robyn

No - I haven't read the "Seattle specific" posts extensively. Mostly because I haven't been to Seattle since I first started to read this message board. I will definitely "tune in" before my next trip. My theory was basically that 2 younger women had gone to a relatively fancy crowded restaurant - and occupied a table while ordering a couple of drinks and a few appetizers. And I thought the server might have been PO'd with having a relatively small check (and tip) at a table during "prime time". I mean no offense to the diner here with this theory. I personally play tennis and golf - and have seen groups of 10 women go to a nice restaurant - occupy a lot of space - split 5 ceasar salads with glasses of water - and then ask for separate checks. Makes me shudder (so I don't dine with them anymore). Obviously my theory wasn't correct because this diner - quite properly in my opinion - ate at the bar when she and her friend were having a few drinks and a couple of appetizers (which is exactly what I would have done). So I have to think that 1) the food in this restaurant is inconsistent (the raw food being better than the cooked offerings); and/or 2) the server had a problem with (young) women. When I get back to Bellevue - I'll test the first premise. As for the second - I've had enough problems dining as a single woman - or as a twosome of women - to know that the latter happens more often than it should. My favorite was once when I went to a fancy hotel restaurant in Atlanta on a business trip - dined alone - the whole restaurant was empty - and they seated me at the table next to the kitchen door . I never returned to the restaurant - or the hotel for that matter. Robyn

He's been mine for 33 years now. Think I'll keep him despite his foibles . Robyn

Raw - salad. I'm not sure my rules are all sound scientifically - but they've kept us out of the hospital for quite a few years . My husband has the proverbial "cast-iron" stomach - so I'm not sure any of this matters to him. My tummy gets upset just reading this thread . So I try to be careful. Robyn

The "secret" to good omelets is cheap non-stick omelet pans. What have you been using? Robyn

Well - we were talking about one of the handful of "big deal" restaurant days during the year. Most people who want to go out on those dates don't simply show up at the last minute. I think Blooangel expressed the restaurant's point of view (which I was trying to express) much better than I can. As for airlines - most are pretty much going broke despite making customers like you angry. So I don't think it's a great business model. Robyn

I really like Vancouver too - but I don't think it's on the central east coast. On the other hand - it's not hard to get to - and I'd pick it over any central east coast destination I can think of. Robyn

P.S. I was trying to think of times I might have encountered something like this. And the special Food Among the Flowers luncheon during the Epcot Flower Festival came to mind (you pay in full in advance - I can't remember if there was a cancellation policy). Robyn

The initial message said that the policy was mentioned when the reservation time was changed - and that there was no time to discuss "this new twist". I would obviously feel aggrieved if the charge was done without my knowledge. So I guess the facts will have to be clarified. Was the policy made clear before the card was charged? I'll note that when I give my credit card number to a restaurant - I always ask exactly what they plan to do with it. And - when things are charged on my AMEX card without authorization - and I complain to AMEX - the charges are removed. So - if the charge wasn't authorized - a simple call to AMEX would have sufficed. As for prepaying for drinks - I've never been at this kind of "festive occasion" buffet - except at places where I'm known (and therefore have never been asked for a credit card). I have however been to many bars in many places where payment (or a credit card imprint) is expected at the time the drinks are served. You know - after thinking about this for a while - what it reflects terribly on isn't Hyatt - but the average person Hyatt has to deal with. If everyone who made reservations showed up - and everyone who ordered drinks paid for them - do you think Hyatt would have policies like this? And - for what it's worth - in reading another thread on this forum tonight - someone mentioned making "contingency reservations" at a few places while on a trip. Which is probably exactly what Hyatt was dealing with on Mother's Day here. People make 3 reservations and cancel 2. And meanwhile - people who've been told they can't make a reservation reserve somewhere else. I think restaurant seatings during very busy times should be like theater tickets. You buy them - you don't show up - tough. Sell what you bought on Ebay. Why is it I've never heard anyone complain about a nonrefundable theater ticket? Robyn

My all time favorite for something quick and "homemade" that will fill your kitchen with great smells is Ghirardelli double chocolate brownie mix. You can add ice cream/whipped cream/berries etc. to give them a "personal touch". But it is absolutely not necessary. Robyn

Yes - I'd go to a restaurant that had the policy if I had to do a forced march to a Mother's Day brunch. I suspect if I dropped dead the day before - my personal representative could get the charges reversed . I guess I side with retaurants in most of these matters. Although I've never heard anyone here admit to being a no-show - or phoning in a cancellation on short notice - I've heard plenty of people in the restaurant business complain about such practices. It's hard enough running a restaurant on a normal day. On a day like Mother's Day - I don't blame a restaurant for having a "put up" or "shut up" policy. As for the tipping - you're right that there isn't a difference - theoretically - between adding the tip to the cost of the meal - and charging it separately. I suspect the separate charge has something to do with IRS reporting requirements (if the "tip" is included as part of the meal - it might be part of the restaurant's gross proceeds for purposes of tax reporting). Robyn

I don't have a problem with any of this. Someone who runs a restaurant wrote a message here about Valentine's Day. Some amazing percentage of people who had made reservations failed to show. I suspect if someone had dropped dead on Saturday - the restaurant here would have honored a cancellation. But its payment policy for this "Hallmark holiday" meal is designed to let everyone know that it means business. As for the tips - this is similar to my golf club. The servers usually work individual tables - and 18% service is usually added on. Those same people work the few buffets that are served during the year (like Easter - and Mother's Day) - and you can't expect them to work their shifts and go home empty handed. Robyn

Agreed. The only reasons to return a bottle of wine are because it "has turned" - is "corky" etc. You don't return a bottle simply because you don't like it. For what it's worth - I'm not a big wine drinker - but even I can tell a "good bottle" from a "bad bottle". I think that some people just like to return wine to "show off" (which I agree is a vulgar and disgusting practice). I don't return food very often. I think a lot of restaurant food is oversalted - but I always ask the server for no additional salt in the dish (other than what's in the ingredients that can't be changed). This practice usually eliminates that problem. When the restaurant is "little deal" and the food is lousy - my usual practice is simply not to return. If it's a big deal restaurant - well - fortunately - I can't remember having lousy food in a big deal restaurant for quite a while. Robyn

Some people can take care of themselves. This woman obviously can't (otherwise she wouldn't be getting 25 hours a week of home health care paid for by medicare). Whether this is enough - or whether she needs more - I can't say - and neither can anyone else from reading this article or any other articles appearing in the press. Moreover - all we know from the public press accounts is that she allegedly has "mild cognitive impairment". This isn't a doctor's determination - it's what some reporter says. Who's to say whether or not this is an accurate statement of her mental capacity? Certainly no one here. We have no idea whether she is - as they say - "of sound mind" - or whether she was of sound mind when she executed the documents mentioned in the article. I find it noteworthy that the only lawyer quoted in the article didn't purport to be *her* lawyer - he said he was "Peakcock's" lawyer. It is certainly within the purview of the legal system to deal with these issues. Does the legal system get it right all the time? No. But there's too much potential for elder abuse - whether you're dealing with family - or not - to eliminate the safeguards in the legal system. Not only will the legal system deal with the physical situation of an elder person - it will also inquire into financial matters. I'm not sure why people would seemingly dismiss out of hand the potential for financial abuse of the elderly in this situation - since it happens all the time. A court would probably want to see financial records of the money coming in from things like book royalties - and records of how the money was spent - just to make sure that everything was "kosher". Also - this guy isn't "taking care of her". He works for a living - presumably full time. And no one who works full time away from home can take care of someone who needs 24/7 care at home. That's just a harsh fact of life. As for medicaid - I didn't read the article the way you read it. And - if your reading is correct - the article is wrong unless this man is something other than a room-mate (and I don't think he is). Finally - what kind of quality of life is it when you're basically old - and feeble - and somewhat incapacitated - and you spend your whole life in your house - sometimes with one paid caregiver - sometimes with a room-mate - and sometimes alone? I was at the nursing home today for a while when we picked up my FIL and dropped him off. There was a mother's day celebration. Dozens of residents - children - grandchildren - and greatgrandchildren. Good food. Entertainment. And about as much social interaction as the residents were capable of enjoying (they are all obviously functioning at different levels). Any chef worth his salt was working today. So Edna Lewis probably spent today alone (or perhaps she had a paid babysitter). Perhaps that's how you'd like to spend your mother's days when you're old: alone - or with strangers. That certainly wouldn't be my choice. Robyn

Why do you think this is happening? I'm not Indian - but I like Indian food. And - although I've been able to put together a collection of acceptable but "dumbed down" and relatively easy recipes for a lot of cuisines (in other words - the kind of recipes I'm likely to make more than once every 5 years!) - I simply haven't been able to do this for Indian food. I had always thought I hadn't tried hard enough.... Robyn

Not necessarily. She currently qualifies for medicaid - which would pay her expenses at a skilled nursing facility. I know it's fashionable to hate skilled nursing facilities - but I've been fortunate enough to have dealt with some good ones. They've kept family members alive - in dignified surroundings - for longer than they would have lived in other circumstances. If she were to accumulate some money - she wouldn't be eligible for medicaid - and would have to worry about paying for care on her own. Which is kind of hard (skilled nursing runs maybe $200 a day). In fact - there are lawyers who spend their entire careers advising people how to deal with their assets in such a way as to qualify for medicaid in skilled nursing facilities. Robyn

Everyone is all hearts and flowers about this in this thread - and the other thread discussing the same subject. But has anyone really considered the practicalities of taking care of an 88 year old who has cognitive impairment and - quite probably - a fair number of health issues? Obviously her roommate isn't capable of doing it himself - which is why he's soliciting money on her behalf. Her family finds this objectionable - because they think it's undignified. Moreover - she qualifies for government benefits - which would eliminate the need for these solicitations. The media has - predictably - concentrated on all the fluff - and none of the hard stuff. After all - who wants to hear that a food icon may need adult diapers? We don't know what the facts are - and we cannot possibly know what the best interests of this woman are from medical and other points of view. Robyn

I'm not on anyone's side. It sounds like this woman needs 24/7 care - probably in a skilled nursing facility (which is a heck of a lot cheaper than home care at $18/hour - not to mention more professional). Since she's on medicaid (which pays for skilled nursing facilities) - there's no reason for anyone- including her "roommate" - to go seeking handouts on her behalf. I suspect that - in the end - a judge will determine what's in *her* best interests (because that's really the only thing that matters). Robyn

Chopped fresh garlic in oil can produce some very nasty anaerobic bacteria - particularly if it's sitting around at room temperature for a while (as it's likely to do at a buffet). So that would be a possible culprit. I never make anything which involves fresh chopped garlic in oil unless I'm going to use it almost immediately (and if I make it in the morning for dinner that night - I keep it in the refrigerator). I am pretty safety conscious. But not a fanatic. Always do hot things hot/cold things cold. Avoid buffets and other eating situations where food sits at room temperature for long periods of time (you couldn't get me on a cruise for anything). Always thoroughly wash and dry cutting boards/knives before using them again for different things (although I don't worry at all about what kinds of boards they are). Wash my hands with soap and hot water after I fix X and move on to Y. Etc. I gamble because I eat rare meat - but I do that almost always at home where I know how the food has been handled. I always thought this was a matter of common sense until I saw my husband using a board he had just used for raw chicken to cut up some veggies. Needless to say - the veggies wound up in the garbage. Robyn

I've only been to Hawaii once - so I'm hardly an expert - but perhaps the answer to your question is "what crops does it make sense to produce in Hawaii?". And if it doesn't make sense to produce a large commercial crop for export and domestic use - does it make sense to produce a small boutique crop? I suspect that the answer to the second question is no for almost all crops. And - obviously - if something can't be grown locally - it's very expensive to import it. By the way - I think there are numerous reasons why the local crops are very limited. To mention one that probably isn't that controversial - well it's environmental concerns. Hawaii is very proactive when it comes to keeping out all manner of exotic plants and animals - and the pests that exotic plants and animals can bring with them. So if you're dealing with a non-native fruit - I doubt anyone is going to welcome an economically insignificant boutique farm that attempts to grow it. Robyn

I think someone mentioned somewhere in this thread that the guy was eating 5000 calories a day. The average man in the US eats about 2500 calories a day - and that's probably too much. One pound = 3600 calories. So if you eat 2500 excess calories a day - that's a weight gain of .69 pounds a day - or about 20 pounds a month - no matter what you're stuffing your face with. I don't eat fast food - but I don't stuff my face with good food either. You'd think at some point people would exercise a bit of self-restraint instead of blaming everyone else in the world for their piggish habits. Robyn

Why protect him?? That's what a concierge is for!!!! Especially in NYC Cheers Tom You're absolutely right. That's what a good concierge does in NYC - or anywhere else. They're particularly wonderful when you're planning to visit a country where you don't speak the language very well. The flipside of using a concierge for an especially difficult reservation is using a concierge for an easy reservation. The concierge will get "points" with someone for booking the reservation - which he will be able to redeem sometime down the road (if he books you and your party of six on Monday in low season - perhaps he'll get an extra table for 4 on Saturday in high season). I've found that most good concierges always appreciate your business (at our last hotel stay - the concierge even gave us a nice glossy restaurant magazine - not a big deal - a $5 item - but appreciated on our end). Robyn

I've told this story before - and I hope I won't bore people by telling it a second time. My husband and I were "walk-in's" at about 8:30 at Alain Ducasse (first and only time we ate there - it was terrific). How did that happen? We had reservations at 8 at Jean Georges - on the patio. It rained like the dickens that night - and - when we arrived at the restaurant - we were told the only place we could eat was the bar (which was packed end to end). It was our 30th anniversary - and that didn't seem very romantic to me (I think it would have been more romantic to eat a take out pizza in bed in the hotel). So we hit the street. We were staying in the Essex House - so I thought of Alain Ducasse. My husband said - why not - worst that could happen is they're full. But they weren't. We were seated and had glasses of champagne in our hands in less than 10 minutes. Moral of story - never hurts to try. Robyn

I guess what you're saying is that in the Seattle area - there's a price point where people won't frequent a restaurant unless it's extraordinary. That is also true where I live with one exception. All the tourists/convention people etc. will drop big bucks at expensive chains like Ruth's Chris, Morton's, etc. It's really a bit of a conundrum - because fine ingredients (as well as a lot of other things) don't cost more in Chicago than they do in Seattle or Jacksonville. Yet I find myself unwilling to patronize a local restaurant that costs $100-150 for 2 when it is merely good - as opposed to spending more - sometimes a lot more - in a big city where the food is terrific. For example - I rejected going out to a new restaurant here tonight because we would have wound up with a bill in that general price range - and it didn't have a full liquor license (I enjoy having a cocktail before dinner). Anyway - regarding Seastar - I really like raw bar things - and I especially like raw bar things from the Pacific Northwest (e.g., love the oysters). So perhaps that's why I enjoyed this restaurant more than most people here. Robyn

Entirely possible - on both counts. Also - we were letting the raw bar staff serve us for the most part - and perhaps they avoided those items they knew weren't up to par. Who can say at this point? Robyn

Well - my theory doesn't fit your facts - so - like they say - "never mind" . Robyn