1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: I'm Manny, I'm Noah, and this is no such thing. 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: The show where we settle our domb arguments and yours 3 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: by actually doing the research. This week we look into 4 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: a severely underdiscussed form of discrimination upheld by the food industry. 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 2: They can tell me no if the reason is like 6 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 2: we have to kill one kid, if we can. 7 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 3: No, There's no no such thing, no such thank such, Thanks. 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 2: Touch, thank touch, thank. 9 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 4: So. 10 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: We have a fourth mic with us today. Kate Lindsay, 11 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: internet culture writer and co host of ic y am 12 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: I Slate's Internet culture podcast. 13 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 5: Slate's Internet culture podcast. 14 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to the pod, Kate. 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for hiring me. This is a 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: dream come true, mostly because of the topic I like. 17 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: No one's ever allowed me to speak on it before. 18 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, now's your chance. So this week's topic came from 19 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: a conversation we had when we first launched the podcast 20 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: a few months ago. 21 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 6: I can tell you what happened. Shall I tell you 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 6: what that? 23 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: So? 24 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: Two years ago, three years ago, a dune was out. 25 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: I can't say which one, but I know I was 26 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 2: in a movie theater. 27 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 6: To see a dune. 28 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:17,839 Speaker 7: You're watching, Timothy, Yeah. 29 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was one of those places where you could 30 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 2: order food by writing out a card and get like 31 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 2: full meals, like you know, way beyond the whole popcorn thing. 32 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 2: And so they have a very expansive menu. And I, like, 33 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 2: Manny grew up as a picky eater, and so there 34 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: are some foods that us picky eaters know just like 35 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 2: really hit different. And one of those meals is chicken fingers. 36 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 3: Yeah. 37 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: And so it was either that the adult menu did 38 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 2: not have chicken fingers at all, or they had some 39 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: version of it that was like kind of an abomination, 40 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 2: Like it was like Dorito crusted. 41 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, like not what I wanted. 42 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: But I saw on the kid's menu they had just 43 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 2: your bog standard chicken tenders and fries, and so I 44 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 2: wrote my little card kids chicken tenders and fries, and 45 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: they took it. They went off, and then like a 46 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 2: minute later, someone came back and they kneeled down. 47 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 6: In front of me. Yeah, they didn't even write it. 48 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: They kneeled down and said, that's like that's from the 49 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: kids menu. We we can't serve you that. And I 50 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 2: was like okay, and I got something else, but like 51 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: I mean, at that point, the rest of Dune was 52 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 2: out the window. 53 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: For it was ruined. 54 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 5: Did you push back at all? 55 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 2: No, because that's not my personality. The movie was playing right, 56 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: and so it's like, yeah, I didn't want to like 57 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 2: start it, and like I'm much more of the vibe 58 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 2: of like I'm just gonna really resent that for years 59 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 2: and years and then talk about a podcast. 60 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 6: But it was just like humiliate. 61 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: It was like that's for little kids and you're a 62 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: grown up, and and I just felt so dumb, and 63 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: it just more so started a larger type of crisis 64 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: for me of like why can't I do this? I 65 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: felt very libertarian all of a sudden. I was just 66 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 2: like I don't understand the reasons. More so, I don't 67 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 2: understand why it's inconsistent in terms of whether or not 68 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 2: you're allowed to because there are some places that don't 69 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 2: care because it's on the menu. 70 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 6: Other places care. 71 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: But now, because of that experience, I am so scared 72 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 2: to do it again. And ever since then, it's just 73 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 2: been it's just been in my brain all the time 74 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 2: because sometimes either they don't have it on the main menu. 75 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 2: It's like something really simple that you want that you're 76 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: like perfect, or you know, you just want a kid's portion, 77 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: because sometimes you're not there for a full meal, but 78 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 2: you want a little something. 79 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 8: You would think that you are giving an establishment X 80 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 8: amount of money. Yes, you just get something from their kitchen, 81 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 8: no matter you know what, however they label it, you can. 82 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 6: Believe I've thought about every which way. 83 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: I really try to make sense of this, because it's like, okay, 84 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: maybe it's less expensive, but I could show up in 85 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: order just an appetizer that's allowed. 86 00:03:58,000 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 5: Yeah, and so it's. 87 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 6: Not like a price thing. 88 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I. 89 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 6: Want to give you my business. 90 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 2: And because I think, to me, the reason, I can't 91 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: figure out what the reason would be other than someone 92 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: who's like, well that's all grown up, and I don't 93 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 2: I don't understand, right, right, just give me a little 94 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 2: bit less Like at a certain point, I'd be like, okay, 95 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: can I pay for the adult verd? 96 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 6: You give me the kid? I don't know. 97 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 2: It's just it's there, it's available. I don't have to 98 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 2: order anything, but I want to order this. 99 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:29,239 Speaker 8: Yeah. 100 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 2: It just feels like an infringement of some right, But 101 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: I haven't really been able to nail down which one 102 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: and make a real kid. 103 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 5: Yeah. 104 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 6: Yeah, they are not answering me when I email them. 105 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: I feel for you deeply. 106 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 8: I'm somewhat of a kid's menu connoisseur, so to speak, 107 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 8: like like I go I'll go to Thankfully the coffee 108 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 8: shops aren't saying no to me. But I'll buy a coffee, 109 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 8: iced coffee or whatever, and I'm just like, can you 110 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 8: just fill it up halfway? 111 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 6: Right right? 112 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 8: I don't want to drink this whole thing. And I 113 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 8: know it's crazy because I'm paying for the whole thing. 114 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 1: I never drink it. 115 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 7: A small coffee filled that half. 116 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 5: I'll just feel like, you know, I've done this. 117 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: I don't. I'm not going to drink it, give it 118 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: to someone else. 119 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 6: I've done this. I've done this with wine. 120 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: I've been like, can I just get like a half 121 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 2: glass I should take? Can I get a kid's size? 122 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 8: And I'm not asking to pay less? I'm not so yeah, 123 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 8: because I'll put it in the fridge or whatever and 124 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 8: I won't drink it. I'll just sit there for days 125 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 8: and I have to toss it. 126 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: Your coffee mm hm oh what that kids menu stuff? 127 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 2: Do you get there? 128 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 3: Kids? 129 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: Men order from the kids menu? 130 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 3: Ever? 131 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 8: Yeah, I do, I would, and I do. It's separate 132 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 8: from wanting the kids item, it's what it speaks to 133 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 8: what Kate wants. Yeah, it's like this portion, I just 134 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 8: want a smaller amount. And so for at Chipotle, for example, 135 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 8: I'll get the kids menu tray and it's just like 136 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 8: a tinier portion size of their regular item and it 137 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 8: costs less for this. But yeah, at at fast food places, 138 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 8: this portion size, the kids size is filling me up 139 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 8: and it's cheaper. 140 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, And if it's something just have different things. And 141 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 2: I don't like the insinuation that my palette should be 142 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 2: more evolved and offering it to me, they're like, no, 143 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 2: you don't get this because it'll always have like Caesidia 144 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 2: mac and cheese, chicken tenders, like all the hits, quite frankly. 145 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 2: And then they're relegated to the kids menu and if 146 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 2: you get an adult one, they've fucked with it in 147 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: some way. They've like they've added something to like make 148 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: it more evolved. Yeah, and it's like I don't want that. 149 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 2: I want like you got me all excited I saw 150 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: them on the menu. No, I can't get it. 151 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: Devin, do you ever want to do this kid's menu stuff? 152 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 6: The only time? 153 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 4: No, I need to go. 154 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 7: The only time I have thought about doing it, but 155 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 7: I'm too embarrassed to do it. Is at an ice 156 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 7: cream place. 157 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 6: Oh, I will tell you right now. 158 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: An ice cream place is, in my experience, the only 159 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: safe place to do it. They will give you kids, 160 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 2: no question asked that they don't go do you have 161 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 2: the kid waiting outside? Yeah, they will just give it 162 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 2: to you, And right they don't. They don't give it 163 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: to me and then come back and whisper. And actually 164 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: they allow that they understand. But I find that anywhere 165 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 2: where it's like a sit down restaurant, they will not 166 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: do it, even though I can see right there that 167 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: they have the ability to. And so to me, it's 168 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 2: like it's the lack of understanding why because it seems 169 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 2: to be based I can't figure out in what way 170 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: it would be a business reason, and so it seems 171 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: to be on principle, and I don't like that. Again, 172 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 2: in a libertarian sense, I don't know why they get 173 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: to say that about what I eat. 174 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 7: If you've felt like you need a reasoning on why 175 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 7: would you feel better about them telling you now? 176 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: Or I guess it depends what the reason. 177 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 6: They can tell me. 178 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 2: No, if the reason is like we have to kill 179 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 2: one kid if we get like if it's that, then 180 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 2: like sure, okay, I. 181 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 6: Won't get it. 182 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'll consider it. 183 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, like every time we give a kid's menu item 184 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 2: to an adult, we have to kill one kid. 185 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: I'd be like, all right, I'm amazing. 186 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 7: It's a cost things in because they're usually cheaper and 187 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 7: they just want to force you to order something that's 188 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 7: more expensive. 189 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 8: Yeah, because you're the adult. 190 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 6: But that brings me back to like I could just 191 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 6: get an appetize them. 192 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: They're not coming over like you need to get a 193 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 2: made advertizer. 194 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 8: Yeah, but I will say, just to play Devil's advocates 195 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 8: to the thing, I literally just said sorry, if you 196 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,079 Speaker 8: get just an appetizer. They some some places are certainly 197 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 8: annoyed that you're if you. 198 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: Go to a let's say, sit down restaurant and you 199 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: just order French fries. 200 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's a capitalism thing because if people 201 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 2: realize they don't if I if they let me do it, it's. 202 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 6: The news is going to spread. 203 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 2: And then and like big big Food wants us to 204 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 2: think that we have to order a huge portion and 205 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: that's our only option, and there's we can't get anything cheaper. 206 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 2: We have to do the most expensive thing and maybe 207 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 2: OURFK is right. 208 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 6: You guys back to that episode. 209 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 5: No, it's people are already mad about us our case. 210 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 2: Listen, listen, I don't care someone's behind all this about 211 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 2: us needing to get like huge portions and absolutely no compromise, 212 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: even if like you have the ability and I have 213 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: the money and the palette for it. I think we've 214 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 2: established a certain price and portion size that if people 215 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 2: were to realize they could scale back that. 216 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 6: Restaurants are scared. They're scared of me, and they're scared 217 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 6: of what I have to say. 218 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: Scared. So I'm not a kids men you guy typically, 219 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: but you know, in preparation for this this past week, 220 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: and I did go to a mall. Oh wow, I 221 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: went to a an ally a popular family restaurant chain 222 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: by myself, saddled up to the bar with the mission 223 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: of ordering off the kids menu. 224 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:07,079 Speaker 5: I'll reveal the results of this later, but it was 225 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 5: quite an experience. 226 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 6: Yeah, for now a man alone. 227 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: Well, I'll say this. I wasn't the only one, believe 228 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: it or not, but after the break, I go behind 229 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: the scenes of the kids menu industrial complex to find 230 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: out how the youth monopolized the small portion chicken tender market. 231 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: All right, so we're back. I talked to a few 232 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: people during that ad break. One is an anonymous server 233 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: at an undisclosed dining movie theater chain which may or 234 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: may not have been the one that showed Dune those 235 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: years ago. 236 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 4: I am a server at a i'd say popular dining 237 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 4: movie theater. So the kids menu stuff is pretty standard fair. 238 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 4: You've got like tots, chicken fingers, burger pizza, and almost 239 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 4: call it like snack bar concession type food, nothing too crazy. 240 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 4: At a certain point in the evening it becomes adult only. 241 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 4: They want to be, and I think they are successfully 242 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 4: a place where you can go get a drink, watch 243 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 4: you know, a cultured movie you're going to not see 244 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 4: like a bunch of families or a bunch of kids. 245 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 4: It's something a little bit more elevated, a little bit 246 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 4: more adult for the interestrections ages twelve and under. And 247 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 4: then we stop serving it around APM. I'm pretty sure 248 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 4: that like the POS system that's used, that'll like when 249 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 4: it's actually like eighty six, it'll just stop. Like you 250 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 4: I literally couldn't put it in if I wanted to. 251 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 4: One part is it's to discourage people from bringing their kids, 252 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 4: and that helps to do that if we say, like, hey, 253 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 4: the menu is just adult food, don't bring your kid 254 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 4: because there's not going to be that sort of food available. 255 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 4: But the other is that the standard menu offerings are 256 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 4: one I would think say better, want to push you 257 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 4: to those ones that where more time and thought and 258 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 4: care has been put into those menu options. Just for 259 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 4: the nature of them being more popular and more consumed 260 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 4: by adults. It's also actually more profitable for the theater. 261 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 4: That's the other reason is that it's it's not they 262 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 4: just don't make as much money on the kids food 263 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 4: as they do on the standard adult food. 264 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: Some role play. Sure, it's five pm, I'm going to 265 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: catch sinners solo. I want the kids tots. I write 266 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: that down on the thing. You come by to pick 267 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 1: it up. Yeah, how does this go? I might recommend 268 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: something during the greed. If they're like, oh, I want 269 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 1: the kids burger, I'd be like, oh, well, we could 270 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: we have this adult burger. You know, it's got X, 271 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: Y and Z. It's a little bit nicer, it's a 272 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: little bit more elevated, and might try and push them 273 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 1: towards that. But if they're you know, writing on the card, 274 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: it's what they want. It's before we've liked the policy, 275 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: then I don't have a problem with it. 276 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 4: But if you're going to make a really crazy sting 277 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 4: about it, and you know, i'd probably got the manager 278 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:01,599 Speaker 4: is something if you're being really rude or completely unreasonable. 279 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 4: From a business perspective, the policy makes sense from like 280 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 4: a personal perspective, like now you should you know, whatever 281 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 4: you want, it's fine, no moral judgment. If you are 282 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 4: five year old and you want, I know, that's totally 283 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 4: there's nothing wrong with that. 284 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 2: It seems like it's very like employee to employee. And 285 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: by the way, I know working there sucks, so like, uh, 286 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 2: I it's you know, I know, I know it's not 287 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:32,839 Speaker 2: their fault. 288 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 6: I know it's like it's someone else's. 289 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 2: But I would say the delivery of my rejection was 290 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,719 Speaker 2: not like, hey, it was it was it was delivered. 291 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 6: Like a personal problem. It was yeah. 292 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 2: I think if they had said, like, we don't serve 293 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 2: it right now, that would be fine, But it was 294 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 2: like you can't, you can't have it. 295 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 5: I didn't like if there was a kid next to you, 296 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 5: they could have maybe right. 297 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 2: Right, that's the thing, and so I would I would 298 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 2: have been seeing with him, like it doesn't work, Like 299 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: who am I to lose my mind? But the thing 300 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 2: it was making me think about, weirdly is the changes 301 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 2: people want. It it comes to like phones and social 302 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 2: media and tech and like kids on phones. 303 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 6: But like the thing that would be better. 304 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 2: For the people is the thing that's less profitable for 305 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 2: the companies, which is like basically to scale back, Like 306 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 2: we're in like and there's a real need to scale 307 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 2: back and they're never going to do it. 308 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 6: So now that this. 309 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 2: Feels like the same problem where like we've gone so 310 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 2: big and like that's what we're known for, and now 311 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 2: people are coming up against you, like actually I don't think. 312 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 2: I don't think I want to eat this much. But 313 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 2: now it's like, you know the business reason. I'm glad 314 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 2: to hear he personally has no problem with it, because 315 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 2: I do personally have a problem. 316 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: With the movie feat. The thing's complicated because obviously you 317 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: don't need to get any It's it's tricky to use 318 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: this as example because they obviously want money from the 319 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: food too, that's part of their model. But like you 320 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: can easily go to one of these places all the time, 321 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: and not have any food. It's not their primary function obviously, 322 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: so it's interesting that even they have kind of these restrictions. 323 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 2: And I appreciate the effort that he was saying about, 324 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 2: you know, discouraging kids from coming, because every kid, every 325 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: kid except for the one I eventually will have, is 326 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 2: the worst thing in the world. So like, I do 327 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 2: appreciate that, But it's like what draws me, Isn't that 328 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 2: it's for children draws me to right, that it's the 329 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 2: smaller and so I'm like so like like, yeah, it's 330 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 2: like call it something Colone else. 331 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 6: I don't know. 332 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I like the mini bite size like munchkins. 333 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I can't remember. That's the service perspective. Now our 334 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: deep throat pointed is something very important. Just follow the 335 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: money touched upon earlier. So next up, I spoke with 336 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: Laurie Rakozzi. She's an associate principle at TECH covering the 337 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: restaurant operator in food service industry. She's gonna help a 338 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: zoom out a bit and how the numbers actually crunch out. 339 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: So first up, I wanted to know if kids menus 340 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: have always been around. 341 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 3: They really kind of started popping up around prohibition. There 342 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 3: was maybe some incidences where there were kids menus before that, 343 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 3: but in Prohibition, operators were looking for a way to 344 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 3: make up for those lost profits, and so they decided 345 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 3: they might open their restaurants more to families and children 346 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 3: and women, and so that also started popping up back 347 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 3: then at places like the Water for Storia, Marshall Fields 348 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 3: here at a kid's menu, So it was just some 349 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 3: some way to really get more restaurant traffic from a 350 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 3: wider audience. 351 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: Do you have any idea on what those menus would 352 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: have looked like back then. 353 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 3: Prohibition arrow and the kids' menus first started popping up. 354 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 3: They were typically mirrord what the adults reading to smaller portions, 355 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 3: so you might have seen a very sophisticated menu at 356 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 3: the time. You might have seen like pork chops or 357 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 3: layup chops and chicken, and it just served in smaller pieces. 358 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 5: And today we see a parallel. 359 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: So restaurants use kids menus as a marketing tool to 360 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: bring in families and boosting their check averages. Last year 361 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: there was a seven point one percent year over year 362 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: growth in kids' menus, so more restaurants are offering more 363 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: kids menu items. So here's where it gets tricky, like 364 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: our anonymous server said, and Laurie confirmed that these items 365 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: are often lost leaders. There's gonna be a tough pill 366 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 1: to swallow. 367 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,439 Speaker 3: So even though they may be actually you know, lost 368 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 3: leaders in a way to have a kid's menu, they 369 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 3: may be you know, at margin or maybe even be unprofitable, 370 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 3: they're actually bringing in They're relying on parents to come 371 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 3: in and then spend that money, or research shows it 372 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 3: tends to be either at margin or you know just 373 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 3: you know, slightly under just assuming the kids aren't coming 374 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 3: in on their own buying kids meals, there are going 375 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 3: to be parents there, and so they're willing to take 376 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 3: that risk because the parents the adult meals are going 377 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 3: to subsidize, you know, whatever losses they're on the kid's side. 378 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 3: So it's really economic and business strategy for why adults 379 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 3: can't order from kids meals. I mean, kids mills are 380 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 3: typically priced either at margin or maybe even at a loss, 381 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 3: and so if adults are allowed to order from the 382 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 3: kids menu, that's going to be the loss of profits there. 383 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 3: So a lot of times the kids adult menus are 384 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 3: really subsidizing the kids' menus, So you're letting an adult 385 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 3: order would really risk profitability and risk losing money in the. 386 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: Restaurant, so they're unprofitable. So while the restaurants offer the 387 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,439 Speaker 1: items for the restaurant to survive, they need parents to 388 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 1: be ordering some parent food too. And they're very lucky 389 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: that ten year olds don't usually go to restaurants by themselves. 390 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 8: Okay, so basically all right, they're offering the kids menu 391 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 8: knowing that it's not making money to a like be 392 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 8: nicer to the community or whatever. Offer the stuff for kids, 393 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 8: but be because the adults are coming. 394 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, it brings like if you have you've got two kids, 395 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,719 Speaker 1: and you're either going to not go to the restaurant 396 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 1: or go yeah you know so, and then that means 397 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: you need to order some real food otherwise it's a 398 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:13,239 Speaker 1: total wash for them. 399 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 8: What happens when I bring my kid and we're both 400 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 8: getting kids the doors. 401 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 2: The real reason to have a kid, I'm realizing is 402 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 2: that now finally I can like have there there. 403 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 6: You can't say no to me anymore. I'm not giving 404 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 6: them anything. 405 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: Yeah for me? 406 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 2: Yeah No, I see this all the time with like 407 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 2: family bloggers and stuff that they'll make dinner and the 408 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,640 Speaker 2: momble you should just eat whatever she's fed the kid, 409 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 2: I'm like, sounds perfect, Like it's gonna be chicken fingers 410 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 2: like all that, all the things should I love. And finally, 411 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 2: no one get mad at me for it, because there's 412 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 2: a child right there with yeah, yeah, yeah. 413 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: I dove a bit into the restaurant profit margins to 414 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: see how slim these margins actually are. This is dat 415 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: from the NRA, the National Restaurant Association, to be clear. So, 416 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: the most significant costs for a restaurant are food and labor, 417 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 1: so those each account for about thirty three cents of 418 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 1: every sales dollar, and then the other costs like expenses, utilities, admin, 419 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,639 Speaker 1: processing fees, everything else. It was about twenty nine percent 420 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 1: of sales, so that leaves about five percent or five 421 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: cents of every dollar of wiggle room. Basically wow, especially 422 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: in our post COVID era inflation economy, et cetera. The 423 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: NRA estimates double digit percentage increases for restaurant input costs, 424 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: including thirty five percent jumps in food and labor costs, 425 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: since twenty nineteen. So just to break even to keep 426 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: up with the market, a restaurant would have to raise 427 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: prices almost twenty four percent, and that goes up to 428 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 1: thirty percent if they want to maintain that five percent 429 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: profit margin. So not a lot of room to play 430 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 1: with here. 431 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 8: And we're seeing kind of the effect of this, Like 432 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,919 Speaker 8: there's so many like really good restaurants around us that 433 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 8: have been closing. But what confuses me is that those 434 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 8: places are always busy, and so I was like, why 435 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 8: are these places closing down if they get a lot 436 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 8: of customers? And I think they you know, they can't 437 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 8: raise their prices because people won't go there, but then 438 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 8: they also can't like afford the rent or whatever. 439 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, so the kids menus are lost leaders. They bring 440 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: in customers, They build brand loyalty. You can think about 441 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: places you went as a kid that you might like still, 442 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 1: So it's still worth it on some level just to 443 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: build that sort of community around the restaurant before we 444 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 1: go on, does you know hearing the flight of the 445 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 1: restaurant industry at all? 446 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 5: And it's okay if not, No, it doesn't. 447 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 2: Here's what that makes me think about the play of 448 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 2: the restaurant industry. I don't I feel bad about that, 449 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 2: you know, in general, of course, I don't feel bad 450 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 2: about my role in that. Wanting to order from the 451 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 2: kids menu, because it makes me think a little bit 452 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 2: about tipping, which I'm generally very I'm very pro tipping, 453 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 2: but the tipping discourse, you know, people should be getting 454 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 2: paid a living wage, and it is such a like 455 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 2: twisted move that they've somehow outsourced the responsibility to that 456 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 2: onto the people. And so this feeling, this feels exactly 457 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,880 Speaker 2: the same, feels kind of similar in the sense it's 458 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 2: like the restaurant industry is crumbling. 459 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 6: Things are really expensive. 460 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 2: If you if they let you order from the kids menu, 461 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: they're not going to make enough money. But you know, 462 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 2: that framing is that I'm the one inflicting this downfall 463 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 2: on them by this by wanting to have less food 464 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 2: at less price, when really the problem is the many 465 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 2: societal things at the top, right, and like you know, 466 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 2: and and people wouldn't you know if housing costs were 467 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 2: less than people could work for, Like it's all it's 468 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,439 Speaker 2: I didn't even realize how connected this is to just 469 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 2: all the structural problems in the world. 470 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 6: But then it's easy. 471 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 2: It's just the same type of like coverts switch around, 472 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 2: where ITA's like my inability to get like smaller portions 473 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 2: at a appropriate price is a symptom of a bunch 474 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: of higher problems in society, but that when you go 475 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 2: asking why can't I do this, you know that the 476 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 2: answer is, oh, because you need to support restaurants. As 477 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 2: if I had any part in sort of all the 478 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,239 Speaker 2: things that changed, including starting a pandemic, I had no 479 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 2: role in that. I've always wondered, Yeah, yeah, yeah, and yes, 480 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 2: how do you feel like gain a function research? 481 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 6: Yeah? 482 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 2: And so it's just like like sure, I understand that 483 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 2: in this specific scenario, if we're looking at this layer 484 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,479 Speaker 2: of it all, like yes, if I were to do 485 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 2: that and insist upon it, they wouldn't make money. 486 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,679 Speaker 6: But I actually have nothing to do with that situation. 487 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,639 Speaker 1: Well, you're a proponent of smaller portions, so you you 488 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 1: would you would be, in theory, be happy with, you know, 489 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: an adult burger. But let's say it's a six ounce 490 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: burger instead of an. 491 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 5: Eight ounce, right right? 492 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 6: Like yeah, Like so, I mean I. 493 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: Don't know if that saves the money. 494 00:23:57,840 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 6: I don't know what would happen. 495 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 2: To society if, yeah, if the portions just suddenly got smaller. 496 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 2: But I think I, yeah, I would be It's also 497 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 2: like never, it really is not about the price. It 498 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 2: is about what it is, how it's smaller, and it's 499 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 2: sometimes it's just a bit more straightforward, and that's what 500 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 2: I want. 501 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, So we've learned about why kids menus 502 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: are restricted to kids. Let's talk solutions after the break. 503 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: So we're back. So we're gonna talk about potential solutions 504 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 1: to the kid menu conundrum. But first a bit about 505 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: my own experience at the mall. All right, I'm outside 506 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 1: the restaurant. I'm about to go in, trying to get 507 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: a seat at the bar and see how the kid's 508 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: mini thing goes. So I walk in. You know, some 509 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: great music's playing by a Jelly roll or someone trump Sure, 510 00:24:58,359 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: Benz Boom. 511 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 5: It's yeah, it's like, I go up, get seated. 512 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,640 Speaker 1: Immediately, it's pretty empty, a few couples in there, some 513 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: another guy at the bar chilling. They don't give me 514 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: the kids menu. To give me the. 515 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 9: Regular about that, because it's a big Well do you 516 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 9: remember when you were at the age where they stopped 517 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 9: giving you the kids man, that was a big that 518 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 9: was like, oh, I'm an. 519 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:23,919 Speaker 1: Adult, like a. 520 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 7: Oh yeah, I kind of didn't like because that was 521 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 7: fun to do it as a kid. 522 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, I wish they had more of. 523 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 6: Those at least of the episode is like, and I 524 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 6: should be able to draw. 525 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 1: On that can't cost them. Yeah, so anyway, so I'm 526 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 1: looking at I don't they don't give it to me. 527 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:49,679 Speaker 1: But then I'm just like, all right, So lady standing there, 528 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: I'm just like, oh, well, can I just have a 529 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: kid's burger? And then is there any way I can 530 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: just get like a kid's size cheeseburger, And without any hesitation, 531 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,360 Speaker 1: she goes sure and puts it in. What I was shocked? 532 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:01,919 Speaker 7: Wow? 533 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 6: What? 534 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: And I hadn't ordered anything else, Like it's not like 535 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,199 Speaker 1: I got like I got to be here afterwards. 536 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 6: But you have a kids burger and one beer. It's 537 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 6: a time that kids could feasibly be there. 538 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 1: It was like noon. 539 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 6: Yeah, so maybe that that that could be part of it, 540 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 6: you know, And. 541 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 1: Maybe because they weren't busy, you know, but I was. 542 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: I was because I wanted to go buy myself for 543 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 1: that reason, to be the most challenging. 544 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 6: To be the most version of the its like, you. 545 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 5: Know, if I was with other people, okay, not everyone's 546 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 5: going to get the kids to think. 547 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:37,159 Speaker 6: You know, and you two go, how was it like 548 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 6: size wise. 549 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 1: And I mean it's the size of it. So it 550 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 1: was I took a picture. Was small. I mean the 551 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: burger was definitely smaller than usual, and like not as 552 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: many acoutreman. 553 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,400 Speaker 6: You know, not as elevated, not elevated really at all. 554 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 1: Patty cheese, lettuce, tomato. I don't think there was onion 555 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: any all the hits. Yeah, and then good portion of 556 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: French fries. Sure, pretty excellent and more than I would 557 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 1: think for a kid's Like, it didn't feel like they 558 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: give me a kids portion of the fries. 559 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 7: It's a grown as man order. 560 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:07,959 Speaker 1: And yeah, this guy's gonna get we gotta film give 561 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: regular exactly. 562 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 8: It sounds like what the inside source at the movie 563 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 8: theater was saying, where it does kind of depend on 564 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 8: who the employees at the time. This woman just sounded 565 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 8: like she didn't give a ship. 566 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 4: Yeah. 567 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:20,679 Speaker 1: So so I mean I think that's another you know 568 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,919 Speaker 1: question here is the inconsistency. 569 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 5: Yeah, because I mean, you know, you say, you know, 570 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 5: you're not. 571 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: Someone who's gonna throw a fit about this, obviously, but yeah, 572 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: and like or like you're at a restaurant now you 573 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 1: don't want to ask, And part of that is because 574 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: you have no idea, what reaction, what's gonna happen? Let's 575 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: talk about solutions. So I had some ideas that I'm 576 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,720 Speaker 1: curious how you guys feel, so like some of them 577 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: we've already kind of touched on. So like you would be, 578 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: would you be happy to order a kid's meal but 579 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:53,479 Speaker 1: pay a surcharge for being an adult? So say it's 580 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 1: it's normally ten dollars, you have to pay four dollars 581 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: extra for a lot. 582 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 8: Four is a lot. It was two dollars the cost 583 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 8: of the But here's the thing. Yes, I would be 584 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 8: okay with it. It's not my ideal situation. 585 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:06,360 Speaker 6: Yeah, I would. 586 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 2: I would do it though if I they just but 587 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:11,359 Speaker 2: if I saw it, they would need to say it 588 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,400 Speaker 2: on the thing because it's always like for twelve or under, 589 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 2: and then there's another bit of fine print. 590 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: Like plus plus four for adult. 591 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 8: Yeah if if the kids men, you plus the surcharge 592 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:23,919 Speaker 8: is still cheaper than the adult item. 593 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:24,719 Speaker 1: You're in fine. 594 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 6: Yes, yes, okay, that's. 595 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 8: Because I want less food, but I also want to 596 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 8: pay the a fair price for it, right, what. 597 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 1: About just paying for a half portion? That's my golden standard. 598 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 8: Yeah, I just want half of the thing and I 599 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 8: want to pay half the price for it. 600 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 2: Like in some cases, yes, it's like I want the 601 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 2: very specific, picky eater food that they have. But for 602 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 2: the most part, and because I'm just sort of i'm 603 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 2: you know, I'm solutions orientated. If this would just if 604 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 2: we could all agree on this, and I'd be happy 605 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 2: to settle for just half portion, yeah, of adult adult food, because. 606 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 8: Then they're not necessary They're not technically losing money on 607 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,479 Speaker 8: that deal. They are not making it as much as 608 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 8: they could if they forced me to get the adult thing. 609 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 7: De My thing is you kind of alluded to it. 610 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 7: But just right on the menu, who can order what? 611 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: I think? That's right. That's what we need is transparency 612 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 1: all over. 613 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 7: This is only for. 614 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: How hard how hard line are. 615 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 6: These right, it's like twelve and under. But sometimes it's 616 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 6: not like only twelve, it's like twelve. 617 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: Like this is designed twelve year right, right? 618 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 7: Maybe what they have menus and they say like for 619 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 7: kids only, like adults can order if you're yeah, if 620 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 7: you're not with a kid. 621 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 8: Yeah, And I'll obey that, but also have my problems, Yeah, 622 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 8: but why can't I You can have your problems with. 623 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 7: The menu, Yes, exactly, it's not okay, now this person, 624 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 7: at least we know the rules of engagement. 625 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I asked about during COVID, so many restaurants that 626 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 1: wouldn't normally have takeout started offering that because one people 627 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 1: couldn't go into the restaurants. So that's kind of something 628 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: that Lori, the industry analyst, was kind of suggesting as 629 00:29:57,600 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: a workaround. Yeah, obviously it's not the same as dining. 630 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 1: But if you really want this food and you're going 631 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 1: to pay the surcharge of the takeout thing, but if 632 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: you need that tender meal, you can get it from the. 633 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 2: The place is getting like just in order for like 634 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 2: a diet cook and envisioning like a kid on the 635 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 2: other end, like exactly replacing the. 636 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: Order and they're paying. Like but yeah, so that's something 637 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: where the industry is shifting, and maybe you know, on 638 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: a long enough timeline, out of pure necessity, you will 639 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: be able to disorder anything. Mm hmm, that. 640 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 2: Will yeah, Because yeah, I mean, ultimately, I feel like 641 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 2: I'm cooler with the idea in general of like restaurants 642 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 2: being a bit more expensive if the people who work 643 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 2: there are paid fairly and you're willing to pay, and 644 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 2: that supports it, like on one condition, you allow me 645 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 2: to order from the kids menu, because you've made it 646 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 2: sustainable for you, Like, I will pay the sustainable price. 647 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 2: And I feel like we should be more accustomed to 648 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 2: get you of paying more are for privileges, which it 649 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,440 Speaker 2: is to go to this fine establishment and watch Dune 650 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,040 Speaker 2: and get like, you know, I'm literally getting alcohol brought 651 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 2: to me to watch a movie. 652 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 6: I will pay for. 653 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 2: Whatever makes it work for them for them to give 654 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 2: me just basic chicken fingers and fries. 655 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 1: I guess I wonder how many adults actually would want that. 656 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:24,080 Speaker 5: I know how in this room there's fifty percent in 657 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 5: the general population. 658 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 1: I wonder what it would be. I think it would 659 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: be fifty. It's probably one. 660 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 2: You know, like those those things that would do with 661 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 2: like de Jorn did, where people be like, oh my god, 662 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 2: I love this restaurants. 663 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 6: Actually we would do that, but we would put people 664 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 6: and kids portion yeah, what do you think? And then 665 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 6: they're gonna go it's fine. 666 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: That was the kids that the kids, and guess what 667 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: you're paying? 668 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, or ten dollars more for that. 669 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 6: No, they would leave so happy. They would be like, 670 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 6: oh my god. And but that's again big food doesn't want. 671 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 5: To just know that. 672 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 2: Hells than. 673 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 1: No such Thing as a production of Kaleidoscope Content. Our 674 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 1: executive producers are Kate Osbourne and Mangeshatza Cadur. The show 675 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 1: was created by Manny Fidel, Noah Friedman, and Devin Joseph. 676 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: Theme and credits music by Manny. Our guest this week 677 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:18,880 Speaker 1: was Kate Lindsay from the Icy m I podcast and 678 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 1: embedded newsletter. And thank you to our experts in the field, 679 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: Laurie Racodzi, anonymous movie theater employee, and my amazing server 680 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 1: at Apple Piece. We couldn't have done this without you. 681 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: For more, please visit No Such Thing dot show. You 682 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 1: can subscribe to our newsletter and get a little bit 683 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 1: more insight into the episodes, and if you have feedback 684 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: for us or our question, our email addresses Manny Noah 685 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 1: Devin at gmail dot com. If you're in the US, 686 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: you can also leave us a voicemail by calling the 687 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 1: number in our show notes. We'll be back next week 688 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 1: with a new episode. Thanks, Hell's Hell's, Hell's, Hell's such Thing.