Yesterday I came across a hilarious and poignant column in
Slate discussing the drawbacks of the dreaded birthday dinner. "I hereby propose that the birthday dinner go the way of the $4 cup of coffee, the liar's mortgage, and the midsize banking institution," its author proclaims.
The truthful description of his birthday dinner nightmare includes awkward small-talk, excessively-ordered appetizers and drinks, and inequity when it comes to paying the hefty tab.
The City of Brotherly Love is also the city with the most-tipping love. Based on
Zagat's newly released Philadelphia survey, the city's residents leave a generous
19.6 percent tip on average, compared to the countrywide average of 19 percent. Diners in New York — long considered the most expensive place to live in the US — only tip equal to the countrywide average, while those in Los Angeles tip below average at 18.4 percent.
I love taking
North along for a coffee or snack at a sidewalk café. It's the perfect way for me to get some yums, and for my pooch to enjoy the fresh air.A couple things to keep in mind when heading out:
- Before You Leave: Although many pet-friendly establishments offer to-go dishes for a pets' water, it can't hurt to bring along your own portable bowls. Also, make sure I've got a non-Flexi leash and a bag (if your pet's small) to be able to secure him.
Last week I was out to sushi with a large group of people. When my friend suggested that we share a bunch of rolls and equally split the bill at the end of the meal, I hungrily agreed. The majority of the table was in, but the lovely couple seated to my right preferred to order on a separate bill.
The other day I was eating out with a vegetarian girlfriend. While she doesn't mind my consumption of meat, I ordered vegetarian dishes so we could share everything. This wasn't the first time I avoided eating meat while dining with a vegetarian.
After spending the long weekend running around planning the
Sex and the City screening after party, I decided to treat myself to a delicious dinner at one of my
favorite restaurants. Most of my friends were out of town, so I went alone. I have no problem with eating dinner by myself, but was wondering how you feel about it, do you ever dine alone?
It's happened to me more than once: After work I'll be waiting at the bus stop and think, man I could use a beer. It looks like I'm not the only one who had this idea: An entire town in the UK has turned a bus stop — complete with "open" sign and landlord —
into a makeshift pub. As the
price of food and eating out has become increasingly expensive, more and more people are looking for alternative ways to get together and enjoy a beer or meal.
The other day, CasaSugar tipped me off to a really cool organization called
Outstanding in the Field. Their whole purpose is to dine at the source, right on the fields that deliver the harvest. Back in 1999, chef Jim Denevan — who also happens to be a
well-respected artist — began staging dinners at organic farms around Santa Cruz, Calif.
If dinner time is a juggling act with bowls and plates flying across the room and sippy cups slipping to the floor,
Napfnapf might make table time a bit more tolerable. The double sided silicon suction cups help keep kids' plates firmly fixed to the table so you can spend meal time enjoying the food and each other's company rather than cleaning up messes. Napfnapfs come in sets of three —blue, orange and green for $30.
