September 10, 2026
I am reached out to by restaurants or festivals occasionally and sometimes they ask for my government name. Here is the way it works. Let’s say I agree to go to a festival (maybe judge it) after I receive an email or message requesting the same. I say yes. Then they say “what name should I put the ticket under?”
Of course I roll my eyes MOST of the time and respond “The Kansas Gastronomist.” But sometimes I like to respond with humor.
So this restaurant (I redacted information to keep it anonymous) a year ago reached out, inviting me to attend something. And when the person asked “what name to put it under,” I just said responded “Del Griffith.”
I figured either they would get the joke or think “Wow, he told me his full legal name.” 
And I just got another email from someone else with the restaurant. So, my joke worked. Or now it has, anyway.
— Del Griffith
