2025-07-31
6 分钟The Economist. Hi, this is Ethan Wu, co-host of Money Talks, our business and finance podcast.
Welcome to Editor's Picks.
We've handpicked an article we recommend from the most recent edition of The Economist.
I hope you enjoy.
Sex and the City, a hit TV show, is full of tips about love and living in New York.
Alas, many of them are not fit for print, but one recommendation is to always have a tampon handy.
In an early episode from 1998,
Carrie and Samantha are desperate to dine at Manhattan's hottest French bistro.
With no reservation and faced with a recalcitrant hostess, the women give up.
But when that same hostess finds herself caught short in the toilets,
she bashfully asks Carrie for some sanitary supplies.
Soon, Carrie and Samantha are seated, martinis in hand.
From that moment on, we never had a problem getting a table at Balzac again, Carrie says.
Exclusive restaurants have long been alluring.
But since the pandemic,
when restaurants closed and people were forced to confront the awfulness of their own cooking,
Americans have had an insatiable hunger for dining out.
Social media influencers have funneled demand towards places where the food is good but the vibes are better.
At the most sought after spots, opportune tampons and the old tricks,
such as slipping a crisp $100 bill to the maitre d' are not enough.