Have you ever been on a date where the other person seems much more interested in the mussels than your muscles, the crab legs than your legs, and the chicken satay rather than what you have to say? Then you could be on that person's "foodie call."
What Is a 'Foodie Call'?
A foodie call is when someone who has no real romantic interest in you still goes on a dinner date with you just for a free meal or at least the opportunity to try a particular restaurant or type of food. You essentially could become that person's one-time meal ticket. And based on previous studies, like two of them published in a 2019 issue of the scientific journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, it can be more than a one-time experience for those in the dating arena, with 23 percent and 33 percent of the women surveyed in those studies, respectively, admitting to having done foodie calls.
The studies found that those regularly doing foodie calls were significantly more likely to score higher on the "Dark Triad" characteristics—namely Machiavellianism (the tendency to manipulate others for self-benefit), psychopathy (the lack of empathy), and narcissism (an inflated sense of entitlement), as David Ludden, Ph.D., covered in 2019 in Psychology Today. That, of course, doesn't mean that all foodie callers are that way. And while these studies did specifically survey females, women aren't necessarily the only ones who might do the foodie-calling thing. Anyone who can get some or all of their meal paid for by a date might have food for thought in such a way when it comes to dating.
Could 'Date-flation' Be Increasing the Risk of 'Foodie Calls'?
Fast forward from 2019 to 2026, with inflation having pushed prices in the United States up by 31.03 percent, based on the Consumer Price Index. I've already written about date-flation in "A Funny Bone to Pick," with the cost of a typical all-in date rising from $168 to $189 over just a one-year period from 2025 to 2026. This could make it even more likely to run into foodie callers when you are on the dating trail mix. At the very least, it could make a foodie call more expensive for you.
Of course, maybe you are fine with paying for someone's meal when that person isn't really paying any interest in you. Perhaps you're banking on the possibility that you can change the foodie caller's mind about you on the date and pull the sweet out of the sour. A foodie call can be sweet and dandy if both parties are completely fine with it.
Lack of Genuine Engagement Could Suggest a 'Foodie Call'
However, if you view foodie calls as a waste of your resources and—more importantly—your time, then you may want to stay aware of some possible red flags or perhaps red velvet cake flags. One is a lack of genuine interest and engagement before and especially during the dinner date, like when your date seems less interested in maintaining eye contact and more interested in maintaining pie à la mode contact. Your date should show some genuine interest in getting to know you better.
The word "genuine" is key here because seasoned foodie callers could be adept at faking interest in you and engaging with you in a formulaic and performative manner. In fact, foodie callers may even love bomb you—primarily with the hope that you will Birria Bomb them back. So, beware of inauthenticity.
Too Much Focus on Where You'll Be Dining Could Suggest a 'Foodie Call'
Another red velvet cake flag is the other person focusing way too much on where you'll be dining. Sure, your date might have very specific dietary preferences or even requirements due to food allergies or other medical reasons. But if that individual seems intent on eating at a very specific restaurant—especially an expensive one—without a plausible reason despite your suggesting other restaurants, then you've gotta wonder.
A History of 'Foodie Calling' Raises the Risk of a 'Foodie Call'
Then there's the "pasta" possibly predicting the future consideration. If the person is known for regularly doing foodie calls before, then sure, you may be an exception. But what makes you think so?
A foodie caller may even have a polished playbook for such dates, such as checking when Chef Sussudio will actually be working at a restaurant and then coordinating the date to match that day and time. In general, if you feel like you are no more than part of a process or just an appetizer when the main course is the main dinner course, you could be right.
Reluctance to Go on a More Casual First Date Might Suggest a 'Foodie Call'
One way to prevent a "foodie call" is to suggest a more casual first date—such as meeting for coffee, dessert, or a walk—and see how the other person reacts. After all, isn't the ultimate purpose of a first date to determine whether the two of you may be a good fit and whether both of you might want at least a second helping of each other? If the other person expresses reluctance to go on such a lower-stakes first date, then you could be dealing with a foodie caller.
In general, it's OK to communicate any concerns that you may have as long as you remain appropriately respectful. For example, if the cost of a dinner is going to be a problem for you, consider being honest and straightforward about it and discussing more affordable options. Don't try to be who you are not. If the other person is going to reject you as a result of you being you, then it probably wasn't a good match anyway.
Don't let the foodie calling out there leave you with a sour taste for dating in general, though. Remember the aforementioned studies also suggested that a majority of people out there aren't doing the foodie-calling thing. And even if you do get flambé-d here and there by different bad dating experiences, try not to generalize and stereotype. Stay open to possibilities. You never know when you might run into the person who is just your taste and wants to get things cooking with you and not just the food that you have to offer.