# Republicans and Applebee's **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091 "2006-11-04T14:42:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/21 "2006-11-05T19:07:38Z")
[QUOTE=Crafter\_Man] All 12 members? Wow, that will really impact their bottom line. 😛 [/QUOTE] Moderator **NOTE** I know it’s tough, but let’s try to keep the non-op related comments to a minimum, especially if they’re snarky in content. It would seem that Johnny L.A. answered his own question here, finding the book that is current. Notice the book was co-authored by professional hit-men, one working for the Pubs and the other for the Dems. They’re for hire media people. Connection made. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@The\_Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Octagon)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/22 "2006-11-05T20:03:23Z")
I’m guessing it’s because Applebee’s is the McDonald’s of the upper middle class. Same goes for Chili’s, Bennigan’s, etc. > [@](#): > > This is what boggles my mind. People actually buy into this stuff. Are you serious? Many people shop at wal-mart exclusively. In the mind of the average consumer, the local business has become a dive. You’re taking a risk going there. The name brand is what people can trust to find the exact same mundane experience no matter where in America they live. People LIKE placelessness. It’s easier. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/23 "2006-11-05T20:31:22Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] What’s the connection? [/QUOTE] None that I know of, other than the obvious fact that probably half their customers are Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/24 "2006-11-05T20:33:55Z")
Girlcott? What does that mean? Is that a feminized version of boycott? If so, why? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/25 "2006-11-05T22:06:02Z")
[QUOTE=audiobottle] Girlcott? What does that mean? Is that a feminized version of boycott? If so, why? [/QUOTE] I belive ‘girlcott’ comes from Captain Charlene Girlcott, who was Earl Erestine’s agent in Éirinn. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/26 "2006-11-06T02:23:12Z")
Well, I heard that “Girlcott” was the opposite of boycott. That is, somebody would girlcott a corporation that they believe to be responsible, like Ben & Jerry’s before they were bought out. (More specifically, I recall that New Zealand was girlcotted in the 1980s for their ban on nondeclared nuclear-powered ships.) That’s not what AskNot meant though. [The Urban Dictionary gives some help](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=girlcott). ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/27 "2006-11-06T09:58:29Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Wanderer] I also think a lot of people have been successfully marketed on the idea that “A lot of junk on the wall” = “Good eating”. [/quote] Very successful marketing, and totally the opposite of reality. Nearly every restaurant owner I’ve worked for (chain restaurant or genuine local place) will remodel the dining room six times before they’ll shell out for a new spatula. I’ve worked in new-construction restaurants that have gorgeous dining room decor, and a kitchen full of broken-down, used equipment that the owner got a “great deal” on. > [@](#): > > I have never eaten at Applebees, but what I have heard from folks who I trust in gustatorial matters, is that it is crap. I’ve worked with two cooks who previously worked for Applebee’s. Both told me that, with a few exceptions, everything on the menu comes pre-portioned, pre-cooked, and pre-packaged, and requires little more than microwaving. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/28 "2006-11-06T10:27:21Z")
[QUOTE=2gigch1] Perhaps it’s a backhanded reference to what is perceived as a false American experience - the ‘neighborhood bar/restaurant’ that is actually a chain. It may be a reference to a cookie cutter interpretation of the American experience rather than a genuine neighborhood bar, and thus if it preferred by Republicans than it may mean Republicans prefer a false idealistic impression of American society rather than the ‘truth’ of a real local resaturant… At least that’s my wild guess - when in doubt assume it’s an insult. [/QUOTE] Day-um! Good answer. Welcome to the boards! [QUOTE=SmackFu] The people writing the bits are urban Democrats who are ignoring the fact that there are plenty of Applebees in blue states like Connecticut. [/QUOTE] C’mon. There are plenty of “red state” people in the “blue states.” Certainly enough to support all sorts of inferior chain restaurants. In fact, the only time I’ve ever eaten at Crapper Barrel was in CT. (Even “blue state” types can make culinary errors.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/29 "2006-11-06T12:58:01Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] I’ve worked with two cooks who previously worked for Applebee’s. Both told me that, with a few exceptions, everything on the menu comes pre-portioned, pre-cooked, and pre-packaged, and requires little more than microwaving. [/QUOTE] A friend of mine did some electrical work in a pretentious little restaurant Italian in Blaine. He said their freezer was stocked with pre-made bulk food from CostCo. A former employer commented that he liked the food there. It makes sense, since they don’t have to pay someone who actually knows how to cook; and a lot of frozen food is pretty good. But it seems a bit underhanded for such a restaurant to basically tart up a TV Dinner. How common is this, I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![MrFloppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@MrFloppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFloppy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/30 "2006-11-06T13:07:42Z")
I like Outback because of the genuine Aussie cuisine! Bonzer! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/31 "2006-11-06T18:43:55Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] A friend of mine did some electrical work in a pretentious little restaurant Italian in Blaine. He said their freezer was stocked with pre-made bulk food from CostCo. A former employer commented that he liked the food there. It makes sense, since they don’t have to pay someone who actually knows how to cook; and a lot of frozen food is pretty good. But it seems a bit underhanded for such a restaurant to basically tart up a TV Dinner. How common is this, I wonder? [/QUOTE] I know plenty of restaurant owners shop at CostCo. But they buy bulk _ingredients_. For some things, the stuff you can get at CostCo is just as good as what you get from the “foodservice distributor”. I seem to remember seeing fresh pasta at the local CostCo; could your electrician friend have simply seen packages of frozen pasta? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091/32 "2006-11-06T19:54:10Z")
[QUOTE=Measure for Measure] Well, I heard that “Girlcott” was the opposite of boycott. That is, somebody would girlcott a corporation that they believe to be responsible, like Ben & Jerry’s before they were bought out. (More specifically, I recall that New Zealand was girlcotted in the 1980s for their ban on nondeclared nuclear-powered ships.) That’s not what AskNot meant though. [The Urban Dictionary gives some help](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=girlcott). [/QUOTE] My first thought was a [Lysistrata](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata) operation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-applebees/379091.md?page=1)