KatieLoeb

You're right. He did. Me too!

Sunday blue laws were not confied to Texas. We had them in Missouri where I grew up. However, when I turned 18, I could sneak across the state line into Kansas and buy 3.2% beer and go to the 3.2 bars where all they served was 3.2% beer. Kansas had even weirder ABC laws. No mixed drinks except in a private club, but the definition of private club wa subject to very liberal interpretation. Another weird Kansas ABC story involved the Kansas attorney general trying to stop airplanes flying across the state from serving drinks to passengers. Because they're both f*@king close to water.

If you do decide to go for pizza, definitely check out Mamma Palma's, Pizza Club's last venue and my new personal favorite. Our exploits are well documented HERE.

Hee! You've never been to Pennsylvania, have you? ABC policies can be inconsistent even within a state. I recall passing through PA one time and wanted to take a case of Rolling Rock back home with me. I had to go out of my way to find a place that would sell me a case. That's because we have State Liquor Stores for wine and alcohol and Beer Distributors for beer and malt beverages. No one stop shopping here in PA. It's really inconvenient. Probably why most people that are close enough to NJ or DE choose to shop there instead.

Wow - they really have legislated away a very valuable Marketing and Customer Relations tool. How bizarre that they didn't see it that way. I guess I should consider myself fortunate that I live in PA. We even have keys that specify "Promotional Food", "Promotional Alcohol", "Unhappy Food", "Unhappy Alcohol" set up in our POS system to categorize the comps on the sales reports so we can track why items are being comped.

I understood that part of your post. I'd still be interested in having someone familiar with Virginia law weigh in and answer my question about "free" drinks given to appease an angry customer or promote the business. Massachusetts, that liberal stronghold, banned "going bowling" or serving fishbowl sized tropical drinks that were meant to be shared with multiple straws at Hong Kong restaurant in Cambridge some years ago. I think they were concerned about liability issues, but they took away a serious form of entertainment from untold numbers of Harvard students.

I'm curious if this means that there's no such thing as a bartender buying a good customer a drink, or a manager comping a round to a table that's waited too long for their reservation? Many states have prohibitions on "promoting" of drinking through Happy Hours, discounts, etc. That's a very different thing than legislating away an important Customer Relations tool from every restaurant employee/Manager in the state.

I think DCMark hits the nail on the head with this comment. I don't see enough restaurants (if any) adopting this suggestion that it is likely to build any broad expectation among consumers that they are somehow, sometimes entitled to a free bottle of wine. I'm hardly worried about any restaurants adopting this policy. Or at least not of their staying in business very long if they do. The sense of entitlement in a misinformed public is a very real concern, however.

That's a good question, Rosie. I was only there overnight, and the actually law reads something like "carrying/having alcoholic beverages in Public areas". I had a lively discussion with my host, an attorney, as to whether you could be stopped carrying beer or wine purchased elsewhere into the house from your car. As to whether you can BYO, I'm thinking that might be construed as having alcohol in a public area. So I think not.

Oddly, it seems that everything that we pointed out in this thread has been incorporated into this "response" of his. My best guess is that the food editor passed along my link to this thread and he got an earful about it. Why on earth would a restaurateur in Albequerque give a rat's ass what policies are being suggested/adopted in a DC restuarant, especially at the urging of someone who clearly has no idea how restaurants operate or what a customer relations nightmare he's suggesting? I think my bullshit detector is twitching, and I think eGullet has struck again! Is there NO ONE else here that finds it incredibly suspicious that each and every point made in this thread last week is addressed in the writer's "e-mails", in precisely the same order that they appeared on this thread??? Particularly after I mailed a link to the thread to the then Food editor??? My understanding is that the Food Editor has stepped down from her post as of last week. I wonder if being asleep at the wheel and allowing this pointless and dangerous drivel to be printed might have had anything to do with that? S'all I'm saying. Just wondering is all...

Reading Terminal is a good suggestion, but only for lunch. They are closed in the evenings. My presumption was that you were looking for dinner options, but I could have mis-read that. That all said, definitely take the young lady to Fisher's for a real soft pretzel. She can watch the Amish ladies twist them, and then it will be brushed with butter and sprinkled with coarse salt just before it's handed over to you, still warm from the oven. YUM! What kid wouldn't like that??

Just over the Causeway in Somers Point is the Bubba Mac Shack. Awesome BBQ, very kid friendly, great cocktails and live blues, often played by owner Bubba Mac himself, a doppelganger for Jerry Garcia if I've ever seen one. Had dinner there with 5 and 7 year old niece and nephew recently and they enjoyed it immensely. So did their parents and I. The Gator Bites were a big hit. More info is HERE PS - Ocean City is a "dry" town, so if you'd like to have a non-non-alcoholic beverage, you'll have to leave the city limits.

I've never been disappointed with a trip to the Naschmarkt. Between the vinegar stand and the fresh fish at that vaguely Norwegian place and the Italian importer that faces it, I've never left empty handed. Look for the specialty stuff and you should be fine. If you want good kurbiskernoil (Pumpkin seed oil from Styria) and really incredible vinegars (including a balsamic that would rival Italy's best - just had some on some tomatoes!) and freshly made sauerkraut, etc. the Naschmarkt is hard to beat. It has to be one of the best outdoor markets I've ever visited in the world. Talk to the vendors. They're duly proud of their wares.

Take her to the Standard Tap. You could have a couple of great beers and an assortment of Philly's best bar food and she could always have a burger. And their burgers are quite good. If she's feeling adventurous then there's plenty of not-too-strange but very tasty things on their menu.

Bubbles stay better and are visually more appealing in a flute. You can get a better look at the "mousse" and texture and number of the bubbles in the long tall glass. I just ordered splits of Pommery POP to be served at our outdoor cafe with straws. It's just too cute, but will go over well with the crowd here.

Have fun! Definitely make sure you're up at Top of the Mark at sunset. I've really never seen any prettier views of any city than that one. It's definitely a "grown up" sort of bar, so order something in a birdbath glass and feel yourself transported back in time. And Happy Anniversary!

The only US Foods I know of in this area is US Foodservice. It is possible that their main office is in Allentown. They are a large purveyor that carries fresh meat, fish, produce, dry goods, beverages, etc. A pretty much soup to nuts operation. If they carry hot dogs I'm guessing they aren't packaged under their own label (a la Sysco) but are actually someone elses. I can inquire with the sales rep and see what I find out.

I once made Purple-Pistachio-Parmesan pesto just for the sake of being alliterative and to use up a big bunch of Purple Opal basil I had. It was very good

Don't miss having sunset cocktails at Top of the Mark at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Incredibly romantic, the entire city twinkles like a jewel at your feet. The views are awe inspiring and they make a proper cocktail as well as usually having live jazz playing. It's quite a lovely way to spend an hour or so.

Wow! Great pics, Rich! Looks like y'all had a great time. I love the Yardfish Cappuccino idea. Brilliiant! And Susan picked a good weekend to escape from FL.

Lingini and clam sauce. Been jonesing for it all weekend and I can't explain why. Lots of garlic and red pepper flakes sauteed in olive oil. One can clam sauce, one can whole baby clams. Lots of fresh chopped parsley. A splash or two of white wine. Voila! I'm feeling very sated and am going to go sleep it off. Did I mention I finished the wine?

I caught a small retrospective of Julia clips today on Food TV that ended with a "We'll miss you, Julia." Seemed quite appropriate.

Glad you're enjoying my favorite place... Have you tried the Balsamic glazed Scallops yet? They're divine!!!

Mine's pretty plain. Well drained tuna, a bit of mayo, chopped celery, a bit of grated onion, sea salt and always a sprinkle of wasabi powder to "wake it up" a little bit. You can mix it into the mayo first for more uniformity.