[All photos in this post where taken by Huong Nguyen of Heartlab Co.]

So your friend is a foodie huh?

Maybe he or she has a food Instagram account, they’re a professional photographer, they have a blog, or a beautiful combination of all the above. Whatever the specifics, you’re their friend and that’s pretty exciting news. Wait, you don’t know why? Well let me explain. Being a friend to a foodie (and for the purpose of this blog post, I’m referring to a person who dines out, not a person who cooks) is really exciting because you get to go along on all the restaurant visits or food events. Even better, that means you get to eat free food and you don’t have to write a single blog post or upload a picture. It’s like you’re one of the disciples minus the whole watching your friend die part. I think I just compared myself to Jesus, Let me be clear that was just an analogy, I’m not Jesus. Sorry Jesus.

Anywho …

In the last three years of blogging about restaurants both here in LA and even internationally, I’ve found that I like to visit restaurants alone but I also like to bring a friend with me when the opportunity allows it. TJ (pictured in this post), Ajay, Sarah, Alexis, and Lauren have all been pretty consistent friends who I can invite and who know what to expect. However, if a foodie friend of yours has invited you and you want to know what to expect, I have you covered. While you’re going to eat some awesome food and hang out with the homie, there are some things you should know in advance and a few rules to follow that will make the outing easy for both you and your friend.

A lot of the rules and tips here really apply to serious foodies. If you have a friend who sometimes forgets their camera at home, hasn’t updated their Instagram in a few months, and kind of wants to watch Chef’s Table, then chances are they aren’t serious about restaurants and being a foodie. If they aren’t then take these rules with a grain of salt. If you know your friend is serious about food, restaurants, and growing as a foodie then follow these like you’re Moses and these are the Ten Commandments. Sure there’s only eight, but like I said I’m not Jesus.

If your friend lets you know that being a foodie is something they’re really interested in, then chances are this isn’t just a hobby for them. It’s fun and exciting like it were a hobby, but the way they look at it is as if it’s work. They’re professional when they walk into a restaurant, they’re systematic about setting up a scene, they’re adamant about getting the right picture, and their night doesn’t end once they walk back to the car. If you as the foodie friend can be understanding that this isn’t just “hanging with the homie”, but you see it from their perspective as work they love, then it will be easier for you to see why they behave in certain ways.

A while ago I invited a very close friend of mine to a dinner and she was late. Not any kind of late, but the kind of late where waiting for her to meet me made me late. As a result, walking into my dinner reservation looked completely unprofessional. And sure it didn’t matter to her because she has no connection to the dinner, but it mattered to me because my reputation with a restaurant and its staff is important to me and my brand. Then, she was late to another dinner and I refused to let it happen a third time so I threw the broad on probation.

Her: So I can’t come with you to another one of your dinners?
Me: Sure you can, in 90 days, contingent upon good behavior.
Her: 90 days?? That’s a bit ridiculous.
Me: No, making me 30 minutes late to my dinner was a bit ridiculous. 90 days is a grace period.

If you’re late for something important like work or family, that’s completely understandable. Either focus on that or meet your foodie friend at the restaurant. Don’t hold them up if you don’t have to. However, if you’re late because you don’t know how to manage time, then your foodie friend shouldn’t have to be late on account of your inability to schedule the minutes and hours in your day properly. If you’re reading this and think I’m being too harsh, then cool. Invite your friend to your shindig, let them make you late, and then tell me how you feel about it afterwards. I bet you won’t like it. And if you’re fine with that, then bruh, you have problems.

 

Yes the food is free for you and that’s amazing, but it would be really great if you could be helpful when going out. When dining at a restaurant or attending a concert to cover food like I did with Arroyo Secco, it’s seriously great when my friend is helpful. “Helpful” is as simple as the word is. Holding things to free up space, placing your hand in certain areas for photos, and posing to the left then the right then the left then right right to the left is so damn helpful. You wouldn’t believe how appreciative we foodies are when you are basically assisting in this way because it makes our jobs easier. With that said, if you attend an event and you’re just “there”, you don’t even offer good conversation, then you’re ultimately not an ideal person to bring along. But if you realize that your presence is beneficial to the foodie process, and you even crack a few jokes, then you’ll earn your keep and ultimately more invites.

This is one of the biggest foodie rules that I’m 100% all foodies can agree on: do not touch the food until we say so. That means: don’t move something, don’t poke nothing, don’t swirl anything. Nothing! For the love of Joseph for Mary before he found out she was pregnant and then was cool with it because he found out it was God’s baby, just listen. We foodies get that it’s so cool when the plates come out because it looks great and it smells even better. We also get that you’re compelled to eat the food when it arrives because that what you normally do at a restaurant, but you can’t do that here. When the food comes out, you simply have to wait, please.

To help with this, whenever I hang out with a friend I always photograph their order first so that they can enjoy it while I photograph what I’ve ordered. But I’ve had an issue (with the person who was late) where she ran her finger across a sauce that was plated so artistically that it ruined the photo. Sure, you may be thinking “How could she have done that?” Well, the once beautiful verde sauce now had her fingerprints in it and the only person who would appreciate that would be Officer Olivia Benson, excuse me I mean lieutenant. Whatever you do when the food arrives, please just wait. Once you get the ok, devour your food to your heart’s content.

Sometimes a foodie has to ditch you.

I know it feels like you’re sitting by yourself at the cafeteria in high school, but we’ll be right back. When I’m dining in a restaurant, I occasionally have to leave my friend for a variety of reasons. It may be to take photos of the restaurant, interview a chef, or to record content in a place other than where we’re sitting. Sure we don’t want to leave you, but it won’t be too long for us to return. Until then, hang tight for a second.

While the food is free, we foodies still tip because the server is doing a job that deserves to be compensated. That’s a basic rule and if you’re not too familiar with it or some others, I have it all laid out here. Taking tipping into consideration, you as the plus one can tip. When I bring friends along, I don’t ask them to tip especially if they don’t come with me often. However, if you go with a food friend all the time, your ass can tip. My good friend TJ eats at so many restaurants and attends so many events for free that he better tip too.

Think about it this way:

If a foodie goes to a restaurant alone they tip 20% of the total bill even though they aren’t paying the total bill. For a $50 bill a 20% tip would mean the foodie would leave at least $10 on the table. Add yourself to the scenario and for a $100 bill with a 20% tip, the foodie would leave at least $20 as they walk out. If you want to throw $5 on that, it would be greatly appreciated. I mean, you did eat a full meal and all.

If your foodie friend likes to give honest reviews about the food they eat, then chances are they will be interested in knowing your thoughts. “You just devoured that lamb and couscous, how did you like the pairing?” You had bites of each plate and you sat through the entire dinner so your opinion matters. If they ask what you think, don’t be shy in letting them know what your taste buds tell you. You don’t have to be harsh, but be honest. What you think can only help your friend so feel free to give them your thoughts.

Eight tips later, I hope you now have a better idea of what to expect when you go out to review a restaurant or food event with your friend. While it’s important to keep these things in mind make sure you enjoy it. Dining out is a great activity and if your food friend is good company, it can end up being a fun night. Have fun with it and follow your gut. But whatever you do, don’t touch the food because photos come first.