The Mere-Exposure Effect and Bartenders You’ll Remember Forever

A psychological phenomenon may reveal a lot about the things — and travel experiences — we gravitate toward.

The mere-exposure effect is a phenomenon by which people develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them — it is an effect that can reveal a great deal about our travel habits, interests and desires.

One of my favorite restaurants in Boston, Stillwater, is owned by Chef Sarah Wade, champion of the Food Network’s 2018 Chopped Gold Medal Games and an accomplished restauranteur (she’s preparing to open a new restaurant, Sloane’s, in the city’s Allston neighborhood). I often describe Stillwater as “the home of southern comfort food in Boston.” According to Wade, the menu reflects what is familiar to her: “Eating food from my childhood gives me warm and fuzzies, and that is what I want to pass to our guests.”

Last year, I visited Stillwater for the first time and ordered the Smoked Pork Mac & Cheese, described on the menu as “Slow Smoked House BBQ Pulled Pork, The Best Creamy Mac and Cheese, Buttered Ritz Cracker Crumbs.” It was delicious and tasted like something my grandmother would have made (her cooking was heavy on the calories and butter).

I’ve been back numerous times, but have always ordered the same dish — that is, until last weekend, when I tried something new from the menu (“Ritz Chicken”). It was delicious! I swapped things up, not because I was over the rich flavor of that signature mac ‘n cheese, but because I had just written a first draft of what has ultimately become this article. I was encouraged to break out of my habit.