Food prep I understand

It has to do with perceptions. Most customers are unaware of the wholesale costs of foods or wines. Their familiarity is with retail prices and the effort needed to fix a meal or to pour wine. 

If I order a steak, baked potato, and a salad, I know that the retail cost of the steak, potato, greens, and dressing is much less than they will charge me for the meal, but when I factor in cooking the steak, baking the potato, cutting the greens and also the clean up involved afterward, I am more than happy to pay two to four times my retail cost of the ingredients because of the effort it has saved me.

A lot of effort goes into the food prep – got it!