Have you ever actually asked your friends to go to Phở Bac instead?

I love the M.F.K. Fisher reference. Bravo!

@1 - It's not all that easy, socially, to suggest lowering the group's standards like that. I also have a circle of friends who enjoy a much costlier lifestyle than I can afford, but I made it clear a long time ago that if it's ever my treat, we're going to Taco del Mar. It has not yet been my treat.

Why the hell don't you cook for your friends?

Rub down and toss an pork shoulder in the oven.

Pan fry some sliced brussel sprouts in bacon fat.

Throw together a green salad, add some green olives and feta to make it festive.

Make a soda bread.

Make a apple tart with shortbread crust for dessert.

Put a box of wine in a nice carafe.

Have I hit the $100 mark yet. Will this feed less than 6 people? Well, normal people.

Can we change the name to 'I A Whinermouse' yet?

Oh, if you want recipes, holler.

I love it! The way this town has gotten so over-priced and high-falutent, it wont be long before we can call ourselves "Detroit- Part Deux"

How dare those loans be forced upon you.

Pho bac is GREAT! Eat there even if your freinds don't want to. Problem solved.

Your friends that love you and understand your financial situation will still appreciate your willingness to entertain them, albeit at a lower cost than you would like to. When your college education comes to fruition hopefully you can dazzle them with the kind of meal that you think they deserve.

First World problems.

Learn to cook and to have dinner parties. That way you can be gluten-free organic vegan hipsters all you like.

Or just find a better grade of friends.

@10: Yes Tucatz, we live in the "First World", and therefore most of our problems are "First World Problems".

Using that teminology just makes you sound like a DUCHEBAG. But of course this is Seattle, so you probably are a douchebag.

Actually, I live in UAE, not Seattle. I see the workers here and how they live, and have shared dinner with them on occasion. (I spend a fair amount of time in the Sanayia district.) I've been flat-ass broke and living on minimum wage. Have you?

So yes, First World Problems. Also known as spoiled rich kid whining. Get out of your upper middle class neighborhood and see what's around you. See how the other half lives. Then see if you feel like complaining that you can't afford free-range grass-fed tofu.

Actually, I live in UAE, not Seattle...

Than you have no qualification to even comment on this issue. Even if you "used" to live in Seattle.

And, I'm sorry you live in a Fucked Up place like UAE, but that's your problem.

You are a douche bag.

Shame on you Arthur. This is not a forum for your misguided and adolescent comments that indicate you are a bored troll from My N.W.com. Please to go elsewhere to be an asshole.

You need new friends.

@4 Who dosent want recipies?

I don't understand why you would even want to be friends with the sort of people who instagram their yuppiefare; are you hoping they'll help you land a better job, or something?

I don't understand why you would even want to be friends with the sort of people who instagram their yuppiefare; are you hoping they'll help you land a better job, or something?

Isn't that 70 or 80% of all the 20-somethings in Seattle?

Did all the uneducated trolls from My N.W. com come over here? Christ, I was hoping for some intelligent dialogue, not ignorant criticism.

Sure longwayhome, break out the worn out old chestnuts... You only finger yourself as a self-absorbed Seattle douche.

And I've never been to "My N.W. com", but please go on acting like a spoiled 20-something. It fits you well.

People who say "First World Problems" should be executed in a third-world manner.

@1: Probably not. Pho is great, most anything in the ID is great and sofuckingcheap, even the Yelpiest foodies enjoy the fare, so we get this passive-aggressive whining versus actually solving his problem.

"Hey guys, want to do a tour of the ID?" is not tough. But you have to actually ask people versus sitting at home, griping because you're not invited to something but not setting up the sorts of activities you ~want~ to have.

And re:

"The thing is, you can't afford any of that stuff either"

Maybe they're just better with money and/or spend the non-foodporn time with boxed mac & cheese.

Arthur, you are defensive of your comments because you know down deep in your black little inner self that you are an asshole, a troll and not capable of coming up with any solutions to life's problems,so you take it out on the only public forum that lets you do so without restrictions on your immature language and name calling. Try not using middle school words to describe your adversaries, you probably can't speak or type without them. Sorry for your loss of communication skills.