We all know that life is not possible without water and food, but we should also be aware that our economic life would be threatened if the food industry---meaning, in this instance, the restaurant business---was to decline.

Fortunately though, despite all the current uncertainties there are no signs, according to the National Restaurant Association, that diners intend to stop eating out this year. The progress will be less spectacular, but the growth in patronage will continue. This is good news. Not only are restaurants an essential part of our American way of life, but they also play a considerable role in the functioning of our economy. Some numbers suffice to shed some light on this assumption: Every day in the U.S., diners spend $1,2 billion in 870,000 restaurants. The total forecast for 2003 amounts to $426 billion. Think of the millions of jobs affected by this activity, from busboy and kitchen help to celebrated executive chef and sommelier.

Millions of men and women make a living in exchange for their good, and often hard, work in this universe. As consumers themselves, they help fuel the system with their spending, investments, and savings and therefore, through the input of a substantial amount of money, they help to keep the economy in good health.

Feeding ourselves is a necessity that no one can elude; dining out is pleasure added to the satisfaction of a basic human need. To optimize the procedure, thanks to the good restaurant guides by Gayot, we are now able to customize our pleasure according to our palate and our wallet.

Every day, we at Gayot independently and candidly review thousands of restaurants for your enjoyment and the enhancement of your quality of life. Our reviews are meant to help you make the right choice and get the bang for your buck.

Spending money right and in the right place is at this time a patriotic behavior. Follow your guide; you have no excuse for not being a well-informed patriot.

André Gayot

(Updated: 07/08/08/ HC)