Watch Out for Diet Cocktails
It turns out that people imbibing in diet cocktails consume more alcohol than other drinkers. One study found that people who consumed bar drinks made with diet soda tested at a blood-alcohol level that was 25 percent higher than those who drank standard cocktails.
Plus, folks tend to order more and eat more when they drink diet mixed drinks.
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.
A Well-Done Steak
Why Bother? Beef jerky is a lot less expensive and tastes pretty much the same. Ordering a steak well-done is essentially asking for a meal with all of the flavor cooked out of it. Food poisoning is no joke, but medium or medium-rare is sufficient.
Chefs agree. One chef known as Chef Geoff sparked a red-hot Reddit meme. when basically stating that anyone who has the audacity to order a steak well done, should be promptly asked to leave.
Value Combo Meals Aren’t Worth It
You’ve heard it a million times. ‘Get fries and a drink with that for just a buck more.’ You’re at the register trying to make a quick decision. You’re thinking, ‘more is better,’ and, ‘I don’t have to eat all the fries.’ The pressure is mounting.
By the time you decide to go with the combo meal, you’ve agreed, essentially, to pack on enough calories to get you halfway through tomorrow. It’s true! A study by the Journal of Marketing Research found that diners will eat 85 percent more than they had originally planned, just by taking the bump-up offer.
A Slice of Lemon
Some restaurants offer a slice of lemon with a glass of water. The only problem is, according to a study in the Journal of Environmental Health, 70 percent of lemons tested positive for bacteria. The study discovered that bacteria are passed to lemons and other garnishes by food servers or food preparers’ hands.
Like most garnishes, lemons often are handled with bare hands, sometimes even while they are sliced. While a bartender who is being watched may be more likely to wash their hands, a waiter who is rushing through the kitchen may not feel the same way.