Natasha

Guess what? I took Mike's suggestion, and asked if they couldn't make a healthy profit if they marked the bottles up three times vs the four times they were asking. At first, I was told that they were sorry but this was the best they could do. Then, lo and behold, today I got an e-mail offering new pricing, and the Gabbiano will be $22.99 plus a 20% handling fee per bottle (they were adding that to the higher price too.) I'm very happy as I opened the e-mail just as my husband got done telling me that we had to pay to upgrade no matter the price as he just couldn't serve Corbett Canyon. I guess it's true that it never hurts to ask. Thanks for the help.

Yikes, $250 a case for Guinness! My husband thinks that it isn't worth an extra $1,500 to $2,000 to serve wine that isn't really very good anyway. I'm torn about it. We are going to explore the beer next. Thanks for the feedback.

My daughter is getting married this July at The Mendenhall Inn in Chadds Ford. Like a lot of these establishments, the house wine for a wedding is something pretty undrinkable so we had been planning on upgrading the wine. After submitting several different names and being told they could not get them through the special order program of the LCB, we got a list from the Mendenhall of wines they could obtain. We knew there would be a hefty mark-up so we weren't trying to get too fancy, just something drinkable, and to that end, we asked for pricing on about 6 different bottles. For example, the Gabbiano Chianti that sells for $11.99 at the State Store was one of our selections. The price that I received on that bottle today from the Mendenhall was $44.50 per bottle. I asked if this was the best they could do, and I was told that it was. Earlier in the process, I asked about supplying the wine ourselves, and I was told that it is against the law for them to allow us to do that. Anyway, I'm pretty sure that we're screwed as far as the wine goes, but I thought I'd ask you knowledgeable folks if this is indeed a reasonable mark-up, and if you were in my place, what would you do? Thanks!

I read in Main Line Today that Francis Trzeciak of Birchrunville Cafe is now the executive chef at the Inn at St. Peter's. Has anyone been there lately? They have lovely outdoor dining and the addition of Trzeciak could make this a real destinantion restaurant.

Thanks, philadining & Katie. Does the Saloon Girl costume have any bartendrix overtones? A whip, perhaps?

Katie, are you working this evening? I have an internet friend who is visiting the city from Hawaii and she is dining solo. I thought your bar might be a friendly place to eat, and I shall recommend that to her if you are working. Thanks!

We had dinner at Franco's last night after going to the Renoir show. Service was friendly and a little slow, but not terribly so. A homemade pasta dish with a cream sauce was a tasty appetizer. The entrees were adequate. We ordered two desserts, but only got 1 that we actually ordered. They were out of chocolate mousse so the kitchen substituted a molten chocolate cake without telling the server until he went to pick it up. He did offer to take it off the bill if we were unhappy with it, but it would have been nice to have a chance to choose something else ourselves.

I picked up some sausage last week. The curried lamb was a real stand-out. I think it had some fruit and something that gave it just a little zing at the finish. They were out of the seafood sausage, but that is really good too.

Thanks for the heads-up on the new stores. These are my stomping grounds since I live in Downingtown, but as you say, both shopping centers are littel sunken out of view. SaxChik, I've been dreaming of that guacamole since I last had it. It is seriously good (and cheap!)

Aww, this is sad. That little 8-seat bar was a good and friendly place, and much appreciated on my one and only trip there. It sure is a pretty spot, and will do well in its new incarnation, I bet. Katie, land on your feet quickly, and let us all know where we can find you next.

We had a fast dinner at a new mexican place right in the heart of Downingtown. My husband thought he recognized the name from a truck in Coatesville (but I don't remember what it was.) The chips were homemade and served with a red and green sauce. Very tasty. I had the carne al pastor served with 4 small tortillas. I've never had tacos al pastor so I can't compare these to anything, but they tasted good. The star of the show though was the guacamole. It was served in a huge bowl, and consisted of chunks of avocado, fresh tomatoes, cilantro and onion. I would go back just for that and the chips. I noticed that they had beef tripe soup on the weekends if anyone is interested in that. Last night, we had another excellent dinner at Allegre. We go there often and are never disappointed. They don't do a lot of sophisticated items, but everything is always well prepared. My salad was a special: spring mix greens, grilled eggplant , asagio cheese, & fresh tomato in a balsamic dressing. The entree was tilapia with clams and mussels in a white wine sauce.

Yes, it was definitely the Corpse Reviver #2 (there was a #1?) You made the Parisian Martini for someone sitting next to me. It looked really good. My first drink was something you made that uses the same base as your mimosa. It ws good too, but sweeter than the Corpse Reviver. I will definitely be back with husband in tow. Thanks!

Hi, I just wanted to post a thanks to Katie for 2 great cocktails (what did you call the lemon one?) and making me feel at home at M on Friday night. The bar is really comfortable and everyone is friendly. What more could you ask for? Perhaps a barkeep who is really great at her job? M has that too!

Katie, are you working tomorrow night? I have to kill some time solo in the city, and I can't think of a better way to do it than sitting at your bar and making your acquaintance. I've been wanting to stop in for some time, but I hope next time my husband will be with me and we can have dinner!

I googled and found a lengthy discussion of Cavallos on another site. Turns out that Rich Pawlak has eaten there, and I hope he won't mind my repeating his comment: "It's kinda like StudioKutchen to the 4th degree, Italian style." Sounds pretty interesting.

cinghaile beat me to it. I was going to recommend the rooftop deck at Buckley's as well. It's a very pkeasant spot to have a drink. I've eaten on the back terrace at Avalon. It's quite nice, but as I remember it, there's a roof overhead, and I didn't get a sense of being, well, outside. It still beats the outdoor places where you have a lovely view of a parking lot.

Thanks, Dave. It's funny, I came to the same conclusion myself late last night. I think I am going to go for an old steakhouse menu, and do a beef tenderloin roast with a red wine sauce, creamed spinach, and a potato mushroom galette. It is old-fashioned, but it sounds good to me! Thanks for the help.

Yes, thanks. I will consider both of those suggestions. The hollandaise is a natural.

I am having 8 guests on Saturday for a birthday dinner for my husband. He is quite a good cook, and does all the cooking for our dinner parties. I do the desserts. However, it is his birthday so I want to give him the day off! I need help with the menu. I've pretty much decided that I will serve small crab cakes as an appetizer and I thought it might be nice to also have some asparagus on the plate (maybe I can even make it look pretty.) Is there a sauce that will go with both? Something with lemon, perhaps? I'm going to do an arugula and goat cheese salad for a second course. I'd love to have a main course that I can do ahead and keep in the oven, or reheat, but I'm open to anything. The last time we had these folks over, we did a beef bourgignon so I don't want to braise anything, plus I think it is going to be warm on Saturday, and braising seems like a winter thing. I saw some nice tuna recipes, but we really love red wine so I want somethng heartier to pair with a big red. Since I only have Saturday to prepare (and clean my house!) I ordered a 4-layer lemon cake from a reputable place near me. Any help is really appreciated.

The location is also noted on their webpage as Washington Square West, 12th & Spruce opening Spring 2007.

Sorry, eoksala, I live near Frazer but I haven't heard anything about this restaurant. SInce Bryan Sikora was discussed in this thread, I thought I would mention that the Inquirer had a column this week on his current plans. He and his wife and a 3rd principal are opening a storefront in Kennett Square. They will offer prepared dinners for take out, fine cheeses and other "gourmet" items, and baked goods. They have a large table in the shop and will do tastings there, and you can arrange for a private dinner as well. Kennett Square might be become a real destination!

Thanks, Rich. We have to be downtown anyway so that's why The Drafting Room is out. I will call Liberties. It looks like the Colonial in Phoenixville is having a big to-do on Oscar night. Admission is a bottle for the bar, and one should wear costume, black tie or pajamas. Sounds fun!

Thanks for the thorough answer and all the ideas, Sandy. I'm fine with the pictures of naked men, but my husband probably wouldn't like it so much. I guess I was hoping that someplace like Grey Lodge might have a little something going on. I've never been there since I live way out in Downingtown, but I have wanted to try it. Also, I read somewhere else about a bar in NY or LA that has contests for predicting each category's winner, and other contests throughout the night. I thought that might be a diverting way to wile away the hours. ETA - Thanks for that idea wkl.

My husband and I are dropping my daughter and friends at the Troc on Sunday night around 5 and then we have to fill, oh, 5 hours or so. Does anyone know of a fun place to hang out and watch the Academy Awards? Decent food would be a big plus. Thanks.

Here's a link to the governor's office: http://tinyurl.com/wz28o My husband wrote earlier today,and I'm going to do so now.