Listen to the Rain

My partner always orders the bitter melon dish her first time at a new Chinese restaurant, as a demonstration of familiarity with Chinese flavour profiles. She likes it okay, but it's not her favourite; it's a purely strategic maneuver. It works pretty well! On subsequent visits, they almost always remember her and are happy to make her food excessively spicy, serve her offal, or suggest things that aren't on the menu without worrying she'll accidentally order something she won't like.

I don't actually like bitter melon, so alas I am unable to execute this stratagem myself. :)