Anyone who likes to sit down and grab a meal before a flight has probably noticed that, post-pandemic, airport restaurants have gouged their already steep prices. But for those who don't want to pay for convenience, thankfully there are comparatively less exorbitant grab-and-go options scattered through most major airports. Or, if you really want to be frugal, there's nothing stopping you from bringing your own snacks from home.
In other words, the price of an airport restaurant meal, unreasonable as it may be in our inflationary times, should probably be the least of anyone's problems. Unfortunately, author and New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks apparently did not get that memo, and as a result, has found himself the main character of the internet for the day.
"This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport," Brooks posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday evening, along with a photo of a burger, fries, side salad, and what appears to be a whiskey on the rocks. "This is why Americans think the economy is terrible."
This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/1qeV9qOBL3
— David Brooks (@nytdavidbrooks) September 21, 2023
Brooks's post almost immediately went viral, as people jumped into his mentions to ridicule him. "Thank you for this brave statement, sir," wrote Emmy-nominated TV writer and comedian Mike Drucker. "This is why I encourage people to never do their grocery shopping at Newark Liberty International Airport."
"It’s true, you guys. My family has had to cut back to only eating at airport restaurants 4 nights a week," quipped comedian and screenwriter Jay Black, adding a succinct all-caps "THANKS JOE BIDEN!"
But if the ridicule of the internet wasn't bad enough, soon it got worse. Amateur sleuths managed to track down the restaurant Brooks was dining at—the Smokehouse Restaurant in Newark Airport, Terminal A—and found that shockingly, the burger and fries in the photo cost just $17, and that the rest of the tab was likely whiskey.
It wasn't long before users flooded the post's community notes to point out the evidence.
Dude is being roasted in the proposed community note https://t.co/qK9zcg6tdP pic.twitter.com/Fds4GsU3XT
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) September 21, 2023
As the jokes continued to snowball, it didn't take long before Brooks's post to turn into a full blown meme, as others piled onto the platform with examples of other meals that cost $78 or more.
This meal cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/UoR6WnoQcl
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) September 21, 2023
This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/R4NAd14d0T
— Kristi Yamaguccimane (@TheWapplehouse) September 21, 2023
This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. https://t.co/NNRELY4G8M pic.twitter.com/ZqhxtwL0zT
— Devin Nunes’ cow 🐮 (@DevinCow) September 21, 2023
This meal cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/db1plu4AdV
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) September 21, 2023
This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/8EIb4rXn3J
— Tim Vee (@_Tim_Vee_) September 21, 2023
Perhaps next time, he'll stick to Au Bon Pain and maybe hit an edible before arriving at the airport if he needs something to take the edge off.
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/RJFvL4I
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