It's no secret, I love to eat. I love food. I love cooking, baking, eating, trying new things, cooking new things. I love to cook at home or try new restaurants.

I find, though, that food that's just so-so at a restaurant will be touted by someone I meet or know casually through work as "really great".

I wonder, are our expectations lower? Am I a food snob? I can usually make something tastier and better than what I've had at some places. People's recommendations often fall flat of my expectations.

Maybe we've had bad food so long, we don't know any better.

As a general rule, I try to stay to the local places rather than chains. Sometimes when meeting friends or family though, and others choose, one is subjected to that choice.

I'll just keep telling them where the better Italian food is, and then they can taste the difference for themselves.