YumSugar

Are You Willing to Eat at a Communal Table?

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:45:41 -0700

Source: Flickr User bhamsandwich

Do You Accept Drinks From Strangers?

partysugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:50:31 -0700

Do You Read While Eating?

partysugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:57 -0700

Do You Like to Eat at the Bar?

YumSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:00:42 -0700

I'm a big fan of bars, and not just for drinking. If I'm dining alone or on a date, I love to eat at a restaurant's bar. It's cozy and intimate, and I enjoy being able to place my entire meal order with the bartender. How about you?

Source: Flickr User Mat Honan

Do You Typically Take Home a Doggy Bag?

partysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:00:22 -0700

Are You Open to Swapping Plates?

YumSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:52 -0700

Several days ago, I was one of a party of eight to enjoy lunch at an acclaimed new restaurant in town, RN74. For the most part, my dining companions and I all ordered different things, and even though I'd never met any of them, we had no qualms sharing our courses and even swapping plates.

"There are two kinds of people in this world: sharers and keepers," one of my fellow diners astutely remarked. I thought she was absolutely right - and was grateful that everyone at the table happened to be a plate-sharer. At a restaurant, which one are you?

Do You Mind If a Fellow Diner Orders the Same Dish as You?

partysugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:45:18 -0700

Do You Eat at Restaurants That Don't Take Reservations?

partysugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:50:36 -0700

A couple of weeks ago, I went to grab dinner at Pizzeria Delfina, my favorite local pizza joint. The trendy restaurant is always packed, and although it doesn't take reservations, I normally don't mind going early to put my name on the chalkboard. However, the wait ended up being two hours on a Wednesday night! I couldn't help but think of a friend who refuses to eat at restaurants that don't take reservations - no matter how good the food is. As my stomach growled, I wished I was more like her. Where do you side on the matter?

Emeril to Open Las Vegas Sports Restaurant

YumSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:30:27 -0700

File this under random news of the day: in addition to his stints with Martha Stewart, Discovery, and the Fine Living Network, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse is getting ready to open his own sports-themed restaurant.

Nation's Restaurant News reports that the sports restaurant, aptly named Lagasse's Stadium, will take over a space in Las Vegas resort The Palazzo. In addition to a lounge, the 24,000-square-foot spot will have stadium-style seating, luxury boxes for private events, and custom viewing walls with 100 HDTV screens. “I’m happy to team up again with our friends at The Palazzo to create the ultimate sports establishment," Emeril said in a statement. "At Stadium, we’ll be serving serious food for serious fans.”

As for the menu, the chef plans to feature game-day favorites, several New Orleans-style dishes, and updated takes on American classics. Does this sound like a restaurant that would interest you?

Sam Sifton Is New York Times's Next Food Critic

YumSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:00:22 -0700

When Frank Bruni announced he'd be stepping down as the New York Times's restaurant critic, readers were left with a pressing question: Who will step up to the dinner plate? The food world waited collectively with bated breath until the answer was announced today: Sam Sifton, the paper's current Culture editor, will begin reviewing in October.

The blogosphere wasted no time compiling critical stats on Sifton, and Gawker has already come up with a slew of potential dining guises for him. One thing's for sure: The role of restaurant critic is evolving. Even execs at the Times admit critics don't wield the power that they used to, and with photos of him already abundant on the web, dining incognito will be virtually impossible.

Sifton may be new to the position, but he's no novice - in fact, he was rumored to have turned down the job once before. In addition to being the culture editor at the Times, he's contributed to the $25 and Under column, reviewed restaurants before Bruni's arrival, and even served as Dining editor. In last month's New York Times Magazine, he detailed making meatloaf for Nora Ephron. What do you think of the news? At a time when media is evolving so rapidly, does the role of restaurant critic still have a place in the food world?

Source