Welcome to My Kitchen Complaint Department
Listen, young people, I need to have a serious conversation about breakfast.
I woke up one morning, put on my sensible shoes, grabbed my handbag, and decided to experience what everyone has been talking about: the famous avocado toast.
Apparently, this simple meal has become a symbol of modern dining. It is trendy. It is Instagram-famous. It is apparently a lifestyle choice.
So naturally, I had to investigate.
I walked into a very fashionable café where the chairs looked uncomfortable, the plants were everywhere, and everyone seemed to be taking pictures of their food before eating it. I ordered the avocado toast because I wanted to understand the hype.
The waiter brought me a beautiful plate.
I looked at the plate.
I looked at the avocado.
I looked at the price.
Twenty-five dollars.
Twenty-five.
For toast.
Now, I have questions.
When did bread become luxury? When did spreading a green vegetable on top of a slice of toast become a premium experience? And why does my breakfast need better lighting than my living room?
Welcome to my official review of modern food trends, where I examine expensive meals, tiny portions, Instagram-worthy dishes, and all the confusing choices that make me wonder if someone needs to call the restaurant manager.
The Great Avocado Toast Investigation: A Breakfast Mystery
Let me start by saying something important: I like avocado.
Avocado is delicious. It is creamy, nutritious, and makes a wonderful addition to many meals.
But somewhere along the way, society looked at an avocado, smashed it onto bread, sprinkled a few seeds on top, and decided we had created a masterpiece worthy of a luxury price tag.
Excuse me?
When I was younger, toast was something you ate when you needed a quick breakfast. It was not an event. It did not require a professional photographer. It did not come with a description longer than the actual recipe.
Now, menus describe avocado toast like a royal ceremony.
“Artisan sourdough topped with hand-selected avocado, organic microgreens, specialty seasoning, and a delicate finishing drizzle.”
Dear restaurant, you made toast.
A very pretty toast, perhaps. But still toast.
The modern food industry has discovered that if you use fancy words, people will pay more money. Suddenly, regular ingredients become “artisan creations.”
A sandwich is no longer a sandwich. It is a “curated culinary experience.”
A salad is no longer a salad. It is a “seasonal garden arrangement.”
A smoothie is no longer a smoothie. It is a “wellness blend.”
My goodness, just give me the food.
Why Are Restaurant Portions Getting Smaller?
Now, let us discuss another serious issue: portion sizes.
I have noticed something concerning at modern restaurants.
The plates are getting bigger.
The food is getting smaller.
I recently saw a meal served on a plate so large I thought they forgot to bring the rest of my order.
There was a tiny piece of chicken sitting in the middle, surrounded by artistic sauce decorations.
Is this dinner or a museum exhibit?
I did not come to admire my meal. I came to eat it.
Some restaurants seem to believe that the less food they provide, the more sophisticated the experience becomes.
A tiny dessert appears on the table, and everyone says, “Wow, presentation!”
No, dear. I am saying, “Wow, where is the rest?”
A dessert should not require a magnifying glass.
I understand that fine dining is about creativity and presentation, but there is a difference between elegant and confusing. If I finish my meal and immediately need to order a sandwich afterward, something has gone wrong.
The Instagram Food Problem: When Meals Become Photo Shoots
Now, we need to discuss the biggest influence on modern food culture: Instagram.
Food used to be something you enjoyed.
Now food has become a performer.
Before anyone takes a bite, there is a process.
First, the plate must be photographed.
Then the lighting must be adjusted.
Then someone moves the fork slightly.
Then someone takes another picture from a different angle.
Then someone says, “Wait, don’t touch it yet.”
Excuse me?
The food is getting colder while everyone is trying to create the perfect post.
I have watched people spend more time documenting their meal than actually enjoying it.
A restaurant visit has become less about eating and more about proving that you went somewhere expensive.
And let us talk about those colorful drinks.
Some beverages look like they require construction equipment to prepare.
There are flowers. There are powders. There are layers. There are tiny decorations.
I just wanted a drink.
I did not request a tropical garden floating in a glass.
The Rise of Overpriced Coffee: My Wallet Needs Therapy
Coffee is another situation that requires immediate attention.
I love coffee. Many people love coffee.
But coffee has become a complicated science experiment.
There was a time when you ordered coffee.
Now, you need to understand an entire language.
“What size would you like?”
“Regular.”
“No, I mean our three specialty sizes.”
“Fine, medium.”
“Would you like oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or another alternative?”
“Does regular milk still exist?”
Then comes the price.
Some coffee drinks cost more than an entire breakfast used to cost.
And what do you get?
A cup with beautiful foam art.
Yes, it looks nice.
But I have bad news: the foam does not pay my bills.
A coffee should wake me up, not make me question my financial decisions.
The Strange World of Viral Food Trends
Every few months, there is a new food trend that everyone suddenly loves.
One day it is a certain type of pasta.
The next day it is a strange dessert combination.
Then everyone is making the same recipe at home because one person on social media said it changed their life.
Now, I am not against trying new things. Exploring food is wonderful.
But sometimes I think we have become too easily impressed.
Someone puts cheese inside something unexpected, and suddenly it becomes revolutionary.
Someone makes a drink with unusual ingredients, and suddenly everyone needs to try it.
Back in my day, if something tasted good, that was enough.
We did not need a viral challenge to tell us what to eat.
The “Healthy Food” Industry Has Some Explaining To Do
Now, I have another complaint.
The word “healthy” has become very confusing.
Apparently, everything can be healthy now if you put the right label on it.
A snack becomes healthy because it has a fancy package.
A drink becomes healthy because it contains one trendy ingredient.
A dessert becomes healthy because someone adds the word “natural.”
Let me tell you something: putting a green label on a product does not automatically make it good for you.
Food should be simple.
Eat balanced meals. Enjoy treats. Do not believe every trend that appears online.
And please stop making people feel guilty for enjoying normal food.
Sometimes a homemade meal is healthier than a $15 smoothie with ingredients nobody understands.
The Problem With Food Becoming a Status Symbol
The biggest issue with modern food culture is that eating has sometimes become a way to show social status.
People are not just sharing what they eat. They are sharing what their meal says about them.
A fancy restaurant says something.
A trendy coffee shop says something.
A beautifully arranged plate says something.
But here is my opinion: food should bring people together.
A homemade dinner with family can be just as meaningful as an expensive restaurant experience.
A simple sandwich can be just as satisfying as a complicated dish with twenty ingredients.
Food does not need to be expensive to be special.
Sometimes the best meals are the ones that remind you of home.
My Final Review: Modern Food Needs a Little Common Sense
After my investigation into avocado toast, fancy coffee, tiny portions, and Instagram meals, I have reached my final conclusion.
Modern food trends are not all bad.
There are talented chefs creating incredible dishes. There are restaurants making beautiful meals. There are creative people pushing food in exciting directions.
But sometimes we need to calm down.
Not every meal needs to be photographed.
Not every ingredient needs a fancy name.
Not every slice of toast needs to cost twenty-five dollars.
Food is supposed to make us happy, not make us feel like we need a financial advisor before ordering breakfast.
So, dear restaurants and food influencers, please consider my advice.
Keep creating. Keep experimenting. Keep making delicious food.
But maybe remember one important thing:
People still want to eat.
And if I pay $25 for avocado toast, I expect enough avocado, enough toast, and possibly a small apology from the manager.
Until then, I will be at home making my own breakfast, where my toast costs less and nobody tells me I need to take a picture before enjoying it.
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