Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

[Ne0nRa1n]

Every year the price of eating restaurant food three times a day during the conference just kills me. Not to mention that the food at the Riv isn't really anything to get excited about in the first place.

How do you all survive? Do you just suck it up and eat at the Riv for the entire time of the conference? Do you just not eat at all and live off Red Bull instead? Is everyday another experience at the Peppermill?

As it is right now, I am pretty much just planning on living off of coffee and biscotti to try to keep within my budget.

[abyssknight]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

Last year I hit the food court at the Riv pretty hard. I'll admit, I'm not a connoisseur of fine dishes so I got by. Granted, that expense came at a cost but I prepared for that (sort of).

This year I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Might hit up Toxic BBQ, parties, maybe even vendor shindigs if I can get invited. I know a few people hit the grocery store a few times throughout the con, but I don't know where you'd cook anything.

How is the Riv buffet anyways? Never dared head up there last year. I think I ate Quiznos like everyday.

[Ne0nRa1n]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

How is the Riv buffet anyways? Never dared head up there last year. I think I ate Quiznos like everyday.

I actually really have no idea what the buffet is like personally. I can only eat small meals at a time (although I eat lots of them), so the buffet has never really been worth it for me.

[noid]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

If you can catch it when the line isnt too long, the buffet isn't bad. Personally I just hit a grocery store at some point before things kick off and do a little shopping. Get the value size bag of cheese sticks, cereal, lunch meat, etc. Then again I've got dietary needs that have to be met and almost nothing at the Riv is on my 'things I can eat' list.

[hexjunkie]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

If you have no care about your health or well being..

McDonalds Dollar Menu is right across the street.

If its between a nice meal or beer.. I'll pick McDonald's and Beer any day :)

[Jarett]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

I'll tend to do 1 nice meal per trip. A steakhouse or something up the strip (monamigabi or sushi). I love Lotus of Siam off the strip best Thai ever.

Apart from that I bring metrx meal replacement bars and beef jerky and trail mix bags. Thats usually 1 meal a day.

[dsc]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

Slots of Fun---right across the street from the Riv---has footlong hotdogs for $1.50, (I think they used to be .99) If you're on a budget, $3.00 a day can go a long way! Not saying I encourage it...but I'm not saying I'm above it either.

Just sayin.

[Club81]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

I eat Fat Burger on my way to the Riv (I stay down the strip), drink 5-6 24oz beers from the ABC store for lunch, and then eat food court for supper. Repeat and rinse THUR-SAT. About a $40 day on food/drink. Not cheap, but better bang for the buck than one trip to the Wynn Buffet for the same cost.

And, yes, I'll hit Slots-a-Fun with dsc for footlongs and margaritas. $5 ftw.

[astcell]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

Beer is actually nourishing. Not so much the hard stuff. Thursday is the Toxic BBQ, then party until 4am, look for small plates of horses ovaries and other snacks. Carry redbull. One vendor offers poison apples, you build up an immunity. McD's will help in a pinch, Peppermill loves us, Kady's is great for a big breakfast, and all the parties have pretzels. The restaurant near the east pool entrance has great steak and is not as noisy. Bring a bag of peanut, trailmix, beef jerky, or such to carry on your person.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

Daily trips to the grocery store in rental car, often in the morning. Guinness in the can can be found there. Years ago, when I mostly visited presentations all day, I would buy dry foods and drink and lug it with me in my backpack so I could stay in presentation rooms all day. When presentations became less informative, I'd still have dry foods and liquid refreshments, but I would also go with other people to eat with them at a buffet, or other location.

Now I eat at least one hot meal each day, and sometimes i don't even touch the dry foods.

Having a rental car makes the exploration of Las Vegas in the several days leading up to Defcon, easier.Red Rock Desert, Atomic Testing Museum, Toxic BBQ, SushiCon, Defcon Shoot, locksmith supply shop (I don't go there anymore, though) -- all are easier with a rental car.

[sintax_error]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

...I know a few people hit the grocery store a few times throughout the con, but I don't know where you'd cook anything...

I believe the accepted method involves an iron, but you need to make sure to use linens to make sure it's coked thoroughly.

Portable meals that will keep either in a cooler (lunchables, etc.) or at room temp (MRE's, dehydrated, etc.) can go a long way to keep you fed. Snack foods are usually good to keep in the room (jerky, chips, pretzels, etc.) for those instances of the drunk muchies, and things like Boost, Ensure and granola/meal bars are always good to keep in your pack. I think what you want to plan on eating during con depends on what you do at con. If you're going to bed at 0600 and getting up at 0800, you're probably going to want more nutrition than McD's and beer alone can provide. My 2¢, YMMV, Objects in mirror appear closer than they are, sold as a novelty only, do not ingest rectally, if you experience an erection lasting longer than four hours, contact your physician immediately, etc. etc. etc.

[Club81]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

Damn -- some of you guys are prepping like you're going to be wondering out in the jungle. Backpacks full of Ensure, jerky, GORP, and related snacks that are suitable for lunar missions. I figured everyone's packs were full of beer and Cheetos like mine. :-)

[sintax_error]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

No one said backpacks full of survival food. I'd imagine ~80% of backpacks you see at con have a sizeable amount of alcohol in them. The thing you need to be conscious of is what we all put our bodies and livers through during con and try to somewhat balance that with what you eat.

[Metatron]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

I figure I'll just wonder up the strip and look for somewhere that has a half decent burger or pizza once a day. Coffee for breakfast and chocolate covered espresso beans throughout the day.

[Salem]

Re: Does everyone just eat at the hotel during all of DEFCON?

I believe the accepted method involves an iron, but you need to make sure to use linens to make sure it's coked thoroughly.

Heheheh. Yes, we have learned that burgers and bacon can be cooked using the in-room irons.

I also recommend an electric water boiler for coffee, tea, and instant noodle type foods.