that's what I think my problem comes down to: quantity and the amount you get when ordering in. Once you've taken the step of ringing someone up and asking them to deliver your dinner to your door, there doesn't seem much point in holding back on the prawn crackers. If you're sitting in a restaurant and you can't finish your plate, you're unlikely to remain in picking proximity of it for the rest of the evening.

Eating fish and chips on the beach might be just as fattening, but it somehow manages to feel wholesome, and for that reason I think you're a lot less likely to overdo it. Sitting on the sofa with a film and takeaway food is luxurious in its own guilty way, but it can even give sushi and miso soup a seedy air.

The rise of the luxury takeaway has been big business in recent years (especially pre-recession), and I've had pretty decent dim sum and even coq au vin delivered to my door. But put anything in a tinfoil carton and it has the habit of taking the glamour off. The problem is that you almost always know that you could have whipped something much nicer (and a lot cheaper) up yourself, and if you are going to splash out, why not just go out and do it in style?

All those suffering from a bad hangover might say 'never again', but this time I might just mean it.

Comments

Whisk Cooking

22 September 2010, 11:52AM
Whisk Cooking

I made a great King Prawn Korma last night and it tasted better than any I have bought as a take away or from a restaurant. That is not to say that I'm the best cook in the world but I have found the perfect recipe. It's not all from scratch and not all from a bottle, it's a great half way house. The recipe comes with three little sachets of pre mixed spices from Sainsburys. You get loads of different herbs and spices that suit the dish and are not left with loads of bottles of stuff you may not use again. It is all wrapped in recylable packaging too so in the morning after there's no reminders soaking in the sink :-). It takes 30 mins to marinate the prawns or chicken and then 20 mins to make - simple!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Gemma

22 September 2010, 4:02PM
Gemma

There is nothing so satisfying as creating something tasty and delicious that you have made yourself with proper ingredients. That said, I am totally at home to a takeaway: pizza, chinese, curry - I really don't mind, I love them all. For me, it's more about the not having to get in the kitchen, not having to clear up afterwards. Not having to worry, sometimes. Just kicking back and waiting for the doorbell can be a very nice feeling :)

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Tom secrets!

22 September 2010, 11:35PM
Tom secrets!

And to the right of the article I read: Order Chinese Takeaway Order delicious Chinese food online from your favourite takeaway! www.Just-Eat.co.uk Good to see the internet has a sense of humour!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Stavros

24 September 2010, 1:18PM
Stavros

I love a good takeaway, no doubt about it, but I fully agree, seeing the remnants the next morning fills me with a feeling of self-loathing. Well, guilt at least. The most food related guilt I have felt though was when I was accosted by a takeaway delivery man on his scooter as though I were an old friend - you just know you're overdoing it then!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
ZeTallGerman

3 October 2010, 12:36PM
ZeTallGerman

Hmmm, I used to like a takeaway for the weekend, but considering the amount of MSG, Ghee (in curries) and salt used and hidden in many of those meals, I do prefer to make my own... at least I know "what's in it", and actually a prawn masala or a home made stir fry with steamed rice are healthy and low in fat! I made onion bhajis and raita yesterday: it was a surprisingly quick and easy (and cheap!) affair!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Meryl

3 October 2010, 5:20PM
Meryl

I still like the odd fish n' chips or chinese, especially when home late and need it sooner rather than later. But having said that I always wake up in the night very thirsty with a very dry mouth afterwards ...must be the extra salt or additives? I don't know. 99% of the time myself or my hubby will cook (a passion we share), and Good Food has so many quick recipes...the Chicken Korma for instance with yogurt. Food can be so tasty, cheap and healthy, I can never understand why so many people live on ready meals today. They really are missing out big time!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Oli

9 October 2010, 6:23PM
Oli

Guys, come on!!!!! ... this is not about whether you can cook better or fresher than a take away (as you probably can). The real point of a take away is about a CONVENIENT INDULGENCE. So when your fridge is not full of Duck and hoi sin sauce and you dont have the spices required to create an amazing asian concoction .... PLUS .... you just want to let the chef in you have the night off, the phone (or interweb) gives you a plethora of choice. As to the issue of coming down to loads of crusty old tins (or recyclabe plastic as my trusty indian proffers), my advice would be bin it BEFORE bed time!!!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Kerry

20 October 2010, 3:31PM
Kerry

I agree with Oli. The only time we have takeaways is when I'm on a late shift or we've been out all day. If I've got time to cook I will. And we eat healthy most of the time so it's nice to have a blow-out.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Maya

22 October 2010, 8:44PM
Maya

Takeaways are fun, convenient and easy however whipping your self up a meal can be healthy and cheaper. Get a good balance and then you can really enjoy a wicked treat.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Dan Thunder

27 October 2010, 9:35AM
Dan Thunder

Boy, I must be one of the few lucky people with really nice takeaways around because I know that I could never make a better chinese or indian meal than the places nearby. Plus, you don't really 'splash out' on a takeaway. For most people getting a takeaway is a far cheaper option than buying all the ingredients necessary for asian/indian style food. Let's be honest, most British people would spend a fortune on herbs/spices etc to create a chinese banquet and would then leave them sitting in the back of a cupboard for another two years before chucking them out! Reading the article it's not really an issue with the food more the author as they seem to indicate that it's more to do with the circumstances that you find yourself in when eating them.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Quokka

28 October 2010, 8:20AM
Quokka

I also have wonderful restaurants nearby that not only do takeaways but also provide a home delivery service - utter bliss!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons to sign up:

You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
You can add your own recipes to this site for others to try; plus, rate and make comments on recipes, and share your views on our blog.
You can sign up for our weekly newsletter (sent out on Wednesdays) - it's packed with recipes, special offers and competitions.