On a recent episode of Kitchen Nightmares, Chef Ramsay when reviewing a menu at a pizza / Italian place in So. Cal said that he has one rule: When a menu has pictures on it, run away.

Now, nothing against Chardonnay Golf Club, it’s a great Country Club. And I hear the food is good - even by Wine Country standards. But I have never had a meal there. And I have to say, that after looking at this email, many might not.

A big problem with email marketing (let alone with food and restaurant marketing) is that because emails are inexpensive to produce and send, the senders of these emails tend to make them look terrible. A bad photograph of even the best tasting food is a really great way to keep people away from your restaurant. They would have been better off with a stock image (lots available for next to nothing) of fresh ingredients. Or by just taking a better shot. Or having no photo at all.

I don’t mean to be mean. I’m really just trying to help. It will probably be a great brunch. If anyone out there goes, maybe you could bring a camera and take some good pictures for the nice folks at Chardonnay to use in future mailings.