KatieLoeb

Tana: It seems we share two traits in our best meals. The Italy thing. And the Amma thing. Another marvelous meal that is in my top three (in addition to my Italian epiphany I posted upthread and my one dinner at French Laundry) was my meal at Amma. In addition to the truly awe inspiring food, was the graciousness of the staff. I can say with complete confidence that I've never enjoyed such hospitable service anywhere in the world. My friends that were with me that evening, as well as another eGullet NY Forum host that was kind enough to join us will attest to that fact. It was a phenomenal dinner by all accounts.

I'll give you a really quick answer off the top of my head. Restaurants have a lot more costs related to regulations and legalities than almost any other business I can think of. Liability insurance (particularly if you possess a liquor license) is astronomical. There's also all those pesky Health Department regulations that require the bills for cleaning, grease removal, expensive dish chemicals and dish washing systems, having the kitchen grease hauled away, the exterminator, etc. that a maufacturer of small parts or a retail store doesn't have to deal with. The other answer is that if there's a wine by the glass program, there's a lot more waste at the low end. Between spills of the higher volume glass wines, waste due to customers tasting it and sending it back (doesn't happen a lot, but there are those customers that think they can taste their way through everything and send it back if it isn't to their liking) or tastes given out to customers in an attempt to prevent the previous scenario, or waste due to a bottle being opened a bit too long and the rest getting poured down the sink because it isn't "servable" any longer there is a lot less product that actually gets turned into $$$ than would initially seem to be the case. Wine by the bottle is another story. But again, I can't use a straight equation there either. The really high end stuff would never get sold at all if it were marked up three times, so you take the hit for a lower cost of goods percentage on those items. Mercifully, those sell less anyway, but the low end, high volume by the glass stuff, basically funds my ability to have a few really high end spirits behind the bar and bottles on the reserve list. And yes - income is variable. My restaurant doubles it's seating capacity in warm weather because we have outside cafe tables. We have basically six months (May-October) to make enough revenue to sock it away for the "leaner" six months of the year when we have half the seats, and way less revenue coming in. Otherwise it would make meeting payroll, rent and tax obligations near impossible in January and February. And you just can't NOT do that.

I just finished going over the check register and dividing up the expenses for the last several weeks here at my small bistro. Just to give you an idea of operating expenses that ARE NOT recoverable by turning around a purchased product/ingredient (food, drink) and selling it, I paid bills to: Linens Parking Lot Weekly grease cleaning of the hoods Silverware China Glassware Kitchen Utensils Exterminator Florist Office supplies Printing Dishwasher maintenance and chemicals A new Vacuum cleaner POS system supplies Paper goods and kitchen wrap/takeout containers Liquor Delivery service Bottled water and canned soda for the employees Legal and Accounting fees Utilities (gas, water, trash removal) Grease Hauling Telephone Cell phones Knife sharpening service Insurance Repairs and maintenance Chef Coats Uniforms just to name a few.... This list does not include payroll, taxes, or rent. Any more questions????

You obviously missed the bullfights. You'd have been in good company with the toreadors Sounds like an absolutely wonderful adventure! I remain PEA GREEN with envy.

The free tapas are not so substantial. I've been there for other "Happy Hours" and I wasn't impressed with the generosity of the kitchen. I mean, if you're going to do free food, then do it. If not, a half assed effort just seems that much chintzier. Also their cocktails are pretty pricey to begin with, so "reduced price cocktails" is relative. JMHO. I just noticed Chris' Jazz Cafe has $5 or less drinks, live piano and $3 appetizers. How about that? (I've never tried the food at Chris'. Anyone?) I say we go to La Castagne or Davio's for $5 martinis and free pizza and cheesesteak springrolls. The cheesesteak spring rolls are DELICIOUS! I had them at Davio's when I was there for a wine tasting last week.

The 1.5L bottle you deem "acceptable" obviously doesn't have the same effect on Beverage Managers throughout your city.

It's done. Way I heard it, the owner didn't even have the backbone to tell the staff they were all unemployed himself. Left that job to the chef after he handed him his last paycheck. From all accounts it had gone precipitously downhill after the owner fired the chef that made the place a destination. Apparently over some sort of silly disagreement about a typo on the menu. Some people are their own worst enemies.

This is a bad idea on so many levels I don't even know where to begin. Suffice to say, no bar owner that I respect would get my business after installing one of these contraptions. The liability issues alone are mind boggling. How about the increase in insurance costs to the establishment? How about the clowns doing the "Stoopid Bar Trix"? Who's going to cover them and at what cost? What about the other innocent patrons that just came to have a drink the old fashioned way? Should they be exposed to the dangers of the equipment and the dangers that ensue from the clientele that use it? The list goes on and on....

That's funny. I always thought the crowd at L'Hexagone looked decidely Euro AND Trashy, so that pretty much covers it. A lot of those people who are always overdressed for any occasion, and don't ever seem to have to be anywhere like a job or taking care of a child or whatever. I guess it's great work doing nothing if you can get it. So what's it going to be? Devon? La Castagne? Tragos? How come Herb hasn't weighed in here yet?

Well you don't necessarily have to have Mexican to go for gelato afterward do you? Or a mid-afternoon gelato snack? [JEALOUS]How was your trip?[/JEALOUS]

There's an embarrassment of riches in terms of possiblilities. Tragos also has $5 Margaritas and Mojitos. Free appetizers and 1/2 priced drinks at La Castagne. Devon Seafood Grill has 1 lb. lobsters at cost, $4 mussels, clams or calamari and .75 oysters from 4PM to 6PM. Advantage for me here is that I can fall off my office chair and land at the bar at Devon. They're right next door! $5 martinis at L'Hexagone. (has anyone actually been to this bar?) If we really want to go mission drinking and make a night of it, there's $10 All-You-Can-Drink, Domestic and Well Mixed Drinks from 7–9 pm at Liquid Charm. (Confession: I've never heard of this place. Does anyone know where it is???) So what's it gonna be? Discuss amongst yourselves....

And you really MUST take her to Capogiro for gelato. Just went there recently with a young lady of approximately the same age. She was amazed and is apparently still talking about it.

Sitting on the banks of Lake Trasimeno, dangling my feet in the water on an achingly beautiful Umbrian summer day. Eating fresh fruit, bread, cheese and local meat products and drinking some cheap local wine that was purchased from a little store on the side of the road between the olive groves, orchards and vineyards that seemed to be all you could see for miles. Glorious and an absolute epiphany. Certain smells and tastes make those images flood back to me. Smells/tastes like ITALY.

Next Tuesday, August 24 is the final special Tuesday Happy Hour for the summer. List of participating restaurants and their specials is HERE Anybody game for a cocktail or three???

Sfuffy - we're neighbors! Certainly there's some cool places to go in our 'hood as well. Dmitri's is great and if you go early, shouldn't be too much hassle. If she likes hummus or feta cheese they have both of those, and the best grilled pita ever to dip in it. Dmitri's Sugar Snap peas with Tomatoes and crumbled feta on top are the best vegetable side dish in Philly - hands down. New Wave has decent food and the Dark Horse is a great pub with plenty of interesting things on the menu as well as some standards a 10 year old would love like burgers or Shepherd's pie. Ristorante San Carlo at 2nd and South is good solid Italian with plenty of pasta dishes and a great antipasto they place in the window to tempt hungry passersby inside. And there's always the South Street Diner if you want to give her a huge menu that makes it impossible to make a decision! Hi Neighbor! Since I live a block from both Dmitri's and the New Wave I kind of take them for granted. (Though to be honest I've found that the New Wave's burgers and fries have gone downhill since Ben McNamara left. So a trek to the Dark Horse is a distinct possibility.) I've always been curious about Ristorante San Carlo and tempted by the antipasto. But it seems they did some renovations and last time I strolled by there the window display was no more. Being from North Jersey, I'm a bit of a diner snob and the South Street Diner has just never cut it for me. (And the big menu won't be a challenge for my niece, she'd just go for the chicken fingers or spaghetti and meatballs if I know her.) I was going to say that about the New Wave, but glad you are a fan of Chef Ben as well. The menu at the Dark Horse is definitely worth the walk over, and you can do a bit of South Street to amuse your niece as well. San Carlo is quite good and I'm certain there'd be some good pasta for her and some more interesting things for you that you could let her try. It seems we have even more in common. I'm also a refugee from North Jersey (moved here to go to Penn and never left) and have pretty high standards for diners too. I figured a 10 year old would like that, but I see I've obviously underestimated her discriminating taste. Then again, the South Street Diner is all of a half block from me and is great for breakfast. But you're right. It'll never compare to the diners of my youth. There must have been one dozen diners within a 15 minute radius of my house growing up, and every one had something great that I'd go there for. <sigh> There's no more diners like that down here.

YIPPEE!! YAY!! So glad to hear of an independent restaurant opening anywhere in this city!

It's a shame, but I have to say that even when Tartine was supposedly open, their hours seemed very erratic. Some weekend nights it was open and others it wasn't. Some nights it seemed to be open late and others it seemed closed early. The place is a block and a half from my house and it's right on my way home from work so I'd pass it almost every day. This wasn't an impression based on one evening. You can't keep customers with irregular hours. It just doesn't work. People show up looking for a good meal and are dissappointed when the door is shut. They don't come back. Or they call first next time and no one answers the phone. It's just bad policy and always bodes poorly for the restaurant in question. I am sorry I never got the chance to try it though.

Your best bets in the area area Pride for Viognier and Sinskey for Pinot. Goosecross Cellars also makes Viognier. And they're a stone's throw from Robert Sinskey and their awesome Pinot Noirs. Visiting these two wineries on your way to turn northward onto Silverado Trail is a good afternoon's worth of tasting. In order, I'd do Goosecross, Sinskey, V. Arroyo and Chateau Montelena. Find a Napa wineries map and you'll see what an easy swing this would be.

Cucina Forte is good. And they're very nice there. It's a shame L'Angolo will be closed. I really love that place. Buon Appetito is also very good. It's at 16th & Ritner IIRC. Langostino at Front & Morris is also a really cute and IMHO underrated little place. Nothing too fancy, but very good and well prepared food from fresh ingredients.

Er, not too romantic if your partner is allergic to seafood. Yeah - anaphylactic shock can cast such a pall over a nice evening.

Kibitz in the City opened to little fanfare in May of 2003. It's gotten great reviews and their soups are TDF. They also make a "Chicken in the Pot" which is the very soul of comfort food and the cure for any and all that ails you. Sandwiches look good, but I'm stuck on the stuffed cabbage myself. Yeah but - we already knew that.

Sfuffy - we're neighbors! Certainly there's some cool places to go in our 'hood as well. Dmitri's is great and if you go early, shouldn't be too much hassle. If she likes hummus or feta cheese they have both of those, and the best grilled pita ever to dip in it. Dmitri's Sugar Snap peas with Tomatoes and crumbled feta on top are the best vegetable side dish in Philly - hands down. New Wave has decent food and the Dark Horse is a great pub with plenty of interesting things on the menu as well as some standards a 10 year old would love like burgers or Shepherd's pie. Ristorante San Carlo at 2nd and South is good solid Italian with plenty of pasta dishes and a great antipasto they place in the window to tempt hungry passersby inside. And there's always the South Street Diner if you want to give her a huge menu that makes it impossible to make a decision!

Rats! This Saturday 8/21 is DDC Rib Run and I HAVE to go into work that morning for a mandatory meeting. Won't make it to NYC unless the date has changed. Update someone?

Sinskey. Goosecross Cellars. V. Arroyo. ZD. Silverado. Artesa. Cakebread. Chappellet. Long Vineyards. Darioush. Duckhorn. Havens Cellars/Franus Wine Company (they share a facility). Merryvale (if only to taste the "Profile"). Chateau Montelena (the grounds are beautiful). I could go on but this ought to get you started.

A lightly Lavender infused vodka makes a spectacular Cosmo, particularly when the tiniest splashes of cranberry juice and Blue Curacao are used to make the drink lavendar in color as well as flavor. Looks pretty with an edible flower as garnish.