JimS

Didn't know that was a combination of the two Classics. If so, it's definitely a better choice...and is readily available. I haven't bought an Italian cookbook since the mid eighties. Those two plus Bugialli on Pasta and my Mother are all of the Italian cooking I'll ever need!

Essentials is still in print. The Classic Italian Cook Book (the old one from the seventies) is out of print. However, there are quite a few available on eBay.

There's the rub. I agree with this...I just don't want to be the guy at the table in front of them! When I was a youngster, I was taught that when dining out, it's polite to try and have as minimal an impact as possible on the surrounding diners. Camera flashes were rare (these were the one flash per bulb days...no one wanted to carry a box of bulbs with them) and cell phones didn't exist yet. However, I was taught that boisterous behavior and cigars simply didn't belong in the dining room. Evidently, cigarettes were fine since everyone else was puffing away too.

I was going to suggest Marcella Hazan's Classic Italian Cook Book, but it seems to have gone out of print. It's worth playing the used book store lotto for though.

Definitely one of my pet peeves. Camera flashes at Applebee's or Chucky Cheese are one thing, at a quality restaurant they're even more annoying than cell phones.

I was recently reading about a new variety of under-mount sink design that has a resin rim permanently fastened to the top of the sink allowing it to be joined seamlessly to the counter. This seems to be ideal. No seams means no leaks. The pricing doesn't seem too bad either.