Photo by {Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester}/Flickr CC
SITUATION: "what happens when you have house guests who want to drive up ina [Garten's] driveway just to see if she's home?" Submitted by ivo jamrosz
"Yes, on her street. No, on her driveway. There's a difference between fan and fanatic."
-Dorothy Kalins, founding editor, Saveur Magazine
SITUATION: "At dinner at a beautiful restaurant on the water, I ordered a bottle of wine-the waitress asked if I wanted a glass with it. What is the answer to that????" Submitted by kendellle
"While my first instinct might be to say, 'Just bring me a straw with the bottle,' I probably would refrain. I am guessing the waitress was asking the diner whether they preferred a glass with a stem or without a stem. If the bottle is inexpensive--maybe a 'vin ordinaire'--then a stemless tumbler is perfect. Whether the vessel comes with/without a stem, the material should always be glass as opposed to waxed paper or plastic. Cheers!"
-Scott Pactor, Owner, Appellation Wine and Spirits in New York
SITUATION: "So can you ask to take leftovers home from an up-market restaurant? I asked and they were very polite and gave them wrapped up, but my boyfriend was very embarrassed. Surely they should provide for a customers reasonable whims at that level?" Submitted by Ronit Mars on the Atlantic Food Channel Facebook page
"Ask and you shall receive. We have earth-friendly packaging just for this occasion at our four-star Topolobampo. We would rather see it go home and be eaten!"
-Rick Bayless, Chef/owner of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, host of PBS's Mexico--One Plate at a Time, and winner of Bravo TV?s Top Chef Masters.