In Japan there exists a small cafe called the Ogori. While it’s menu is not particularly adventurous (for Japan), its menu protocol is. It is a unique experience in that unlike most restaurants, you don’t get what you ordered. Yes, yes, I’ve been to a place or two where it was rare to get what you ordered too, but that was due to incompetent service, not by design. At the Ogori, you receive what the person before you ordered—on purpose. The person after you gets your order. You get the idea, although it’s not remotely clear what the first customer of the day gets. While this certainly isn’t a good plan for a picky eater, it would likely get you to try a few things you might not otherwise order. If you’re at all like me, you tend to get into a rut, ordering the same few things at each restaurant you frequent.

In some ways it reminds me of the habit of a guy I used to work with. A bunch of us would go out for lunch, and he would order the same thing as someone else at the table. However, he’d do it before that person had placed their order. Not exactly living on the edge, but it did add a little variety to the day.

If taking chances with your food isn’t appealing, MysteryGoogle provides another alternative. Type in your Google search terms there, and your result will be the search the person before you requested. The person after you gets your results. Obviously, this isn’t enormously helpful if you’re researching a term paper, but if you’re bored and looking for a little tame knowledge adventure, this could be just the ticket.

Just remember, your present is someone else’s future.