Gifted Gourmet

Think I'll pass on the snake as well .... Give me the Goth server anyday .. less deadly ... maybe ...

latest news on shrimp tariffs

article from the Telegraph Wine UK An interesting article ...

Book review from the NYT the Apologist website .. and more on this book

article from The Scotsman Your impressions of the statements and opinions expressed in this article? Is this also true of American vineyard owners who are women?

Oui, vraiment, .. "amaze the middle class bourgeoisie" and if you are able to see their nipple rings, then I am leaving, without a tip .. oops ...

Obviously the management at the Dining Room at our local Ritz Carleton is not going to be hiring too many Goth servers in black eye makeup, with spikes driven through their eyebrows ...

one such thread to start you off This is a compendium of places which are authentic and relatively inexpensive in all three cities. yet another thread .. same topic This focuses upon Budapest and has some great ideas ... some of it is from my trip to Budapest last fall so the info is relatively recent. romantic and authentic restaurants in Prague from Chowbaby one such example is this:

I thought so as well, but thank you for finding it of interest .. Yes, I agree with you and others that age will most definitely be a factor in the acceptance or rejection of servers who display body art ... My personal feeling is that the majority of posters will find this 'display' perfectly acceptable ... most of the people here are young enough to have grown up and accepted all manner of individuality without question and disapproval ... and I admire that! My parents, on the other hand, would have found this idea of individuality foolish and immature and totally unacceptable .. and, even at my age, I can see their point, through the eyes of their generation ... I don't hold their views on much of anything ... a rebel to the end ...

This recipe for Tomato Basil Sorbet looks appealing but you might wish to leave out the sugar ... and use a bit of your vodka as you mentioned ...

this might be still around ... it is on 41st Avenue in Capitola and Tana Butler will know of the present state of the place ... open or closed .. it did look great in this review!

No one knows how to make this better! a perfect, tested recipe follows ...

Recently we had a thread on servers who touch your food as they are serving you .. which made me think somewhat further on a related topic: what are your personal feelings and reactions to a server with either piercings and/or tattoos? Does this bother you? If so, how do you react? Do you tend to avoid places who have servers with such things, or is it inconsequential? How about blue hair? (or any other unusual colors?) And an eyebrow ring or nose ring? Turn off or turn on?

Can I use this hysterically funny line as a sig line? And, of course, you must realize that the sensuality of a tryst can often involve food .. and we have a number of threads attesting to that, certainly! Spicing things up need not always rely on contemplating new positions but can include a wealth of foods which will enrich and enhance the romantic interlude ... now, while I fully agree that dragging a freshly barbecued pig on a clandestine date might raise a number of issues, it also opens up a ton of new opportunities ... A wise man once said: all sex and no chow makes Varmint a dull boy .... surely Mrs. Varmint has discovered that pleasures exist on many, many levels ...

No Outback dares to display its evil head within the perimeter of Santa Cruz, I can assure you! The general feeling in dining that I have found, is mostly about individualism, creativity, and a passion among the locals in the food business for interesting cuisine ... and absolute freshness is a cherished value here as well .. prepare to enjoy the laid back (not Outback) ambiance .. it is always that which I most treasure every time I visit Santa Cruz!

Twisty drive, eh? There is always highway 9 which is a real horror of curves and bends snaking through the mountains ... by comparison, Highway 17 is a piece of cake ... but a 'gateau of anxiety' to the uninitiated ... Irrespective of how you get there, Santa Cruz is a restaurant lovers' paradise ... and all of the suggestions are well worth heeding .. except that the well-fed individual, pleiades, must, ultimately, drag himself back to reality ...

I wanted to say Manresa but waited for your input, Chef! I agree on Bittersweet Bistro and Oswald and Avanti and Gabriella and OMei ... However, I thought that Cafe Bella Napoli and Soif were way overpriced for what I had there ...

A lotta Plugra butter ...

First of all, a brief question: will they be clothed or "au naturel" for the meeting??

Good Times Dining Guide for Santa Cruz In a few minutes, literally, you will have a myriad of suggestions from both Tana Butler and from me, as well as others, on some incredibly fine dining! Will include the websites so you can read and savor the menus ... Metroactive Santa Cruz dining guide

article from Newstream the photograph Proceeds will go to a worthy charity ...

...seems it ain't ever gonna attract the likes of Ben and Jerry's .. ever ...

Apparently they did!

While I fully admit that Bostock's comment sounds most ominous, he may not understand what it is that makes Blais so involved with the local Atlanta food scene. I, personally, have come to believe that he will be seen for what he is: a culinary wunderkind ... and I believe the local dining public will see the exact same qualities in him that I do ...

Thank you for once again confirming my innermost feelings on the genetic predisposition toward being a culinary fanatic! In my own case, the genes skipped an entire generation .. a fluke really! My grandmother cooked, my mother avoided any possible contact with a kitchen, I love cooking and my daughter does as well! Good genes will out!