I am, as previously noted, spoiled rotten. The most obvious way this manifests is my devotion to particular brands of cosmetics, but beyond that, I have no problem spending massive amounts of money on restaurant food.
Though only when it is good. I have a long-running argument with local gastronomes like Satnam about whether or not Midsummer House is, in a word, disgusting. Grapefruit foam with shrimp, anyone? Ick. The presence of a Michelin star or several only guarantees a large bill, not a tasty or even safe dining experience.
I worked at the health department long enough to have a shall-we-say-visceral understanding of the dangers of improper food prep, and I generally do know the approximate cleanliness scores of various establishments wherever I live. Midsummer House, for instance, often comes in lower than the kebab huts or burger joints.
Now Heston Blumenthal has closed his restaurant after forty customers fell ill. Proving my point.
No snail porridge for anyone this week then!