Alex Reichek

Want to ruin a perfectly good night out. Here's how.  “Can I have your cheapest bottle of wine?” Yes, most of us are not walking sommeliers, but it sounds like you are cheap and a little off-putting in front of your friends or your date. Simply say “I’m looking for something on the lower end, or how is your house wine?” At least you'll be a bit smooth and won't look like a cheapskate. “What's your favorite dish?” Just because your server is bringing you your food does not mean that they have the same taste as you. Why trust their tastebuds when they might just like only burgers? A better way to make a decision is by asking, “What is the most popular dish on the menu?” Or “What do more people order between the fried chicken and the short rib?” This way you won’t be disappointed when they suggests the meatloaf that you didn’t want. “What’s your phone number?” Don’t make the entire meal uncomfortable by asking your waiter out before the meal is over. Just write your number on the receipt or leave your card (sometimes this isn't even okay). Play it cool, you know? “I can't eat much—I've been sick puking for days.”  If you are sick, your poor waiter doesn’t need to know what happened to you last night in the bathroom and why you are only ordering soup. Keep the personal stuff to a minimum and just tell them your food allergies or dietary conditions for the evening. “My food is terrible!” Remember, a restaurant has a lot of moving parts. There are maître d's, line cooks, executive

Taking pictures of food is finally socially acceptable. You don’t have to be a blogger, a chef or a nutritionist's patient who is supposed to document every single thing you eat. Photographing food is officially part of our culture, so you have no reason to feel weird or cheesy doing it at your favorite restaurant. The only thing you should feel guilty about is posting a photo that looks like slop. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to make your food photos look like glorified professional shots on your phone. Use natural light when possible    A photo posted by Alex Reichek (@chekmarkeats) on Apr 29, 2016 at 7:22pm PDT   If the sun is out, use it. Sit by a window if you can. When you use natural light, your brunch photos can look like an angel is shining down on your food. If you are out of light, and luck, use your friend's iPhone Flashlight app. Play around and hold it straight above the food you are photographing. If the light is too harsh, put a napkin over it. Candles don’t do the trick, so if you need to be spontaneous, a phone light is your best bet. Purchase an extra light    A photo posted by Alex Reichek (@chekmarkeats) on Mar 12, 2016 at 7:53pm PST   If you want to go above and beyond, purchase a mini phone light online. This way you don’t have to bug your friends for their phones when they are in the middle of a Bumble session, and you can feel in control. Move the light around to see which angles work best for the light on the food, but holding it