Gothamist: Retro TV Dinners Get Uptown Twist at the Regency
Those retro TV dinners with the pre-formulated portions aren’t just for Eisenhower-era loners anymore; the factory-made frozen meals have been cleverly revived for big city sophisticates dining at the Regency Hotel’s 540 Park restaurant. The first Swanson TV Brand Frozen Dinner sold for 98 cents in 1953; at the Regency it’s been brought up to date for $30.
Chef Andrew Rubin is offering three iterations on the classic, each one served on that famous, sectioned tray, symbol of a more orderly time. Rubin’s haute versions include a pot roast slow-braised in Burgundian Pinot Noir, accompanied by red cabbage, baby potatoes, broccoli and chocolate pudding as dessert. His wild salmon comes with sushi rice, seaweed salad, and caramelized green tea crème brulee. A third dinner stars fried chicken with cornbread, peas and cherry cobbler.
The only downside is that the dinners are not delivered to the table with a black and white television set; to really affect the middle-class nostalgia trip you’ll have to book a room at The Regency, turn on some Honeymooners reruns and summon the TV dinner to your room.
The picture of it looks pretty good, but then they always do.
That’s like four day lunches at Burger King. Do you get a nickel bag with it?
bento?
I enjoy these TV dinners. I actually prefer the Hungry Man meals. Would not pay $30 for one though, doesn’t matter who the chef is, they just ain’t worth that price.
If I were going to pay thirty bucks to eat chocolate pudding off something made of plastic I would expect it to be Pamela Anderson’s chest.
The picture of it looks pretty good, but then they always do.
I met a woman who photographed many foods for packaging. Although she made good money, it took a lot of work to make mashed potatoes look like ice cream. The broccoli was varnished, as was the turkey. But it all made your tummy rumble seeing it.
Why do I keep getting:
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#5. Yes, food photographers are evil, deceitful people. Especially the ones who work for the fast food chains.
Ok one way around this foolishness.
Nothing more then Premium pricing (also called prestige pricing). This is a strategy of consistently pricing at, or near, the high end of the possible price range to help attract status-conscious consumers (The definition of an average American).
Most Americans believe a high price is an indication of good quality
Most Americans believe pay for high prices is a sign of self worth – “They are worth it”
Saudis knows this
Starbucks (Big Bucks) knows this
Part 2
Every MBA knows this
Most Americans don’t know this.
Too many Americans with money lie to themselves
It’s part of the American Character
This is why a lackluster “C” graded MBA can take America to WAR on a lie.
This is why inflation is hard to control; because, Americans will use every excuse in the book to pay more.
This is how the Average American dumb-shit is hurting the country.
The picture of it looks pretty good, but then they always do.
Well, they aren’t really frozen dinners, are they?
I got the impression that they were freshly cooked restaurant meals, served in TV dinner like plates.
The Picture on the “Manufactured” Food Product is ALWAYS BETTER than what you get inside !!! And I like the way the TV Models have to hold the tiny “Food Products” by their finger tips so the “Food Product” looks larger than it really is !!!