A couple of week's ago I was at one of San Francisco's most well-regarded and popular restaurants. While I enjoyed the overall experience — the food was divine, the waitstaff friendly, the location hip — I couldn't get over one thing. As illustrated by the picture above, the food arrived at our table before the drinks! This is one of my restaurant pet peeves: I can't stand it when food comes before drinks. You order the drinks before the food, so it's not logical for the food to appear first.

Now that I've confessed mine, I want to hear about your restaurant pet peeves. Whether it's an overbearing waiter or uncleared plates, do tell: what drives you absolutely nuts when dining out?

Celebrity chefdom sure is far-reaching. Rachael Ray does daytime TV, Paula Deen dips candles, and now Bobby Flay is hosting a radio show.

Bobby Flay Radio debuts today on Sirius Satellite Radio. On the talk show, the chef will offer advice to men on dating and dressing, talk sports, and discuss current affairs. Oh, and talk about food. Explained the show's host:

Food transcends so much now. It's become so much part of lifestyle. How you eat, plate it, how you dress, and how you live all have a lot to do with one another.

Flay's wife, actress Stephanie March, will also make occasional cameos on the show.

Are you looking forward to another extension of Bobby Flay's brand, or do you think the chef, restaurateur, TV host, and food personality has a little too much on his plate?

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Since my brother moved to Los Angeles four years ago, he's picked up many stereotypical LA attributes. He thinks driving below 80 MPH is slow, is permanently tan, and starts every morning with a smoothie.

He used to frequent Jamba Juice, but realized a homemade variation was more healthy and cost effective. When he was home for the holidays, he taught me how to make the perfect smoothie.

The first step to making a scrumptious smoothie is to be creative. Start with your favorite frozen fruit and go from there. Although many people put ice in a smoothie, my bro avoids it.

Frozen fruit works fine at keeping the smoothie cold; it ensures a thick, creamy, not watered-down texture. He buys frozen fruit in bulk from Costco and keeps his fridge stocked with a variety of juices like acai berry, pineapple, apple, and mango. Other occasional mix-ins are soy milk, acai berry smoothie packs, protein powder, or flax. To check out two of his ultimate smoothie recipes, read more

One week from this Saturday, I'm going to cancel any plans and clear my schedule. Why, you might ask? Because that's the release date of The Ramen Girl, a new movie starring Brittany Murphy.

The independent movie, produced by media8, follows a young American woman (Murphy) who moves to Tokyo for her boyfriend. Upon getting dumped, she decides her life's calling is to make noodles, and seeks the guidance of a stern but wise master ramen chef. To see the trailer, read more

Over the holidays my girlfriend Elizabeth, who lives in Spain, came to visit me in San Francisco. While she was here, all she wanted to eat were veggie burgers — a dish that is sadly missing from Spanish cuisine. "You know," I said, "you could always make them!"

Although she's not the most advanced home cook, this recipe is simple, quick, and healthy. The patties are a mixture of ground lentils, mint, and scallions. A tangy yogurt sauce and carrot salad on the side give this meal a Mediterranean feel that's sure to please Elizabeth's meat-loving Spanish boyfriend.

To make this hearty burger tonight, read more