asking restaurants for the recipe

when i lived in DC, we used to go to Le Dip for their legendary brunches. my favorite dishes included the warm shrimp salad and this gorgeous creamy pistachio oatmeal. i mustered up the courage to ask for the oatmeal recipe knowing the worst that could happen is they’d say “sorry, no.” instead, they sent me the recipe and I’ve made it at home a few times. turns out, they took the pistachio oatmeal off the menu! and now it’s all mine to cook and keep alive. it never hurts to ask. recipes are cul...