Ordering a version of your homemade family favorite is going to be a letdown. Rye McKinney CEO Tanner Agar suggests choosing meals that require high-tech equipment or skills to make.
In short, for the best gastronomic experience, you should order foods that you can’t make at home.
E. Coli Can and Will Contaminate Flour
Raw dough, whether pizza dough or cookie dough, can be laced with E. coli, as well as Salmonella. In fact, in 2019 General Mills recalled 600,000 pounds of Gold Medal flour for E. coli contamination. A deadly strain of the bacteria was discovered in its Kansas City facility during random testing of samples.
Baking the dough at 160 degrees F or hotter is sufficient to kill the bacteria. It’s best to wash your hands before handling the dough and make sure prep surfaces are clean.
Is Custom Ordering a Good Idea?
In general, requesting menu alterations is not advised. Chef Christopher Faulkner explained to Delish that unless the customer is allergic to something, they should never substitute one ingredient for another.
The idea is that the diner is not as skilled as the chef and that concocting a new menu item will usually be less tasty and less satisfying. The chef knows what he’s doing. Also, any alterations can cause confusion in the kitchen. The chance of you receiving what you ordered is lower with each change you request. Keep it simple.
Luxury Items
If you don’t want to get ripped off, there are some menu items that should be avoided. Luxury foods like white truffles, and Kobe beef, for instance, may not have the quality of the value. Since everyone is aware that such foods are delicacies, the restaurant knows it can mark them up to any price.
The rare value, and the fact that you usually don’t prepare them at home, make it easy for restaurants to turn a profit. But the reality is, you can make these delicacies at home, and it’s much easier than you think. You will save a bundle too.
Don’t Get Gouged on Valentine’s Day
Going out on Valentine’s day is a rip-off. Crowded kitchens, busy staff, and overflowing dining rooms mean your meal is going to be unsatisfying. Chefs are the first to say this. Gordon Ramsey explained to Town & Country that you can't get a feel for a restaurant when it's just too busy.
Chef Ramsey suggests that we all cook at home on Valentine's Day. Truthfully, there is nothing more romantic than a bottle of wine and a home-cooked meal.