Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Leaving a $1 tip on a $25 bar tab is not a good way to get a second date. And if I offer/insist on splitting the check, hitting my hand knocking my credit card to the floor also not a winner.

Thanks, it's really nice to see reviews of wine that's actually available in my local liquor store.

So I'm expected to hold hands and pray along, because it's the respectful thing to do, while you do whatever you like because rules aren't made for you and screw the rest of us?

I don't count people items, and rarely speak up, but when someone gets in the 10 items or less lane with a full cart, I do speak up and point out, oh excuse me, this is the express lane. I try and go through life assuming people are decent, and thus if they are clearly in the wrong lane are confused, and would appreciate a polite heads up, as would I.

For a slightly cheaper afternoon tea, Kensington Palace and the portrait gallery are both nice.

Read a recipe all tge way through before starting, set up your ingredients ready to go, and only try one new or complicated item per meal

Yet again, this reads like a blog post on the grocery store's website. No distance, no evaluation, no reflection, nothing. I just don't get this column.

This is why I love this column. I've never seen anything like this and it sounds great!

Oddly, this article sort of sold me. Not on the idea of a total cleanse as a weight loss tool, but I've never tried most of these juices and think three days with them could be an interesting palate reset after Christmas of ham.

Mum always had some sort of roast, brussels sprouts, potatoes, and a steamed pudding.

I guess to me when they say bring food and wine that is a potluck? How else would they state it. I wouldn't go, because it sounds like you don't want to, but if I did, I'd just bring a dish and a bottle of wine, and no hostess present.

Off topic, but my favorite use of straight vodka is pulling the bottle out of the freezer when I get home late from a night out and . . . Rolling it on the floor under ny aching feet. Amazing.

People who come into my home and criticize the food are not invited back. I'm not a restaurant you are reviewing. If I'm trying something for the first time, I will on occasion ask opinions, like- too spicy? should I cook this longer next time? But other than that I'm of the opinion that if you can't say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all, and if someone has cooked for you and you can't think of anything nice to say about that, you're a bad person.

So, I take criticism negatively :)

Fruit- please oh please! And as a loyal Michigander, I'd also take absolutely anything from Zingerman's. Not sure how large the budget is, but flowers are a great food alternative.