wonderflosity's Profile
Is tipping in cash better for the server?
As a server, I don't really care either way if you are tipping cash or credit card, but if I had to choose, I would actually choose a card because tips are usually better since people will actually calculate 15 or 20% as opposed to just throwing down a $10 or something. It's also faster than making change and bringing it back to the table.
I'm not worried about the tax issue... I just claim 10% of my income when I am doing my taxes (note, I said income, not my total sales) and generally wind up getting money back from my return). I should mention though, I live in Canada, not the states.
Is tipping in cash better for the server?
You can always see the tip even when you pay at the counter. The closer will see the original bill amount vs the total paid when they are closing out the bill, if it's not already just split up on the reciept.
3 drinks, up at 3am, why?
This started happening to me when I was about 25.. Now at 28, I find I don't always wake up around 3, but I might wake up at 5am and not be able to get back to sleep (this would be after going to be around 1 am).
Sounds like it's just going to get worse as I get older. Awesome.
What do you like in a state other than its "proper" one? Frozen rather than chilled? Stale rather than fresh? etc.
Cold pizza is so much better than warm pizza. Mmmm!
Vegas Honeymoon- suggestions please!
Well, I don't know about dining there, but I do plan to jump off the building. Skyjump, yeah!
Vegas Honeymoon- suggestions please!
Thanks, I've been back reading the boards looking at as much as I can... I think I might love researching restaurants on trips almost as much as eating at them (almost)...
I hadn't heard of Mon Ami Gabi or Bachi Burger... Very interesting!
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Mon Ami Gabi
3655 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Vegas Honeymoon- suggestions please!
Sorry, I guess I could have been more specific, but I really don't want to put too many limits on it.
All types of cuisine are open game. We love Indian, Thai, Japanese, French, Fusion, you name it...
As to mid level, ... It's a pretty widerange. Basically not the most expensive restaurants... Something where you spend $20-40 an Entree as opposed to $8 or $60 for an entree.
I really would rather people direct us to their favorites, rather than putting limits on anything.
What restaurants are unique to Vegas, something with amazing view, atmosphere, decor or just really interesting ones. I don't care if it's off strip, or a hole in the wall if they have great food.
Vegas Honeymoon- suggestions please!
So, I just booked our honeymoon... 6 days in Vegas, staying at the Mandarin Oriental in August.
We both work in the industry and really love food. We are looking for one or two high end meals with great wine pairings and a few more mid level amazing lunch and dinners.
Top end dinner, I don't mind spending 200 per person, but most of our meals, I'd like to keep at a more reasonable level so we have cash left to go a little wild on the rides and shows, and whatnot.
Anywhere you might stay away from too?
Don't mind going off strip if that's what it takes to get great food. What are some of your suggestions?
(Thanks for helping, this is going to be such an epic trip. We're planning on blowing it up one last time before starting a family, so we do want to go all out!)
What is your "perfect breakfast"? [moved from Home Cooking]
Definitely depends, but my few favorites include:
Kashi Mountain Berry Muesli with a plain or vanilla Greek Yogurt and some frozen berries on top.
Or, when I could eat Gluten, a Bagel with disgusting amounts of cream cheese... A pumpernickle with dill cream cheese, with a side of sprouts, cucumber and really fresh, ripe tomato slices, with a gorgeous latte. Mmmmm.
Or, a breakfast made my amazing pre-husband... Diced hashbrowns with dill, crispy bacon and an egg or two over easy.
A breakfast sandwich made of the above ingrediants with Tapioca Rice gluten free bread and a few slices of aged cheddar and yellow heirloom tomato rocked my socks the other day...
Or, any kind of eggs benny or omelet from my work. Dear god, they are amazing. The freshest hollandaise, the most light and fluffy omelets. Dang, it, now I want breakfast and it's 10 pm!
Valentine's Day in the workplace - possible to give themed gifts without romantic undertones?
I don't think there is anything wrong with it... You are overthinking it a bit.. It's just a nice gesture. People bring in valentine's treats all the time to different workplaces. It's fun and a diversion. Unless she brings penis cookies or something, it's totally innocent.
Service - who cares?
Service is a huge factor in my dining experience. Having managed a restaurant and currently being employed as a server has a lot to do with it. I'm sure I notice far more than I used to.
My expectations aren't outrageously high, and I'm really forgiving if I can tell someone is new or is super busy. But if the service is poor, I feel disappointed, even if the food is excellent.
Great Regina Style Pizza
I was back in Regina this weekend and had a Houston's Spinach and Feta Pizza (along with some Ceasar salad, and rose penne pasta). It was all amazing!
Great Regina Style Pizza
Wow, I am from Regina (haven't lived there for 10 years) but I have never heard of Regina Style Pizzas. Which places specifically did you enjoy?
Houston's is a family favorite and I went to school with the original owner's daughter. We were great friends in Elementary school, and every year for her birthday our whole class got pizza. I try to eat it every time I go back for a visit!
I also really loved Western Pizza. Their spaghetti pizza sounds awful but was actually amazing (although not the healthiest thing ever).
top five places to eat near whyte ave (edmonton)
Interesting. Never had the pad thai at the Edmonton location (although the one in Calgary had great pad thai a few years ago). I've just had some curries with tofu and veggies there. After we discovered Pad Thai, I've never been back to the King and I.
top five places to eat near whyte ave (edmonton)
Gonna bump an old thread. I live by Whyte and eat around there all the time, so I can definitely put up a top 5.
1. Murrietta's. Spectacular food, great service. Finer dining, but not pretencious.
2. Pad Thai- mostly for lunch, great specials. Love the green curry.
3. Tokyo noodle house. Love the Chef's Spicy Uramaki roll
4. The King and I. Decent Thai
5. Organic roots cafe. Really, really healthy food. Tasty too, but kind of pricey.
Also must add Fuss cupcakes. Not really a restaurant, but I love it so much it needs a mention.
Examples of vegan indigenous cuisines?
Actually, B12 is naturally occurring in soil, and it is just our rigorous washing of produce combine with a declining quality of soil that has made it so we no longer get enough B12 from produce alone.
I'd prefer to choose how much wine I drink at dinner, but how to say so?
As a server, I want to say thank you for considering this issue with our feelings in mind. Very kind of you. I don't have much that would add to the conversation, except to say that personally, I would take absolute no offense to someone saying they'll handle the pouring for themselves.
I have avoided this sort of issue when I am serving simply by asking 'may I?' before acttualy pouring any wine. Works really well when clearing plates too.
Restaurant Alba, who is the idiot
I think this totally makes sense. The nicer glasses are probably a hell of a lot more fragile, and more expensive to replace.Since the restaurant doesn't make as much money off people bringing their own wine, I can see why they would want to use less expensive, more durable glasses.
They could have perhaps stated it a little differently, but there is nothing wrong with that at all. It's akin to using the better glasses for more expensive wines ordered off their own menu and the regular ones for the less expensive wines.
looking for restaurants/pubs in Regina
Regina doesn't have a lot in the way of restaurants compared to almost any other city in Canada, but there are a few gems. I grew up there and don't really know too much about the really new places, but some excellent ones that have stood the test of time:
Greko's- Albert street south Some of the most amazing Greek food I have ever had, including when I was in Greece.
Cathedral Village Freehouse- Albert street downtown- Funky resturant with a great patio and fantastic food, some of the best vegetarian options in the city.
LaBodega- a tapas place also on Albert, downtown. Great drinks, lots of funkiness here, and very good food, with some innovative dishes, also has some good veggie options.
The authenticity of a restaurant, or "what's the ethnicity of your server?"
The authenticity of the food has little to nothing to do with the server.
I'm an white girl of Irish decent who serves at an Authentic East Indian restaurant. It's the chefs who happen to be Indian, Punjabi or Nepalese.
Does the word "foam" on a menu make your lips curl up?
If I see foam on a menu at a 5 star fine dining place, I wouldn't have any trouble with it. I had an amazing dish with foam at Daniel's in NYC in 2008. Foam at a family run mid priced restaurant on something other than a cappucino? I may be a little wary.
Edmonton- The great grilled cheese sandwich quest
Thank you both... I think Mill creek is gonna be my choice as I haven't been, and it's on my list!!
Food Anthropology Studies Programs
I don't have much to add, but wanted to wish you good luck.
I have an BA in Social and Cultural Anthropolgy from the University of Calgary and took quite a few food and nutrition related courses. If I were to do a graduate degree I would be focusing on food + health.
Writing a paper for an anthro food seminar on social conflict between vegetarians and omnivores in contemporary North American society actually was the catalyst for my becoming a vegetarian and led me down the holistic health writing path I am on today.
Speaking French in Paris restaurants?
When I was traveling in France, all my efforts to speak in French were rewarded with people paying attention, helping me with what I needed and kindly correcting me, so I would learn.
Now, I do speak French fairly well having attending a French Immersion Elementary school, but my French was especially rusty the first few days there.
As long as you are humble, don't speak louder when people can't understand you and don't get frustrated, most people will really appreciate the effort you put it. French love their language and with good reason, it truly is beautiful.
Just don't tell anyone "J'aime le langue Francaise" as I did. That literally means, I like French tongue.
Edmonton- The great grilled cheese sandwich quest
I have a hankering for a fantastic vegetarian grilled cheese sandwich, after stumbling upon this site here: http://www.grilledcheeseacademy.com/
I am recovering from a broken ankle and don't really feel like making my own. Could anyone point me in the direction of a delicious one? Preferably in Old Strathcona, but I could make a trek if need be. Parking close by the restaurant/cafe is a must considering my fairly limited walking ability.
Feel free to throw in recommendations for good vegetarian mac and cheese in the city while you're talking about ooey gooey cheesy carby comfort food goodness!
How much do you tip when at a buffet?
I serve at an Indian restaurant where tables can either order a la carte or they can choose our buffet. The buffet is almost more work at times than a la cart tables. It really depends... I give buffet customers the same level of service and that is usually reflected in tips I am given. They average about 15% most nights, but can be as high as 20-25%,. I make sure to explain everything for people, introduce them to new items, keep their drinks full, suggest different beer, wine and juice pairings, give them a little background and interesting tidbits of info about the food and culture if they seem interested. Basically, we try to make it a fine dining experience, even if they choose the buffet (which is a great way to get to know our cuisine).
It's fantastic, and I make a lot of money. Other servers at my place that treat it as more of a buffet world experience tend to only make about 10% on average.
Is Indian Food really healthy?
It really depends on the food and the preparation. Things like butter chicken, vegetable korma, pakoras, samosas etc are not the healthiest. But lots of the vegtetarian options are like Dals, Chana Masala, lentil soup, vegetable curries, Sagg/ Palak dishes, even paneer in small quanities is healthier than many kinds of cheeses. The tandori meats that are dry, without sauces also aren't bad at all...
I work at an East Indian restaurant and I can always find plenty of healthy, as well as unhealthy things to eat (they are all delicious). We don't use Ghee though. We use olive oil instead (and canola oil for frying).
Indian food does use lots of healthy spices, which can be health promoting... Ginger, tumeric, garlic, cumin etc...
At any restaurant the servers or chefs should be able to point you in the direction of the healthier choices.
Valentine's Day Edmonton
I'll be working (I'm a server). Hopefully it will be a lucrative night (and weekend).
YYC - Dinner around the Chinook Centre Area
The other half of smugglers is one of my favorite restaurants, Open Sesame, a Pan Asian place with amazing decor and a fantastic market garden where you can pick ingrediants for your own stirfry (Which is not done by weight like Mongolie Grill), the ingrediants are fresh and delicious. They have spectacular desserts, like Bernard Callebaut chocolate Spring rolls, and Banana wontons.
There is also a Brazillian Restaurant called Bolero upstairs, but as I'm a vegetarian, and it's a meat only type place, I can't comment on that.
Need good veggie recs for Calgary please
Please don't dismiss The Coup on JetGirly's account.
One of my favorite vegetarian restaurants out of the one's I have been to all over Canada, New York, San Fran, Boston, Phoenix, LA and Las Vegas.
I have never had underseasoned food there, just food with amazing flavors!
If they are ever looking for a quick bite, but not quite a fast food joint, places like Thai Thai or Khim Ahn Vietnamese subs on 17th ave (Fairly close to the Glenco). Great veggie and Tofu subs as well as lots of meaty ones. On 17th ave there is also a Pita Pit, Wicked Wedge Pizza (does veggie and regular pizza by the slice) and Tubby Dog that does veggie and regular dogs.
