Things You're Allowed to Do, Epicurean Edition

I'm writing thirty posts in thirty days. This is number eighteen.

Milan Cvitkovic wrote this fantastic article reminding you of things you’re allowed to do. This is an article ripping off that premise, in which I lay out some specifically Epicurean-type things you’re allowed to do. Please let me know if I’ve missed anything obvious!

Dining/Drinking

-Ask the waiter what they would order personally, instead of asking for what they’d ‘recommend,’ which will often get you a bland, crowd-pleasing option

-Send back a dish you don’t like in a fine dining restaurant—if you don’t like something, they would usually prefer to know this

-Ask for multiple tastes of different wines in a fine dining restaurant before you select a bottle

-At a cocktail bar, ask the bartender to ‘make me whatever,’ as long as you are actually down for whatever

-Ask for the speaker near your table to be turned down

-Order lots of appetizers instead of a main course if you want to prioritize variety

-If you had an incredible meal, buy the kitchen a drink (they often get one beer per night, but will take more)

-Get fancy ingredients and make yourself a charcuterie/cheese/anything spread instead of cooking a meal

Fashion/Grooming/Spa

-Ask an employee at a clothing boutique to pick an outfit out for you (just do this when it’s not busy)

-Point to a mannequin displaying an outfit you like and just ask to get that whole outfit brought to you

-Buy cheap vintage clothing and get it tailored for under twenty bucks, making it suddenly look expensive

-Save a photo of a person whose outfit you like, post it on a fashion Subreddit and ask for help in duplicating it

-Get tailor-made clothing, especially if overseas

-Go into a department store, smell many perfumes, and try on your favorite for free

-At any boutique of any kind, ask an employee what their personal favorite items are

-Show a hairdresser a photo of your best haircut and ask them to duplicate it

-Tell a hairdresser ‘make me look attractive’ if you’re unsure

-Ask a hairdresser or other grooming professional what you’re missing in terms of hair/skin/general care

-If you’re a laptop-bound remote worker, spend a work day at a Korean spa, catch up on emails in the common area in between hot baths

Travel

-Hire a driver; in many countries, only marginally more expensive than getting taxis, much more convenient, and will help you find the best places to eat (just tip well and be reasonable of course)

-Dip into a random hotel lobby to get comfortable for a second, or the hotel bar and order a soda

-Board the plane at the last minute rather than standing in line for 30 minutes

-Ask locals what they would do in town if they had a day off

-Tell locals about your plans and ask them what you’re doing wrong

-Ask around on the city or country’s Subreddit

-Google “site:marginalrevolution.com [city]” or other similar websites

-Hang out at the hotel all day if you’re tired and novelty-saturated

-Walk randomly around a city instead of having plans (assuming the city is reasonably safe)

-Go home early if you’re having a bad time

Arts

-Commission art from an artist you like

-Get together with friends and read poetry to each other

-Close your eyes and focus on music you like

-Go to a pottery studio and get your hands dirty

-Go see art openings, feel free to dislike the art and eat the cheese

-Consume media that has no obvious intellectual value, or, in fact, none at all