>visit family and friends in chicago >gf want's to

>>7314084
>I never understand why people equate price to quality.
There isn't a strong correlation between deliciousness and price. Many delicious things are cheap, and some are very expensive. The middle ground varies wildly.

But price is generally about assuring comfort level. Rich people go to expensive places because they're comfortable with deferential service, food that looks a certain way and (most importantly) dining with their own kind, since the price is usually enough to keep the poor and middle class out. They don't worry about how the food is sourced because they take it for granted the chef is getting the best available.

The poor will flock to places that offer cheap deliciousness (usually in large portions, because getting their money's worth is important to people who don't have that much). The food will be lacking in vegetables and made from the cheapest possible ingredients, but it will often be as delicious as what rich people eat - just much less healthy. This is why when you look at the people eating at places popular with the poor you see a lot of fatties.

It's the middle class places where things get fucked up. Because the middle class has other priorities than deliciousness. They look at what the poor eat and want something "healthier". They want vegetarian and gluten-free options. They want to feel like they're in the know, so they go to places that serve food that's in line with current food trends as they understand them. They're impressed by locally sourced and organic ingredients. They also want "healthy" options, because they're terrified of getting fat (or fatter). And most of all they want to eat at a place where the prices are just high enough to keep out the poor, so they can feel rich for an evening. This is why most middle class restaurants are a waste of money.