DeRushaEats: 2011 Food Resolutions

After a year writing for Minnesota Monthly and blogging for Dara & Co., I’ve been thinking about the way I eat and the way restaurants serve in 2011. Clearly, this food writing gig isn’t great for my waistline. I ordered a salad at the Lowertown St. Paul Bulldog last night, and that’s just a sign of insanity, desperation, and resolutionness. Which isn’t even a word.

So I’ve been thinking about some resolutions for 2011, for me and for restaurants. I’d love to hear yours.

For Restaurants:

  • Let me make a reservation! With two young kids, if I can’t make a reservation, I’m probably not dining there.
  • Enough pork belly! I love it, but come on. It’ll likely be on the TGI Friday’s menu next month. [h/t Amy Jensen]
  • Megan Jones suggested: “Restaurants should go with more local produce/vendors.” 

I’m hopeful that the local ingredients trend spreads to the suburban dining spots. I don’t need to see local everything (I’ll take French wine over Minnesota wine, thank you) but it’s nice to see a nod to place even if it’s a local cheese plate, or local produce.

For Diners:

  • Expand the Comfort Zone. Read Kevin Sawyer’s list of top restaurants in 2010, and go to all of them. OK, pick one you haven’t been to and try it.
  • Don’t just not show up: Call to cancel; call when you’ll be late.
  • Tip and compliment good service. Servers tell me the compliment to them or their manager is almost as meaningful as a great tip. Almost.
  • Complain in the restaurant before you blog about it: We can’t help but tweet, Facebook, blog, youtube all of our petty restaurant complaints. Give them a chance to fix it first.

For Myself:

  • More salads, fewer burgers.
  • No more blog write-ups about visits to TGI Friday’s.

It’s going to be a great year. What are your food resolutions for 2011?