I LOVE a buffet! There is a place in Narbonne, southern France called "Les Grands Buffets" and it is the most insane thing you've ever seen. A huge, incredible quality French buffet where you can get everything from all you can eat oysters to cheese, lobster, steak and truffles. I think it's been discovered by social media people now so I don't know what it's like anymore, but I still really want to go back, for the cheese alone
oh man oh man! Take me, please! I hear ya on the cheese thing. I like buffets because there are often things I would never try on my own. And i don't like it, the meal is not ruined!
I looked it up after chatting about it here and it turns out the waiting list is like 6 months! We walked in without a reservation last time I visited but it's clearly now on the map
Breakfast buffets in Hilton brands are--while still dire--much better in the UK than in the US. I wrote to Hilton to point this out, and recall a reply in which they said they follow local standards. In other words, Americans are happy to eat simulated food in abundance, knowing no better (a theme of 1920s writer Louis Bronstein, Ohio farmboy turned expat in France, who also became an organic foods pioneer). Or perhaps the national tendency to be "positive" makes people reluctant to push for better. I bring homemade granola on my travels, and add it to the hotel's yogurt.
Kerrygold did such great service in showing America how butter should taste, and I wondered if the University of Wisconsin agriculture people were encouraging Wisconsin farmers to grow grass for their dairy cows, and produce better butter. The first reply I got referred me to the Butter Professor (or whatever), who never replied. Now, with tariffs, the price of Kerrygold is through the roof, and I can only hope the Butter People at UW are paying attention.
You definitely gave me a different perspective! I have always avoided all you can eat buffets after experiencing some not very pleasant ones. Time to get out of my comfort zone and revisit 😁
Your take is very different from mine ... but, as you suggested, American buffets are particularly bad and gluttonous. I can share the link to my story here if you're cool with it.
Yes! Amazing. One of the great perks of working in a rapidly growing hotel chain was that I was sent to help onboard new hotels in over 50 countries! Turkish and Middle Eastern breakfasts were among the best. Scandinavian and many European breakfasts were also often great.
Of course, the problem with being an international brand was that we often turned exceptional local cuisine into international bland.
I love me a good buffet meal! Love the variety-- I can always find something to enjoy! We live in Bangkok, and our favorite meal has got to be an AYCE hotpot chain here, either Lucky Suki or Suki Teenoi. Eat in AC comfort, soft drinks included, order via QR code, the robots will deliver all the thinly sliced meats, seafoods, tofu/eggs/fishcakes, rice/noodles, a bunch of different veggies...there's even free fried appetizers and a steam cabinet for sui mai (meh, frozen type), but the steamed bao buns (bbq pork and lava custard--that's our favorite!). We try to lean on the healthy side: proteins, fish/shrimp, tofu, veggies. And try to limit noodles and skip the rice!
On holidays we might hit up a touristy hotel buffet, or when we want MEAT, we head to the many Korean BBQ restaurants here too, Ha-ha!
Buffets are a double edged sword for me, and I hate paying "that much," so I end up stuffing myself silly. Most time I regret eating THAT MUCH, but I do like variety.
One of my guilty pleasures of Asian travel is the breakfast buffet at large, higher end hotels. The international selection is unbelievable and of great quality. You can try dim sum, then a made to order omlette, all the way to Scandinavian fruit muesli and Lox.
100% agree on buffets outside the US. The only two exceptions for us in the US is/was the Wynn buffet in Las Vegas (great food, but very expensive) and the now defunct Souplantation. Anywhere else I feel like you’re gambling with your life!
I especially appreciate a buffet if I can't decide what I'm hungry for. I like to be able to design my own plate. Just wash your hands after touching all those serving utensils...
I’m with you. It obviously depends on the quality of the buffet, but when it’s good, I love it for the variety. My favorite was in Japan where they had some type of pickle buffet where you could taste 101 different kind of vegetable dishes (not all pickles). Amazing.
I was going to chime in about Scandinavian hotel chains’ good breakfast buffets but then I saw what you had to say about Cambodia…. Yes to noodle-stations!!!!
I LOVE a buffet! There is a place in Narbonne, southern France called "Les Grands Buffets" and it is the most insane thing you've ever seen. A huge, incredible quality French buffet where you can get everything from all you can eat oysters to cheese, lobster, steak and truffles. I think it's been discovered by social media people now so I don't know what it's like anymore, but I still really want to go back, for the cheese alone
oh man oh man! Take me, please! I hear ya on the cheese thing. I like buffets because there are often things I would never try on my own. And i don't like it, the meal is not ruined!
Shoot! I was in Narbonne in October —twice actually — and never found the buffet you described. Worth a trip back.
I looked it up after chatting about it here and it turns out the waiting list is like 6 months! We walked in without a reservation last time I visited but it's clearly now on the map
Breakfast buffets in Hilton brands are--while still dire--much better in the UK than in the US. I wrote to Hilton to point this out, and recall a reply in which they said they follow local standards. In other words, Americans are happy to eat simulated food in abundance, knowing no better (a theme of 1920s writer Louis Bronstein, Ohio farmboy turned expat in France, who also became an organic foods pioneer). Or perhaps the national tendency to be "positive" makes people reluctant to push for better. I bring homemade granola on my travels, and add it to the hotel's yogurt.
How sad and true! And now Americans know no better. 🫤🫤🫤
Kerrygold did such great service in showing America how butter should taste, and I wondered if the University of Wisconsin agriculture people were encouraging Wisconsin farmers to grow grass for their dairy cows, and produce better butter. The first reply I got referred me to the Butter Professor (or whatever), who never replied. Now, with tariffs, the price of Kerrygold is through the roof, and I can only hope the Butter People at UW are paying attention.
I need to develop a better appreciation of butter. I'm the one who is indifferent
Try Brittany butter, the salted kind
.
For you, I will! Seriously, I'll try to seek it out.
You definitely gave me a different perspective! I have always avoided all you can eat buffets after experiencing some not very pleasant ones. Time to get out of my comfort zone and revisit 😁
Let me know how it goes...
Your take is very different from mine ... but, as you suggested, American buffets are particularly bad and gluttonous. I can share the link to my story here if you're cool with it.
Sure! And yes, American buffets are awful, don't quite get that
And now for something completely different :)
https://todaysmuse.substack.com/p/muse-28-the-one-big-beautiful-buffet
In Norwegian hotels, breakfast buffets can be great. Hotels compete annually for the Best Breakfast Buffet.
https://www.visitnorway.com/hotels-more/hotels/norways-best-breakfast/
Love it! Must visit! ❤️
Let me know when you go. I know managers at a couple of the recent winning hotels. Happy buffeting!
🙂🙂🙂
Have you had Turkish breakfast?
Yes! Amazing. One of the great perks of working in a rapidly growing hotel chain was that I was sent to help onboard new hotels in over 50 countries! Turkish and Middle Eastern breakfasts were among the best. Scandinavian and many European breakfasts were also often great.
Of course, the problem with being an international brand was that we often turned exceptional local cuisine into international bland.
Some of that is always happening, I guess. 🫤
Even Nomad Foodies admit that there's nothing better at the start of the day than an extravagant buffet breakfast in your hotel
Hehe. One thing we can all agree on then!
I love people watching at buffets, but I think you know this. I might like that more than the food although some of that can be pretty good depending.
Haha, this is a good point. And I can be a little judge-y, even though I shouldn't be!
I love me a good buffet meal! Love the variety-- I can always find something to enjoy! We live in Bangkok, and our favorite meal has got to be an AYCE hotpot chain here, either Lucky Suki or Suki Teenoi. Eat in AC comfort, soft drinks included, order via QR code, the robots will deliver all the thinly sliced meats, seafoods, tofu/eggs/fishcakes, rice/noodles, a bunch of different veggies...there's even free fried appetizers and a steam cabinet for sui mai (meh, frozen type), but the steamed bao buns (bbq pork and lava custard--that's our favorite!). We try to lean on the healthy side: proteins, fish/shrimp, tofu, veggies. And try to limit noodles and skip the rice!
On holidays we might hit up a touristy hotel buffet, or when we want MEAT, we head to the many Korean BBQ restaurants here too, Ha-ha!
That sounds lovely! I have only had food delivered by robots once. A little disturbing! 😉
Thailand is truly next level, foodwise
Buffets are a double edged sword for me, and I hate paying "that much," so I end up stuffing myself silly. Most time I regret eating THAT MUCH, but I do like variety.
Hehehe. A little giuttony is always okay....
Here here! I'm a fan of these for the same reasons.
Rationalization? I think not!
Never!
When I was introduced to allyoucaneat, it was called smorgasbord. And it was at a truck stop & totally delish!
Hehe unlikely places are always good
One of my guilty pleasures of Asian travel is the breakfast buffet at large, higher end hotels. The international selection is unbelievable and of great quality. You can try dim sum, then a made to order omlette, all the way to Scandinavian fruit muesli and Lox.
Absolutely!!! Don't understand why it's impossible in the U.S.
100% agree on buffets outside the US. The only two exceptions for us in the US is/was the Wynn buffet in Las Vegas (great food, but very expensive) and the now defunct Souplantation. Anywhere else I feel like you’re gambling with your life!
Yes if you pay through the nose, you can get those buffets in the U.S. But you definitely pay!!
I especially appreciate a buffet if I can't decide what I'm hungry for. I like to be able to design my own plate. Just wash your hands after touching all those serving utensils...
Oh yes! I'm a stickler for content hand washing! And I always feel like the ONLY one.
Same! (Well, Matt does it too)
We'll all have OCD together.
I’m with you. It obviously depends on the quality of the buffet, but when it’s good, I love it for the variety. My favorite was in Japan where they had some type of pickle buffet where you could taste 101 different kind of vegetable dishes (not all pickles). Amazing.
That does sound amazing! 🤤🤤🤤
I was going to chime in about Scandinavian hotel chains’ good breakfast buffets but then I saw what you had to say about Cambodia…. Yes to noodle-stations!!!!
😂😂😂😂
Variety is GOOD.