Long before I became an amateur food writer I used to always take notes of what everyone at the table was eating, specially when traveling abroad (i've always kept a food journal). I was about 13 when a funny thing happened in bordeaux, france... the staff kept on being excessively "helpful" and really really nice which I thought was strange for the french...until they finally asked if we were from the Michelin Guide and using the "youngster" as a decoy! It was hilarious... great free stuff though!
