that's a strong statement to have without any back up

I've always used all natural cleaning products, and the one for my bathroom doesn't have any chlorine in it. I live in a 20 unit apartment building so honestly there's probably not much I can do about it. The roommate says he doesn't notice it but it's annoying!

Slightly OT but..

I had a really long discussion one day up at Hirsch with Ross Cobb about theories behind the origins of TCA. He told me us one that was quite interesting- Apparently back when the Spanish flu was raging, they found out that it was being spread through sheep's dung, and that if sprayed with a chlorine based liquid, it could help prevent the flu from spreading. Those sheep happened to habitually congregate in the shade of the cork trees, chlorine spray on the cork tree activated the TCA compound and here we are.

I have no idea if this is actually true, but it seems plausible and is a darn good story to tell.

I'm equating the relevance. There are countless laws that aren't enforced or would get you laughed out of a courtroom/precinct.

We'd better arrest every politician who's ever kissed a baby!

Forgive me, it was not intended as the specific "YOU."

I don't, no one does, not you even you (specifically), or your friend. If you're that invested, call the owner and talk to him about it.

Rather than argue theoretical law it would be more relevant to cite a case where a kiss on the cheek from a relative (not complete) stranger resulted in a law suit.

There are all kinds of laws. IIRC it's illegal to tether a giraffe to a streetlight in Florida.

The point is there's no set rule. This isn't a USA vs. Europe argument, and it's ignorant to try and present it at such (not you specifically, in general). Life is rarely, if ever so black and white.

If it made you uncomfortable, that's valid.

If it is not customary for you to have a cheek-kiss as a salutation, that is valid.

If it IS customary, it is just as valid for the business owner to think so.

Whether those customs match is a dark, deep complex grey area, especially in a country where customs range wildly within ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, gender, religion, and a whole host of other variables.

What isn't valid is rehashing something that was likely not thought of maliciously for days on end. It's childish, and I have strong doubts that any respectable business owner would intentionally do something outwardly ill-minded in front of a crowd of customers in their own business.

finally, I don't care what the "law" is, anyone willing to sue someone over a kiss on the cheek from a stranger needs a serious reality check.

The water that comes out of my bathroom sink is corked. Only that faucet in the entire apartment- it drives me nuts. I have to brush my teeth in the kitchen.

I wouldn't think it's weird, personally however it's part of my culture. As a gay man living in a city densely populated with other gay men, it is FAR from uncommon to say goodbye to someone you just met with a hug and a kiss. We don't shake hands, THAT would be weird.

<vbg>

Is there a restaurant that takes outward offense to that request? Which one?

Glad we are on the same page then! ;)

I suppose he's taking Donelan's place then?

I once had a restaurateur of a mid-level restaurant in SF tell me that to take out 1 table in his dining room was the equivalent of losing $25,000 a year in sales. That's an unacceptable pill to swallow when margins are already razor thin.

When 90% (my not-researched percentage) of the dining public would probably not notice or care that their red is too warm, it's easy to see why ownership makes that decision. If you don't like it, go somewhere else.

I'd be more than hesitant about buying anything in an Asian market from Acker/Kapon

(edited for spelling)

Denture cleaner. Plop plop fizz fizz, as it were. let it sit until the water goes clear and then rinse.

Or you get something else? I assume these menus offer more than one item, and if you're eating there more than one that'd be appealing.

Then again, I always thought Veruca Salt was a bit of a prat.

I havent ever seen a menu with that wording, have you?

Conversely, I have no problem with that rule. If I wanted a dish that could be modified to something I could get anywhere else, then I would go anywhere else.

Im just reporting what the foremost respected database of auction house business says, take it up with them. The point is, the demand was obviously there, good for you for getting it at a deal.

Also I should mention: I only considered live (not internet) auctions from reputable houses from the US and Europe (Not Asia) for that data, as those show completely different and often wildly inconsistent trends.

According to Wine Market Journal, the 2005 Marojallia hasn't sold for less than 61.35/btl since 2010. The sotheby's auction you cite hammered at 735.00 without premium, and consistently hammered at around 830.00 over the past two years. The Zachy's La paulee auction that you referred to hammered at 1347.50 without premium, (over the listed high estimate) so I daresay the estimate was accurate.

In my part of the world, tip pooling is very, very common in mid to high level dining. It either works for the house, or it doesn't- it's really a different situation for every restaurant, and there are pros and cons to each.

I know a LOT of servers in my city who prefer to pool- it tends to create a take home pay that doesn't vary as much without it. (i.e. they'd rather take home 150-200 every night, than 50 one night and 300 the next). Also, in a pooled house, if someone is not pulling their weight, that person can not hide, because their fellow servers will throw them under the bus viciously, and without any sympathy. They may not be able to control how much money table X gives them, but if they are making less because <insert server here> sucks, they CAN have some control.

As many here have stated, a pooled house can create a team environment, where you have 6 people looking at your water glass instead of 1 or 2. It honestly comes down to the culture of that particular FOH staff. Yes, management decides whether or not it will be a pooled house, but the staff decides how successful it will be.

I've dined out literally 5 nights a week for the past 3 years all over my city, from celebrity/michelin/etc to hole in the wall, and have never felt that. Perhaps we have different expectations?

Do it while you can- they retired about 3 months ago, and the last vintage available is what's released.

So again, I would say your issue is with the paper, who is aware of, and condones what he does. I

I'd imagine the Chron knows all about what Michael does that is food related in SF, it would then go to follow that it's continuation implies approval from them. Your issue is with the paper, not the critic.

I would say your best bet for that is to go to the restaurant yourself.

So the delusion is on whom, then? Short of showing up to a restaurant in drag, or something else silly like that, there's only so much he can do to remain anonymous. Whether or not that's enough is never addressed by the paper.

Out of curiosity, for those many restaurants that he visits where it is just him and his boyfriend, or other staffer, what additional steps would be suggested to retain anonymity? Disguises? Funny accents?