Go out to eat this holiday season!
I was already thinking of posting something under this theme, and then my regular forum contributor Gelatinous Endive was kind enough to sum up my thought for me:
I think of all of the places I LOVE and they are NOT expensive, and I must ramp up my dining out. Our household is really very conservative when spending dining-out dollars and we need to let go of the purse strings a little more to support the second best thing about this city, its independent restaurants. The best thing about the city is its architecture, in case you are wondering.
Well said, GE. I encourage everyone who reads my blog and forum — which generally means that you’re a food-lover of some sort — to patronize a restaurant during the next two weeks. (It’s going to be even more important to do so after the first of the year, but I’ll bloviate on that after the holidays.) There are lots of great prix-fixe deals out there at higher-end restaurants — or just go to your favorite neighborhood bar & grill, or Asian place, or even out to a locally owned pizza or pasta joint.
But more important, if a restaurant (or several) holds special memories for you, go out and at least get an entree and a glass of wine soon so that place will have a better chance of being there when things improve and when you’re looking to go back for an anniversary, birthday or just a special night out.
And for you restaurant folks — hang in there! I’ve written many times that restaurant owners and staff are among the hardest-working people in America, and I firmly believe that. Here’s looking forward to 2009 being much kinder to you than 2008 has been!
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Joe Bonwich has been the restaurant critic for the Post-Dispatch since 2002 and has covered the local food scene for various publications for more than 25 years. He does his best to maintain his anonymity so that he isn't recognized in restaurants (which is why his picture looks like it does). 
I wouldn’t recommend this solution. The public no guarantees as to where the country of origin is for the food that they’re eating and as to how much of their food has been substituted for toxic and dangerous psuedo-food substances from Communist China. Until there are some guarantees out there I think I would suggest everyone only eat food that they can verify as to the food’s origin. And prepare the food yourself to guarantee that it’s not being prepared by undocumented illegal aliens.
You’re a tool. Take it over to current affairs. No one cares about your political views on food.
I wish you the best, but agree with the previous comment. The idea is flawed. If I want East Coast Pizza, I’ll go eat it and have a beer there. But, it is not that good anyhow. And is the other offering a hot dog place? Really?? I just don’t understand how you gamble with an unproven setup, and then add no smoking and no food. I truly wish you the best, and I will come check it out and have a beer. But, I can’t help but think of so many places around with so many additional offerings besides beer.