Bar manager

Can ChatGPT Write Food and Drink Menus?

by David Klemt

After my “conversation” last month with ChatGPT about AI, I had another conversation during which I asked it to write me four menus.

Of course, I did this to prove a point. And upon reviewing the ChatGPT menus, you’ll likely reach the same conclusion.

Curious about how creative the AI-powered chatbot could be, I asked for four specific menus. As you’ll see, two are cocktail specific, one focuses on food, and one is a 20-item F&B menu for a specific event.

So, yes, ChatGPT can write food and drink menus. But there’s a caveat. I could leave you in suspense but that’s not very nice. Let’s jump in.

Write me a cocktail menu using the most popular cocktails from 2022.

Cocktail Menu

1. Aperol Spritz – Aperol, Prosecco, and soda water, garnished with an orange slice
2. Old Fashioned – Bourbon, sugar, bitters, and a citrus peel
3. Margarita – Tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and salt rim
4. Daiquiri – Rum, lime juice, and simple syrup
5. Moscow Mule – Vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice
6. Paloma – Tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and soda water
7. Pina Colada – Rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and a cherry garnish
8. Whiskey Sour – Bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup
9. French 75 – Gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and simple syrup
10. Mai Tai – Rum, orange liqueur, lime juice, and orgeat syrup

*All cocktails are served over ice, unless otherwise requested.

Write me a cocktail menu using the most popular spirits and alcohol types of 2022.

Cocktail Menu

1. Gin and Tonic – Gin, tonic water, and a lime wedge
2. Vodka Martini – Vodka, dry vermouth, and an olive garnish
3. Bourbon Manhattan – Bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters
4. Tequila Sunrise – Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup
5. Rum Runner – Rum, blackberry liqueur, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine
6. Whiskey Sour – Bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup
7. Margarita – Tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and salt rim
8. Daiquiri – Rum, lime juice, and simple syrup
9. Long Island Iced Tea – Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and cola
10. Pina Colada – Rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and a cherry garnish

*All cocktails are served over ice, unless otherwise requested.

Write me an appetizer and tapas menu that includes food items from an array of cuisines.

Appetizer and Tapas Menu

1. Bruschetta – Grilled bread topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze
2. Hummus Platter – Chickpea dip served with pita bread and fresh veggies
3. Spring Rolls – Fried wonton wrappers filled with veggies and served with sweet chili sauce
4. Spinach and Artichoke Dip – Creamy dip made with spinach, artichokes, and melted cheese, served with tortilla chips
5. Stuffed Jalapeños – Jalapeño peppers stuffed with cream cheese and bacon
6. Fried Calamari – Lightly battered and fried squid rings served with marinara sauce
7. Baked Brie – Warm, gooey brie cheese topped with fruit preserves and served with crackers
8. Fried Rice Balls – Rice mixed with veggies and spices, rolled into balls and fried, served with sweet and sour sauce
9. Chorizo Sliders – Mini sliders made with spicy chorizo sausage and topped with avocado crema
10. Samosas – Triangular-shaped pastries filled with spiced potatoes and peas, served with mint chutney.

*Please let us know of any dietary restrictions, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Write me a food and beverage menu for the 2023 [Big Game] with ten food items and ten drinks.

[Big Game] 2023 Food and Beverage Menu

Food:

1. Buffalo Wings – Crispy wings tossed in spicy Buffalo sauce
2. Sliders – Mini burgers with various toppings, such as bacon and cheddar, mushroom and Swiss, and BBQ pulled pork
3. Nachos – Tortilla chips topped with melted cheese, jalapeños, salsa, and sour cream
4. Chili – Hearty beef chili served with shredded cheddar cheese, onions, and crackers
5. Ribs – Slow-cooked BBQ ribs with a tangy sauce
6. Mac & Cheese Bites – Fried balls of creamy mac & cheese
7. Deviled Eggs – Hard-boiled eggs filled with a mixture of mayo, mustard, and spices
8. Pizzas – Slices of delicious pizza in various toppings such as pepperoni, mushroom, and sausage
9. Chips & Dip – Assorted chips served with guacamole, salsa, and queso dip
10. Soft Pretzels – Warm, soft pretzels served with cheese dipping sauce

Drinks:

1. Beer – A selection of domestic and imported beers
2. Margaritas – Classic margaritas made with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice
3. Bloody Mary – A spicy tomato and vodka-based drink with celery, olives, and other garnishes
4. Hard Cider – A crisp, apple-based beverage
5. Sodas – A variety of soft drinks, such as cola, lemon-lime, and root beer
6. Whiskey Sours – A mixture of whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup
7. Spiked Hot Cider – Warm apple cider with a splash of rum
8. Red and White Wines – A selection of red and white wines to accompany any meal
9. Iced Tea – Sweetened or unsweetened iced tea
10. Coffee – Freshly brewed coffee, hot and ready to enjoy.

*Please drink responsibly and always have a designated driver.

Where Do You Stand on AI?

In my opinion, there are essentially four primary camps forming around the subject of artificial intelligence.

There are the Alarmists, the Enthusiasts, the Cautious, and the Shoulder Shruggers.

As my label implies, the Alarmists are fearful of AI. This group doesn’t like the genie being let out of its bottle. On the polar opposite, there are the Enthusiasts. This group can’t wait to see how far AI can go and what it’s fully capable of.

The Shoulder Shruggers basically have no opinion. They may even throw in an eye roll when the topic of AI comes around.

Then there’s the camp I most closely identify with: the Cautious. I don’t know enough about AI to be an Alarmist or an Enthusiast. Instead, I agree with points made by both of those camps.

Conclusion

Before I had my latest conversation with ChatGPT, I happened across a few interesting articles about the chatbot specifically and AI in general. A point each article shared was this: (for now), ChatGPT isn’t creative.

And that’s the caveat I mentioned at the top of this article.

Sure, it can scour the Internet for information in the blink of an eye, contextualize it (to a degree), and present it in a manner that seems intelligent. But really, neither ChatGPT nor other AI tools are capable of creative endeavors.

Now, consider the “menus” you just read. Unless your goal is to become a boring, regional chain bereft of personality and identity, not a single one is creative. In fact, they both consist of F&B items that any bartender, bar manager, chef, cook, or kitchen manager should know how to make, off-menu or on.

Simply put, these ChatGPT menus don’t provide much, if anything, in the way of brand identity.

That’s not to say that menus with the items above are “bad.” It’s just that they’re not enticing, not inspiring, not creative. They’re the definition of derivative. Why would today’s guest be drawn to a venue with those menus?

For now, I don’t think we need to be afraid of AI. Humans still rule the creativity roost. Oh, and please don’t use those AI-generated menus.

Image: Christian Wiediger on Unsplash