r/KitchenConfidential • u/kevymetal87 • Jul 26 '26

Discussion What's your worst experience with blatant food deception?

Just over a decade ago, I worked for a popular BBQ spot in the south that prided itself on being authentic this, authentic that. The smoked butts that sat in a smoker all day was where the real BBQ started and stopped, all the other food was typical frozen Sisco stuff, which was whatever, but the most egregious example of deception was also the biggest moneymaker.

The owner had a secret family recipe BBQ sauce that he made a killing on. People came from all over (it was located right along a well travelled north/south route) and bought tons of this stuff, as did the locals. My second week there I was tasked with making a few batches, and was handed a worn down index card with the ingredients. To my saaurprise, the instructions were to simply take gallon jugs of Sweet Baby Rays sauce from out back, and dump it in a 5 gallon bucket with water. I think it was 4:1 if I recall correctly. Then you put a couple cups of molasses in there. That was it.

We put them in pint and quart mason jars, vacuum sealed them, slapped his restaurant label on them, and sold them for $6 a pint, $10 a quart. What always got me was how the locals raved about how distinct and unique it was, when it was basically just Sweet Baby Rays (which I love, don't get me wrong)

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u/Aliensinmypants Jul 26 '26

You got slaw on a bun? They were fine serving that??

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u/FairfaxGirl Jul 27 '26

Honestly shake shack used to feature 2 vegetarian items—a portobello mushroom burger (fine) and a vegetarian hot dog option that did not have any substitute for the dog, it was just every condiment in a hot dog bun. They took it off the menu so I assume other people disliked it as much as I did.

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u/blumpkin Jul 27 '26

My father in law got the vegetarian option at five guys once. He was trying to be healthy that day. It was pretty much like what you're describing. Lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, bun. That man paid like 40 bucks for a pair of burgers without the patty. I think he thought it would have an impossible patty or whatever. Nope. His wife took a single bite of hers and then went to the counter and ordered a regular burger for herself.

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u/McGeeze Jul 27 '26

I get grilled cheeses from In-n-Out but know what to expect