For a long time I did not understand the lengths that some people would go to to obtain recipes from famous restaurants. I've always received compliments on my cooking, and I found it more a source of pride to hear the "oohs" and "ahhs" that my own creations could inspire than to know my guests were simply excited over my ability to mechanically duplicate someone else's recipe.

Then I found out that sometimes, a restaurant gets a dish just perfect, and there's no way to improve on it. When that happens you might as well just swipe it.

This was brought home to me when I discovered that I had become utterly addicted to a particular signature dish at a particular widely known chain restaurant. Try as I might, I simply was unable to make the same dish at home and have it turn out as scrumptious as the restaurant could do it.

Finally I found a source for the exact recipe used by that restaurant. I followed it to the letter and was delighted (as were the members of my family) to discover that it was indeed as good as what I previously had to go out to enjoy.

Apart from surprising yourself and others with your ability to duplicate a restaurant's most famous dishes, such "copycatting" can save money. If you're used to dining out, say, three nights a week, and part of the reason is because you really like the food at a particular establishment, then try staying home one of those nights and duplicating that food in your own kitchen.

Cloning a famous restaurant dish can be just as satisfying as whipping up something completely original. Try it sometime.