Donuts if they have them.

Sorry I meant Locale 514.

I just got back from attending a wedding party at Local 541 in Montreal, run by the Java-U catering people. What a great venue with terrific food. These people did a wonderful job from the food to the attentive service to the music.

The food included a sushi bar, appetizers including sliders, baby lamb chops, flatbreads, General Gao's Chicken, etc, a dinner buffet of several salads, grilled salmon, tasty barbecued chicken, and two different pastas, finished with a dessert bar and poutine for those who could still stand.

I thought that these people deserved a shoutout so here it is.

The Whole Foods on Beacon St. is open. Very nice space but it is still a Whole Foods. An improvement over the Johnny's though I liked Johnny's for what it was. But after visiting Bees Knees in Fort Point Channel, I'm asking why can't we have one of those?

How about stinky tofu at Jo Jo Ti Pai.

Rude service at 51 Lincoln. See my earlier post. I wouldn't go near that place.

Yes it was Inman Square but the Orson Welles was on Mass Ave in Central Square. Agreed the original was amazing but that was forty years ago.

Thanks. Had lunch at Neomondes yesterday. Wonderful. Then went to Beasley's last night for fried chicken and mac'n cheese. We've had some good eating here in the area.

My trip, in progress.

Well I'm here now. Dinner yesterday at NC Seafood. Combo platter of oysters and pop corn shrimp. Very good oysters, my wife really liked the shrimp. I liked her grilled shrimp. Good dinner and excellent value.

Today we lunched at Allan and Sons. Great BBQ sandwiches with good fries and fried okra. Peach cobbler good but it seemed to be made from canned peaches. Just what I was hoping for my NC barbecue experience.

Dinner tonight at Hayes Barton Cafe. Biggest piece of meatloaf I've ever seen. Very good. My wife's salad was perfect for her considering how much we've been eating. There does not seem to be any such thing as a small portion here. Really impressed with the bread basket of biscuits and corn bread. We shared a piece of cake which was excellent. We are still eating it two hours later in our room. My wife is still talking about it.

Tomorrow we will get to the business of the dog show but still may have time to explore food options.

Thanks to all for the recommendations. We still have time for some more.

Our dear Newton friends have been wanting us to come out to their neighborhood restaurant for years. We chose our mutual birthdays as a chance to go to 51 Lincoln. We made a reservation several weeks in advance for 7:45 on a Saturday. When we got there our table was not available. The party at what would have been our table (for a party of seven), that had been there since 5:30, was no where near ready to leave. The front of the house was not sympathetic to us. They even said that they are a popular restaurant and what did we expect? We could go elsewhere. I can understand the staff wanting to be respectful to their diners seated at the table, but could they be respectful to the customers waiting for their reservation to be fulfilled?

We were finally seated 45 minutes past our reserved time. The waiter was apologetic. When we ordered, they were out of some of the items we were looking forward to. We found the food to be mediocre and overpriced. To add insult, our entrees arrived at 9:45, a full two hours after when we should have been seated.

We were comped dessert and my friend was given a gift card. A later communication with the owner came up short of an apology and he said that the hostess was uncomfortable with her interactions with our party.

Not worth the trip. We should have stayed in our own neighborhood.

What is Calabash style seafood?

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll be with the Affenpinschers.

I think that I have seen them from time to time at Russo's.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm staying with the dog show people at the Crabtree Mall Holiday Inn but will have a car and intend to do some touring. If that helps.

Heard about Poole's. Should that be included? Thanks.

Hi, Coming to Raleigh-Durham from Boston for a dog show next week. Would also like to tour the area and find good, casual restaurants for Barbecue, Southern cuisine, and anything else unique to the area. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I paid my annual visit to Hen of the Wood on Saturday and found it to excellent once again. My friend the duck which he always orders and swears by. He proclaims it to be the best duck ever. I had the braised pork shoulder with pork belly and thought the flavors to be incredible. You Vermonters are lucky to have this restaurant in your midst.

We were there for the first time yesterday. Had the Argentine, Baja, and the empanada special with a side of tostada. Everything was delicious. Very attentive service. Topped it off with one of their desserts, also delicious. My only problem is that my daughter will be graduating in May so my trips to Middletown will come to an end.

I was there for the first time today and found it to be excellent. All of the concern about the ciabatta in unnecessary since it is close to the roll you would get in NO. Their oysters come from Ipswich Seafood so that's a big plus. Good onion rings and fries. I just wish that they had better seating.

That's Joyful Garden. Pretty good the one time I tried it.

Skip it and go to Angela's Coal Fired Pizza instead.

Eggs, caramel apples, hot dog buns, Luigi breakfast sausages., ravioli, chicken salad with pecans and cranberries.

Finally made it out to Spalla's and loved the Chicago Dog. Flavorful but not overpowering dog with excellent toppings and perfect bun. Also tried some offerings from the European Deli which shares the space. This is a must stop for people on Rt. 9.

Just came from the Monday edition of the Brookline Farmer's Market. Enterprise Farms, Arrowhead, Silverbrook, for produce. Stillman's meats, a nut guy, cookie lady, and salsa person. I hope that word spreads to keep these vendors coming.

Did take out the other night. The Memphis ribs, neither my wife nor I could eat them. Threw them out. My burtn ends were as good as ever. Will not be back like we used to.

I'd also recommend Summer Shack for what you are looking for. And so convenient. Try a side order of fried clams or steamers. Can't go wrong.

The new Belle Isle is open. Haven't heard about their new digs, but close to airport and can be reached on the Blue Line.

I'd suggest Monte's in Lynn for its unique style of bar pizza.

Can I complain to Channel 5 about the Andelmans' show hurting the public by consistently recommending brick and mortar restaurants which serve s___ty food?

i second the Cheese Shop in Concord and the Hingham Lobster Pound (they are seasonal). For Salem, I'd recommend Red's Lunch, a fifties luncheonette with some good offerings. Its just behind the Peabody-Essex Museum. Bob Lobster in Newburyport on the road to Plum Island (also seasonal) for lunch.

Hop n Scotch in Coolidge Corner, on Beacon, former site of Finale. Lots of micro brews and an interesting menu. Good bar scene on first floor, quieter dinning on the second.

Going to Block Island for a long weekend. Would like to know about the following. A good bakery, market, places for lunch, and good but modest seafood restaurant. Thanks in advance.