Complain about food. Get free stuff.

Zagat's is running their annual write-in survey for DC/Baltimore again. If you are not familiar with their little red restaurant guidebooks - and which planet have you been living on? - this dining series is compiled from readers filling out an online survey rating the restaurants they eat at. Then the editors put together catchy little reviews. Last year's had over 6,000 participants, including yours truly, covering 923 local restaurants. Love it or hate it you can't simply ignore Zagat's influence, as proved by the Zagat rating posed proudly in the windows of high rated places around town

The survey is easy and quick to do, with space to write-in restaurants that aren't already listed. The payoff is a free copy of the guide sent to you when it comes out. Yup, free. Go to

http://www.zagat.com/

Look on the middle left for Vote, Active Surveys, and click on Washington DC,/Baltimore. You will have to sign in, give them a little info so they know where to send the guide when it comes out, vote, and that's it. The closing date is March 12, 2006.

You can also tell Zagats other cities you're familiar with and get notified when their surveys are happening. I participate the NY and South Florida surveys since I am there often enough to be familiar with their restaurant scene -- and I get the free guides for those too.

Thanks guest blogger, MHF!