Szechuan Sampler trick
"Lee Earle's Szechuan Sampler EFFECT: Authentic menus from four different Chinese restaurants, representing a total of over 100 oriental delicacies, are given to participants from the audience. Looking over the menus, they can clearly see that no two prices are the same. A sealed gift certificate is presented to the four "diners" entitling them to sample one dish from each restaurant. They decide among themselves who will order each course. The participants freely choose from among Appetizers, Side Dishes, Entrees, and Desserts, stating aloud each dish and its price. The prices are openly written where all can see them. After the "table check" for the meal is openly totaled, each "diner" agrees that, if he had picked some other item, the final sum would be a different figure altogether. The gift certificate is opened and read; the printed amount matches the total cost of the meal, to the penny! You also get Lee Earle's delightful routine with all its subtleties, throw-offs, and laugh lines, for a presentation you can be really proud of. You can even repeat and get a different total! These beautiful menus are laminated (except for the take-out menu) for years of use. This is mental magic at its best! Automatic, easy, and entertaining!"
Mentalism Unlimited