M Puzzle: The Price is Right
by Jennifer Chung
-- STEPS TO SOLVE THE PUZZLE --
1. Realize that the puzzle contains restaurant orders (should be
pretty obvious).
2. Figure out which restaurant is which (turn restaurant clues into
restaurant names).
3. Obtain menus for all of these restaurants.
4. Look up items on the orders and find their menu prices.
5. Add up a total dinner price for each restaurant, including the tip.
You should get a whole number.
6. Group the restaurants by food ethnicity.
7. Alphabetize the restaurants within each group.
8. Find the lowest-costing menu item for each total group.
9. Translate each restaurant's total dinner cost into an ASCII
character (A=65, a=97, etc).
10. Read the ensuing restaurant names.
11. Obtain menus for these restaurants.
12. Look for a dessert item on these restaurants' menus that matches
(or nearly matches) the dessert restaurant's group's corresponding
lowest-price discovered earlier.
13. Take the first letter of each of the desserts.
14. Anagram/arrange them until you get a real word.
15. Voila!
-- NOTES --
* Many of these menus are, I believe, online, though through different
sources. gastronomy.mit.edu (which is a project of the person who
coordinated restaurant reviews for this year's HowToGAMIT) currently
has links to all of those sources and then some; however, it is not
very well-publicized (should be moreso by the time the hunt
runs). Additionally, note that the prices may actually be different
between online and offline menus. For instance, I believe that if you
use wchuang's menus from 1998, you are Somewhat Doomed.
* ALL of this data is up-to-date as of at least 1/14/03 -- with ONE
exception. Rangzen is working off of data from a menu taken in
11/2002; the restaurant has been closed the past few days, and will be
open again on 1/17 (Friday of hunt).
-- USEFUL DATA --
The answer is "card". The dessert-mappings are:
* C- Hi-Fi, carrot cake, $2.75
* A- Hong Kong, almond cookies, $1.25
* R- Kaya, rice punch, $2.95
* D- Cinderella's (Cindy's), double chocolate custard, $2.95
[Note that with the double chocolate custard, there are also two other
items that cost $2.95 on that menu: cannoli and cheesecake. They are
specifically told to be disregarded in the flavor text.]
"C" is associated with "non-Chinese, non-Indian (other) Asian"
restaurants. This list (along with the ASCII in parentheses) is:
H (72) - Buddha's Delight [vegetarian vietnameseish]
i (105) - Korea Garden [korean]
'-' [hyphen] (45) - Pho Pasteur [vietnamese]
F (70) - Rangzen [tibetan]
i (105) - Thailand Cafe [thai]
"A" is associated with "Chinese" restaurants:
H (72) - Golden Light
o (111) - Hsin Hsin
n (110) - Mary Chung
g (103) - Nan Ling
' ' [space] (32) - New Yummy Hut
K (75) - Pu Pu Hot Pot
o (111) - Quan's Kitchen
n (110) - Royal East
g (103) - Yenching
"R" is associated with "Indian" restaurants:
K (75) - Border India
a (97) - India Castle
y (121) - Passage to India
a (97) - Shalimar of India
"D" is associated with "Italian/Pizza" restaurants:
C (67) - Bertucci's
i (105) - Chicago Pizza
n (110) - Domino's
d (100) - Emma's
y (121) - Pizza Ring
' (39) - Sicilia's
s (115) - Stefani's
Here is a complete list of all of the hints, along with the actual
restaurant it is referring to (in square brackets) and an explanation
for the clue (in squiggly brackets), in alphabetical order by clue:
> a vegetarian paradise [Buddha's Delight]
{canonical vegetarian restaurant}
> across from the end of the number 1 in Harvard [Yenching]
{located across from the last bus stop for the number 1 Mass Ave
bus, in Harvard Square}
> across the street from its spice store [Shalimar of India]
{there's shalimar of india spices store on the other side of mass ave}
> Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal, Pakistan [Border India]
{places that share a border with india}
> brick oven rolls [Bertucci's]
{known for brick oven pizza, rolls}
> cheap and greasy, and they double-up [Pizza Ring]
{known for their two-for-one "double-decker" special}
> check with the porter for Forster [Passage to India]
{located in porter square; forster wrote "a passage to india"}
> davis square sunshine [Golden Light]
{located in Davis Square; used menu items not available at China
Sun, so there shouldn't be conflict}
> delivery at 3am! [Nan Ling]
{one of the few places that do, especially for Chinese food}
> home of the famous stuffed pizza! [Sicilia's]
{says so right on the menu}
> its new food is yummy [New Yummy Hut]
{it's in the name; 'new' inserted to hint that the restaurant
name has been changed and that should be considered}
> like eating at the Taj Mahal, central and near serenity [India Castle]
{it is located in Central Square, next to a Buddhist temple}
> bulls and bears all over the place [Chicago Pizza]
{bulls and bears->chicago sports teams}
> nearby random thai place [Thailand Cafe]
{located right next to the MIT dormitory Random Hall}
> no doubt, gwen would be possessive of this place [Stefani's]
{refers to gwen stefani, no doubt's lead singer; 'possessive'
so the Stefani restaurant without the "'s" is not clued}
> noodle place just across the river [Hsin Hsin]
{mainly serves noodle dishes; located on Mass Ave in Boston}
> pho [Pho Pasteur]
{should be the first-association with pho most people will have}
> quaint quality on Commonwealth [Quan's Kitchen]
{starts with the letter 'q'; located on Comm Ave}
> shares a border with Korea [Rangzen]
{restaurant is located next to Korea Garden}
> shares a border with Tibet [Korea Garden]
{restaurant is located next to Rangzen, a Tibetan restaurant)
> takes the card! [Domino's]
{should be the only off-campus restaurant that accepts the MIT card}
> the toppings speak for themselves [Emma's]
{has fairly unique toppings}
> used to be able to see Texas from here [Pu Pu Hot Pot]
{located across from The Asgard, which was formerly occupied by
Austin Grill}
> usual chinese place (too bad they don't take credit cards) [Mary Chung]
{should be obvious :)}
> with the kingly treatment you'd expect at Windsor [Royal East]
{located on/next to/near Windsor St}
-- DATA (REFERENCE) DUMP --
List of data for all non-dessert restaurants (in CARD order),
including the puzzle clue, the name of the restaurant, the price that
should be arrived at, and each of the items on the menu and how much
those items cost.
====================================================================
--- C ---
Hi-Fi = 72 105 32 70 105
('H' 'i' '-' 'F' 'i')
lowest price: $2.75 [carrot cake]
------------------------
H (72) - Buddha's Delight
i (105) - Korea Garden
- (32) - Pho Pasteur
F (70) - Rangzen
i (105) - Thailand Cafe
[theme: Asian (non-Chinese, non-Indian)]
<>
> a vegetarian paradise [Buddha's Delight]
(canonical vegetarian restaurant)
BUDDHA'S DELIGHT ORDER ($72)
one Jackfruit with ice - $2.75
one Mung beans and red beans with coconut juice - $2.75
one order of "Pork" Lo-Mein - $5.95
one #54 [Vietnamese vermicelli with BBQ Pork etc.] - $8.75
two orders of #87 - $8.95*2= $17.90
two orders of Tofu "Chicken" Lo-Mein - $5.95*2= $11.90
one Vegetarian "lobster" stir-fried with ginger and onions - $9.25
TIP: $12.75
> shares a border with Tibet [Korea Garden]
(located next to Rangzen, a Tibetan place)
KOREA GARDEN ORDER ($105)
one order of tang su yuk - $12.90
one Soft doo boo ji gae - $9.90
one Ya chae Bo kum - $8.90
one Job chae - $9.90
two orders of Seafood madness - $12.90*2= $25.80
two orders of Kimchi bi bim Bab - $9.90*2= $19.80
TIP: $17.80
> pho [Pho Pasteur]
(should be the first-association with pho most people will have)
PHO PASTEUR ORDER ($45)
one Soda Chanh - $2.75
two orders of Dac Biet (large) - $5.95*2= $11.90
three orders of Vegetarian crispy springrolls [Cha Gio Chay] - $3.95*3= $11.85
one tofu with vegetable medley [Dau Hu Xao Rau Cai] - $9.50
TIP: $9.00
> shares a border with Korea [Rangzen]
(located next to Korea Garden)
RANGZEN ORDER ($70)
one order of Tsel Tofu - $10.95
one order of Temma Soup - $3.25
one medium Gya Thuk - $7.95
two orders of Chow Chow Chhu Tsel - $11.25*2= $22.50
three orders of Noodle Salad - $3.95*3= $11.85
TIP: $13.50
> nearby random thai place [Thailand Cafe]
(located next to Random Hall)
THAILAND CAFE ORDER ($105)
one 32 with shrimp [Red Curry] - $9.25
three orders of Lemon Grass Tofu - $6.25*3= $18.75
two Pik-King Tofu - $6.25*2= $12.50
two Pad Thai - $6.25*2 = $12.50
one Tofu Pad Thai - $6.25
two orders of Chicken Satay - $4.55*2= $9.10
one order of Tamarind Duck - $12.95
one Sizzling Spiced Beef - $9.55
TIP: $14.15
====================================================================
--- A ---
Hong Kong = 72 111 110 103 32 75 111 110 103
('H' 'o' 'n' 'g' ' ' 'K' 'o' 'n' 'g')
lowest price: $1.25 [almond cookies]
------------------------
H (72) - Golden Light
o (111) - Hsin Hsin
n (110) - Mary Chung
g (103) - Nan Ling
' ' (32) - New Yummy Hut
K (75) - Pu Pu Hot Pot
o (111) - Quan's Kitchen
n (110) - Royal East
g (103) - Yenching
[theme: Chinese]
<>
> davis square sunshine [Golden Light]
(should be obvious; not to be confused with China Sun, based on order)
GOLDEN LIGHT ORDER ($72)
one small order of Peking Ravioli - $4.25
three large orders of Beef Teriyaki - $6.50*3= $19.50
one Pu Pu Platter for one - $8.50
three bowls of Hot and Sour Soup - $3.25*3= $9.75
one combination #35 [Sesame Beef, Pork Fried Rice] - $7.50
one Yu Hsiang Broccoli - $6.75
one large General Hso's Tofu - $6.95
TIP: $8.80
> noodle place just across the river [Hsin Hsin]
(located on Mass Ave right on the other side of the Charles)
HSIN HSIN ORDER ($111)
two orders of Beef Noodle Soup - $5.95*2= $11.90
one Vegetarian Fried Rice Sticks - $6.50
two Vegetarian Chow Foon - $6.50*2= $13.00
one Kung Pao Chicken - $7.95
two orders of Dragon and Phoenix - $9.95*2= $19.90
two Cold Sesame Noodles with Vegetable - $5.95*2= $11.90
one Hunan Crispy Shrimp - $10.50
two Singapore Style Rice Sticks - $6.50*2= $13.00
TIP: $16.35
> usual chinese place (too bad they don't take credit cards) [Mary Chung]
(should be obvious)
MARY CHUNG ORDER ($110)
two orders of ravs [Peking Ravioli] - $4.85*2= $9.70
one Fried Bean Curd with Dun Dun Spicy Sauce - $3.50
two Suan La Chow Show - $3.85*2= $7.70
one Yu Hsiang Broccoli - $6.25
two Gau's [General Gau's Chicken] - $8.95*2= $17.90
two DCSB [Dry Cooked Sliced Beef] - $9.25*2= $18.50
one Orange Flavored Chicken - $7.50
one Bean Curd with Broccoli - $6.25
one Dried Spiced Tou Fu with vegetable - $7.95
one large Hot and Sour Soup - $4.95
TIP: $19.80
> delivery at 3am! [Nan Ling]
(because they *do*)
NAN LING ORDER ($103)
one order of Peking Ravioli - $5.50
two large bowls of Hot and Sour soup - $3.60*2= $7.20
one Meatless Moo Shi - $7.25
one large Pork with Broccoli - $7.40
one Sesame Chicken - $9.50
one large Kung Bao To Fu - $7.25
one large Vegetable Lo Mein - $6.70
one Curry Squid - $8.60
one Amazing Chicken - $9.00
one Crispy Aromatic Beef - $9.50
one large Broccoli with Garlic Sauce - $6.70
one small Spring Roll - $1.90
TIP: $16.50
> its food is yummy [New Yummy Hut]
(it's in the name)
NEW YUMMY HUT ORDER ($32)
one small bowl Egg Drop Soup - $1.50
one order of Crispy Orange Chicken - $9.15
one order of General Gao's Chicken - $8.95
two large bowls Hot & Sour soup - $4.00*2= $8.00
TIP: $4.40
> used to be able to see Texas from here [Pu Pu Hot Pot]
(across from The Asgard, which used to be Austin Grill)
PU PU HOT POT ORDER ($75)
one L22 [Sweet and Sour Chicken] - $4.75
one Broccoli with Garlic Sauce - $5.95
one Kung Pao Shrimp - $8.50
two orders of Orange Flavor Chicken - $8.95*2= $17.90
one order of Pi Pa To-Fu - $6.95
one order of Fried Calamari with Spicy Salt - $8.95
two orders of Buddha's Special - $5.95*2= $11.90
TIP: $10.10
> quaint quality on Commonwealth [Quan's Kitchen]
(starts with the letter 'q'; located on Comm Ave)
QUAN'S KITCHEN ORDER ($111)
two orders of Pork Congee - $3.50*2= $7.00
one Crispy Roasted Long Island Duck - $6.95
three orders of Curry Squid - $7.95*3= $23.85
two orders of Stir Fried Watercress - $5.25*2= $10.50
one order of U-Toy with Oyster Sauce - $5.25
three regular bowls of Hot & Sour soup - $3.75*3= $11.25
one appetizer combo D - $7.40
one Sweet & Sour Shrimp - $6.25
one Scallion Pancake - $1.50
two Shrimp with Cashew Nuts - $7.95*2= $15.90
TIP: $15.15
> with the kingly treatment you'd expect at Windsor [Royal East]
(located on Windsor)
ROYAL EAST ORDER ($110)
one large Hot and Sour Soup - $6.95
two orders of Peking Ravioli - $4.25*2= $8.50
one Peking Duck - $23.00
one order of Poached Squid with Ginger & Scallion - $7.75
two orders of Shredded Pork with Hoisin Sauce - $7.25*2= $14.50
one order of Neptune Delights - $13.50
one Sesame Beef - $9.75
one Vegetarian's Delight - $6.50
one Eggplant with Garlic Sauce - $6.50
TIP: $13.05
> across from the end of the number 1 in Harvard
(located across from the last bus stop for the number 1 Mass Ave bus,
in Harvard Square)
YENCHING ORDER ($103)
one Large Bun, steamed - $1.20
one order of Moo Shi Vegetables - $8.50
two orders of Crab Rangoons - $4.50*2= $9.00
one Seafood Soup for 2 - $6.50
one Kung Pao Pork - $8.50
two orders of Triple Delight in a Nest - $12.95*2= $25.90
one Kan Shue String Beans - $7.95
one Lake Tung Ting Shrimp - $9.95
one Hunan Fish - $9.95
TIP: $15.55
====================================================================
--- R ---
Kaya = 75 97 121 97
('K' 'a' 'y' 'a')
lowest price: $2.95 [rice punch]
------------------------
K (75) - Border India
a (97) - India Castle
y (121) - Passage to India
a (97) - Shalimar of India
[theme: Indian]
<>
> Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal, Pakistan [Border India]
(places that share a border with india)
BORDER INDIA ORDER ($75)
one Garlic Nan - $2.95
one order of Vegetable Samosas - $2.95
one Lamb Vindaloo - $9.95
two orders of Chicken Pakoras - $3.95*2= $7.90
one Chicken Korma - $10.95
one Palak Paneer - $9.95
one Mango Lassi - $2.95
one Aloo Gobhi - $8.95
one Baingan Bharta - $9.95
TIP: $8.50
> like eating at the Taj Mahal, central and near serenity [India Castle]
(it is located near a Buddhist temple.. I think)
INDIA CASTLE ORDER ($97)
one Vegetable Jalfrezi - $10.95
two orders of Chicken Tandoori - $10.95*2= $21.90
one Pistachio Milk Shake - $2.95
one order of Lamb Coconut Korma - $12.95
one Aloo Gobhi - $10.95
one Chicken Mango - $11.95
two orders of Cheese Pakora - $5.95*2= $11.90
TIP: $13.45
> check with the porter for Forster [Passage to India]
(located in porter square; forster wrote "a passage to india")
PASSAGE TO INDIA ORDER ($121)
two orders of Mixed Appetizers - $6.95*2= $13.90
one Lamb Tikka Masala - $11.95
one Vegetable Korma - $8.95
one Vegetarian Thali dinner - $12.95
two Shrimp Tandoori Masala - $13.95*2= $27.90
one Chicken Dosa Thali - $13.95
one Tandoori Fish - $11.95
TIP: $19.45
> across the street from its spice store [Shalimar of India]
(there's shalimar of india spices on the other side of mass ave)
SHALIMAR OF INDIA ORDER ($97)
one Chicken Makhni - $11.95
one order of Chapati - $2.95
two orders of Mixed Vegetables - $8.95*2= $17.90
one Boti Kabab - $13.95
one Lamb Saag - $12.95
one Saag Paneer - $9.95
one Sword Fish Tikka Masala - $13.95
TIP: $13.40
====================================================================
--- D ---
Cindy's = 67 105 110 100 121 39 115
('C' 'i' 'n' 'd' 'y' ''' 's')
with "doesn't like cannoli or cheesecake"
lowest price: $2.95 [double chocolate custard]
------------------------
C (67) - Bertucci's
i (105) - Chicago Pizza
n (110) - Domino's
d (100) - Emma's
y (121) - Pizza Ring
' (39) - Sicilia's
s (115) - Stefani's
[maybe sub Uno for *Pizza Ring]
[theme: Italian/Pizza]
<>
> brick oven rolls [Bertucci's]
(brick oven pizza, known for their rolls)
BERTUCCI'S ORDER ($67)
one order of Tuscan Chicken Wings - $6.29
two large Sporkies - $14.99*2= $29.98
one order of three cheese focaccia - $5.99
one Lobster Ravioli - $13.99
one Aglio Olio & Breadsticks - $2.99
TIP: $7.76
> bulls and bears all over the place [Chicago Pizza]
(bulls and bears->chicago sports teams)
CHICAGO PIZZA ORDER ($105)
one large calzone - $9.50
with pepperoni, eggplant, and pineapple - $1.50*3= $4.50
one large pizza - $8.75
with Canadian Bacon and pineapple - $1.50*2= $3.00
one large pizza - $8.75
with broccoli and eggplant - $1.50*2= $3.00
one small pizza - $5.50
with onion, pesto, artichoke, and pepper - $1.00*4= $4.00
one pizza #6 (large) - $13.95
one calzone #7 (large) - $13.95
two Caesar salads - $5.00*2= $10.00
one order of onion rings (large) - $3.00
TIP: $17.10
> takes the card! [Domino's]
(should be the only off-campus restaurant that accepts the MIT card)
DOMINO'S ORDER ($110)
one 30-piece Buffalo Wings - $17.97
one 30-piece Buffalo Chicken Kickers - $17.97
two large Vegi Feast pizzas - $15.74*2= $31.48
one large ExtravaganZZA Feast pizza - $15.74
one large cheese pizza - $9.99
TIP: $16.85
> the toppings speak for themselves [Emma's]
(has some interesting toppings)
!EMMA'S ORDER ($100)
one number 9 - $16.25
one number 2 - $16.25
one large pizza - $11.00
with rosemary sauce, mozzarella
with house smoked chicken, roasted mushrooms, red onions - $1.75*3= $5.25
one large pizza - $11.00
with traditional sauce, cow cheese
with dried cranberries and roasted sweet potatoes - $1.75*2= $3.50
one large pizza - $11.00
with traditional sauce, sheep cheese
with sun dried tomatoes and hot cherry peppers - $1.75*2= $3.50
one small pizza - $8.00
with rosemary sauce, cow cheese
with roasted tomatoes, baby spinach, and basil - $1.25*3= $3.75
TIP: $10.50
> cheap and greasy, and they double-up [Pizza Ring]
(known for their two-for-one double-decker special)
PIZZA RING ORDER ($121)
three orders of Chicken Rings - $4.95*3= $14.85
double decker special - $11.42
two with pineapple and hot pepper - $(.90*2)*2= $3.60
double decker special - $11.42
two with mushroom and extra cheese - $(.90*2)*2= $3.60
double decker special - $11.42
two with pepperoni - $0.90*2=1.80
double decker special - $11.42
one with pepperoni - $0.90
one seeded crust with spinach and broccoli - $0.90*2= $1.80
double decker special - $11.42
one with proscuitto - $0.90
one with sausage - $0.90
double decker special - $11.42
one thin crust with onion and green pepper - $0.90*2= $1.80
one with sausage, ham, and bacon - $0.90*3= $2.70
TIP: $19.63
[translation:
3x chicken rings - $14.85
6x double-deckers (12 pizzas total) - $11.42*6= $68.52
20x toppings - $0.90*20= $18.00]
> home of the famous stuffed pizza! [Sicilia's]
(says so right on the menu)
SICILIA'S ORDER ($39)
one bowl of soup - $3.00
one order of fried zucchini - $4.75
one large stuffed cheese pizza - $11.25
with broccoli and zucchini - $1.30*2= $2.60
one X-large crispy thin shrimp pizza - $11.95
TIP: $5.45
> no doubt, gwen would be possessive of this place [Stefani's]
(refers to gwen stefani, no doubt's lead singer)
STEFANI'S PIZZERIA ORDER ($115)
three Vegetarianas - $8.00*3= $24.00
one Mykonos - $8.00
two Veggie Spaghettis - $5.00*2= $10.00
one Meatball Calzone - $6.00
one Steak Calzone - $7.25
one large pizza with Artichoke - $10.75
one Chicken Kabob Dinner - $8.25
one large Xtra Special - $13.50
one large order of Jalapeno Poppers - $8.25
one large order of onion rings - $3.00
TIP: $16.00