Who Won the Blue Iguana Free Lunch?

It might be fixed, but I'm not complaining.

At many establishments, they have those fish bowls where you can drop in your business card for a chance to win a free lunch.  I've never been selected for any of these drawings until July, when I won a free lunch at The Blue Iguana, a local restaurant in Fair Lakes.

I can see why this sort of promotion might be worthwhile for both the restaurant and me.  Although the coupon was for $25, I went to lunch with eight people.  I'm fairly certain that the restaurant would have at least broken even.  For me, eating lunch was already in the budget, so that left me with extra money to spend foolishly.  Also, that month's particular list of three winners and their respective companies was published in a local paper, which was enough for the partners of Excella Consulting to notice my free lunch in a Google Alert.

My benefits didn't really stop with one free lunch, however.  The managers at Blue Iguana introduced theirselves when I presented my coupon, and I've been enjoying more personalized service since then.  In turn, the improved level of service has motivated me to return, not only for lunches, but on the occasional night out, and to host a few company or client happy hours here and there -- again, I'm fairly certain that the restaurant gained far more business from me than the cost of the $25 coupon.

I was a little bit surprised to see today that I've won a free lunch for the second consecutive month...  but not really.  I question how "random" the drawing might be, and I notice that, all of a sudden, there are four winners when in past months there have only been three.

Again, I have no complaint about this sequence of events, but my streak seems suspicious.  If you wish to discuss this further, you can find me at the Blue Iguana.