tommy

i trust you when you say she said "expensive." i trust you when you say that she didn't want to fax it. what i'm not convinced of is that she was relaying some sort of restaurant policy. i think it might have been an inexperienced receptionist grasping for words. you know, just like a lot of people do around here when they get cornered and don't know what to say. the point is, it doesn't make any *sense* to say "we can't fax it because it's expensive." it's illogical.

I can certainly understand why a restaurant would want to avoid faxing a wine list. i'm sure the list at le bec fin is voluminous. dare i suggest that talking to the sommelier is probably the best, or at least most practical approach in this type of situation? as for the "expensive" bit, i'm still thinking that the receptionist misspoke.

i'm not sure what happened, as your first sentence isn't very clear. but, perhaps the person thought you wanted the list physically sent to you? or perhaps she said "extensive" rather than "expensive"? edit: ok, you fixed your sentence. but again, maybe she was confused.

when 201 shows up it can only mean one thing: deep fried pickles.

people spend 50 dollars at lunch on a burger at db bistro moderne. 50 dollars is more than lunch at lutece. therefore, people think burgers are better than french food. therefore, it is an absolute truth.

apparently people think a burger is worth 50 dollars. ask boulud. i'm guessing those same would pay 9 for indian.

my (our) pleasure! and what can calling ahead do? can you save a spot at the counter if i do that? i've often decided to not come by for fear that there's not a seat. i'm weird that way.

what kind of grill? "they" say that black pepper burns, and to not season with it til the end or when done cooking. i don't believe "them" and i often tell "them" to go "stuff it."

so how do we clean them? i give 'em a good blast of water. i found that you can't leave em sit out too long to dry on the counter 'cause they start smelling like a wet sponge. this is not very good. of this, you can be assured.

i think craig missed your sarcasm.

whole foods carries d'artagnan products. at least in NJ. the mark-up is only slight.

i'll probably be stoned, but i rather like it when they're sauteed to the point where they juts get a bit crispy.

robert, just recently someone else suggested that beer does in fact have more flavor components, or complexity, or some such phrase, than wine. i don't know if this is really measurable or not, but i don't think that liquid bread meant to disparage wine, although i question the motivation to post this here and not on the beer board.

brown butter is a morel's best friend.

i'll not be in south beach :yawn: any time soon, but i'll be at babbo this week. i'm looking foward to returning. it has been over a year.

i'm not sure what "DIGEST" is. haven't yet figured it out. but i suppose i'm allowed to reply to these things. i like the cover, which is a bowl of red peppers with a red background. also, the issue inspired me to grill some lamb, slice, and serve over lettuce with yogurt sauce. exactly what i needed for lunch, if not a little too healthy for a guy like me.

where it be? assuming a 20% tip after tax, sounds like you're looking at 25 or 28 dollar entrees and 10 or 12 dollar apps. pricy indeed. i hope the steak was aged.

i'm not sure that one can attack another in an ad hominem fashion. wilfrid can clear that up though.

i'm with rozrapp re pureed veggies. last night i made pureed butternut squash. boil cubed squash, and throw it in a blender or food processor with a bit of butter and milk (or just stock or broth), s/p, some grated ginger, a bit of nutmeg, and you're all set. the consistency can be similar to a really thick soup, which might be appropriate here. this works with a lot of vegetables, other squashes especially.

jason, i thought i asked you not to mis-lead me.

people can stop caring you know.

only if people keep talking to him.

damn. i *knew* i should have specificed. sleeping. i'm not afraid of taking cabs (and assume they're readily available if needed). i also would like to be able to walk to at least *something*. that could be shopping, a park, or whatever. i'd hate to be so isolated that a cab would be needed for every journey.

better. but don't forget that filet sucks.

any thoughts on the four seasons vs. the ritz carlton?