Big Ideas

Is This The Death Of Hotel Room Service?

Hilton axes room service; more may follow suit

Jun 4, 2013 4:01 pm

Room service may be on the road to exinction. If Hilton's disposing of those stainless steel domes that make it look like your food's still hot (but really it's just slightly steamed), the rest of the industry can't be far behind.

Big Ideas

Are U.S. Restaurants Shifting Away From 'The Customer Is Always Right'?

Banning pics, no-show shame, volume control

May 15, 2013 9:01 am

Photo: djjewelz on Flickr

A man hoping to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday is shamed by a restaurant on Twitter. Eager Instagrammers are scolded by a wait staff for snapping pictures. These are examples of a shift away from the traditionally American belief that "the customer is always right." Let's take a look at some national restaurant headlines from the past few months.

Big Ideas

Why Do People Love Eating Dangerous Foods?

Going crazy for hot chilies, spoonfuls of cinnamon

Apr 24, 2013 11:01 am

Photos: ccwod, Domenico Licciardiello on Flickr

Hospitalization. Asphyxiation that can lead to death. These are the potential consequences of voluntarily eating some common and often popular foods. With these possible side effects widely documented, what is it exactly that causes people to not only include these foods in their diets but to go out of their ways to find them? Let’s take a look.

Big Ideas

Are Restaurant Tickets Really The Future Of Reservations?

Imagine buying a restaurant 'season pass'

Apr 15, 2013 3:03 pm

There are few things frowned upon more in the dining community than reservation no-shows. In a nutshell, it’s a lose-lose: restaurants lose business and customers hoping to snag a prized table at the latest hotspot are shut out. Restaurants are starting to fight back, via public shaming and policies requiring advance ticket purchase. So, what exactly does the future hold for reservations? We have some ideas.

Big Ideas

John Hodgman, Alton Brown Tackle Whether It's OK To Eat Moldy Food

Podcast addresses issue of a couple's cheese danish

Apr 12, 2013 11:02 am

Judge John Hodgman brings in "expert witness" Alton Brown to hear a Florida couple's case regarding a week-old cheese danish, scraped off mold, turd-encrusted mangoes and more in this hilarious podcast.

Big Ideas

Is It Possible To Patent A Steak?

One school thinks you most certainly can

Apr 9, 2013 1:01 pm

Vegas Strip Steak. The name itself sounds wacky enough, but that is just the beginning. From NPR comes the news that researchers at Oklahoma State University are trying to patent this type of steak, which requires a novel method for cutting it out of the carcass of the cow. Ridiculous? Probably. Genius? Maybe. Read on.

Big Ideas

Kickstart This! Our 5 Favorite Food-Related Projects To Fund Now

Hard cider, vegan cooking, British peanut butter

Apr 8, 2013 2:02 pm

Kickstarter is the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects, allowing users (dreamers?) to outline ambitious projects, along with a requested total donation amount from visitors, who are often allowed to buy in for as little as $1. Bigger contributors are rewarded with perks from users, such as exclusive free samples of products and invitations to private gatherings. Here are five of our favorite food-related projects on Kickstarter that still need your help.

Big Ideas

Meanwhile, In Germany: Hitler's Food Taster Tells All

The vegetarian dictator needed over a dozen tasters

Apr 3, 2013 10:01 am

Der Spiegel interviewed the surviving member of Adolf Hitler's food-tasting team, 95-year-old Margot Wölk, on the years she spent in involuntary service alongside the Nazi SS. So, how was the food?