But let’s go back to Season 1, (Episode 6: “Ceres”) when Sydney gives a dish she’s working on as a special to a diner at the beef shack in transition.

“Hi, um, these are cola-braised short ribs with risotto, and they’re yours,” she says.

He asks, “Really?”

“Yep, I had an extra,” she replies. “And I’m Sydney, if you need anything else.”

He says, “Well, thank you, Sydney.”

Then we learn that the diner wrote a rave review (Episode 7: “Review”) in the fictional Chicago Telegraph newspaper.

“‘The menu is slightly updated and it’s clear more changes are coming,’” reads the Beef’s Somali veteran cook Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson).

“‘The sandwiches are so delicious as ever, but the standout dish that encapsulates all this was the risotto with braised beef,’” he continues. “‘The rice was luscious with a surprising ribbon of brine running through the sauce.’”

That review never should have been based on a free dish!

If Sydney had offered her plate to me, I would have automatically declined, saying I appreciate the offer, but can’t accept, because I want to support a small business. That’s my standard response on those rare occasions. Ultimately, I would’ve gone back to order the dish on my own before ever mentioning it in a review.

...continued

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