Help, I don't feel addicted to Chowhound anymore ! - moved from Boston board

[Buddernut]

Ahh, this was my guilty addiction. Who ate where.....Maybe I'll go there next. Best Bread, worst drinks, juciest meats, best fried claims. Quietest place for a date, Rowdiest place for a group. I looked forward with the excitement like the" LIttlest Who" on the Grinch that stole Christmas to see what the next post or followup was. THe tips have been fantastic and spot on. The most trust-worthy site in this field. But what's happend....We need to kick up the comments a notch. It's just general blog talk.... I just don't have that tingle in my drawers anymore. I check and check, and there's nothing that says "you've got to go here, or there". There no stand-out food items. Have I just done it all and ate it all (say it ain't so Joe). The weekends come and I desperately want to find someplace fun and with good food. But, I'm stymied.

Please help a foodie addict get excited again. I'm sitting here all bug-eyed with my coffee, ready to read some excitement about a new place, new dish, new scene. I want to feel butterflies again ! Thanks, I feel a bit better now (sigh!)

[bostongal]

I have to say I feel the exact same way...maybe everyone is cutting back on eating out lately, so there isn't as much banter about new places (as new places might be a disappointment, versus tried and true places, so why risk it in this economy). It seems no new info lately, just same places mentioned over and over again. Sigh. I too want the fire to be lit again!

[greygarious]

This should have stayed on the Boston board, IMO. Have you seen www.publicradiokitchen.org? It has a smattering of specific restaurant info but also links to a number of pertinent blogs.

[rworange]

>>> I'm sitting here all bug-eyed with my coffee, ready to read some excitement about a new place, new dish, new scene. I want to feel butterflies again

You don't have your Chowhound wings yet?

First, Chowhound is an interactive game, not a specator sport.

Second, after reading Chowhound a while, you sort of develop a sense about chow worthy places. You read about a place, see a new place opening, or take a second look at a place you've passed by for years ... and something about it promises deliciousness. So, you really don't know need Chowhound for the tips anymore. You've crawled out of your cocoon and fly on your own.

Seriously. Post about something to get activity growing. If you read about a new restaurant you are curious about, post an inquiry.

Or just walk into a place you've passed a zillion times, take a really close look at the menu. What is different about this place? Ask about the different dish and give it a try if it sounds intereting. Almost all places have something unique on the menu.

Or post about anything you like. That great cup of coffee (which reminds me I have a great coffee place I meant to post about ... a drive thru at that). Post about the terrific something you've picked up from the market or deli.

If you want activity, create it.

The SF Chowhounds have actually taken action to get new people on the board and posting.

Chowing down with the SF Bay chowhounds!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/668213

So what kind of coffee is that you are drinking? Post about it. Or if you are bored with it ask where to get better.

That being said, I don't think it is really the economy that is leading to fewer posts. Actually that should lead to better posts. People making more of their dwindling dollars by choosing the most delicious ... be that a hot new spot or the sandwich shop.

IMO, what is killing the posting is this dreadful software. As enthusiastic as I am, I just can't stand it anymore. I read less and less. There's lots of bells and whistles on the site ... bells that don't ring and whistles that don't toot.

And I can't believe what I read in another thread that a lot of the techinical staff is on vacation ... after a major installation. I guess the thought was that there would be no problems. Since every single installation since the site was sold has been nothing but buggy ... weeks and sometimes months of buggy ... I can't see what the assumption was made on to think this didn't need staff to shovel up the usual mess.

[grayelf]

I don't know if this is the right thread to post this, but I did want to mention how much better the editing of a post is for me at least. I used to dread it because it would hang, or revert to a previous version or whatever. None of these things have happened to me since the revamp. So thanks for that, Chow Software Folk!